I'm going to get an entry level SLR cam now. Finally after being off track with my point and shoot SD550.

Goal: Fun, scenics, actions, portraits, etc.

Decision:
1. Nikon D50, 28-80mm & 70-300mm, Battery & Charger, Bag - $800 + tax
2. Canon Digital Rebel XT kit. - $800 + tax - $100 Canon rebate

Both has its pro and con. I'm not looking to invest a lot of $$ into lenses. At least not right now when I get the camera. I want to get use to it first, THEN get the lenses.

What do you suggest I get that allows me to do what I want right now and future proof?

In no way I'm looking to be professional. Just something for self satisfactory

 

fucking pimp.





oh yeah, anyways, no, i don't know shit about cameras.

 

With film, lenses were the most important thing you could buy, the camera was just a box that held the film. Digital, the camera in effect is also the film, so that's important too, but you can get a nice spiffy camera and throw crap lenses on it and the pictures won't be so great.

As for Rebel XT vs. D50, the XT has a better sensor and image processor, the D50 feels more like a camera and less like a toy compared to the XT and has a couple other picture-taking features that the XT doesn't have.

If you're just going with cheapie deapie kit lenses, pick the camera that feels better in your hands and has menus that you can understand better.

 

if you go with the d50, get the 18-70mm lens.the kit lens that comes with the d50 isn't very good.

 

When the digital revolution hit, we had Canon film cameras, so we went with Canon digital, because all the lenses were compatible. No matter which brand you get, make sure you get the motor drive attachment that holds the extra batteries. The extended bottom of the camera makes it feel better in my hands, and also has a shutter button on the bottom right hand corner. When you take a verticle shot, turning the camera counter clockwise in your hand, you'll have a shutter button in the same spot as when you take horizontal ones. You won't have to reach your arm around awkwardly. I'd suggest Canon because I'd used them for years. Elan II E (film) and Canon 10D & 20D. Either way, you'll have a blast. Don't go too high end early on, because they lose the on-camera flash that can come in handy when you're first starting out.

I just noticed you're looking at the rebel. Not a bad camera at all. h:

 

thanks guys,

Rick - Those lenses are what came with the package, so I guess that they're pretty sucky then.

Oh well, then I'd go with the XT seems I'd have to invest in lenses sooner or later, and the D50's kit lenses aren't that great

 

The Canon community is a good one. I think you may be able to find more enthusiasts who can answer questions for you if you get stuck.

 

I would go with a Nikon D50, but I am a loyal Nikon owner. I have had several, and they have always been amazing cameras with excellent support.

 

Yeah. Nikon, Canon. Either one, you've scored.

 

On the bigger cameras I find that's kind of unnecessary. I used to have an EOS A2, now a T90. Either one's a good deal bigger than the Elan II or the 10D/20D. The T90 sort of has a halfway vertical grip built in, but it's so heavy I prefer to hold it by the main grip. The A2 wasn't too heavy so the vertical grip would have been tolerable, but I never had problems turning the camera.
There's plenty of Nikon geeks online too. They'll put up a pretty good fight with the Canon geeks.
Better to get one good lens than two poopy lenses. Here's some good lens choices.

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM - $509
Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II - $449
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC - $409
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC - $389
Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor - $339

The Tamron and Sigmas are both available in Canon- and Nikon-specific versions. They have faster maximum apertures (let in more light if you want) which helps with hand-holding in low light situations, and also helps you get that cool out-of-focus background look (called bokeh). The Canon lens has image stabilization which lets you shoot at a slower shutter speed while hand holding and also helps you work in lower light. The Canon and Nikon lenses have silent autofocus motors whereas the Tamron and Sigma make little motor whirring noises, and of course the Canon lens is not available in a version that will work on Nikon cameras, and vice versa.

Also, I haven't looked at prices lately, but a while ago if you wanted to buy the D50 and 18-70mm Nikkor, it was just as much as buying the D70 kit which comes with the 18-70. Not sure if that's still the case.

Canon has a better image sensor but they stick those crap lenses in the kit. I'd definitely go with at least one of those Sigmas for sure. The 18-50 is optically better than the 17-70 and also has a faster maximum aperture. They're both f/2.8 at the wide end but as you zoom the 18-50 stays at f/2.8 and the 17-70 shrinks down to f/4.5.