What is the best digital SLR camera for less than $1000.?

Answer 1

You should check out e-bay to get the most high-end camera you can get for the buck. I just bought one in mint condition for $500 and it retails for $1,900. It also had a wide-angle lens, so I probably got $2,200 or more worth of equipment. Great deals can be found.

Answer 2

There's a good guide here for explaining how to choose one.
NOTE: Their rankings are out of date.
http://www.digital-slr-guide.com/best-digital-slr-camera.html

My choice is always between Nikon and Canon because of the support and the lens quality. Nikon will be more expensive when expanding your lens collection.

My preference would be Canon Digital Rebel Xdi

Fortune 500 Magazine Review
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/02/8387527/index.htm

Answer 3

Since you didn't specify "with a lens," I will assume that you need one. Many people just are not aware that a lens is an option with SLR's. Even though you NEED one (or more), the camera price does not include a lens so you can choose exactly what you want.

Get a Nikon D50. It has a few "consumer friendly" automatic modes that make it very easy to use, but still offers total photographic control when you are ready to take charge. The "kit" lens is a decent lens optically, but you might want to upgrade to the Nikkor AF-S 18-70 f/3.5-4.5G ED DX lens for a bit more range and a lot more durability. This lens (plus a decent memory card) will take you up to your $1,000 budget. When you are ready to add lenses, the sky is the limit with Nikon.

Get a 1 GB memory card, such as the Sandisk "Ultra" for decent write speed.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d50.htm

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Nikon/nikon_d50.asp

If you want to stick to the perfectly adequate "kit" lens,

Circuit City has it for $700, with the lens.
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Nikon-D50-Digital-Camera/sem/rpsm/oid/127029/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Walmart has it for $660.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4058046

The memory card will cost $50-60 or so, depending on sales or rebates.

Answer 4

There are a few cameras in that range.

I personally like Nikon then Cannon. They offer the largest assortment of lenses and accessories.

I own a Nikon D50 and I've been happy since.

go to http://www.dpreview.com for more in depth comparisons.

Answer 5

My personal favorite is the Olympus Evolt-500. Its fast, reliable and for me easy to use. It also holds two memory cards : one xD and one compactflash. I've just had lots of good luck with that camera and wouldn't trade it in for the world.. Unless I got a good deal on the next model.

Answer 6

Canon Rebel XTi

but for few more bucks you can take the body only + Canon EF 17-85mm IS USM lens.