Best digital camera, SLR type for around $800?

Question

My wife had a 5 MP Sony that seems to miss some of the really good photo opportunities our 11 month old twins produce. It's tough to get them both doing the same thing at the same time, and right now we tend to see alot of pictures where their movements cause blurriness. Also the delay between taking one picture and the next is an issue.

We saw an ad for a Canon SLR digital with a second lens and a camera bag for $799 I think. Just wondering what advice anyone out there could provide. My wife is not overly technical, but if it's not too complicated we would like to buy an SLR or at least a camera with the same functions. A camera with an upgradeable lens would be nice too as the twins get older.

Thanks for your opinions.

Answer 1

You're headed in the right direction. A DSLR will better help you to capture those magic moments as the twins grow. Your abilities and interests will also grow, so interchangeable lenses and a vast support system is important.

If I may mention a personal favorite - look at the Nikon D40. There are kits available with the camera, an 18-55mm and a 55-200mm lens for $799, no tax and free shipping.
http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/SLR1160.htm

It's a great camera with easy to use starter automatic modes, but also with the ability to customize settings. Here's a review I think you need to read.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm

And look at what a town of ordinary folks was able to do with this camera.
http://www.stunningnikon.com/picturetown/

Answer 2

Again, before considering the Canon Rebel series, look into how they handle "image stabilization/vibration reduction." Should purchase a telephoto lense, you have to find out how to control your shaking the lens and do you want to drag along a tripod. Therefore, check into the awarding winning Pentax KD DSLRs beginning with the Pentax K100D starter kit with two Pentax lenses: 18-55 mm. normal and a 50-200 mm. telephoto. The starter kit sells for $600 at samys.com. The Pentax lens system is far more affordable than Canon lenses.

Should you have a limited budget, perhaps consider a digicamera with image stabilization such as the Canon PowerShot S2-IS [5.0 mp] [$300] or the S3-IS [6.0 mp] [$350] with a 12X optical zoome [39-435mm] along with built-in stereo microphones for recording sound video [i.e., live piano recording is quite good]. They operate on a set of four rechargeable AA which provides at least 200 shots per charge and uses inexpensive SD memory cards. The sales prices are from amazon.com or samys.com.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I have the same problem, it is caused by the delay in the shutter. Before you buy check to see how much delay is in the sutter[ from the time you push down on the shutter release to the time the shutter actually fires.] I'm looking at a Fujifilm Fine Pix S7000, It is a lot less that a SLR, but has a very good rating by the Professionals and the shutter reacts within 1/10 of a Second. Check it out.

Answer 4

Wow that sounds kind of cheap for the cannon with 2 lenses as the cannon SLRs I was looking at only had one lens at about $700.00. Beware of eBay for your camera purchases because there are many that throw in a camera bag and additional lens (wide angle converter or tel-coverter) or something like that. This is not your regular lens and is not worth the glass it was made out of. Also, many of these company's are selling foreign cameras and the Cannon USA will not honor the warranty (they can tell by serial number)

If she's no pro then she's not going to want to go with a cannon as she will be having to clean the sensor, especially when switching lenses and being outside alot. My Olympus E-500 was $599.00 on sale at circuit city.com and came with two real lenses. The bigger lens is a much better kit lens on the oly than you can get on the cannon. Then there's the nikon. It's a pretty good camera as well although the one kit lens it comes with is not as good as the oly but for the whole system I find it hard to do wrong with a Nikon. Oly is the better value though. It's easy to use and has more professional features (E-500 and newer models) than the lower end Nikons.

Is she ready for DSLR? If not you may want to try one of the sony H series as they zoom out to like 12x or so where the fartherest zoom you'll get on one of the DSLR's with a kit lens will be about 4xzoom, and that's only if you get a two lens kit with a bigger lens. You can get a bigger zoom lens for a DSLR but it'll be big and it'll be expensive.

Answer 5

I used Olympus I don't remember the model but Nikon is D80. The Olympus was stolen and I was looking around for another camera one day and found a new Nikon D80 for less than $600 with warranty and many things on eBay. I couldn't resist that offer but I still miss my Olympus it was easy and simple for me to use as I am not a professional photographer and I don't like compaction things but it take good pictures too and it starts very fast and takes pictures very fast your wife will never miss a moment again with this one. I don't know much about canon camera.

Answer 6

Canon and Nikon make the best cameras. They are the BMW and Bercedes Benz of the camera world. Kodak also makes some respectable cameras, but Canon and Nikon are on top.

Answer 7

The Canon XTi or Nikon 40Dx is probably the only DSLR in your budget. Just remember the "kit" lenses are very basic and usually not that great.

Answer 8

Kevin, Nikon just released the D40X, a 10mg. digital camera. It's well within your budget.

Answer 9

Take a look at Fuji. I have a Fuji 6MP SLR and got it online for under $400.

Answer 10

my suggestion
go to yahoo shopping
digital cameras
digital camera GUIDE
be sure to check titles on the left side
the guide should answer your questions