Want a digital SLR...

[Yelcamino]

Can anyone recommend a decent digital SLR camera for less than $1000? I've been wanting to get one for some time but I'm not sure which one(s) I should look at. It'll be used as a general purpose camera if that makes difference. Thanks.

[Samckitt]

This might be a long shot, but a local camera shop: www.robertsimaging.com has the EOS rebel XT with 28-90 mm lens for $399.97. It is an 8 MP camera. Limited quantities. But they will ship.

Or Sears & circiut city has the Rebel 10.1 MP with 18-55mm lens for $699.99

Or Office Depot has same camera with 75-300 lens, compact flash card reader, sandisk 4GB Ultra Ii card & free printer for $799.99

I would definetly go with Canon, I have had a Canon DSLR for about 5 years now with zero problems. I have a Canon 10D & a 30D along with some L series lenses. Love em.

EDIT: I looked on Robert's website & I do not see the one listed above for $399.97. But you could call them if you are interested. 317-636-5544

[Fesler built]

Canon is the only way to go, you will find it very easy to use and will last you forever. I have all the big stuff from Canon Mark II & Mark III but also use the 30D and they just take great pics.

[chicane67]

Ill third the Canon...

On the borderline of a grand... when I was shopping for the E40D I found it on line at a few places for under a grand... and then you pick your lense. I guess you will have to figure out what exactly you need lense-wise before you make any determination on what you buy... because you can get it packaged from some places at a reduced cost. I actually got the body from one place and the lense from another... and saved like $800 when all was said and done.

I really need to sell all of my Nikonos gear (underwater 35mm stuff)... because I would like to pick up a few more lenses for the 40.

One of my homies recently purchased a Nikon D80 with a standard option lense for under a grand. He too got the body from one place and the lense that he wanted from another and kept the cost at a minimum for that purchase... and I think it is on par with with the Canon E30D and E40D for the most part.

[JustinB]

Check out the Canon 40D. Just picked one up and its a great camera. Costco has the 40d with a 28-135mm starter lens for $1149.99. You can always add a better lens down the road. Canon is offering a $200 rebate on the 40D right now at authorized dealers so get on it.

[bwhinnen]

Oh no surrounded by Canon users :) I'm a Nikon user personally. Both platforms have great cameras to offer in that price range and I say go for one that feels right in the hand! Nikon was that for me when it was a choice between the D70 and the 300D (Digital Rebel I think you called it).

I now have a D200 and about to get a D300, I shoot primarily motorsport and car portraiture with them.

Cheers
Brett

[Larry Callahan]

About a year ago I got a smoking deal on a Canon Rebel XT and I love it. It do wish I bought just a body and an image stabilizing lens though.

[Yelcamino]

Thanks guys! This is great info! Now I have an idea of what to look for and the best way to buy it.

While digging around online I found some pictures taken at the 2007 San Fran air show and the photographer used a...

"Nikon D50 w/ Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6G lens; center spot metering and focus, jets shot w/ shuttle priority at 1/2000sec."

...which is probably more than I need but if you look at the following photos, they're awesome! In the last shot you can see the distortion in the air:

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I still have some research to do and budget checking.

[carterhickmandesigns]

I have the D50 Nikon and cannot say enough good about it. By far one of the single best investments I have made in a long time. I really abuse the thing and it holds up.

[Samckitt]

A few I took with a Canon 30D

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

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My daughter as shot:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/IMG_0614-1.jpg

With some photoshop:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/IMG_0614_fun-1.jpg

[Yelcamino]

A few I took with a Canon 30D

Wow! Those are some nice pictures!

[Chad-1stGen]

SF fleet week!

Love that air show. I go every year.

[ProdigyCustoms]

I love my Nikon D80. Costco has a deal for right at $1000 for a package with a 18-135 lens. That is the deal I got, perfect.

Besides the good pictures, I like the big boy camera feel. The D50 feels tiny to me.

[bwhinnen]

Here are a couple with the old D70 and crappy lens combinations...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Compared to the D200 with a decent pro lens :)
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Yes the Lass is my Wife and the ratbag is my Son :)

You can get great photos out of all cameras as long as you know the limitations of the gear you are using...

Those airshow pics are great for the 70-300 lens.

And Scott, brilliant work all of them!! The PP on your daughter is well done and brings the image to life!

[Samckitt]

Wow! Those are some nice pictures!


And Scott, brilliant work all of them!! The PP on your daughter is well done and brings the image to life!

Thanks!

As mentioned, any camera will take great pics, if you know how to use it. The difference will be in the glass (lens/es).

I have had Canon for about 6 years now, I have never used a Nikon. They could be just as good. But Canon is what I know. However it seems like I hear a little more praises for Canon than I do Nikon.

Brett I love the pics of your son. Stop motion of the water is cool, great color, & blurry background puts the icing on the cake.

[CptKlutz]

$1000 gives you some very nice options. Start by reading http://www.dpreview.com/ for instance.

I'm a ex-Canon, now Nikon D80 user. Using the great allround lens 18-200 VR (image stabilization). A couple of shots taken just before sundown with gloomy light & full zoom. The VR gives you at least 2 stops ekstra to play with before it gets blurry. Something to consider when buying lens(es).

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/2008_0527_1707481-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/2008_0527_1710103-1.jpg

[2Bad4Ya]

Love my Nikon d80, but alot of times when on vaction, car shows, etc.... I wish I would of seen the d40x. It is smaller and for an avg. joe is the better deal imo. Roughly 400ish vs 700ish, a big enough price difference and i doubt a noticable image difference to the avg. joe.

[JLM]

I shoot the Rebel XTi with the 18-55 kit lens as well as Tamron 55-200, and 75-300 macro lens.

When it comes to features, performance, and ease of use for the price, I'm not certain the XTi can be beat.

Here's some of mine.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/MaineTrip060bw-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/MaineTrip058bw-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/IMG_1530_small-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/IMG_1533_small-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/IMG_1682-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/06/IMG_1615-1.jpg

[Yelcamino]

That's a lot of good info. I plan to check out the dpreview web site as suggested. Thanks!

Oh, and those are some awesome photos you guys have taken! Thanks for sharing!

[Yelcamino]

I picked up a Nikon D80 last night at of all places Best Buy.

I searched the internet and found some good prices but they were only a little better than BB. Plus I got to use my BB card with no interest.

Here's what I ended up with:
D80 body
18-135 Nikor lens w/ storage bag and lens hood
70-300 Nikor lens w/ storage bag and lens hood
UV filter
Speedlight flash (SB-600)
Two batteries
Battery charger
Carry case
Two 4gb SD cards w/ readers (these are on sale for $25 if anyone is interested)
4 yr camera body replacement from BB

I spent more than I planned ($2150 for everything) but after taking some pictures this morning it was money well spent. I think I'm going to really enjoy this camera!

Thanks for all the info guys!

[bwhinnen]

Well done, can't wait to see your pics :)

[Yelcamino]

Well done, can't wait to see your pics :)

Here's some from playing around with the camera...

My cat Sophi-
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A tiny little bee on my chair-
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A Mustang at a local car show-
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Two of my Elky at the drag races on Sunday-
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All of these pictures were taken using autofocus and the smaller of my two lenses. I still need to learn/practice with the manual settings so I can take some really cool pictures. I think I'm going to be happy with the results!

[bwhinnen]

Got a good start there :) I think you should be happy with the results thus far!

The best thing to do is get out there and take photos and play around with the settings. Books and courses are great for reference but taking the photos is much better and you tend to learn more.