Need DSLR advice

Cam_Bell

Cam_Bell

Member
So Ive had a growing interest in photography since I was 13 and I think its about time I bought a camera. Im looking for a digital SLR that can change lenses, at least 6 megapixels, preferablf over 2.5 frames per second, bulb to 1/4000 shutter speed, you get the idea. Ive used a canon digital rebel xt and I liked it, but I think I might go for something a bit better.

Ive been to camera shops and looked at Nikon D40's and D40X's, they both seemed good but without using them for a good length of time I dont know what theyre really like. The guy at the camera shop really seemed to be trying to sell me the Pentax K10D, mostly because Im not going pro so its cheaper in the long run because I can buy used film camera lenses, and canon and nikon have different mounts for digital and film, plus their lenses cost more to begin with.

As for price range, thats the main reason Im reluctant to get the K10d, but I think I might outgrow something like the digital rebel pretty quick, and I dont want to spend less now then more later for a new camera, I just want to buy one camera now that I can keep for the rest of my life. Im supposed to be saving for university, and I need to get a job, but Id like a camera for at least half of this season. So if the body is under $700 Canadian its a viable option. An estimate for the K10D came to 1200, and a rebel with a lens comes to around 700 I think....

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 
Everybody hates on Sony or just doesn't look at Sony DSLRs but hey... I got a A100 and im very happy with it. The only thing about it is that ISO 800-1600 is very grainy, but it has image stabilization in the camera, so you save A LOT on the lenses, and you can mount old minolta lenses on them. Anyway. I'd wait for new sony models to come out like the A300 or 500...
 
the step up from the XT is the Rebe; XTi -its a solid great camera and allows you do want you want and go beyond
 
That's sort of what I thought when I bought mine, but now I wish I'd just gotten a 20D instead. I think that would be a better option for ski photography, and the price of a new xti body is pretty close to a used 20D.
 
thats the vicious cycle of technology though, when you buy somehting later on you always think...damn why didn't i get the one that was a bit better
 
So Im thinking abotu going relatively high end used, like a canon 20d, theres a store in toronto called henrys that sells used cams. www.henrys.com its pretty much all over southern ontario
 
if your talking about the henry's by queen (that is you take ttc till you get to queen and its in that area) then theres another place your should definitely check out. Its right beside Henry's(a couple stores over) called downtown cameras....check it out , i got my lens from there. They have everythuing
 
Nikon D40 (6mb), D40x (10mb), D70 (6mb), D80 (10mb) all work fantastic. The D80 is a lil more in price then the other 3. I would steer clear of the Pentax, kind of a dieing breed. Also the Sony, they bought out Minolta cause they wanted a race in the DSLR and minolta's were never that good to begin with. The cannon 20D is a good one as well but its a lil more pricey
 
yeah from what I can tell on the canon website, film and digi cams use the "canon EF mount" so I dont know what the guy in the shop was talking about...

however, right now Im thinking used 20d or k10d instead of a new rebel or d40.
 
canon 35mm and digital lenses work on both...i've done it. also, the nikon D40 is a joke if you're into photography and actually know what you're doing. i don't think you'd really outgrow the rebel that quickly...i know plenty of people who use it for professional deals (published work, clothing companies, etc.) so i don't think that's something you can hold against the rebel. you should look into maybe a nikon D70 (?). personally, i use a canon 20D and love it, the rebel was too small for me and i felt like i was about to drop it all the time.
 
I have an XTi and i really like it. I think Nikon just has more options with their lenses. You can always make it work the way you want it to, but I personally like my camera. You also don't need the most expensive camera to take an awesome picture. The big screen is a huge plus on the XTi in the long run I find too as it is 2.5 inches. I haven't worked with many other cameras, but I can speak for the rebel and it is an awesome camera. 
 
hmmm... from various threads in photography-on-the.net (which is affiliated with canon) most people say if youve never had a DSLR before a 20d, 10d, or rebel is fine. better pics have been taken with rebels than 20ds, it depends on the photographer more than the equipment sometimes. I just dont want to go too low and feel restricted.
 
just wondering what lenses do you have with the XTi? all I have is the kit and I really want to upgrade but I still need ideas.

I have the Rebel XTi and compared to the point and shoot I used to use I never feel restricted at all. I love it. sometimes I think ooh, should have gotten the 20d but I really don't need it. only plus it faster shutter speed I think. right now I only feel restricted by my lens.

 
I use a Sigma 17-70mm with my XTi and it's worked really well for me so far. The next thing I want is a telephoto of some sort, but that will have to wait until I actually have money.
 
I just have the stock lense right now. I am looking into getting a wide angle for my next one though. I do more sports than anything so wide angle fits my best intrests. Fish eyes I find are a little restrciting sometimes. They can be used on everything obviously but they fit the snowboarding and skateboarding styles more, IMO. It all depends on the look you want i guess. Wide angles are really versitile, cause you can acheive a fish bowl affect with them also. I just find that perhaps a fish eye would be something you could look into further down the line and whip out every so often, however I find they are really really awesome none the less. A telephoto has just been something i'm not too interested in at the moment, but whatever floats your boat for your style. 

It just really does depend on the photographer and not the equipment. I've seen some pretty unreal shots even taken with point and shoots, let alone disposable cameras...
 
I have used both the Nikon d40 and d80, and for the increase in the megapixles and frames per second I liked the D80 much more. However a friend of mine that is a semi-professional photographer wont use anything but the rebel xti. he has used a canon of one type or another for over 5 years. He has about 6 lenses including a fish eye and he would get the same camera if he was going to get another dslr.

So it is pretty much a personal opinion try to feel the camera and check for certain features that you want.
 
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