Learn to Love Another .....I Need Some Help With This

So I spent hours in John Lewis looking and researching cameras, without the help of an assistant I might add!

Customer service, what's that?


Indeed whatever happened to customer service?  I'd have thought it was even more important now with online shopping so easily accessible.

So, after spending some time hovering over cameras, I ended up cogitating in the cafe with tea and a cheese scone ...... tasty as it was it wasn't a very cheesey scone :(

Time to think ... 


Anyway, without talking it through I was quite perplexed and totally confused with all the choices.  So time out with a scone and cuppa didn't really help at all.

The only thing I am sure of is I definitely need an SLR and a lightweight lens!  Carrying 6.5 lbs of weight in one hand for, sometimes, 11 hours is not an option any more.  I need to give it up!

A great starter DSLR

If I was just starting out with an SLR I would definitely go for the Nikon D5500 - it is small and lightweight with 24mp, and looks an absolute dream to use.  What I loved was how easy it was to handle.  It has wi-fi capability and a touch screen too.  I was very tempted but ....  

Is there such a thing?


I need more functions. In fact, I need the same as I have now only lightweight with a similar lens to my 70-200 but much lighter too.  I'm sure there's something out there suitable?  

The Nikon 85mm 1.4 lens maybe?  Won't give me the zoom but it is a fixed aperture and could easily give me the dreamy separation in photographs that the 70-200 gives and that I love so much?  And possibly a 50mm 1.4 for wider angles?

As you can see this is not an easy task....and can I learn to love another lens?

Be very grateful for some advice/help if you have it!