The one who helps me the most gets rewarded in Fg.

I always enjoyed it to make some photos with my (cheap) digital camera. Now i decided to buy a reflex camera (preferably digital) and could need some opinions which could be the best.
I never had a reflex camera (ok a mate of me lent me a camera sometimes) but i dont know what i have to look for, since i dont wanna buy crap. So i need some serious suggestions here.

Prefer one of Nikon or Canon (as said: must is a reflex camera, preferably digital reflex camera)
Please no No-Name Cameras (i know they're cheaper but i got told its harder to get lenses and stuff)
Would be nice if you could add some critique of your experience with your suggested camera (positive and negative).
Also if you know what it costs about, you can leave it here also.

The cheaper, the better BUT the quality of the photos still must be very good!
Price class could be 300-500,- (Euro)

Please keep this thread clean from spam/flame.

erm.. and excuse my english if there are some mistakes

Regardz Chris

well if you want a camera below 500 Euro, think its around 700 US dollars, you have either Canon eos 450D/ Rebel XSI with 18-55 IS kit lens or Canon eos 1000D/ Rebel XS with kit lens or Nikon D60 with kit lens to choose from. unless you dont mind buying an used camera or other brand names those three are pretty much you can get for less than 500 Euros well depends on where you live of course. I believe both Canon cameras are better than Nikon D60 but they cost a lil bit more too
here are a few reviews

EOS 450D/XSI
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_eos450d.asp

EOS 1000D/XS
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_eos1000d.asp

Nikon D60
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Nikon/nikon_d60.asp

And if you are new to digital SLR and know absolutely nothing about them here is a nice glossary that will explain all the technical terms and crap lol

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/

oh btw I dont need your fg I just hope you will post your photos in the future after youve got a new camera

This post was edited by Futurama on Nov 18 2008 03:44pm

In this price range, I would say the best camera you can get would be the Canon 450D (Rebel XSi). It's JUST over 500 Euros. About 520 at today's conversion rate (it's $650.) It comes with the kit lens, which is the Canon 18-55mm IS. The next best would be the 400D (Rebel XTi) which is the older version of the 450D. It's also a bit cheaper.

edit: Actually Futurama is probably right - I forgot about the 1000D. That's a slightly better camera than the 400D. So it would go 450D>1000D>400D.

This post was edited by bergmann on Nov 18 2008 03:46pm

hmm are they still selling XTI anymore? well its definitely a nice camera I have used it a few times in the past and I loved it
I mean its light, compact but still feels great in your hands

This post was edited by Futurama on Nov 18 2008 03:46pm

You can get them, but I don't think Canon is making them (could be wrong.) But I think the XS is better than the XTi. They're pretty similar.

Either way, I'd spend the extra money and get the XSi (which I did)

yeah, better AF, better sensor (12mp vs 10 mp) larger LCD and so on

You need more money for quality, kit lenses arent really good and good body only will cost more, for that price you can only get some cheapest nikons or canons 400d with kit lens. If you dont have more money to spend i suggest buying canon 400d and 50mm 1.8 lens for it. If your willing to buy a used camera you get better quality for that price. Used canon 30d(body only) are sold around 350-400 euros here in finland, might be bit cheaper in germany. One thing you should keep in mind is that if you buy better quality used camera(30d for example) it might last even longer since shutter lasts meny more shots than cheaper models, you should find out how meny pictures are taken with the body if you buy used one. Allso one really good choise would be canons old 1d(mark 1), image quality is superb when comparing to eny cheap newer models, but there is more noise at higher sensitivities, noise is more film like and looks alot better tho.

What comes to nikons i think those cheap nikons arent as good as canons, but canons cost more. Problem with cheap nikons is that they dont have autofocus motor in the body, so you need to get lenses with af motor or focus manually.

What are you planning of shooting and do you think of taking photography more seriously? If you just want some cheap camera and not planning of investing for lenses later then those cheap nikons are good choice. But i must warn you, you most likely will want a better camera/lenses later for sure if your seriously into photography.

Im wouldnt be so sure that 1000d is better than 400d, 1000d has only 7 af points, while 400d has 9, 400d can take more pics per second than 1000d. For me those 9 af points are really important. 1000d is more like 350d with new lcd screen and live view.

I think it would be better to get 400d kit and 50 1.8 than 450d with kit lens only, 450d has slightly better kit lens tho(and with image stabilizer), but i dont think 450d is worth the extra cash. Allso if you want quality again kit lenses arent that, so i would think the kit lens more like something to use while you save money for better lens.

But still used 30d > 450d easilly and its much cheaper, so you got some money for some other lens.

This post was edited by Antichrist- on Nov 18 2008 04:05pm

well since he said that hes new to DSLR and probably knows nothing about them I believe it would be better and safer for him to buy a brand new camera instead of getting an used one

Yes the 30D is a better build camera and is capable of more FPS, but the XSi has better IQ.