Help me pick a DSLR, please

[Swoop1]

So in preperation for our upcoming Dec. WDW trip I am looking to take the plunge into a DSLR and leave the point and shoot stuff to my wife. I'm having a real hard time trying to decide what to get. Cameras I have been looking at and trying to decide between:

Canon Rebel XTi

Canon Rebel XSi

Nikon D40x

Nikon D60

I'm looking for something that is gonna be easy to get started with but at the same time has alot of features for advanced photography. Also would like the camera to be able to take good night shots, I.E. Fireworks and stuff. Would I be better going with an XTi or a D40 which are cheaper, thus allowing me to purchase additional/better lenses, or is something like the XSi or D60 that much better that it's worth the additional invesment. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jengonz1982]

subing to this one because I am debating almost those same exact cameras. I don't know if I should just get the d40,and upgrade to a lens that I can use for nighttime shots,or just get a d60..

I was looking at a Sony that has infra red,or whatever its called so I can take pics at POTC and not use flash,but actually have usable pictures..

 

[Troop o' Goofs]

There is a similar thread found HERE

 

[ukcatfan]

To be fair, have you considered the other brands like Pentax, Sony, and Olympus? I would also suggest going out to a camera shop to handle all of them in person before making a decision. Most have very similar features and performance, but the feel and handling can be vastly different. Also check out the entire system to make sure it has everything you want now and in the future (and for the right price). One last note, while the low end Nikons (D40 & D60) are very nice, there are no cheap low light lenses available for them that auto focus b/c there is no focus motor in the body. The cheapest I know of is around $400.

Kevin

 

[ukcatfan]

I was looking at a Sony that has infra red,or whatever its called so I can take pics at POTC and not use flash,but actually have usable pictures..

Not sure of what you are talking about here. Are you sure that you not confusing a video technology? What you need to do that is a wide aperture lens. Pentax, Canon, and Nikon seem to be the best options for that at an affordable price. The C&N 50mm f/1.8 is around $100 and the Pentax 50mm f/1.4 is $175. The other brands are more expensive. Since you mention the D60, understand that the $100 lens will not AF on it.

 

[contempory4me]

I hope you don't mind me piggybacking onto your thread but I'm in the same boat- looking for a dSLR.
Anybody have any advice for something small, quick between shots and able to take good pic. s of competative swimmers?

Muchas Gracias!!

 

[thomas998]

So in preperation for our upcoming Dec. WDW trip I am looking to take the plunge into a DSLR and leave the point and shoot stuff to my wife. I'm having a real hard time trying to decide what to get. Cameras I have been looking at and trying to decide between:

Canon Rebel XTi

Canon Rebel XSi

Nikon D40x

Nikon D60

I'm looking for something that is gonna be easy to get started with but at the same time has alot of features for advanced photography. Also would like the camera to be able to take good night shots, I.E. Fireworks and stuff. Would I be better going with an XTi or a D40 which are cheaper, thus allowing me to purchase additional/better lenses, or is something like the XSi or D60 that much better that it's worth the additional invesment. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

If your only Nikon choices are the 40 or 60 then I would say pass on them.. a D80 would be mayb 100 more and is a much better camera....

As someone mentioned night shots are expensive if you can only use lenses with the built in motors... but with a D80 you could get older nikon lenses that are fast and will autofocus perfectly with the D80... Not to mention the D80 has a much brighter viewfinder since it has a real prism and not the mirrored setup in the cheaper Nikon's...

Now just to add to your confusion.... there are other Dslrs besides Canon and Nikon. Sony's A100 can be found as cheap or cheaper than the d40 and d60 and would allow full usage of all existing minolta autofocus lenses... not to mention it has image stabilization built into the camera where as the Nikon only has that when you purchase the higher priced lenses.... If I wasn't married to a collection of Nikon lenses I might consider the Sony... I mean Nikon uses Sony's sensors in some of its cameras so the cameras can't be that shabby.