Fiancee' wants a camera for Christmas. Her mom is buying it and won't spend but a few hundred. Are there any D-SLR cameras out there that aren't too high, or is that the direction we need to go?

I told her if she's going to spend a few hundred bucks on something to get a good camera. We really just don't know jack about what makes a camera good. Mainly point and shoot applications, but I'd like to have something that I can take out and do decent photoshoots of all my toys.

Any suggestions?

 

Buy my Canon Rebel Xti for $420 shipped.

 

Or a new Nikon D40 for a similar price. Good Luck.

 

Sony A-200 bodys can be picked up pretty cheap and you may find some A-100's for a bargain....


One of the most important things you need to worry about is the best lens you can can get with the body unless you / she are going to be spending more soon... Lens's that come with the bodies arnt much cop, so your gonna be spending straight away... Used / Ebay / refurbished Canon may be a way forward...

 

rickyislaZy... does that come with a lens setup?

I saw the Sony A200K in an ad for like $5xx that looked pretty nice. Then there's nothing but up from there in price.

What about the Nikon Coolpix P80? Seems like the best camera in it's class according to it's attributes. I don't really know though.

 

D40 is a good DSLR choice if you want brand new, but they are bigger than your normal point and shoot.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/

If you want a point and shoot with the capabilities of a DSLR. Look into the Canon G10, it shoots raw so you can post process your pictures.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong10/

if prices are bit steep, you can probably check craigslist or ebay, used D40 w/kit lens usually goes for about 300.