A little overwhelmed with decisions, help me pick a DSLR

[33shooter]

Hello, I'm new to the site, and new to digital photography. My wife and I have always had point and shoot cameras, but she has always wanted to get a degree in photography and start a business taking pictures.

We've never been in a financial situation that would allow us to do this, so she's sat her dream aside for me. She followed me around while I was in the military and took care of the house, and kids. Well, now I went and did it. I saved enough money to get her started, and need help deciding what to get her. She is hoping to start classes either this fall, or spring. The class requires her to have an equipment list. Here is the list:

Equipment List

* Pro Series Digital SLR Camera - Must have the ability to have an interchangeable lens system, photograph in RAW file setting and have a minimum of 6 megapixels
o Memory Card
o Backup Batteries
o 18-55mm lens
o 55-200mm lens
o Camera Bag (Optional)
* Medium Sized Tripod - Must be able to firmly secure a SLR Camera + Flash
o Monopod (Optional)
* Lighting
o External Camera Flash with the ability to shoe mount
o Hot Shoe Cable (for off-camera flash connection where camera does not have a PC terminal and/or flash does not have an off-camera terminal
o Sync cord (for off-camera flash connection where camera does have a PC connection and flash has an off-camera terminal
o Hot Lamps (3) (Continuous tungsten - 3200/3400 degree kelvin - light source)
o 3 Light "Kit" - To include 3 Monolights, umbrellas/softboxes, radio slave set, cords and stands
o Reflector
o Gray Card
o Light Meter with the ability to measure incident and reflective light and flash

Software Requirements

* Adobe Illustrator CS4
* Adobe InDesign CS4
* Adobe Lightroom 2.0
* Adobe Photoshop CS4

Win:

* Microsoft Office 2007 Standard (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)
* Norton Antivirus 9.0 corporate editition
* Windows Media Player 11.0

Mac:

* Microsoft Office 2008 Standard (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)
* Norton Antivirus 10.0 Corporate Edition
* Windows Media Player 9.0

Minimum Technology Requirements

* PC: As a general guideline, students should not have computer specifications less than a Pentium 4 CPU, Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (Service Pack 3 recommended), 2 GB of RAM, and 10 GB of free hard disk space. Also, a DVD-ROM drive may be required.
* Mac: As a general guideline, students should not have computer specifications less than a MAC G5 processor, MAC OS x 10.4, and at least 2 GB of RAM.
* Additional Hardware: Photo Printer (Required) - Printer capable of handling 8.5 x14 Photo Paper, and minimum of 4 separate ink cartridges (Black, Yellow, Cyan, Magenta) to ensure sufficient range of color representation in printing, a DVD-ROM drive may be required. External Hard Drive, Flatbed Scanner100, Monitor Calibration System (ex: "Spyder" ) (Optional), Desktop Monitor (for Laptops) (Optional).

Web Browser Requirements
PC: At least one of the following browsers with Java enabled:

* Internet Explorer 6.0 (supported)
* Internet Explorer 7.0 (recommended)
* Internet Explorer 5.5 (supported)
* Firefox 1.x (supported)
* Firefox 2.0 (recommended)
* Firefox 3.0 (supported)

Mac:: At least one of the following browsers with Java enabled:

* Safari 3.0 (supported for OS X)
* Safari 2.0 (recommended for OS X)
* Safari 1.2 (supported for OS X)
* Firefox 1.x (supported)
* Firefox 2.0 (supported)
* Firefox 3.0 (supported)

* CD or DVD burner
* Color Inkjet Printer
* Color Flatbed Scanner
* Digital Camera
* Digital Drawing Tablet

The major dollar items to buy would be the camera, and lenses it would appear. I'm told that we can get the software at student prices once she is registered. I have a 2k dollar budget for a camera and need help. What from that list would you suggest, and what camera should she get? I was set on getting her a 50D but now that the 60D was just released, should she get that? Would it be worth it to spend the extra on a 7D?

Any help would be appreciated. The 2k dollars is what I gave her for our anniversary. 11 years in just a few days.

[33shooter]

Canon 50D Digital SLR Camera + 2 IS Lens *CHECK IT OUT! - eBay (item 280553151336 end time Aug-27-10 05:49:11 PDT)

How is that? Are there problems with buying from ebay?

[ednorm]

Wow! what a list to take a photography class. I have never taken such a class but they must expect those that do to have a small fortune to throw around just to start out. I would check out online retail like Adorama, B&H photo and even Amazon too, many have kits with things you have listed like two or more lenses and a flash and even printers and many have free shipping too. Ebay seems safe enough, I guess its guaranteed when you use paypal, at least if its messed you can eventually get a refund. Good luck to your wife, you are starting her into a very fun and rewarding hobby.

ed

[OsmosisStudios]

I dont see why the need Illustrator or InDesign (or Lightroom for that matter, but that's another issue). Their Mac/Windows software can be easily replaced, and most is downloadable for free. Scanner/Printer should be provided by the school (as they are in 99.9% of cases I've seen).

I dont know why they want speedlight, strobe and hotlights all at the same time.

"Pro Series Digital SLR Camera - Must have the ability to have an interchangeable lens system, photograph in RAW file setting and have a minimum of 6 megapixels"

That's possibly the most contradictory description I've read. Do they want a pro-series dSLR or do they want a camera with an interchangeable lens camera? Pro-series dSLRs arent cheap (start around $3k), but you can get a Rebel (which fulfills all the other requirements) for WELL under a third of that. From their lens description, they're talking about a crop-sensor camera, which are not exactly "pro series" (Canon and Nikon each make one).

I would see if there's anyway they can give you specific suggestions on brands and items. Model numbers in particular. Thats a lot of STUFF.

[wal]

OMG.. are you sure this is for class. or they want you to start a business..?

[Troy_Schwaller]

Wow....

That seems a little much for a class....

[joe27]

That is way to much for a class. What happens if your get halfway through the first class and decide it is not for you. Seems like you should be starting off with just a DSLR.