Digital SLR Cameras - Recommendations

[Low Level E30]

Looking for some info on a good digital SLR camera for a car nut (me). I don't want to make movies with it or anything - just take good quality pics with rich colors and some depth.

I realize good photos have a lot to do with education and skill.

But, currently I'm hamstrung by my 3.2mp vintage compact digi-cam. It's actually not terrible - but not great. It's an Olympus Camedia D-560 Zoom. I need something better, with a faster shutter especially.

And, I'm not looking to launch the space shuttle. I just need a reasonably good camera for a reasonable price.

Thanks!

[marakka]

SLR's are going to be fairly expensive. I just got hooked on them and now have bought my 2nd one. I bought the Nikon D40 kit which came complete ready to use minus a memory card. I paid just a hair under $600 for it with 18-55mm lens. I'd recommend getting something in the 18-200mm or even get a 70-300mm lens if you want to do some depth shots and get some real vivid layouts. The camera is amazing for the money. I picked up a used D50 to have here with me in Iraq and to trash basically. I got it with 18-55mm lens, 974pictures on the body, 1gb card and UV filter for $375 shipped which is a damn good price. Retails around $850 with all those add-ons. Just be prepared to get in over your head and learn a lot real quick. I know I have. :D Good luck AJ!

[Low Level E30]

SLR's are going to be fairly expensive. I just got hooked on them and now have bought my 2nd one. I bought the Nikon D40 kit which came complete ready to use minus a memory card. I paid just a hair under $600 for it with 18-55mm lens. I'd recommend getting something in the 18-200mm or even get a 70-300mm lens if you want to do some depth shots and get some real vivid layouts. The camera is amazing for the money. I picked up a used D50 to have here with me in Iraq and to trash basically. I got it with 18-55mm lens, 974pictures on the body, 1gb card and UV filter for $375 shipped which is a damn good price. Retails around $850 with all those add-ons. Just be prepared to get in over your head and learn a lot real quick. I know I have. :D Good luck AJ!

Thanks for the info, Max! Much appreciated!

I was looking around on some camera sites --- the Nikon D40 is recommended in a lot of places as a great beginner's SLR.

The problem with most "camera review" websites is that all they do is basically talk about all the available features, and then say "What a great camera!". You rarely, if ever, see a site say "This camera is Ok, but the shutter is slow and the colors are a little washed out." That's why I'm posting here :D

And how's the Neon?

[JPL]

spend your money on lenses not the body. the lenses will be with you longer than the body. the cheapest slr body will probably be 8mp which is just fine for an amateur. only the most professional experienced photographers can tell between a 15mp and an 10mp unless you are blowing up a print.

[browntown]

dpreview.com

nikon d80 & d200, canon digital rebel (400d).

I'm actually close to making the plunge myself, they had a d80 sale at costco a couple weeks ago but I hear the kit lens is crap. Might be better off buying the body separate and finding a quality lens that can reach out and touch someone.

[BDSax]

i was going to try and get into the SLR but thought that im not ready yet. got a Panasonic DMC-FZ8 and i love it. once i learn of the crap a camera can do and i can get some money ill get something better

[marakka]

the kit lenses that will come with most of the cameras are going to be an 18-55mm lens. Its meh for taking outdoor shots if you want anything from any distance. Its great for indoor family photos as its going to be a wide angle lens so you can get large pictures up close. but like someone said.... you can always upgrade the body later and keep the lenses.

The D40 is what is supposed to take over for the D50. I've got both and love both of them. There was a reallygood review I read that I swore the guy had to be hired by Nikon cause he talked so good about the D40. He has many thousands invested into camera's and was talking about how the D40 is so light and yada yada. You'll be able to adjust most any setting with it as its got all those features built in so shutter speeds aren't a worry. Its missing some of the top of the line features (so I've been told cause I'm a complete rookie) that cameras like the D80 (nearly $1000 for just the body) and the D200 (some other ridiculous amount)

Getting a good lens is easy with ebay keeping them cheap. I'm looking at a 55-200mm lens for the wife and a 70-300mm for me. Both of which will run me less than 300 shipped. The difference between the 2 is the distance at which they can zoom to and keep a good focus. Also the depth involved is a little different. If you want to take pictures of a subject 10 feet away, but lose the foreground and the background you'll need to get something along these lines.

My recommendation... The D40, a good Sigma 70-300mm lens, a decent polarization filter and a nice big memory card. Its expensive but man oh man..... yer point and click will never get used again. I spent all night playing with shutter speeds, focal points and white color balance. I could go on for hours about these damn cameras.

Oh yeah... the Neon is no more. I ended up putting lambo doors on the thing for a while. I sold it when I came to Iraq and picked up an 05 SRT4. :D

[YAN-3]

AJ, look into the Nikon D40 or the D50. both are great cameras.! and reasonable prices too.

[Low Level E30]

AJ, look into the Nikon D40 or the D50. both are great cameras.! and reasonable prices too.

Ah ha! I was hoping you'd jump in on this - I've seen your awesome photos :)

D40 seems to be the way to go. I'm going to start looking for one!

Thanks all!

[BDSax]

best buy has the kit for like $700. wish i wasnt looking for a house or else thats what i would have got

[YAN-3]

Ah ha! I was hoping you'd jump in on this - I've seen your awesome photos :)

D40 seems to be the way to go. I'm going to start looking for one!

Thanks all!

heres some more great info and a side by side of the D40 and the D50

[YAN-3]

wow it now features In-camera retouching,

• D-Lighting
• Red-eye reduction
• Trimming
• Overlay
• Monochrome and Filter
• Small picture
• Image overlay

thats not bad at all!

[Low Level E30]

Looks like about $530 is the current going rate for a D40 + 18-55mm lens + the standard accessories. Not as cheap as I'd hoped - but not terrible.

[Low Level E30]

Question - I have a 2002-vintage Minolta 5 w/ a pretty serious zoom lens - can I fit it to a digital SLR?

[marakka]

Thats cheaper than I picked mine up from AAFES for. Just make sure you are getting a new one at that price and not a refurb.

Trust me.... you won't be upset with it. Take some time, learn it and figure out the post-photo editing and you'll be set. I've got over 150 pictures on my D50 already and I just got it last week. I can't wait to get to some net where I can actually upload them.

Yan.... where do you host yours at without having them downsized?