What camera would you suggest?

[phoj69]

My wife is pregnant with our first child and we are looking to purchase a more professional camera. Right now we have only used point & shoot cameras but my wife is really into photography and she wants a camera that we will be able to use for years to come. I am looking to spend between $700 & $1000 but I would like to try and get the extra lens as well that most stores have packages for. Any suggestion for a professional camera for a sort of newbie? Also where would be a good place to shop for this as well??? Thanks for the input

 

[Frantasmic]

Sams and Costco will both probably have packages for the entry level dslrs for both Canon and Nikon with the holidays approaching. They will probably package the T2/T3 for Canon and the Nikon 5100 with the 18-55 and the 50-250 lens package for a good starter kit.

Ritz camera is also good to watch for similar deals.

 

[photo_chick]

Any of the entry level DSLR's are good cameras. Make a list of features you want, look at the cameras that have those and fit into your budget. Then go to the store and play with them. Make sure your wife goes to play too, since it sounds like she'll be using it a lot. You want to check and make sure the buttons are easily accessible, and that it doesn't feel awkward in your hands. whichever one fits the best for all of those things, go with it.

Since you're having a baby, you may want to consider a setup like the standard kit (usually an 18-55) and a fast prime lens (like the 50mm f/1.8 or similar lens). It will probably serve you a whole lot better than getting one of the telephoto zooms they tend to bundle with cameras for the type of shooting you'll be doing of a baby for the first couple years. You'll want that fast prime to get indoor and low light shots of your baby without using the flash.