Best Camera for the Price

[calismic]

So we have decided to go with the Canon Digital Rebel XTi. Compared with the Sony and the Nikon this camera just seems to be much smaller and feels lighter. Additionally I was hard pressed to find anything negative about the XTi. As soon as we get some pictures taken I'll be sure to post a few! I can't wait to see what my extremely amateur eye can do. We also decided to pick up the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 lens as well. (Thanks jrok!) Amazon had it for $69.95 and free shipping!

 

[PhotoDave219]

Back in the old days before zoom lenses and digital cameras, the 50/1.8 lens was the standard lens you bought a camera with. On a full frame CCD or 35/mm camera, it gives the same field of view that the human eye gives. That lens is one of my favorites.

 

[TLS]

thanks for the reply!
I've currently got the tz1... it is a little lacking on manual controls

The newer version of this (the TZ3) has what I consider a VERY important feature in a P&S..... WIDE angle capability.

With most P&S cameras coming in at an optical equivalent of 38-40mm, the TZ3 features a 28mm wide angle setting.

Does this scenario seem familiar.....Holiday shots in front of the Christmas Tree. Get the whole family in front of the tree....next thing you know your back is against the wall trying to get everyone in the picture! WIDE angle is so important in a camera, yet is the least represented feature. Everyone seems to look at how FAR (Tele) it will zoom. Give me a decent wide angle and I'm happy.

 

[JROK]

So we have decided to go with the Canon Digital Rebel XTi. Compared with the Sony and the Nikon this camera just seems to be much smaller and feels lighter. Additionally I was hard pressed to find anything negative about the XTi. As soon as we get some pictures taken I'll be sure to post a few! I can't wait to see what my extremely amateur eye can do. We also decided to pick up the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 lens as well. (Thanks jrok!) Amazon had it for $69.95 and free shipping!

Great choice! They don't call it the nifty fifty for nothing! Enjoy your new camera! And make sure you read the manual and use the camera to the best of its abilities. Enjoy!

 

[Deadmanwalking]

Since your on a budget of 400-500... I'm going to suggest you don't get a new camera, your budget really isn't big enough to buy a DSLR and any accessories you would want/need. I would suggest you look into buying a used or demo Nikon D50, its good enough to make you wonder why you ever used a point and shoot and yet retains the ability to use all of the auto focus Nikon lenses ever made. I think I saw one suggestion of a D40, but if you do get one you are then forced to buy the more expensive nikon autofocus lenses because the D40 lacks an internal motor to focus all but the high end nikon lenses... The reality is your camera isn't the investment, the camera body will be replaced every so many years, the investment you are making is in the lenses and accessories that will be used with the next camera body and the ones to follow.

If your starting out on a budget in DSLRs don't look for the bleeding edge of DSLRs, the just abandoned ones will be much cheaper and still provide the budget minded with excellent results. In the end the most important aspect of getting a good picture is the lens on one end of the camera body and your eye on the other end.