Mmmm tax's came back and looking to pickup a starter. A guy at my work got me into photogaphy and is a complete Cannon nuthugger but I've heard nothing but good things about the D40's as a starter too. Which would you choose and why?

 

In my opinion, i have played with both cameras, d40(friends) and xti (owned for a week, then returned)

D40 is small but imo dosnt feel like a camera, it is limited with its functions and 6-7megapixels i believe? For xti, its nice and all but the model i got did not have image stabilization lens, 9/10 pictures came out blurry (without using the tripod)

After i returned the xti, i have gotten my self a350 sony, and could not be happier. great camera, great fucntions, only down side is limited amount of lens, BUT what i heard is that you can use older sony lenses, which is win win because new sonys have image stabilization already build in the body.

 

Thanks for the info. It sounds like all 3 have their downfalls. Should I just step up and buy a D60? I heard that has the features that most people gripe about when it comes to the 40's. I'll have to check out the a350 this weekend.

 

Not Xti's fault. Just the lens are cheap that is why. Why did you return it? because 9/10 pics came out blurry? You could have gotten 18-55mm IS(image stabilizer) then no blurry at all.

 

How much is the 18-55mm IS lens?

 

had my xti for over a yr now and im happy with it as a starter camera. I know the main differences that made me choose the xti are:

Xti 9 focus points, d40 3
xti 10megapix, d40 6
xti dust control self cleanning sensor, d40 n/a

The xti is more of a competitor to the d60 nikon.

Other thing to consider (that gave me a big push towards canon) is canon's lens variety. Nikon will give you a bit less variety, and i found out that most lenses that nikon has (that are comparable to canon) will cost you more. Just my .02c. Good luck, hope that helps.

 

XTI is really good for starter camera. Quality pics, but it might feel kinda small in your hand. I have canon 20D and it fits perfect. Just wish the LCD were bigger. If you can, go for 30D or Xti, Xsi. All good cameras. Nothing i can tell you about nikons though.

 

you can buy used for 100 ish.

 

That's very helpful information. Thanks. I'm going to have to take a look at the XTI again.

 

d40 will be just as small as the xti. Thats y i bought the battery grip for the xti. It not only gives you more grip but i can take 2500~3000 pics on one charge. Go with the Canon and you won't be sorry.

 

If 9/10 pics came out blurry you returned the camera before you learned how to use it.

Sony's are known to have higher noise levels at high iso. Even the high end alpha 900s. But each has their own preference i guess. Btw even though sony has built in stab, most of the older lenses will not have autofocus, so you wont buy them anyway.

 

I think there are more people using canon than nikon. so opinions can be biased.
i can post some pics of this lens i got called Nifty Fifty(50mm F1.8) which i have very much fun with. I am sure there is one for nikon as well but if you wish, i will post pictures late at night.

 

battery grip is around $150 OP. If you are tight on budget, you need to consider all these things. 18-55mm won't fill your stomach. It is kinda boring lens. and if you need battery grip on top... its probably more than how much you wanted to spend in the beginning. photography is a expensive hobby.

 

^+1. Coundn't agree with you more. Photography is as addictive and expensive as doing mods on ur car. There are always some new things that come out and that you will want. I started with the xti with kit lens, and after a yr and a few grand in the hole i have 2 more lenses, speed flash, baterry grip, 2 tripods, 2 carrying cases... yea it gets expensive.

If photography is your thing it will all be worth it, but if you just want a camera to take nice pics and save raw files for hdrs, and advanced editing, it might be worth looking at the canon g9 (or i think the g10 might be out too).

 

As someone who has an XTI I'd recommend a Cannon XS as a good started DSLR. It's smaller and you're probably not used to a big (relatively) camera and it's got pretty much all the same features as the XTI and it comes with the 18-55 IS lens.

 

i was debating what starter DSLR to buy between the d40, d60, xs, and xsi. i ended up choosing the xs. it's the newest out of the 4 and i am very happy with it. the nikons are nice, but i prefer canon because i'm used to their layout. i chose the xs over the xsi because it basically has all the same features except for a few i would never use and it was $200 less. i bought mine off of ebay using live.com's 12% off buy it now auctions. i ended up paying $400 for the camera w/ lens kit.

 

In my opinion, image stabilization/ vibration reduction isn't necessarily needed to produce crisp/still images. Perhaps at night it can be useful, but you'll be fine without it during the day for sure.. Just use a tripod. Recently, I just got a d80 as my first slr due to how it feels and the kit lens it came with (18-135 nonVR). Anyways, the d40 comes with a kit lens 18-55mm with VR and so does the canon XS/Xsi (18-55mm IS). Either way you'll be happy.

 

wow wish i could get that deal now, best i've found is 2% cash back for one.

 

it's currently 8%. go on live.com and type in ipod... it should be one of the first ad's you see...

 

I've dumped so much money into cars that little things that cost $100.00 here and $300.00 there seem like nothing. It's sad really lol to be honest I thought it was going to be more expensive than what it is. But like most things in likfe it's always seems less until you actually do it.

Are there any other big differences between the xs and xsi? I plan on going the used route since I am a noob and the depreciation would have already affected it. (think noob for motorcycles) I don't need a new one since I'm just learning. Any other tips I should look for or gear I should pick up if I end up just getting a body?