Help Me pick an SLR...

[ForceFed]

I have about had it with the Slow Recovery of my "Point and Shoot".

It takes Awesome pics for a $200 Camera...if you dont mind Snapping more than 4 pics...
....Per minute. (boom06)

I want to click off as many shots as I feel the need for.....
Right now.

SO I have been looking at SLR's and I am not Sure what to get.
Obviously money is an Object..isn't it always?
...and I am no pro..but I do want to be able to do some special effects and be able to play with lenses and filters.

You know how it is..you buy a toy and you learn it as you go.

I would prefer to buy something from BestBuy as I like having one place to deal with all of my Stuff...and Same as cash is always nice for me.

I know BB Has packages usually listed in their ads..but nothing Spectacular this week.
I am just looking for the Best Bang For the Buck.

Let Hear Some thoughs on this.

 

[wmbeaver]

The best way to choose an SLR is to go to the store and mess around with the different ones, honestly. Everyone has different has different tastes in cameras, and some cameras just feel better than others to some people. I prefer Nikon bodies because they feel better in my hands. It's best just to go to the store, and pick and hold and play around with the different cameras. I think it might be easier once we are given either a price range, or maybe a certain manufacturer you would like to have over another. Good luck, hope this helped a little bit.

 

[ForceFed]

I have done that already.
I guess I want to stay Under $1000 or so....Give or take.

I just wnt a nicer camera that can Click off shots fast but is still user friendly for a noob with options for more advanced as I get more involved with it.

Does this help.

 

[kickniteasy]

like beaver said....cameras are a lot like cars and this is like getting a group of tuners together and asking, "Alright, which is better, toyota, mazda, or honda?" The debate might never end. That being said I personally would look into the Canon Rebel XT or the higher end XTi.


edit.....after seeing your budget I'd say XTi

 

[wmbeaver]

I have done that already.
I guess I want to stay Under $1000 or so....Give or take.

I just wnt a nicer camera that can Click off shots fast but is still user friendly for a noob with options for more advanced as I get more involved with it.

Does this help.

Yea it does help. I know most places (I'm sure Best Buy does) offer a package that has the camera + normal zoom lens and extra zoom lens. I would recommend getting one of those packages, because I soon realized how much the higher zoom came in handy. I'm a Nikon guy, so I'll just show you 2 Nikon packages showing what I'm describing.

D60:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8815829&type=product&id=1206749663612

D40:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=999993400050001&type=product&id=pcmprd93500050001

Cameras are getting so 'good' now that really choosing a camera just depends on how it feels and such. You really can't go wrong with any of the major manufacturers.

 

[LEXi73]

To be honest with you best buy will not offer the "best bang for the buck". Being that I know you would like to purchase the item and take it home with you, I'm not sure your willing to go this route. Having instant access to the product is what your really going to pay for. I would suggest going to BB and choosing what you would like and then looking online for the body and choose some other lenses than what BB offers...this will give you the best bang for the buck. Obviously this is a little more work and research but you'll end up paying less for the body, and get better quality lenses out of it.

That being said, WM Beaver posted some Nikons for you, Ill post some Canons

If I was looking at an entry level Canon I'd probably get the XSI. Great low light noise handling, live view, upgraded view finder, fast AF. Here is a link to BB:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8794691&type=product&id=1205537713445

Other Options:

30D:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...&shs=&at=Brand_Canon&basicSubmit=Submit+Query

XTI:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/457506-REG/Canon_1236B002_EOS_Digital_Rebel_XTi.html


XT:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7026069&type=product&id=1099394810083

and i agree that they are all very good....go and play with a few and see what feels food in your hand, ease of use, ease of operation etc...

 

[ForceFed]

I would prefer to buy something from BestBuy as I like having one place to deal with all of my Stuff...and Same as cash is always nice for me.

My point and Shoot is a Cannon..and I do like Cannon Products...so yes..what you are showing me is nice....

And I primarily said BB because of the Same as cash Credit offers and th extended warranty is nice....Plus being able to walk in and deal with people vs. Internet sales.

I dont mind ordering things not in there store....I just want to get it through them.

 

[mx-p5]

I have a Canon Rebel XT. Picked it up with 2 batteries and 2 memory cards for under $600 off Ebay.

Do you want new? If that's the case, i'm not sure if you can get an XT anymore new.

Head to your local Ritz camera or any other higher end camera shop. They should be able to help you MUCH more than Best Buy or Circuit City will

 

[Cellerator]

Man, your title is misleading... The first thing I thought about was SLR Mclaren and the 2nd thing I thought is, did you win the lottery...

 

[DeanSweet]

I picked up my 1st 'real' camera from BestBuy this past Spring and have no complaints about it thus far. I finally decided on the Canon PowerShot S5 IS. http://www.dpreview.com/news/0705/07050703canons5is.asp

with the way my luck is with cameras, I decided I didn't need to spend $500+ on a digital camera so I looked for less than that.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...rshot&lp=8&type=product&cp=1&id=1172881524725

-Dean

 

[WonderMike]

Ok I have been through several different cameras and several SLR's to me it is slightly more complicated than which one "feels" better to you...I mean Nikon has ease of use for entry level....and Canon has better noise control on thier entry level SLR's....so if you have questions I would be more than happy to answer them for you but picking one out I cant unless I know more of what you will be shooting...

 

[kickniteasy]

I have a Canon Rebel XT. Picked it up with 2 batteries and 2 memory cards for under $600 off Ebay.

Do you want new? If that's the case, i'm not sure if you can get an XT anymore new.

Head to your local Ritz camera or any other higher end camera shop. They should be able to help you MUCH more than Best Buy or Circuit City will

XTs are everywhere....there one of the "standard" DSLR cameras....BB, CC, Target, Wal-Mart....they all have them

 

[ksrogue]

Being as that I used to work at a best buy and in their camera department, I can tell you that they don't really have s*** for cameras... or many knowledgeable people. My supervisor considered me the expert in my department and he had been there since 1989!
I eventually moved on and a few years and a degree later, I am working at a camera store for specialty everything.
The majority of the guys in our store shoot Nikon or something other than Canon, as I am the only Canon shooter there.
If your budget is around 1000, you'd be hard pressed to find a camera and a decent fast lens. Remember, you're working with light to be fast, so the larger the aperature, the more light that gets in.
In your budget, the XSi and the XTi are both good ways to go with canon.
the XSi is a 14bit color camera so your colors will be much better there. If you want a higher end camera, you can probably find a 20d or a 30d for much much less on ebay or the like. I still shoot my 20d and it does just fine for what I need currently.
The Nikon D40 and D60 cameras are good, but to me, they lack the image sensor quality that Canon has. More professionals shoot Canon in the industry, and I think that speaks for itself. Nikon is more easy to use, but I think if you read the manual, and you know what you want to do, either will be just fine.
Our shop still has a few XTs and I believe we are out of XTi's but I'm not to sure on the latter. I'll be glad to answer anymore ?s you might have.

 

[ForceFed]

Do you want new? If that's the case, i'm not sure if you can get an XT anymore new.

Head to your local Ritz camera or any other higher end camera shop. They should be able to help you MUCH more than Best Buy or Circuit City will

I agree..I canot find one on BB's Site.

And I want to buy frm BB Specifically for ease of Warranty and PAyment....Must I reiterate....I love Same as cash.
It's like free money to me..no interest.

Man, your title is misleading... The first thing I thought about was SLR Mclaren and the 2nd thing I thought is, did you win the lottery...

I wish..LOL

I picked up my 1st 'real' camera from BestBuy this past Spring and have no complaints about it thus far. I finally decided on the Canon PowerShot S5 IS.

That Cmarea look nice and all...But I like to buy things once....I wanted a Digi before...so I bought a reasonable that served its purpose...Now I need something a little more flexible and A hell of a lot faster.
How many Shaots can this one take...I need burst speed.
I want to snap off as many shots As I feel the need to now.....Not one every 10 seconds like I have now.

I miss soo many good shots because of a slow camara start up and recover speed after shots.

Ok I have been through several different cameras and several SLR's to me it is slightly more complicated than which one "feels" better to you...I mean Nikon has ease of use for entry level....and Canon has better noise control on thier entry level SLR's....so if you have questions I would be more than happy to answer them for you but picking one out I cant unless I know more of what you will be shooting...

I would be shooing what ever..Indoors,outdoors, my car and bike.....Some sporting events.
I need a good all around camera....and my Canon hasn't let me down and I like the pics in the "PAS"...so I can only imagine how nice an SLR will be from them.

XTs are everywhere....there one of the "standard" DSLR cameras....BB, CC, Target, Wal-Mart....they all have them

I just dont see them listed...are they listed under a different number?

 

[WonderMike]

Being as that I used to work at a best buy and in their camera department, I can tell you that they don't really have s*** for cameras... or many knowledgeable people. My supervisor considered me the expert in my department and he had been there since 1989!
I eventually moved on and a few years and a degree later, I am working at a camera store for specialty everything.
The majority of the guys in our store shoot Nikon or something other than Canon, as I am the only Canon shooter there.
If your budget is around 1000, you'd be hard pressed to find a camera and a decent fast lens. Remember, you're working with light to be fast, so the larger the aperature, the more light that gets in.
In your budget, the XSi and the XTi are both good ways to go with canon.
the XSi is a 14bit color camera so your colors will be much better there. If you want a higher end camera, you can probably find a 20d or a 30d for much much less on ebay or the like. I still shoot my 20d and it does just fine for what I need currently.
The Nikon D40 and D60 cameras are good, but to me, they lack the image sensor quality that Canon has. More professionals shoot Canon in the industry, and I think that speaks for itself. Nikon is more easy to use, but I think if you read the manual, and you know what you want to do, either will be just fine.
Our shop still has a few XTs and I believe we are out of XTi's but I'm not to sure on the latter. I'll be glad to answer anymore ?s you might have.

Best advice yet.......

also be advised with the Nikon D40 and D60 they use a different lens type so not all AF lenses will be compatible with them

 

[mx-p5]

Matt, check your local best buy if you're looking to buy there. The site shows they don't have it, but my local store i think has one in the case.

 

[kickniteasy]

I was at my store today and there were 6 in the case....I guess head to the store and see what's there. I work at Target for the time being and I know we have 12 in the backroom.

 

[ForceFed]

Went to BB tonight..And Checked out the XSi....A little more than the price point I want to be at with the goodies I was wanting..but I think it will be the best bang for my buck.

It is a 12.1MP, Uses cheaper SD cards and has a 3" live view find feature....not to mention it shoots 3.5 Frames a second.


I was looking at the Camera body with the standard 18-55mm Lens, the starter kit, and a 2G Mem Card..With a 4 year warranty would put me right about $1200 or so.

A bit more than I wanted to spend...but its a nice new model with some features that the XT didn't have for only a few hundred bucks more.

I am gonna wait and see if they offer a betterdeal on it here soon of wait for a Reward zone member Coupon to come in I think.

 

[gr?]

I prefer buying used and letting someone else eat the depreciation. Camera bodies are rugged and rarely run into issues.

 

[kipper88]

I just bought the Canon IS1100 SD along w/ a highspeed 2 gb flash card. camera is fast and takes good pics for a point and shoot. I originally bought the nikon which was in the same class as the canon but returned it.

camera was purchased on amazon for $200.
bought the flash card from Sam's Club for $23.