So I want to buy a new Digital Camera and I think I'd like to go to a digital SLR.

Doesn't have to super top end, just decent/middle of the road.

What do you all reccomend and how much $$ do I need to spend?

 

The Sony and Canon digital SLR are really nice, but you're looking to spend at least $800 to get the starter kit, and additional lenses add to the price. I was looking at the SLR and couldn't justify (to me) the cost for my hobby-level photos. I ended up with a Panasonic DMZ-F7. No interchangeable lenses, 8 Megapixel photos, 12x optical zoom (36 digital) Leica lens, a huge variety of individual control modes, and it cost just under $400. It also serves pretty decent duty as a home camcorder if you've got a decent sized SD memory card. I've printed hundreds of 8x10 prints on photo paper and they look every bit as good as what I got from the photographer with my 35mm. My two cents: Save the money on the camera and invest in a really good printer.

 

We have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 (except it has a 20x optical lens) and works excellent. The slr's are coming down but you need to spend another 800 on a lens that will get you the same optical range as this one. I paid 400.00. Awesome camera...

 

I run Nikon, good equipment, and they stood behind my 5700 WAY after it was out of warranty. They had a bad batch of sensors and fixed it free.

For that I am loyal, and will purchase another Nikon when ready. They are dropping fast, you can get a D40 or D60 for literally peanuts compared to what I paid for my ( at the time ) top of the line 5700.

I want the D90.......need to save for a while, plus my 5700 is still clicking away.

Figure 489-689 depending on the package, check Ebay for some pretty attractive packages.

 

Been happy with our Canon Digital Rebet XT (D-SLR). Since then they have come out with the XTi and now the XSi. More megapixels were added each time. I bought a starter kit that had the camera and a decent lens, was about $900-$1000 (this was about 3-4 years ago). For my limited, non-camera working butt it is fine. Most people who get into it suggest buying the camera body alone and then spending a little more money an excellent lens, as that will improve the picture quality the most.

~Rob

 

My wife did an exhaustive evaluation of SLRs, 'bout made me nuts. In the end she bought a Canon Rebel XTi package from Costco. She absolutely LOVES it. Yes, other cameras were good also, but in the end she felt the best value was the Canon. This was based on camera features, lens availability/cost/variety, overall cost, countless forum posts from other camera owners, etc.

She also really liked the Nikon D60 but didn't feel it provided the lens options/cost/etc. of the Canon.

Have to say the pictures she takes now are amazing though a $1000 for a camera outfit is more than I'd pay.

 

For the good, the bad and the ugly on just about any camera you can think of, go here: DPREVIEW.com

~Rob

 

If I were in the market right now, I'd be finding a Nikon D60 combo pak with the zoom lens. Here's why: we have one and absolutely love it, -and- just after Christmas, we were at Best Buy and saw that they were selling them for three hundred and some-odd dollars, which beats the pants off the price we paid when they were the newest thing out. Just my humble, six megapixel two cents.

 

i have a fuji fine pix s700 7.1 mega pixel
10x optical with some crazy digital zoom.
does nice videos too. all the vides on my youtube were shot with this camera
they go for about $180 now

also my dad has the same camera and so does my causin.

 

Ive got an EOS40D Canon. Nice camera. Whatever camera you get it all depends an the lens you get. A good quality lens will make the camera.

 

To save some money, I'd look at the Nikon D40 or D60 or the Canon Rebel series. ~400-500 bucks? And buy a large memory chip for it.

These digital camera's are not the same as your old film SLR. Before you buy, ask about the warranty - and most importantly - whats "not" covered in the warranty.

When I was shopping around, I found that the camera shops could do ok on the price, but there warranty's were priced out of sight, and very strict (limited) on what was covered. Best Buy had the best warranty, and the lowest cost.

 

we bought a Nikon D60 starter package from Costo... After having 6-8 digital point and shoot cameras since 1997, this one finally makes the tough shots easy to get...

Big issue is getting some training, so you can try to b e half as smart as it is...

Our package had the camera body, battery, charger, instruction DVDs and Nikor 18-55mm lens... I think we pair $699 for it about a year ago..

Sine then I have added a couple of lens, one which has really been a great investment...

The best one was a Sigma 70-200mm 1:2.8 aperture lens... It's a behemoth, but finally lets me take distance shots in doors in poor light, so for instance kids orchestra concert...

the other lens is a Nikor 70-200mm but not for low light... More zoom than the stock lens, but not as large as the Sigma...

My next purchase will be a low aperture lens for close up pictures..

Probably more info than you asked for , but we have been very happy with out purchases..

Bryan

 

I guess I should probably qualify what I want to do with the camera.

I want it to take outdoor pictures of cattle, so a decent amount of zoom is critical.

Besides that, just the regular camera duties.

Mostly outdoor stuff.

Landscapes etc.

 

http://s289.photobucket.com/albums/l...t=DSCF4459.jpg
that is a picture i took with the camera model i posted above.
more pictures in my photobucket.

my causin just bought the finepix s1000 and thou it looks the same you cannot zoom in on videos like with the s700

 

After playing with alot of the SLR's I really liked the Nikon D90 the best. If you're used to old film SLR's you can use it right away in full manual. It also is one of the only SLR's that allows you to use the screen for photos and not just the viewfinder which can be handy. It had HD video too, but I wouldn't buy for that at all. I still love my Nikon F series thats almost 40 years old, but the D90 is making me itch really bad. The D90 just came out too, so its kind of got the most new features out right now.

My best advice is to go to the store three or four times and keep playing with them until you have a good feel for one and pick the one you like the best. Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus, Lecia, etc. they all make good cameras so pick what fits you and what you want it for. Most you can pickup body only and choose the lenses you want. Most in stores like Best Buy come with pretty decent all-around use lenses that are actually pretty nice. The big difference that I see from all cameras is ease of use and how the menu system is set up. Me personally, I prefer Nikon, but that's me. I do like Lecia a lot, but Im not finding gold coming out of my faucet either.

Good luck. Its a great investment.

Have a good one.