First Digital SLR...suggestion?

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by matthewchj

Some of Canon's longer lenses have AF preset, which works something like a lock, if I'm not wrong, by limiting your focus to a preset distance. But needless to say, these lenses are the big, heavy and expensive ones.

Anyway, I agree with the others about going with Canon or Nikon. For Canon, you have either the 350D or 400D, both of which are cheap but good cameras.

A few Nikkors have limit switches (80-200 f/2.8 springs to mind). . . I'm just not lucky enough to have one.

Anywho back on topic: there really isn't that much difference between any of the big players. Nikon and Canon both have massive lens selections, but image quality is very similar across the board. Canon would appear to have the edge in low light performance, but the sample shots from the new crop of pro Nikons have some stunning high ISO samples.

Ergonomics and ease of use are by far the most important part of a new camera purchase. If it doesn't fit in your hand and you hate using it, then you'll find time for another hobby.

[imagia]

well thank you all for your input. I truly appreciate it. I'm not naive enough to think that this will be a simple transaction. I've spent the last 3 months reading about what all goes into operating an SLR and trying to understand all the different readings and how they interact. And I know fully well that for awhile I'll still be better off using my much more simple camera, at least until I get used to my pretty new one. And as far as what feels comfortable in my hands that's a HUGE issue for me. I've got tiny hands and have already found that Olympus' with the zoom on the front is very awkward. What I needed here was a jumping off point, a place to start. And you guys have given me a great one!

[xxpinballxx]

well with tiny hands another selling point of a d40 is its the smallest body of all the DSLRs out.

[wulf]

I think Olympus does smaller cameras but the D40 is nice and small.

Wulf

[JAHphoto]

I would agree with everyone else, that either a Nikon D40 or any Canon rebel (300D, 350D, 400D) would be a fine first DSLR. If you don't mind an older used camera, the first Digital Rebel (300D) would give you more money left over for lenses.
In that price range theres also the Pentax K10D. Its a tad over 600, I think 700 body only, but you get 10.1MP, shake reduction built in, weather sealing, and I've heard its pretty tough. Only problem with going Pentax is their lens lineup is nothing like Canon's or Nikon's (But Sigma makes Pentax mount lenses, so you still have a wide variety from them). Also, the image stabilizer system in Canon and Nikon, being lens based, supposedly is slightly more effective, however it's more expensive, because each lens has the IS components inside, where the Pentax has the stabilization built into the camera, so it works on any lens you put on.

If thats too expensive, the Pentax K10D is good, also has the built in shake reduction, and for a mere $459 with a lens from a reputable seller it's a great deal.
6MP, but thats enough for what most people need.

[smc1377]

Originally Posted by imagia

I've spent the last 3 months reading about what all goes into operating an SLR and trying to understand all the different readings and how they interact. And I know fully well that for awhile I'll still be better off using my much more simple camera, at least until I get used to my pretty new one.

To be real honest, I only began to understand the full potential of my point and shoots after I got my DSLR. It wasn't until I was forced to learn what every single setting does on my DSLR until I realized that my little point and shoots could do a lot of that as well.

For example, custom white balance. Never knew my point and shoots could do that until I started messing around with it on my DSLR. Heck, it wasn't even until two weeks ago that I realized that my MiniDV camcorder had a custom white balance setting. Which is great because a lot of indoor videos tend to come out all yellowish. After setting the custom white balance, the indoor videos are now white like they should be.

What I'm getting at is, sometimes you just have to jump in. Don't feel like you have to master your point and shoots before you can take the next step. I bet a lot of us learned a lot about our point and shoots from playing with our DSLR's.

[imagia]

I've still been playing a lot with my point and shoot and i've realized it does a lot more than you'd first think...but one thing I really want to do is adjust my depth of field. I know you adjust the aperture for that, which my camera does. However all of my pictures then come out black or darn near close. It just doesn't do the trick for what I want. But it does get points for trying!

[inkista]

Oops. Sorry. The caveat wasn't meant to scare you off--just to help you with expectations. I've seen folks make the leap and then jump right back because they didn't realize P&S and dSLR was like apples and oranges rather than apples and better apples. Knowing that there's an adjustment period sounds like you've been doing your homework pretty thoroughly.

And most of us who have dSLRs will attest that we also have room in our bags for a P&S camera. Sometimes, a P&S can still be the better tool (sometimes you just need that damn toothpick. And the portability). Don't think it has to be an either-or proposition.

[JAHphoto]

Originally Posted by inkista

And most of us who have dSLRs will attest that we also have room in our bags for a P&S camera. Sometimes, a P&S can still be the better tool (sometimes you just need that damn toothpick. And the portability).

Yeah, like my Pentax Optio WPi... for the times I don't want to take my 5D underwater/in mud/etc