cameras

[B~C]

I have to get a better camera before next summer. What would be a decent priced camera that is:
* user friendly
* takes instant photos, tired of that durn delay
* interchangable lenses

thanks

[marvin4239]

I bought a Nikon D40 SLR about 6 months ago and I've been pretty happy with it. It comes a zoom lens and additional lenses can be purchased. I think it was $595. I don't know much about cameras but it came highly recommended by consumer report magazine. The pictures in my photos album were taken with it. It doesn't have the delay my previous Kodak digital had plus is pretty simple to use. It comes with a rechargeable battery that has really good life between charges provided you turn it off when not in use. I think it is physically the smallest of the SLR digital cameras.

[rogerbum]

I just bought the Nikon D40x - same size as the D40 but 10.2M pixels instead of 6M. Can be found online with a 18-55mm lense for around $600, about $700 in retail stores. Also need a memory card (1GB = 200 pictures @ about $35). I bought this one specifically because I had a bunch of older Nikon lenses from my 35mm film camera and they fit and work on the D40x (or D40 or other Nikon digital SLRs). The older lense from my autofocus film camera have to be manually focussed on the D40x, but to me that's not a big deal.

As mentioned above, these cameras get great reviews and are easy to use in the auto mode. They also provide a lot of control should you want it.

[snal]

D40 all the way, unless you don't mind used, I've picked up 2 D70's off of ebay with lenses for under $350.
Ritz has the D40 (non-X) w/ 18-55 for $599.

Then get the $20 Quick-E-Pics program online....great for resizing and compression of batches pics.

[RJD Wannabe]

d40x @costco with 2 lenses!!! 10 MP

I have a D70 from when they first came out, wonderful. D40 is easier.

These (digital SLRs) have no "shutter lag."

My D70 is 6MP, not sure if 10MP (megapixels, size of ditial image) is really necessary unless you are doing BIG enlargements or just using a picece of image. The Nikon D40 (non x) is also 6MP. I can't really justify the $$ to replace my D70. They are great cameras. So are the Canons. If you have older lenses from a SLR, they may be interchangable, but only the telephotos make sense.

If you want to do some serious digital image processing, can't say enough about Photoshop Elements (aka Photoshop Light). Much simpler and cheaper than the whole Photoshop ($80 vs $600+), very powerful, but easy. I love it, even though I really on use about 5-10% of what it can do.

[sportner]

Ken, welcome home. Toni and I bought the Canon XTI SLR with 18-55mm lense for $650, 10.2 MP, stabilized lenses available but any old Canon lense fits right on. The older version is the Canon XT, 8 MP and I think you can buy that body and starter lense for about $450.

Good luck

[snal]

[marvin4239]

After rereading my previous post it' the D40 model I have not the D40x. The D40 is 6 meg and I think the D40x is 10 meg. The D40 is very simple to use.

[starcrafttom]

We had a cannon rebel film camera with a few lenses so when we went digital we just got the cannon digital model rebel. That way we could use all the same lenses on the new camera. you can also pick up old lenses cheap because folks don't know you can still use them.

[sailor-d]

I went from a mid-70's Pentax SLR to a Canon S1IS digital a couple of years ago. Being a previous SLR steam camera user the "lag" drove me crazy. After a lot of research I settled on the Nikon D40x with the auto-focus Nikkor 18-135mm lens - a good compromise if you don't want to be changing lenses all the time. The battery life is excellent and I always capture what I see when I shoot. I am very pleased with this camera.

[dogon dory]

Sorry, Folks - Post Deleted By Author

[RJD Wannabe]

be careful on using old 35mm camera lenses as the focal lengths aren't the same. The sensor on a digital camera is smaller, so there is a conversion. A disaster if you try to use an old wide angle lens. I have a great 24 mm Nikon lense from my 35 mm camera, but on a digital nikon it's the equivalent of a 36 mm lens, not at all the same. better with telephoto, as a 200mm lens becomes the equivalent of a 300 mm lens. It because 35 mm film (size with sprocket holes) has an image size of 24x36 mm, the digital sensor of a digital camera is smaller, thus the 'smaller" lens sizes. A "standard" lens for a 35mm camera is 50mm, for a digital, it's about 33mm.

So, my 24 mm wonderful old lens is no good on my digital, but my old telephoto zoom (70-210mm) is now like a 105-315mm zoom. Also, many of the lenses will have autofocus that still works, some won't. I am just going to stick with new lenses made for digitals. The Nikon series has some great values in their reasonably priced digital lenses (I like their lower priced lenses better than others), but the pros are evolving into Canon more and more (but at over $1k per lens)

In many reviews, the Nikon D40 and D40x are getting best buys for that level camera. Canons are also great cameras, but I'm a loyal Nikon fan.

[Sealife]

Have been an owner of a Canon 10D for years, awaiting the new 40D scheduled for September announcement. Well, lucky me, got one of the first ones delivered. 10.1 mpx, 3 inch LCD, fast as all get out, plus alot more advanced upgrades.

[Sawdust]

Nikon D-100, Nikon D-200, and many old Nikon lenses. Great cameras, lousy photographer!

Dusty

[B~C]

thanks for the input folks, it will be good to have a short list of cameras as I keep my eye out for a good sale.