Digital camera recommendation

[Alex V]

You can do the 17-55mm f/2.8 for $1300 instead of the 24-70mm for $1800, also.

Have it, love it, best lense EVER! lol

[crusader4x]

Just last week I purchased a Canon T2i and love it. My dad has a Canon XSi and prior to that he used a Canon F1 for 25 years; still has it I think. My last SLR was a Canon EOS Elan 7E and loved it as well. My point and shoot is a Canon A640. It's about 4 years old and did a really good job in between the Elan and T2i.

Any guesses about which I'd recommend?

Honestly though, I don't think you could go wrong with a Canon or Nikon. The Sony Alphas did sort of catch my eye too, but went with what I know and got the Canon.

Fry's has a special on a slightly older Canon T1i kit right now but it's barely out of your range. Within your price range is the really good Canon XSi at $590.

[Preferred User]

I have several cameras. Point-and-shoot and SLR (digital and good old fashioned film). While I like my SLRs I find that carrying one requires some planning and a bag full of equipment (2nd lens and flash at a minimum).

About a year ago I got a Canon PowerShot G9 (superseded by the G10 and G11) that I now use almost all the time. And when I need more capability I add a lens adapter from LensMate and can add a wide angle, telephoto or macro lens or any manner of filters.

Just an option to throw into the mix.

[rljatl]

Canon EOS Rebel T2i or whatever the entry level Canon is now.
Personally, I would only consider Nikon or Canon for an SLR. Many people feel that Nikon has better bodies and Canon has better lenses. This is subjective and personal opinion. Some Canon bodies can feel "plasticy." Spend plenty of time playing with the arrangement of buttons and dials. Can you operate the buttons and dials naturally and comfortably?

One of the fundamental differences between the two brands has to do with where the auto focus motor is located.

All of Canon's current auto focus lens lineup have the motor in the lens. This is the preferable place for the motor for several reasons. Also, even many lower end Canon lenses use a ring ultrasonic motor rather than a more traditional motor. The ring ultra sonic motor is same type that is used in almost all Canon Pro "L" lenses.

Generally speaking, Nikon uses a motor in the body and in some lenses. This varies with the body and with the lens and therefore, this creates a compatibility nightmare, imo. The motor in the body uses a screw driver blade that mates with the lenses in order to drive the focus mechanism. This screw driver motor is louder and not as fast as the much superior ring ultra sonic motors that are located in the lens. Nikon also has lenses that use ring ultra sonic motors, but not as many as Canon. Nikon calls their ring ultra sonic motors, "AF-S" or "silentwave motors." Even some popular Nikon Pro lenses do not have the ring ultra sonic motors.

Nikon users like to tout the fact Nikon bodies can use any Nikon lens. That applies only to some bodies. Take a look at the Nikon lens/body compatibility chart before you place too much emphasis on this "feature."

There is a lot more to it. You may want to check out this web site: http://photo.net/equipment/
Scroll down to the, "Our Most Popular Photography Equipment Articles" section.

See also:
1. http://photo.net/
2. http://www.dpreview.com/
2. http://www.fredmiranda.com/

[sl4mdaddy]

Man, I'm WAAYYY behind the times as far as cameras go. I still have a Nikon EM SLR.

[lalakai]

I will definitely agree that many photographers are even more fanatical then AR owners, in their preferences.

But apply the same reasoning and you will be happy. Most major cameras will give you very similiar results, and it's at the upper end that you will start noticing the differences; at that point you have to decide at which point your wallet dictates your actions.

Get to a camera store with a good variety and line up several models (in your price range); which one feels the best in your hand? Which one has the more logical menues (for you)? Then start looking deeper. Is weather sealing important, do you want the flexibility of using standard AA batteries in a pinch, will you be looking to add a motor drive in the future, does it have a dioptic correcter on the view finder?

I can usually work with any camera, but the ones that feel best in my hands (balance, grip, button layout) are the ones that are most comfortable to use and usually stay in my hands longer. You could have the besting shooting M4 on the market, but if it feels like %%$& when you shoulder it, how much are you going to enjoy shooting it? (lol and yes you could also have the best feeling M4 and it shoots like crap). Hopefully you can find performance and "feel" in the same platform. Good hunting.

[kwelz]

I am a Nikon guy. Cannon makes good cameras but Nikon has always felt better to me. Right now I would say they are about equal in quality, except for video capability where Cannon has a slight edge in their prosumer level cameras.

Look at the D5000. Should be right in your range. It has the same CMOS sensor as the D90 but without some of the more advanced features. You can get it with a lens for about 600 right now. The only thing I don't like about it is the flip out screen. I am afraid it builds a failure point into the camera.

ETA:
Used Cameras are not a bad idea but I suggest you get something with a CMOS sensor in it if you do buy used. THey are much better than the old style CCD sensors. CMOS does much better in low light especially.

A great site for camera stuff is http://dpreview.com/

[Avenger29]

I brought a Canon Rebel XS back in January and took a photography class with it this semester. At $450, it was affordable for me.

It, IMHO, is pretty good for an entry level camera. It comes with an 18-55 lens, which is not totally horrible, but it is one of the things you will want to upgrade.

One of the better choices in the Canon lineup, however, is the Canon T2i. It goes a bit over your budget, but it's a good camera.

Like AR rifles, the camera body is the cheap part of the equation. Lenses, tripod, flashes, the list goes on and on...

Figure the cost of Lightroom into the equation. You are going to need something to at least tweak, rename, organize, and convert the photos. Shoot in RAW format, by the way.

If you don't know much about cameras, learn how to use one. Leaving it on automatic mode (the "green box" on Canons) means you will never enjoy the DSLR to anywhere near it's full potential. It will just be a big, expensive point and shoot...

After four months of near constant shooting with a DSLR, I could not go back to a point and shoot. The instant responsiveness, looooonnnnnnggggg batter life, comfortable form factor, usable and simple controls (DSLRs don't try to cram all of the functions into 3 buttons), and quality of results has sold me. I run with minimal support equipment, so my bag isn't huge and bulky like many photographers

[ra2bach]

IMO, the differences between the two (Canon and Nikon) are very slight. it come down to the best deal you can get and personal preference on control layout, etc.

whatever you get, if your eyes are anything like mine, do yourself a favor and get at least a 3" preview screen on the rear. and the ability to do video is very nice - well worth the extra couple bucks...

[militarymoron]

i'm a nikon DSLR guy, as i had nikon film cameras/lenses already. whichever you go with - nikon or canon, for an entry-level DSLR, i think you'll be happy with.
the 'nikon vs. canon fight/debate' wouldn't exist if there was a huge, distinct difference between the two. for cameras at the same price level, it's in the details, and more about personal preference than performance.