Need help chosing a GOOD D-SLR

[BushFishRox]

Well I just got a nice raise so I can afford a better camera, up to $1300CAD for a good kit.

Right now the ones I am looking at are:

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]CANON REBEL XSI W/18-55 IS/55-250IS BLK $1300

[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]NIKON D60 D-SLR W/16-85 VR NIKON LENS $1270

[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]NIKON D80 D-SLR W/18-70 DX NIKON LENS $1150[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]PENTAX K20D DSLR W/18-55 II DA $1300
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
those are my top pics, red is my #1. what do you guys think?[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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[Nicksplosion]

i would go with the D80.
and get a macro and wide angle to go with it!

 

[Chaitika]

If you like Nikon, the D80 is more advanced than the D60. The pentax is a pretty sweet body, but I'm not familiar with that lens.

My suggestion? Go to a camera store and handle each of them. My decisions owuld be based on which feels better in my hands.

 

[rallysman]

My suggestion? Go to a camera store and handle each of them. My decisions owuld be based on which feels better in my hands.

This^^

All of them are capable of producing great pictures as long as you know how to use it. What feels the best? What has the best selection of lenses (locally is a plus)?

 

[---XR---]

If you like Nikon, the D80 is more advanced than the D60. The pentax is a pretty sweet body, but I'm not familiar with that lens.

My suggestion? Go to a camera store and handle each of them. My decisions owuld be based on which feels better in my hands.

do you have any experience with the K20D? it has appealed to myself aswell, but i haven't found any users yet to get first hand experience info.

 

[Chaitika]

do you have any experience with the K20D? it has appealed to myself aswell, but i haven't found any users yet to get first hand experience info.

One of the guys on Aquatic Photogrpahy shoots with the K10D and takes some awesome pics and I do believe Uwe on this forum uses the K30D. I've never shot with it, but the images coming out of them are pretty darn good.

 

[BushFishRox]

If you like Nikon, the D80 is more advanced than the D60. The pentax is a pretty sweet body, but I'm not familiar with that lens.

My suggestion? Go to a camera store and handle each of them. My decisions owuld be based on which feels better in my hands.

here is some info on that lens:
http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/st...rtmentId=10404&categoryId=11802&itemID=234755

• Wide Angle Zoom Lens
• Quick-Shift Focus
• SP (Super Protect) Coating
• Filter Diameter - 52mm
• Filter Window
• Covers Wide to Moderate Wide-Angle
• Developed specifically for PENTAX digital SLRs
• Aspherical elements to compensate for spherical aberration
• Focal Length - equivalent to 27mm to 82.5mm in the 35mm format
• Lens Mount - PENTAX KAF2
• Focal Length - 18-55mm (equivalent 27.5-84mm)
• Aperture - F3.5-5.6
• Minimum Aperture - F22-38
• Lens Construction - 11 elements in 8 groups
• Angle of View - 76-29 degrees (w/PENTAX DSLR)
• Minimum Focusing Distance - 0.82' (0.25m)
• Maximum Magnification - 0.34X
• Diaphragm Control - Fully Automatic
• Number of Aperture Blades - 6
• Hood - PH-RBA 52mm
• Objective Cap - O-LC52
• Case - S80-120
• Maximum Diameter x Minimum Length - 2.7 x 2.7" (68.0 x 67.5mm)
• Weight (w/o Hood) - 7.8 oz. (220g)

 

[Chaitika]

Even looking at specs, it's tough to say just how good a lens is until you shoot with it. I'm quite certain it would do fine outside and would require lots of light indoors. I'm not sure you'd be satisfied with the auto-focus speed shooting anything moving even moderately quickly.

 

[BushFishRox]

I think I will just have to wait and check them out at the store...

 

[The Amazonian]

Nice!