Considering a DSLR Camera

[BFMF]

So i've been thinking about getting a nice DSLR camera that will last for a while, but there are a lot to choose from, so I thought I would ask here to get people's opinions on different cameras. I was kind of looking at the Canon EOS 40D, which seems like a nice camera, but it's pricey, and there are other Canon, Olympus, Nikon, & Sony cameras that also look ok.

So, what are your opinions...?

[BigTruck]

I use a Sony Alpha 200 and I love it.  Easy to use, nice pictures, and a good price.  I know it isn't the top of the DSLR, but it has been terrific for me as a first time DSLR user, getting used to changing different settings and lenses.

[Omag 2.0]

Remember that the body is only a small part, as the lenses you put in front of it are far more important.

The 40D sure is a great cam, certainly at it's current price. But if you think it's pricy, perhaps you should also consider a 400D or 450D with a better lens for about the same amount of cash. Think a fast standard-lens - type Sigma 18-55 f2.8 or Tamron 17-50 f2.8

If you need a tele soon ( don't we all), than the 18-55 IS + 55-250 IS kitlens-combo should be high on your list...

It all depends on your intentions and budget really...

[BFMF]

How much better would the 40D be then the 450D?

Would it be better to spend a little more and get a better camera then buy a camera now, and turn around and spend even more on a new camera in a year or two?

As for lenses, I'm really not familiar with them at all

[BAW0343]

As for lenses, I'm really not familiar with them at all

Then I would spend some time on google looking up lenses.  The 400D or 450D will last you a good long time and you'll be very happy with it as long as you have a good lens.  The 40D offers some nice features, such as a faster rapid shots (5-6/sec compared to the 400D 3.5/sec)  Go to the Canon website as it will let you look up all the specs on the cameras and you can make the comparisons for yourself rather then just trusting us.

Think about what you want to do with the camera then get the camera.  If your in the dark a lot you'll want higher ISO's with low noise. If your shooting sports, maybe you'll want more pictures in a shorter amount of time, look at how many pics the camera can take in a burst and how many at a time it can take.

It really doesn't really matter what camera body you get as long as you buy some nice glass for it (lenses)

[Roughrider]

I can only give you a one side opinion , since I have used Canon's for 29 years, but Kris is right, the body is less important than the lense's, when I was going to up grade from 35mm to digital, someone told me don't put your money in the body, put it in the lense. Because in a year or two there will be a body out even big & better than what you bought, and you will want to by that, so for starting out, I would suggest a cheaper model with a better lense. Again, I know Canon, so a Rebel XT , XTI or XSI has everything the better models have except the Megtapixals are more,the display screen is bigger, ect. I would learn with something like that then in a few years, if you want a second camera, you buy the better one then. Plus you can have two cameras with the same lens, which is what I want to do. That way the telephoto lens can stay on one, and the wide angle can stay on the other.

[AMDDDA]

Well, I just got the 450D, and the high-iso noise reduction for night shots is amazing, if that's a factor for ya .

[BFMF]

Ok, so the quality of photos has more to do with the lense then the actual camera body itself? So a camera like the Rebel XSI/450D can take the same quality of pictures with a specific lense that a more expensive camera like the 40D can?

You don't ever feel like you should have bought a 40D over the 400/450 and that they have more than enough features?


So what kind of lens do I need for different types of photography?

[AMDDDA]

Macro lens, zoom lens, the list goes on.

I only have a telephoto lens and a 18-55 MM IS kit lens.


Also, you can easily take better shots depending on the lens .

[BFMF]

Would I need to buy a special lens for normal everyday photos, or is the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens that comes with it be adequate?

I don't understand what the 18-55mm means, or the f/3.5-5.6 means. Is that the magnification, or Could someone explain it to me

[AMDDDA]

Would I need to buy a special lens for normal everyday photos, or is the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens that comes with it be adequate?

I don't understand what the 18-55mm means, or the f/3.5-5.6 means. Is that the magnification, or Could someone explain it to me

On which camera, the 450D or the 40d?

If it's the 450D I can show you pics with all of the spec ranges and show you .

[BFMF]

Would I need to buy a special lens for normal everyday photos, or is the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens that comes with it be adequate?

I don't understand what the 18-55mm means, or the f/3.5-5.6 means. Is that the magnification, or Could someone explain it to me

On which camera, the 450D or the 40d?

If it's the 450D I can show you pics with all of the spec ranges and show you .

That's the lense that comes with one of the 450D packages I was looking at

I would love to see some of the pictures you have taken with your 450D camera.

[AMDDDA]

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/7655/piper1lf6.jpg
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/764/ ... ss1mk8.jpg

^ Those are some of my dog under different lighting conditions.

I'll get you a few more in a minute.

Do you have Photoshop? I'll send you a .cr2 (RAW) file if so.


Also, the F/# is the lowest F-stop (the lower the faster) that the lens can go to when at a certain mm.

At 18 mm it could go as low as the figure you posted and at 55 mm it could go as low as the 5.6 I believe.

[BFMF]

those are nice. What kind of lenses do you have?

Yep, i've got photoshop

[AMDDDA]

those are nice. What kind of lenses do you have?

Yep, i've got photoshop

The one of her outside was the kit 18-55 MM IS lens, the one of her sleeping was my 75-300 MM lens without IS . (Thirty second exposure there, had an F/stop of around 45