D-SLR Cameras

[MrFryMoto]

Any advice?
i'm looking at either a Canon Rebel or a Nikon in the $500 range
are there better for the money in that price range?

[TiAvenger]

Any advice?
i'm looking at either a Canon Rebel or a Nikon in the $500 range
are there better for the money in that price range?

Check out costco right now, they are having package specials for the holidays.

[herm]

for 500 bones, you will do well to pick up the rebel......very user friendly.
i got my dad one last christmas.

[stateprez]

I was looking at one this summer.  Be sure if you're looking at bodies with lens kits, that the lenses are the same....ie image stabilized.  A local camera dealer here advertises comparable lens kits that are not image stabilized, so they are cheaper than the factory.  

The Sony Alpha is another choice.  It has image stabilization in the body so you don't have to buy it in the lens as well as a live view lcd.  

I was looking to spend $500 as well but figured out I couldn't get what I needed that cheap.  I ended up with a mega-zoom sony point and shoot.

[COWBOY]

The Rebel XS fits that bill nicely and is getting great reviews.  The Rebel XSi costs more and is just an outstanding camera that for the first time in almost 4 years has me thinking about refreshing my old Rebel XT

They are on sale now at Wolf Camera, BB and Circuit City from 499 to 699.

This is a good photo site for reviews   http://www.dpreview.com/

[KnightofNi]

i picked up a nikon d40 for a little over the amt you are looking to spend.

the 18-55mm lens works fine for most things, but i really want to get the 18-200 lens (that lens alone costs as much as the set-up i bought)


either way, you should have better control than with a non dslr.

[the_Journeyman]

I've got a Nikon and couldn't be happier.  Excellent camera.  Mines the D70, but the D40 is easier to use and has almost as many features ~

JM

[Slag]

We are a Nikon family, and I highly recommend them. My tail bag camera is a D50.

[KEH]

i picked up a nikon d40 for a little over the amt you are looking to spend.

the 18-55mm lens works fine for most things, but i really want to get the 18-200 lens (that lens alone costs as much as the set-up i bought)


either way, you should have better control than with a non dslr.

My dad has that lens for his d40. It's stellar! It pretty much does it all and has great optics. I really want one for my d40x.

[Gator]

This is a great resource for d SLRs

www.dpreview.com

[KnightofNi]

I recommend Nikon D 40 whiteout hesitation.
Only limitation with it is that it doesn't communicate entirely with older, mechanical lenses but if you aren't going to use those this shouldn't concern you.

Don't get caught up in megapixel gibberish. Unless you are printing images the size of a house, 4mp will be enough.
If you think you have a few hundred more to spend, don't spend them on more expensive camera-body, spend them on lenses that relay make pictures.

There are some nice deals at Amazon.com. I believe it's around 400$ now, witch is an absolute bargain.
  http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital-18-55mm-3-5-5-6G-Zoom-Nikkor/dp/B000KJQ1DG/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1229378255&sr=8-1

Also some light reading http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm

KnightofNi: Besides that 18-200 cost as much as your set-up, it is also (or more) as large. It will swallow D40. Try it on the camera before deciding, it is a very nice zoom-lens. 

i was told the same thing when looking for my camera. get a good body, but spend your money on the lens.
my freind (and camera mentor) has the 18-200 that he uses on his d80. i hve put it on mine and while it does add significant weight, it's not that bad. (and i don't have to switch lenses to take long shots! )

[MrFryMoto]

Don't get caught up in megapixel gibberish. Unless you are printing images the size of a house, 4mp will be enough.
If you think you have a few hundred more to spend, don't spend them on more expensive camera-body, spend them on lenses that relay make pictures.

i do actually do a lot of printing
currently i have a nikon coolpix 5.6mp - and while it prints smaller pictures great, anything larger than a 5x7 and i start to get a little particular - so a 6.1mp has me a little worried
granted the actual usable pixels should be better.

[yamifixer]

I highly recomend getting a nikon. I have a d200 and love it. it's over your $$ threshold but if you go to the D40 you get the same quality with out some of the bells and whistles.

but the biggest thing i can say is buy good lenses. we have all nikor with one exception and we learned our lesson. saving up now for a new telephoto.

[the_Journeyman]

I run a 28-80, 50 fixed (1:1 focus, f2., 70-210, and 200-400.  However, they're my old 35mm lenses so multiply the focal length by 1.5 and you'll have what you actually see.  Yea, I don't have anything close to a wide-angle ~

JM

[Slide Panda]

THough it's not a pretty site http://www.kenrockwell.com/ has a lot of good info, especially on Nikon goodies.