$500-$600 to spend ...

[BrandonA]

What camera would you get?

[Joey~AP]

1911

[Wildman]

D-80

[BrandonA]

What is a D-80?

[greg t]

scout guard sg550 is about 200 bucks and the battery life is un real over 1500 pics on 8 aa batteries and still 3/4 battery pics are good also has video plan on putting up at the lease in a few weeks

[Gerald S]

A used Canon 30D

[Wildman]

Nikon D-80

[JimN]

I got this...

http://www.86photovideo.com/products.asp?dept_id=10342&product_id=19327

[Bill M]

Me and a couple others like Olympus but we don't talk about it much.

[sailor]

Poloroid Hawkeye

[JeffJ]

Brandon, call me tomorrow. I just went through this. I will TTT the first pics I took that are on TBH.

[tommy1005]

Canon Rebel Xs or Xsi.....The Xsi is more, but is 12 megapixels instead of 10 like the Nikon and the Rebel Xs

[cj7zrcool]

I got this...

http://www.86photovideo.com/products...oduct_id=19327

That's a very good price. Are they a reputable dealer?

[AtTheWall]

I would probably lean toward a Canon 450D/XSi in that price point range.

Once you jump onboard with one particular brand, you are pretty much tied into it in regards to lenses and accessories.

So with that stated, I would start reviewing lens options and pricing, from the major players, to see which direction fits.

What type of photography inspires your creative side? If it's people, places and things....ala Photojournalism style (sports, gatherings, urban stuff, landscapes, architecture etc.) your lens range will cover the 10mm - 200mm zone. If it's wildlife, your lens range will start to hover in the 100-500mm zone and beyond. Things get pretty darn pricey in the long range arena.

You can always rent high end lenses, some here do that now, to cover special trips or events. You can check out www.lensrental.com for an idea of lens/pricing options, based on the various camera body offerings on the market today. Buying a 500mm lens may not be an option but renting one certainly is.

Buying a quality digital camera shouldn't be an impulse purchasing decision. Do the research, check online sources for positive/negative - features - pic examples - accessories - etc., of each camera runner up and then make that decision. If you can, find a camera shop that has several bodies, grab them and see which feels right. Controls mean everything in making or breaking fast actioned shots...wildlife, sports...shots that have seconds for setup - snap. These new DSLR cameras are a lot like digital game controllers. Finding one that flows in your hands can make management easier when time and scenes are down into the micro-seconds. You might not shoot this way in the beginning but over time, as your skills get better, you will want to.

[JimN]

That's a very good price. Are they a reputable dealer?

I ordered it via phone on 12/23 and it arrived 12/24. they are pushy on selling the SD cards and extra batteries that are overpriced... IMO