Entering the DSLR realm...

O noes! I've been bitten by the photography bug! I've been looking around camera/lens review sites for several months now contemplating what I should get. I know there some photographers out there who might have some input as to what I should do here. I'm not going to bother posting on some forum like dpreview and such since I'll be told lots of junk by people who can actually afford to get those Canon L-series lens's and such.

I'm mainly looking for a camera for family events like weddings or holiday parties. My brother owns a Rebel (300D) and has been urging me to grab a DSLR too. Personally, I just think he wants to fiddle with something new when we get together. D

If I go with the Canon Digital Rebel XTi[=http//www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/digital_rebel_xti-review/index.shtml]Canon Digital Rebel XTi then my lens choices would be the Sigma 17-70[=http//www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/sigma_1770_2845/index.htm]Sigma 17-70, and the Tamron 17-50[=http//www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/tamron_1750_28/index.htm]Tamron 17-50. Is it really necessary to grab that 50mm 1.8 prime lens[=http//www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_50_18/index.htm]50mm 1.8 prime lens for indoor portrait shots or will one of the two third-party zooms I'm considering already do a decent job?

I was pretty much deadset on that XTi setup but after reading some stuff on Ken Rockwell's webbie, I'm starting to consider the Nikon D40[=http//www.dcresource.com/reviews/nikon/d40-review/]Nikon D40 and just using the kit lens[=http//www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/nikkor_1855_3556/index.htm]kit lens. It'll cost me around 50% of what I'd pay for the Canon but I'm worried that since there aren't any good And cheap lens's compatible with the D40 at the moment, I wont' be getting the image quality that I'd expect from a DSLR. Also, is the D40's three point autofocus system going to be a problem? It's the lowest of all the camera's I've considered (XTi has 9) and I'm not sure if this will effect performance that much. I like to take landscape shots as well when I'm on vacation so the fact that the D40 doesn't have a good cheap wide angle lens might present a problem.

Last consideration is that after testing all these out at Circuit City the other day, the Rebel XTi has a sllightly awkward grip while the D40 is snug but maybe a bit too small. I prefer the looks on the XTi to that of the D40 but at a price premium of around 600... Is it worth it to get the Canon XTi and a nice sharp f/ 2.8 lens over the Nikon D40 and the kit lens it comes with?

Good god that was a lot of typing... Thanks in advance. D

I'll be waiting for responses...

(and links to DIY sites with the chosen camera) ;)

FWIW, I have the Nikon d50. The kit lens that it comes with is very versatile, and I use it for most of my photography. I'd like to get something with a wider aperature eventually, but I'm extremely pleased with what I'm getting out of the kit lens.

I've always been a Canon fan myself, and for some time have been trying to decide between the 30D and the XTi. The XTi has a higher MP, but the 30D is a higher quality, more pro-line camera.

Then Sony goes and complicates things with their release of the Alpha, which is getting all the raves right now. They basically married Sony CCD technology with a Minolta SLR camera. The reviews are outstanding, saying it's better than DSLR's costing much more. It was Popular Photography's Camera of the Year for 2006. 10.2MP, anti-dust vibration, image stabilization in-camera instead of the lens, so ANY lens becomes image stabilized, etc. Price is comparible to an XTi.

I'm really torn. Also consider the Nikon D80, which was the only camera reported by PP to have slightly higher image quality than the Sony Alpha. However it's priced quite a bit higher, up around the Canon 30D.

[quoteefe1ec0bc6="dmorris68"]I've always been a Canon fan myself, and for some time have been trying to decide between the 30D and the XTi. The XTi has a higher MP, but the 30D is a higher quality, more pro-line camera.

Then Sony goes and complicates things with their release of the Alpha, which is getting all the raves right now. They basically married Sony CCD technology with a Minolta SLR camera. The reviews are outstanding, saying it's better than DSLR's costing much more. It was Popular Photography's Camera of the Year for 2006. 10.2MP, anti-dust vibration, image stabilization in-camera instead of the lens, so ANY lens becomes image stabilized, etc. Price is comparible to an XTi.

I'm really torn. Also consider the Nikon D80, which was the only camera reported by PP to have slightly higher image quality than the Sony Alpha. However it's priced quite a bit higher, up around the Canon 30D.[/quoteefe1ec0bc6]

I've considered the Sony as well but their ISO 800+ performance is quite disappointing for a DSLR. Since I'm going to be doing lots of indoor shooting, high ISO settings with low noise is very important. My friend who owns a D80 loves it and takes it anywhere and I've used it on several occasions and found it to be a great camera too but if it's true that the algorithms used for AF and Exposure are the same on the D40 as well, then is it really worth a good 500-600 dollars to get an extra 4 MP (which will definately be noticeable but perhaps not necessary) and compatibility with Nikon's full range of primes and zooms (when I haven't a Nikon lens setup to start with)? After poking around a bit more, I'm really leaning towards the D40 but I'm afraid that if the photog bug keeps getting at me even after I get the camera, I'll regret it since the D40 has a really limited set of lens upgrades that offer a reasonable price/performance ratio.

There's always hope from that rumor going around about the Canon 40D that when it does in fact come out, 30D's will drop in price down to a nicer price point where it offers similar performance to the XTi but with much better ergonomics. The line is definately due for an upgrade since the XTi snatched quite a few 30D customer's away with the same AF system and a bunch of other improvements. Really depends on whether you're willing to wait until around March or so for them to announce it and however many months it takes for them to get the 40D out to sellers. Hopefully they'll drop the 30D to around the price of a D80 and give Nikon some competition with a solidly built camera.

well you can always get an older camera for cheaper but you never do.
you always just say well i want the new one...
you can get a rebel v1 on ebay for under $300 with kit and stuff... I would still rather have a d40 because it is the latest of everything with a sensor that is not overkill.

I currently have a Nikon D80 and love it, however I did my sales speech in speech class on DSLR's and to my knowledge the Canon Digital Rebel XTi had the best results and price. CHeck it out!

I think I've pretty much gotten to a point where the next one that goes on sale or gets a rebate will be the one I have.

[bd363dfe2f5]Performance[/bd363dfe2f5] Advantage to the Rebel XTi because of the overall better system with way more MP, 9 point AF, etc.

[bd363dfe2f5]Performance/Price Ratio[/bd363dfe2f5] Nikon D40 considering it's half the price and produces very good high ISO pictures.

[bd363dfe2f5]Expandability[/bd363dfe2f5] Advantage Rebel XTi for the much much larger lens spread available as upgrades and also for having an optional battery grip.

[bd363dfe2f5]Ergonomics[/bd363dfe2f5] Advantage D40 for being a better fit than the Rebel XTi in terms of the grip despite being smaller. Both are pretty good looking cameras though I learn slightly for the Rebel.

Usability Pretty even here though the D40 has a slight lead. Rebel XTi has the dedicated ISO, WB buttons in the four way on the back. D40 has the Function button and also a very user-friendly customizable quick menu system. Both are very portable systems with a very nice bright 2.5" LCD screen for reviewing the previous shot for adjustments.


What the hell to do... They should totally come out with a Canikon...

Bought a D80 a couple of days ago. Looking forward to taking some nice HDR shots. BTW, amazon has it in stock now with the famous lens kit.http//uniprize.com/nice.JPG[" alt=""/imgfb184fbd14]

http//mandanning.deviantart.com/

Take a look at this photographer I'm subscribed to on DeviantArt. He uses a Canon Rebel XTI and look at the quality pics he takes =D

[quote92aed134e5="UniPrize Media"]Bought a D80 a couple of days ago. Looking forward to taking some nice HDR shots. BTW, amazon has it in stock now with the famous lens kit.http//uniprize.com/nice.JPG[" alt=""/img92aed134e5][/quote92aed134e5]

I've tried out HDR shots using my SD700 (and my bike as a tripod ? ) and Photoshop's default tool doesn't really deliver the goods. Is Photomatrix pretty much the only good program for it?

I'm itching to buy a DSLR but I'm trying to hold off since PMA is in a month and hopefully Canon drops a 40D with specs that would be enticing enough to take a money jump. For now though, my trusty ELPH will have to do. Luckily, it's a great camera for most situations as the two pictures I took this weekend during my "Urban Biking Expedition" below show.

[img="92aed134e5]http//aycu37.webshots.com/image/9276/2002098732014381547_rs.jpg[" alt=""/img92aed134e5]

[img="92aed134e5]http//aycu37.webshots.com/image/10596/2002056392107461509_rs.jpg[" alt=""/img92aed134e5]

[quote07a6559170="Aurelius"][quote07a6559170="UniPrize Media"]Bought a D80 a couple of days ago. Looking forward to taking some nice HDR shots. BTW, amazon has it in stock now with the famous lens kit.http//uniprize.com/nice.JPG[" alt=""/img07a6559170][/quote07a6559170]

I've tried out HDR shots using my SD700 (and my bike as a tripod ? ) and Photoshop's default tool doesn't really deliver the goods. Is Photomatrix pretty much the only good program for it?

I'm itching to buy a DSLR but I'm trying to hold off since PMA is in a month and hopefully Canon drops a 40D with specs that would be enticing enough to take a money jump. For now though, my trusty ELPH will have to do. Luckily, it's a great camera for most situations as the two pictures I took this weekend during my "Urban Biking Expedition" below show.

[img="07a6559170]http//aycu37.webshots.com/image/9276/2002098732014381547_rs.jpg[" alt=""/img07a6559170]

[img="07a6559170]http//aycu37.webshots.com/image/10596/2002056392107461509_rs.jpg[" alt=""/img07a6559170][/quote07a6559170]

Ya, from what I been reading Photomatrix is the best tool out there.

Those are nice pics for a small camera. These DSLRs are huge and can't really carry them around easily.