Noob buying a DSLR/High end point&shoot <25k. Advice needed

[cybertechie]

Please strike out Nikon D3000 from the list. It's an outdated camera with not so good clarity above 1600 ISO. If you want to go the nikon way check out D3100. it's a really good DSLR with HD video recording.. you can find one online for 28k.

If video recording is not a priority then Canon 1000D is a very good choice too. You can buy one for 20k and get the 50mm 1.8 lens for 5k.. It would be a very good combo.. . keep in mind that if you are used to High zoom P&S then you will surely miss it on DSLR. So keep your options open for Zoom lens. Canon 55-250IS is a VFM Telephoto lens costing 11k.

 

[singenaadam]

a DSLR will also be siginificantly bulkier to lug around. While the super-zooms (like the suggested Lumix TZ-10 etc) can be slipped into your pocket. Plus all of them shoot HD videos.

Saw a Samsung model with 18x zoom for 14k ! very recent launch. you may check that out too. Also go through the recent overall customer satisfaction survey results in the US (PC World, if I remember correctly) for digicams - Panasonic tops the list! If you are used to Canons, the suggested SX230 is also an excellent buy.

Convenience of size is a factor while traveling - in fact TZ stands for Travel-Zoom (convenience of a long zoom while traveling) and this used to be a niche segment created & dominated by Panny till others too decided to jump in.

Most of these compact super zooms also sport wide-angle lenses (24/25 mm) that will give you the flexibility to shoot landscapes & not to mention the entire family, with the cousins thrown in, in the small rooms. (I have a TZ7 and personally know the difference the wide-angle makes when shooting the family indoors!)