Which digital SLR camera should I get?

Question

I am looking to buy a digital slr camera, but I'm not sure which brand to choose from. Olympus, Canon, and Nikon are three I'm very familiar with, but there are others which I haven't yet tried. I can't go above 1000 dollars. Any experienced photographers have advice for me?

Answer 1

I'd agree with k's answer, but the D80 plus a lens is way over budget. Look for a Nikon D70s for Nikon features or a Canon XTi for Canon features. At this price level, you deserve a camera that you like. You have to feel each one in your own hands and see which one feels best. Personally, I have and can recommend the Nikon D70s - for the money. I also bought a D200, which I may not have purchased if they came out with the D80 a year ago...

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi (a.k.a. 400D) 10.1 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera (Silver) with Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM Autofocus Lens and Lexar 2GB Platinum II (80x) CompactFlash Card - $830
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=1082&A=details&Q=&sku=464943&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Nikon D70s, 6.1 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera with Nikon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D IF Autofocus Lens - $860 (NO memory card - see next link)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=6222&A=details&Q=&sku=465693&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Sandisk 2GB Extreme III CompactFlash Card - $55 after rebate
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=356016&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

If you can wish for a Christmas miracle, check out:
Nikon D80, 10.2 Megapixel, SLR Digital Camera with Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Autofocus Lens and Sandisk 2GB Extreme III Secure Digital (SD) Card - $1,110. Two miracles, really. One for the money and one to find it in stock!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=6222&A=details&Q=&sku=469994&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

Answer 2

A digital SLR will be better at first. In fact, you don't even need an SLR at first, until you're more experienced. The photographer takes the pictures, not the camera. With a digital camera you can practice as much as you like without worrying about wasting money on the materials used in bad shots.

Answer 3

Althought i am using Canon dSLR, but let me roughly compare the 2 top camera Canon n Nikon with u.
Let say using : Nikon D200 n Canon 30D ( both r under niddle high standard ). As u can get the spec on the net, both giving almost same good result on pic quality n functions. But, the Canon 30D's price is lower than Nikon D200 by about 10 to 20%.
By getting the same quality n functions, why pay more? I am not sure the 1000 dollars is USD or others.
If u need a unit for beginner, i will say : Canon 400D n Nikon D80. Again the price is different by about 10%. Both come will i will say same features.

Answer 4

Hi
I have owned 4 Canon Digital SLRs so far and I am happy with all of them. Canon has the best image quality with the least amount of noise. Currently canon digital rebel XTi (or XT) is very much within your budget. You can buy the body alone (without the lens) and then buy a better lens like the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 which is a very nice , economic lens. You cannot go wrong with this combo specially if this is your first time.

Nikons are also good, but sometimes they have more noise when u are using high ISO settings.

Canon has the widest variety of lenses. I wouldnt go for Olympus when I have Canon and Nikon to choose from.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Canon and Nikon brand will give you the most flexibility over the long haul. Both of those have lots of third party accessories and lots of great quality used lenses to choose from. Also, when you buy "how to" photography book the author is most likely to show how to use the controls on one of those two brands.

If you can swing a Nikon D-80 for under a grand then I would highly recommend that camera. It has some features, such as a spot meter, that aren't available on the lower level Canon's.

Answer 6

i just got mone nikon d50, while the features are pretty close to d70 and 80, but the price are much cheaper. Go to photoconnection.com they have package where U can choose the camera and the lens. They also come with case, tirpod, memory cards, card reader..I think cheaper camera wouldn't matter as long as U have a good lens, they picture quality would come out better.

Thanks

Answer 7

The camera you get should depend on your desires. example: I wanted a big optical zoom for nature pictures. Consumer Reports did a good test on cameras in last months magazine. According to CR all the major brands are close enough to be considered acceptable.
www.pcworld.com has a camera section and does comparisons. I used both to help me decide.

Answer 8

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk10d/
http://neocamera.com/feature_compare_10mp_dslr.html
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-02-05-02.shtml

Pentax K10D has more features then any one and better prime lenses in its class.

It has in body SR better then Sony
Better antidust then Olympus
better weather sealing then Nikon D200
bigger buffer then all its current competitors
at a price point less then 30D/D200.
22 bit proccessor for 4.1 million colors (everyone else has 12 bit 4,100 colors)