What is the best DSLR to get under $1000?

Question

I have about $1000 to spend and I want to buy a Digital SLR. I really like Canon. What's a good Canon to get under $1000 and what's a good camera to get under $1000? Thanks.

Answer 1

The Nikon D50, or for about $100 more the Nikon D70s or the Canon 350D. All of them with the kit lens and a 1GB memory card.
The D70s and the 350D have both been discontinued recently, but the replacement models cost $1000 (Nikon D80) and $800 (Canon 400D) for just the body. When you add a decent lens and a memory card, you're way over budget.
You can read up on all of those models here: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/default.asp?view=alpha
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PANACEA
Here's hoping you check back now & again (you've disabled YA! email)
Glad to see your upgrading to a dSLR, but please pass on the 28-200. 28mm with a 1.6 crop factor won't give you any wide-angle options. Also, at just $370, I highly doubt you should expect better image quality vs. the kit lens.
Kind regards,
Jeff
(aka registrations001)
/ PANACEA

Answer 2

If you decide on buying a DSLR you also have to consider future products as well. Lens can be expensive at times more than the camera itself. So if you buy a canon and you want a better camera but now you have all these canon lens that cost you an arm and a leg, well you can buy another canon product and still use those lenses. The Canon Digital Rebel XT is a very good choice, but honestly if you are thinking of spending $1000 of you hard earned cash I would do substantial research. Below is a link of two of the most popular camers for starters. Ultimately it comes down to what you plan to do with them.

Answer 3

Canon recently upgraded their entry level dSLR, the Digital Rebel XT to 10 megapixels. The new Digital Rebel XTi has all the things that made Canon the best entry level dSLR before, plus some upgrades from the more expensive Canon cameras. I was goofing around with one in Circuit City the other day (which I highly recommend you do before you buy) and it's a REALLY nice camera.

http://dcresource.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=24712316

However, like with the older Digital Rebel XT, I'm not thrilled with the kit lens it comes with. The camera can perform alot better if you buy a decent lens for it. In other words, you should buy it as the body only (this SHOULD include batteries and other things the camera needs but not include the kit lens) and buy the lens seperately.

Which lens? I think this one is a pretty good all purpose lens (a hell of alot better than the kit lens):

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=149&modelid=7443
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=430123/search=EF+28-200mm

Note that the best camera body and lens price come from the same dealer when you follow the links.

You also need a memory card. A normal speed half gig or 1 gig card ought to be plenty.

http://dcresource.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php?page_id=152&sortby=popular-&vendors%5B%5D=0&popup1%5B%5D=10%3A105&popup1_attr_id%5B%5D=105&popup2%5B%5D=0&lo_p=0&hi_p=0&mode=dcrp_memory

Answer 4

honetly its going to depend on what you are going to use it on, picture quality on all of these should be the same on a regualr 4x6 picture, if you want the option of cropping and blowing up your pictures you will need a higher mega pixel camera such as a nikon D80, Rebelxti, or even the new Sony A 100. Keep in mind that you will also need to buy a memory card (sd or CF) a lens to go with it, usually in the kits you get 18 to 55 lens and since these are relativly very fragil cpus i would recommend getting some sort of protection plan...ritz camera to me offers a great plan where they repair or replace a damaged product, unlike the limited warrenty that the maker has..

personally i purchased a Rebel XTI kit (18 to 55 lens) from ritz camera, with a memory card, 3 years protection in it and a carrying case for it, it cost me around 1500.

Answer 5

Before you delve into Canon XTi (which is a good camera but kit lens sucks). Take a look at new Pentax K10D. It offers more bang for your buck then anything Canon/Nikon/Sony currently have.

Answer 6

I have a Canon 300D Digital Rebel and I think it is great. You could go for that or the 350.