Help me pick a DSLR

[JackG]

Guys I'm in need of your help! I know there is lots of keen photographers on here so I'm hoping you guys can help me out!
I'm after a digital DSLR for my detailing buisness I will mainly use it for (you guessed it) taking pictures of cars
But I will take the odd picture of a lake and love winter so frozen trees too 
Was thinking the Nikon d7000 but it's so expensive  (could be my B12's!)
I honestly have no idea what i need! I know more expensive ones are good for things like long distance pictures wich I don't do, I'm thinking that if I bought the D7000 then I'll be wasting its features as more than likely better than what I'll use it for!
Don't want to spend more that £650 really 
Any help would be great!
Jack 

[Saint Steve]

I bought a Nikon 3100 and a decent enough long lense addition to it.

If you budget for a decent body, then it's nowt without extra lenses, which will soon swallow your budget.

[stealthwolf]

You have the options of going for a new entry-level, or an older higher end model. dpreview.com is a good place to do research.

You don't need dSLR for detailing pics IMO - just a really good lens and sensor. But if you're definitely going down this road, then Nikon and Canon are the better ones. Have a look at dpreview.com. General advice is you want to spend as much as you did on the camera on a good lens.

Have a look at RussZS - he's bought a Sony NEX-C3, which looks more like a bridge camera rather than interchangeable lens but still very compact.

[Wolfman310]

Have a look at the entry level dslr's first if you want one.

The canon eos 1100d is a great piece of kit.

The Nikon d3000 i think is there entry level and is pretty good.

Both similar so go and have a hold as that will play important part.

I am a canon man and think they are awesome.

[hugh jass]

 You dont need a DSLR. Apart from the cost you might just spend tooooo much time wondering what every setting/button can do. 
  http://www.which.co.uk/technology/photography/reviews/bridge-cameras/

[stealthwolf]

^^^Why are some of the cameras on that which site classes as bridge cameras? A bridge camera basically looks like an SLR without the ability to change lens. Some of them are compact cameras. 

[rich83]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-Digital-Camera-Body-Only/dp/B004MPQXS2/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1319389719&sr=1-3

Get that... body only!

Then get yourself on ebay and buy a 17-85mm IS lens for about 100-130quid 

Job done.

[JackG]

Do you think it will work out cheaper to buy just te body and pick a good lense?
I see packages but it may be the case of " good camera,useless cheap tacky lense,bag that nothing fits in, memory card that says 8gb but is only 4gb"
Thanks for help so far guys 

[rich83]

It won't work out cheaper, but you'll end up with a better setup.

For example... the kit lens on the Canon 600D is the 18-55mm, which is  a piece of poo poo. The 17-85 is much better 

[JackG]

Sorry for my ignorance but what do the lense number mean? Angle or light source?

[rich83]

Focal length in millimetres.

17-85mm indicates a zoom lens between 17mm and 85mm

[JackG]

Focal length in millimetres.

17-85mm indicates a zoom lens between 17mm and 85mm

Thank you very much 
Would you say the cannon above is better validate for money than the d7000?
Thanks
Jack

[rich83]

I prefer Canon.

The best thing to do id go to jessops and have a play with them both. 

[Degudodger]

I prefer Canon.

The best thing to do id go to jessops and have a play with them both. 

What Rich said.  

[B3n]

As above get yourself into a camera shop and hold a couple of different camera's. I went in to Jessop's with the intention of buying a Canon I ended up walking out with a Nikon

There was nowt wrong with the Canon but the Nikon just seemed to fit my hands better.

Ben