Help me pick a DSLR

bizzump. after messing with the canon and nikon at best buy I liked the gui better with the nikon, along with a few other things I have since forgotten since it was 3 weeks ago when i went.

d40; $310

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170504081264&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

nice pick up and price :tup:

BUMP

Not sure if I’m ready to pull the trigger yet, but I’m kinda getting my feet wet as far as DSLRs are concerned. After seeing Walkers awesome shots (as well as others) I’m envious and want a decent camera. I am a beginner somewhat, not overly familiar with all the settings and stuff but I catch on quick.

Looking at this one:
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Black 15.10 MP 3.0" 920K LCD Full HD Movie Digital SLR Camera w/ EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/30-120-355-Z01?$S300W$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830120355

Thoughts? I was also looking for a video camera (something simple) and this does 1080p @ 20fps… I don’t want to go any higher in price or my fiancee will remove my testicles with a ball peen hammer…<—Yeah I know

The T1i is a solid choice for a beginner, especially if you are intending to use its video function.

Id swing for the D3100 before the T1i…

Sorry, forgot I was on NYSpeed where suggesting a Canon over Nikon is like saying domestics are better than Japanese cars…

i might have a D80 with a grip for sale soon, just dont know if i want to let it go

would be

D80
grip with 2 batteries and charger
2 remotes

Price?

I can get the Canon for like 600-650

before you buy a kit, you may want to help illustrate the type of photographs you plan to take to start out. The kit lenses are sometimes pretty crappy, and you might be able to buy the body/lens seperately and end up getting something that’s going to be better suited for the type of photographs you want to take.

Mainly just point and shoot stuff. Trips to the zoo, sporting events, just basic photography. Don’t plan on doing photoshoots or anything like that. Also I can always do after effects in Photoshop. The added bonus is the 1080p video capture. I plan on doing some stuff with youtube soon including stuff for my fiancee’s website as well. She has a Canon Powershot now, a decent point and shoot camera, but I’d like something a little nicer that does HD movies.

you want a DSLR to just point and shoot?

mine would come in under 600, keep in mind this is without a lens though, probably around 500 seeing as used bodies alone go for $500+ on ebay still…thats not including the grip etc.

yea this doesn’t sound like a good idea to me, waste of money imo

No…well yeah…but more than that. Actually take good shots at outings and events. More artistic photos, rather than “look at this picture of my cat”.

Also the video feature would be awesome. I plan to start doing some various video work, for different purposes, some a little more professional than others. I was originally looking at the Flip UltraHD, but that shoots 720p and doesn’t include the boss camera.

you can buy “point and shoot” cameras that take great pictures. Owning a DSLR won’t make your pictures magically look awesome. I’ve got some (read: many) I’ve taken with DSLR that look horrible.

I agree, my fiancee’s camera takes pretty good pictures in the right conditions. I’d like to step it up and get a camera that shoots at a higher resolution and is more adaptable to different lighting, and situations, etc.

ugh. I wish my d40 did video.

and in the ‘get a dlsr or not’ argument I would say go for it, ya never know when you might want x feature or to really get into photography to more of an extent than a point and shoot could take you.

i dont know cannon at all. what is the comparable nikon to that cannon you posted?

while i really believe in buying the right thing the first time rather than waste your money on something youre going to grow out of i also think there is such a thing as buying too much camera for your needs

+1

I just think if you’re going to always have the camera set to auto, and be using the pop-up flash on it, then it’s a waste of time.

It takes a good deal of dedication to take good pictures with a DSLR. My mom did this same thing. It’s the exact reason why I have a D80 with baller lenses just at my disposal. She made my dad buy one so that she could take pictures of my sister’s baby. Then she realized that a good point and shoot was better and never touched the D80 again. I’ve had possession of it for over 2 years now. My dad has probably $2k into this camera and lenses and if I wasn’t using it, it would be collecting dust in my mom’s closet.

A shot on a DSLR on auto looks nicer then most point and shoots.

Buying meh stuff then outgrowing it or upgrading is for poor people and is a concept that keeps people poor as well. FACT

Buy what you want once. Try to get a used one and if you don’t use it they way you desire then sell it. Crazy concept I know.

exactly. I love my d40. my Dad has a d3 and I hate it. too many buttons and shit. plus its heavy.