1st Digital SLR?

My lad (14 year old) is saving for his first digital slr having used various other digital cameras and occasionally borrowed my film slr's and my *Istds.
I have a few old KA lenses he can borrow along with a couple of new fangled autofocus things. He's reading plenty of photography books at the moment and is an intelligent lad (bit like his Dad), so I'm sure he'll be able to pick things up fairly quickly.
He'll soon have approx £300 saved, and I'll add a little to it- probably up to approx £400. Can you give advice on which DSLR new or used he should go for please?

New Pentax K100D with 18-55mm kit lens.
If it's too pricy, then a new K110D with 18-55mm kit lens.

Being 14 years old, he probably has very steady hands, so Shake Reduction would be nice, but not essential.

The obvious answer here is to buy whatever Pentax DSLR you can for the money your lad has saved. If you have some lenses already and can muster £600 (srsmicrosystems), then the K10D is by far and away the best option.

Shake reduction is good but the models which do not have shake reduction (SR) are cheaper. If he wants to learn the craft of photography, SR is not essential. The best anti-shake system is still the good old fashioned tripod, but buy a good one.

The K100D (SR model) is available at a reasonable price from many online sources, as is the K110D (non-SR).

My personal preference is the *istD or K10D simply because a Pentax battery grip is available for these models.

In all honesty, your lad will be amazed at the images he can capture with any of the Pentax DSLR range. Then, there's the cost of a decent computer and software to get the best out of whatever you and he decide to buy.

Happy hunting.

i've noticed secondhand *Ist D going for pretty reasonable prices (especially with the release of the K10D) so I'd be looking at one of them

*personally* I see no point in getting a DS, DL, 110D or 100D - unless you *must* have a brand new camera then why pay more money for an inferior camera?

I have ads around for "refurbished" models such as the DL and DL2 going for less than £300. You may even be able to get a package around this price with an 18-55. That would mean that he has saved for the camera himself and you could use your top up for memory cards, case etc.

Kim

I would agree with Dexter, go for the istD even secondhand if you cant find one new.

http://www.mifsuds.com/shpricesmz.htm#penxtaxaf

For a DL2 and lens:
https://secure.ffordes.com/Shop/Store/StockList.asp?Type=secd&Sub=0&code=DC

quote]http://www.mifsuds.com/shpricesmz.htm#penxtaxaf
[/quote]£279!!!!!!!!!!

thats almost £1000 less than I paid three years ago, though I did get a lens...and a card....and an AF360FGZ

Oh well, I suppose my K10D will be worth £50 in ten years.[

I noticed at the weekend that Currys and Jessops are both selling the last of the *ist DL2 (IIRC) for under £350 at the moment with the 18-55mm.

I would probably spend a bit more and get the k110D or K100. but if your budget is tight that may be a better option.