Photography and Camera peeps

[Red October]

Hey Gang,

I have been shopping for and SLR camera for some time. I keep leaning towards the new Canon eos digital rebel but I know there are a lot of good cameras out there. Nikon and Sony both make really good cameras too. Before I buy a camera, I want to know what the SO has to say. Any photography types out there?

http://www.expresscameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=398222&up=306293&start=1
\http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7026069&productCategoryId=pcmcat99300050011&type=product&cmp=++&id=1099394810083

[Xstnlsooner]

Nikon D50!! Nuff said!

[StoopTroup]

I think the lens is more important than the camera.

[BajaOklahoma]

I have the Rebel, both SLR and digital. I absolutely love them. I will alway prefer film over digital, but digital is getting better.
We bought several cameras from www.beachcamera.com
They beat the prices at other places, both local and online.

[OCUDad]

If you're going SLR, availability of high-quality lenses is the key. Right now, Canon and Nikon own the DSLR space because of availability and quality of their glass.

Please tell me you're not going to buy the camera through Expresscameras.com. They are a notorious "bait and switch" operation. Their prices appear low because they strip out every option that normally comes with the camera (battery, for example) and charge you extra to get it.

Also take a look at Nikon D40 (6 megapixel), or Nikon D80 (10 megapixel) in addition to the Canons. Depends on your budget.

Reputable on-line camera retailers with good prices are B&H - www.bhphotovideo.com (http://www.bhphotovideo.com) - and Adorama - www.adorama.com (http://www.adorama.com). Good luck. You won't go far wrong with either Canon or Nikon. They're going to be around for a long time and their lens selection and quality are excellent.

[Chuck Bao]

I just bought a Canon EOS 400D.

I agree with OCUDad's point about the lenses and ability to buy additional lenses later on.

I guess I need to figure out how to use all of the buttons and stuff on it first.

[skycat]

Don't know if you purchased over the weekend, but I thought I'd just add my two cents.

Any modern dSLR you buy has the capability of taking excellent images.

That includes cameras all three of the most common megapixel ranges in the class of camera you'll probably be looking at (6, 8, and 10 MPixels). I wouldn't get caught up in that number if I were you.

I highly recommend handling a couple of these cameras before you buy. My local Best Buy has the lower end Nikons, Canons, and the Sony available to handle, if you don't feel like going to a camera shop and bugging a sales clerk.

Many people like the Canon Digital Rebel (XT, XTi) line. And just like I say above, they can take absolutely stunning pictures. But I hate the way the feel in my hand. To me they are small and uncomfortable, and they make me go to menus to do things that I'd like there to be dedicated buttons for. But lots of people don't share my concerns.

I much prefer the way Nikons feel in my hand, and the way their controls are laid out.

As to lenses, the lenses that come with Nikon's kit packages tend to be of better quality than those that come with Canon's. Canon does have an excellent lens line up however for expanding in the future.

If I were buying a new dSLR, and didn't have any accesories or previous experience with them, I'd buy either Nikon (D40, D50, or D80), Canon (XT or XTi), or the new Pentax, which appears to be an excellent value (although unlike the Nikons and Canons, I haven't handled a Pentax).

It's pretty hard to recommend a dSLR to someone over the Internet without knowing your shooting style, experience, and what you plan to shoot. But don't worry about making the "wrong" choice, as all of these cameras are great tools for taking great pictures.

[IB4OU2]

Nikon D50!! Nuff said!


I just bought one of those today for my wife......really.

[sooneron]

Reputable on-line camera retailers with good prices are B&H - www.bhphotovideo.com (http://www.bhphotovideo.com) - and Adorama - www.adorama.com (http://www.adorama.com). Good luck. You won't go far wrong with either Canon or Nikon. They're going to be around for a long time and their lens selection and quality are excellent.
Uh, beware of adorama, they have been known to pull the switcheroo as well. I work one block from their place. B&H is much better.

[skycat]

As to where to buy it from, this is a useful link:

http://www.resellerratings.com.

Click on store ratings.

Adorama looks to be okay as far as customer satisfaction is concerned.

B&H is outstanding. I've used them several times myself, and have nothing but good things to say about them.

[OCUDad]

Uh, beware of adorama, they have been known to pull the switcheroo as well. I work one block from their place. B&H is much better. I’m a little surprised – that’s the first negative thing I’ve heard about Adorama.

It also might be useful to do a little technical comparison at www.dpreview.com (http://www.dpreview.com/) – look at their reviews for cameras you’re interested in. Each review has a “Compared to…” section at the end where you can see some real-life comparisons to other cameras in the same general price range.

Then, go check them out in person. As skycat says, there’s no substitute for getting a hands-on experience so you know what the camera will feel like in your hand. Whether or not you buy on-line, it’s always nice to get an in-person feel for the camera before you buy. Good luck.