digital SLR camera recommendations & deals

[ChristyJ]

We're thinking about getting a digital SLR camera for ourselves for Christmas. We've been advised to stay with Nikon or Cannon. (Nikon D40 good starter??)
Does anyone have any advice or has anyone seen any good BF ads for this?

Thanks!

 

[MN_Gal]

We just ordered a Sony a300x yesterday.

We decided to stay away from Canon & Nikon as the image stabilization is in the lens only-not the body of the camera. Sony bought out Konica/Minola and we have a Minolta that we loved.

Good luck on search and enjoy your new camera!

 

[CarlisleMom]

We have owned a Nikon D80 for 1 year now and love it. Make sure you a a zoom lens. We have a 200mm but would like to get a larger one if the price is right.

Not sure if anyone is offering a deal.

I took great pics at WDW, even the fireworks. The pictures are great. Currently the largest I printed is an 8x10. I plan on doing a 10x13 after the holidays.

 

[froglife]

I have a Nikon D40 and LOVE it. I can't say enough good things about it. I got it at Costco with 2 different lenses. They had a great deal at the time where it was $100 off and included a free memory card.

 

[littleteapot]

DH has been shooting Canon for 29 years. He painted a house to get the $$ for his first AE1.

He takes about 15,000 pictures a year. He shoots our Disney trips, our swim meets, all the neighbors Christmas pictures, and my daughter's dance recitals. He currently has a 20D and is one of the many serious hobbiests waiting for Canon to release a full frame digital at the right price point for a non-professional. He has read tons of reviews and looked at the new 50D and he says he'll settle for one of those if his 20D gives out.

Our money is in the lenses, not the camera body anyway. Those will be portable to the next Canon camera body.

www.dpreview.com is a excellent resource for camera shoppers.

My SIL has the Nikon D40 and is very happy with it.

My Dad shoots Pentax.

 

[SueInBoston]

both Canon and Nikon are compatible and there are many arguments over which is better (same with Pentax, Sony, Olympus, etc). I suggest you go to a camera store and hold one to see how each feels, the button/dial position and how it fits your hand.

 

[bridget]

I have a Canon 40D and LOVE it! It takes the best pictures, and am very please with it.

The only negative thing I can come up with is that it is very heavy.

My sister is looking at a Nikon D40. It is in the low $400s-$450 price range.

How much do you want to spend?

 

[DawnM]

I have a Canon 40D as well and one thing I would recommend is to make sure you get the IS lenses (Image Stabilization). It makes a HUGE difference.

We love ours and haven't had a bad shot yet.

Dawn

 

[MN_Gal]

If you click the link, it will give you all the digital camera deals linked for BF-including some DSLRs

http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/BlackFridaySales/Category/DigitalCameras

 

[CarolA]

I have a Canon.

My feeling is that Image Stablization is not near as valuable as folks make it to be UNLESS you are shooting under REALLY low light (when a tripod makes a lot better difference anyway) The reason is that there is not NEAR the delay you get on a point and shoot. You hit the button, it takes photos. A friend took mine on Safari in Africa and WOW the shots.... Her friend took a point and shoot. There was no comparison and neither girl was a "photographer"

If this is his first DSL. Don't over buy. I have never really needed to move up and have done a lot of shooting.

Personally I am not a fan of Sony based on my prior point and shoot experience, but tend to stick with Canon. (I have three one DSLR, one Fancy point and shoot and one basic) LOL!

 

[homedad]

i got the a100 (sony) because I could use some of my old lenses. i would stick with canon, sony or nikon.

 

[emer95]

I just got the Nikon D60 and I love it. The pictures I get from it are amazing, and I am very much a newbie. I hope to get some time to play with it and get to know it better over Christmas break.

 

[erin.w]

Im researching my first DSLR right now, and am looking at Nikon. Specifically the D60.

 

[ChristyJ]

Thanks for all of the great advice & recommendations!

 

[Shmily1]

I got DS18 a Canon 40D with the IS lens. IS is very important for him since he has tremors and with this camera, he can take awesome pictures that do not look shaky at all. He has had it for over a year and loves that camera!!

Also, I saw that Dell has a sale on the Canon Rebel now. My boss has that one and loves it! He did hate it when I told him what kind I bought for DS though!!!

 

[Jeanne B]

As some others have suggested, I strongly recommend going into a local retailer and handling some dSLR's. When I purchased my first dSLR a couple years ago I was set on a Canon until I went into the store and handled it and realized it was too small for my hands and the Nikon was just the opposite, it felt too big so I ended up taking a chance on buying the Pentax K100D online knowing the dimensions were in between both the Canon and the Nikon and as it turns out it was perfect for me and Pentax has the IS in the body so no spending a lot of money on a lens with IS.

There are so many great dSLR's out there, I really don't think you can go wrong with any of them, it's just a matter of what features are important to you. And then when you get hit with LBA (lens buying addiction) it becomes an even more expensive hobby!!

 

[Plantlady]

DH has a nikon, I have a canon, we both love them dearly.

I think it's an excellent idea to go to a camera shop and handle the cameras and play around with them.

Good luck to the OP with your decision. I thought I was a good photographer before I got my DSLR, now I am in love with photography all over again.

 

[MM_Bound]

I have the canon XSI. I love it. I agree that Image Stabilization may not really be all that it is cracked up to be. I have both types of lenses and sure it helps but I still take great photos without IS. I prefer the fact that IS is built into a lense and not in the body.
I found it helped me to decide on which body by looking long term, and deciding which line I would commit to, I already had some canon lenses from a film SLR. In the end the body is a small price when you add in all the lenses and accessories you will purchase.
I also found the XSI a little small but then I put the battery grip on it and I love the size now, and I have a vertical shutter button.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

I have the Canon 5D (full frame). I highly recommend canons. I also agree (as a children's photog on the side) you do NOT need IS! Well I'll take that back, if you have the 70-200L 2.8, I'd get the IS that lens is a beast.

I have the 85L and between that and the 5D it's SUPER heavy, but I have no focus(blur) issues.

I would stay away from non-nikon and canons. You might get bit by the photography bug, and find yourself limited with other companies. Trust me, I started w/ a film canon rebel and NEVER thought I'd own a $2700 camera or an $1800 lens, LOL!

 

[mickeymaker2003]

We were looking for cameras. My husband wanted to make sure we bought one where the image stabilization is in the lens, not the camera body. He said the ones in the camera body are electronic (which means the camera processes the image to reduce the blur) and the ones built into the lenses are optical (which means there is a system to reduce the wobble before it gets to the camera). We went with a Nikon D90. Once you get to a larger zoom, it is tough to hold it still enough for a great photo unless you have either a tripod or some kind of image stabilization. With the 70-300 VR lens on his D90, the camera is about 11 inches long from the back of the camera to the front of the lens when it is set at 300. That is a whole lot of camera to keep steady by hand.