Need Advice: Beginner DSLR

[cooperS]

For those photographing experts, i need some help to decide which DSLR camera i should get.

i am currently looking into these models:
Canon XSI
Canon XS
Canon XT
Nikon D60
Nikon D40

i like the grabbing of canon compare to nikon but nikon is more into my price range. my price range is from 400 - 700.

should i buy it in store brand new so that i can get warranty? or is it safe enough to buy a used one?

thanks for advance!:thumbsup:

[The_Rural_Juror]

At this stage, don't fuss too much about which one to get. There won't be much of a difference in image quality among those choices.

Just get something that feels good, is a good deal, and makes you want to go out and practice. You are probably going to upgrade in a year or two if you catch on with this expensive hobby.

Edit:

What I have learned from beyond.ca:

Canon for shooting panoramas
Nikon for shooting cats
Olympus if you have girly hands

[quazimoto]

+1 to buying a nikon or canon.

I would seriously just tell you to buy the camera that feels the most comfortable when your holding. It may sound trivial but some people find major ergonomic differences between canon and nikon.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Used cameras are fine, you just need to make sure it doesn't have a ton of shutter actuations or major scuffs/scratches, never been dropped, etc. Generally people take pretty good care of their camera equipment.

If I were you I would up the budget $100 to $800 and get the Nikon D60 with 18-55 VR and 55-200 VR lens kit. Awesome starter package and good bang for the buck lenses. For $800 I don't think anything from other manufactuers can touch that package.

Ergonomics are often over looked though so if the Canon feels THAT much better to you personally, give that some thought too.

[blitz]

Yup, go to a store and handle them all, see what you like. I really preferred the feel of a Nikon to Canon, so that's what I went with.

Buying used can work just fine, but there's always a risk when you're buying electronics out of warranty.

[cooperS]

thank you guys! i will stop by some stores again this weekend!

[Pacman]

I went through this a few months ago when buying one. I opted for the D60. I was trying to find a new D40 but they were all sold out.

Looking for a used D40 or D60 is a bit of a hassle, as most sellers want $50 less than full retail(many want more than full retail on kijiji) , and you don't get the warranty and expose yourself to the risks of buying a used camera.

I have no idea how Nikon compares with the entry level Canons.....but I found the D60 to be very easy to use and is probably more powerful and has so many features that I will ever be able to fully take advantage of it.

Good luck
james

[D. Dub]

See what Costco is offering -- they often have amazing prices for entry level cameras/kits.

[scary_perry]

XS with a bag is $550 at FS right now.

[Euro838]

What does everyone thing about the Nikon D5000 vs say the D80 or D60?

I'm not too familiar with them but which would you recommend for a beginner DSLR? Is the price jump worth it for the D5000? I'm seeing a D5000+18-55 mm lens for around $900 and the D60+18-55 mm lens for around $600.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by Euro838
What does everyone thing about the Nikon D5000 vs say the D80 or D60?

I'm not too familiar with them but which would you recommend for a beginner DSLR? Is the price jump worth it for the D5000? I'm seeing a D5000+18-55 mm lens for around $900 and the D60+18-55 mm lens for around $600.

IMO the only issue with the D5000 is that it's priced so close to the D90. The D90 for the $200 or whatever it is difference in price, you get way more than $200 more camera. The D5000 is the D60 replacement, so it is definitely better (uses the D300 & D90's 12MP CMOS sensor). The D5000 compared to the D80 is a little different. The D80 is older, but has more features (such as a built in AF motor, etc.). The sensor is better in the D5000 though. Honestly if you can afford it, buy a D90 and you aren't likely to be held back by it for a long time (if ever). If you just want a camera to fiddle with every now and then rather than a real interest in the hobby, get a D60 for cheap. That is just my opinion, of course, but I think it makes a lot of sense to buy at the point of deminishing return if your budget allows.

[Euro838]

What do you think about the following?

Nikon D5000 12.3 MP Digital SLR with 18-55mm VR Lens Kit and Nikon 55-200mm Compact Telephoto Zoom Lens With Vibration Reduction (AF-S DX VR)

for $1000

Would this be a good starter set?

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by Euro838
What do you think about the following?

Nikon D5000 12.3 MP Digital SLR with 18-55mm VR Lens Kit and Nikon 55-200mm Compact Telephoto Zoom Lens With Vibration Reduction (AF-S DX VR)

for $1000

Would this be a good starter set?

Yes that would be an excellent starter set, definitely better than the competition, and a good price (The Camera Store has that set on for $1148, and is usually the cheapest, so $1000 is good). Just make sure both lenses are indeed the "VR" variants, because there are optical differences as well between the VR and non VR versions of each.

If i were you I would buy the D90 and 18-55 VR for the same price..the D90 is a lot more camera, and you can always add a longer zoom lens in the future (that 55-200VR only costs $275). You also might want to get a better lens anyways after you've owned it for a little while. Other starter lens options are the new 30mm f1.8 or the 50mm f1.8, but they don't zoom. That 50mm f1.8 will only autofocus on a D90 or higher as well because it doesn't have a built in autofocus motor. Both lenses have ridiculously good price/performance ratios.