I know you all have been asked this a lot and I swear I did a lot of reading here but I need to ask for me y/k?

I love taking pictures but have been really afraid to try a DSLR. I plan on finding a class after I buy. I need a more hands on approach than a book sadly.
What would you buy if you had $500-$1000? I know sometimes it comes with the lens but sometimes they don't :confused: This is all new to me. I also don't want to buy something and grow out of it quickly and wish I had spent a couple hundred more for something that would last me a very long while y/k?


Oh and one last thing- I love Cannon (well except my current point and shoot- I loved the other models I have had in the past) but I am open to any brand.

thank you for anyone willing to chime in here!!! I appreciate it so much!

I love my Nikon D40....never take it off the "auto" button and have great pictures. It's really easy and was affordable. I'm ready soon to upgrade and start trying some stuff out w/out the auto! :)

I have a Rebel that I got almost a year ago. I have learned just by lots of picture taking. ;) (I do have a LOT to learn though!)
I take it off of auto and just mess with settings to see what happens.

they have auto buttons?!>?! woooo!!! :lol:
No really that makes me feel a lot better. Do they all? I ask because my big fear is that I won't figure it out and won't be able to use it at all. I don't think that would happen but you never know! ;) And I don't wanna spend that much on something I can't use y/k?

thanks mamas!!

they have auto buttons?!>?! woooo!!! :lol:
No really that makes me feel a lot better. Do they all? I ask because my big fear is that I won't figure it out and won't be able to use it at all. I don't think that would happen but you never know! ;) And I don't wanna spend that much on something I can't use y/k?

thanks mamas!!

not all dSLR's have auto modes...but the nikon d40, d40x, d80 and the canon rebels all have auto modes.

go any higher than that and they won't...but you'd be out of the price range at that point.

in that price point you could get any of the above with a "kit' lens to start, usually 18-55mm, included with the camera body.

I'd probably go with the D80 and the kit lens with that budget. My only experience is with Nikon though... maybe a Canon user can chime in about the Rebel.

i used canon film slrs. when i went digital i went nikon as well.

i suggest going to a B&M store and feeling them in hand. there is a big difference btw film slrs and dslrs within the same brand. the canon dslrs didn't feel anything like the canon film slrs i have owned over the years. it didn't sit nicely in my hand the way my nikon does.

yep yep yep...what my girl tracey said.

yep yep yep...what my girl tracey said.

:smooch:

I have a canon rebel. I suggest an XTi and skipping the kit lens and going for a really GOOD lense right off the bat. I have 2 lenses that I use CONSTANTLY. I do not touch my kit lens any more at all.

canon rebel
18-55mm kit lens
50mm 1.8
Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

that is what I have. I love my 28-135mm lens. It all depends on what kind of pictures you want to take.

the thing is though, I shoot mostly in auto and I'm getting frustrated with myself. When you shoot on auto, you are dealing with luck. You are lucky to get a great shot. I have to step out of my comfort zone and learn ISO, F-stop and aperature. It makes a huge difference. I've been keeping it in auto while I learn composition, lighting and posing.

some of my favorite photographs

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/tkme4ard/olivia2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/tkme4ard/SM3.jpg


but they still aren't the calibar of pictures I want to take.

I think the D40 is a great camera to step into the world of DSLRs. I love mine -- it's great in the various auto modes, but still has the flexibility to learn out of "auto" mode.

Canon girl here - I always had a powershot, so I knew Canons.

I have a digital rebel XTI - came with the kit lens, but I use my 50mm all the time for close ups/portraits. LOOOOVE my camera (and SO much an "automatic" focus girl, here)

Kit lens:
Amina's cutie pie
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/myseoulchild/94135f11.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/myseoulchild/ffa24916.jpg

kit lens on "macro" mode
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/myseoulchild/IMG_0369.jpg

50mm
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/myseoulchild/IMG_2813.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/myseoulchild/IMG_3274-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/myseoulchild/IMG_4173.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/myseoulchild/IMG_4221.jpg

aw man! Now I just don't know! LOL!

I may make dh decide...