Spend towards body or lens?

[Relish]

I have read many threads here and elsewhere on entry level dSLR cameras. I have prior experience with an SLR Pentax K1000 and own a Minolta Maxxima w/AF lens of some sort (50mm or 35mm).

I have to buy a dSLR for work purposes, creating a digital archive of printed material. My budget is $500 of grant $ with a little flexibility, but very little unless I add out of pocket money and there isn't much to be spent.

In the end, I will keep the camera for personal photography and without the project I would not have the option of buying a camera like this. Thus, I am trying to choose well.

The Question:
Should I try to start on a Canon or Nikon path (thinking D40/40x right now).
I would not be able to afford any lenses, period, for at least 2 years or more.

If I bought a Sonly Alpha kit I could also use my current Minolta lens and find used ones much cheaper. (I tend to prefer buying things used. Just personal preference).

Any opinions about whether I should be 'lens poor' for a few years but have a Canon/Nikon base (body) started or go with Sony where I could be slowly building more lenses along the way?

I am also open to other suggestions than Sony, Canon and Nikon.

Thanks!

 

[MICKEY88]

one advantage of going with the Sony, is that image stabilization is built into the camera, rather than lenses and as you mentioned, some good deal can be had on used Minolta lenses, although as more people go the Sony route, those deals are fewer..

 

[Master Mason]

go to the store and play with them, one of them will feel the best to you, either because of the way it feels in your hand, or the intuitiveness of the controls etc. That's the one you should get.

 

[Code]

Which Minolta AF lenses do you have?

 

[gokenin]

silly question but do you still have the pentax SLR? You can all lens pentax has made from any era on all of our modern DSLR's the only thing is you will need an adaptor for the M42 lens and you will not have autofocus on the K,M or A series lens but you will have aperture control on the A series. All lens from the F, FA and DA series will work completly on the DSLR. This also makes for picking up older lens cheaper than new ones

 

[Relish]

Thanks everyone for the help/advice. It has been very useful.

The Pentax was on loan from a relative and is likely sitting in a box somewhere in another state but is not available to me

I went back to a store to play with their cameras and liked the Canon and Sony better than the Nikon. They only had a Sony Alpha 300 and 350 though. Usually, I don't feel much differece between the cameras.

That said, I am now looking online at used Canons and wondering about a 30D or 20D vs a Rebel XT or XTi. I don't think I can swing an XSi. I am seeing some body only deals at reputable places. I would then just by a 50mm prime lens for my starter and avoid a kit lens all together.

Feedback?

 

[Anewman]

That said, I am now looking online at used Canons and wondering about a 30D or 20D vs a Rebel XT or XTi. I don't think I can swing an XSi. I am seeing some body only deals at reputable places. I would then just by a 50mm prime lens for my starter and avoid a kit lens all together.

Feedback?

Do not know your exact budget, but Adorama has a refurbished 40d @ $699 And Bestbuy has a Nikon D200 @ $650

it is a buyers market

EDIT... My apologies, I reread your post and see that your budget is $500 Ignore my reply

 

[JR6ooo4]

I bought a "competant" Canon rebel body. But the lenses I bought can be used on the pro body models, if I ever have money to upgrade.

The archiving you are doing, is it all one size paper? Like 8.5 x 11 or legal size? Is it text or line type diagrams or photo quality in detail?

what are the shooting conditions? You could get a $400 body and the 50mm f1.8 lens for about $80-100. That would start you out nicely and under budget.

When buying used it is good to buy local. Buy from a shop that will be there for you. Sometimes a lens is not as good as it should be. Or a camera body might not last a week. I pay a little extra to get personal service in those situations. But B&H Photo is pretty good that way also...

Mikeeee