? for Pierce (or suggestions from anyone)

[Wags67]

Hi...My niece is majoring in photography...she is ready to purchase a camera...she came to me asking, since I own three cameras and love to take pictures..which camera to get...here are her picks:

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS 10.1 MP SLR on sale $549 with 300mm
Nikon D40 $450 w/o any extra lens
Nikon D60 $699 with 200mm

I lurk alot around the photo section on here and value your opinion
I personally, going by prices, would go for the Canon since its $549 including the 300mm lens..If price wasn't an option I'd go for the NikonD60.
Thank you In Advance for any suggestions..

[Aplmac]

Nikon D60.
Why? because I have one! -and it's really nice

[chipmaster]

Originally Posted by Wags67

Hi...My niece is majoring in photography...she is ready to purchase a camera...she came to me asking, since I own three cameras and love to take pictures..which camera to get...here are her picks:

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS 10.1 MP SLR on sale $549 with 300mm
Nikon D40 $450 w/o any extra lens
Nikon D60 $699 with 200mm

I lurk alot around the photo section on here and value your opinion
I personally, going by prices, would go for the Canon since its $549 including the 300mm lens..If price wasn't an option I'd go for the NikonD60.
Thank you In Advance for any suggestions..

These are all fine cameras

D40 is a much older 6 Meg, it will be viewed by many as to few pixels but in realty is a very nice beginner camera. The big draw back beside the 6 Meg is only 3 focus sites, very marginal in my opinion ( it was my first DLSR)

D60 is a step up at 10 Meg but is shackled with the same marginal focus system. Don't get me wrong its still a good camera but there is lots of competition as much as it pains me to say...

The Canon Rebel is the best of the bunch if you are really choosing from these 3. I don't think the non IS 300mm zoom is a "value" You'd be better off getting the Rebel with kit 18-55 and later add the much better IS lens for a few dollars more.

Remember you are buying into the system including the lens. If you have a few extra $$$ you really should consider the Canon 40D. It is a top notch camera that will more then be capable for any aspiring photo student. The entry level cameras are capable but likely quickly outgrow if for nothing else spec envy of the other students

[pierces]

Originally Posted by Wags67

Hi...My niece is majoring in photography...she is ready to purchase a camera...she came to me asking, since I own three cameras and love to take pictures..which camera to get...here are her picks:

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS 10.1 MP SLR on sale $549 with 300mm
Nikon D40 $450 w/o any extra lens
Nikon D60 $699 with 200mm

I lurk alot around the photo section on here and value your opinion
I personally, going by prices, would go for the Canon since its $549 including the 300mm lens..If price wasn't an option I'd go for the NikonD60.
Thank you In Advance for any suggestions..

The D40 is a 2-year-old model and is a little dated.

Nikon's D60 is a good camera but attention needs to be taken that any lenses purchased for it have the focusing motor in the lens since Nikon dropped the in-body motor on the D40 and D60 series. This should not be a problem since all newly-released Nikkor lenses and most third-party lenses have lens-based focus motors. For image stabilization, you need to be sure to get VR lenses which have the stabilization mechanism in the lens.

The XS is Canon's new entry-level DSLR and has received decent reviews. All EOS lenses have motors, so that's one less thing to deal with. For image stabilization, Canon has IS lenses which have in-lens stabilization similar to Nikon. The Canon has the new live-view feature, but I find the way this feature is implemented on most entry-level DSLRs is more of a marketing thing than truly useful. (I am not alone on this. Steve's Digicams review said the following about live-view: "The usefulness of Live View on the Rebel XS (and XSi for that matter) is something that I could not find. Not only is it difficult to engage when compared to say the Sony A300/A350, but its at least a three step process to capture a single image.")

In this range and feature set, I would add the Sony A200 which sells for $549 with the 18-70 & 75-300 lenses. The Sony uses sensor-based stabilization instead of lens-based stabilization, so all Sony and Minolta AF lenses are stabilized. It is currently the #1 seller in Europe where Sony has a stronger marketing presence.

Full disclosure: I shoot with a Sony DSLR and am very pleased with it's handling and controls. All of the cameras mentioned above are good, solid performers and the best advice I can give is to have your daughter go somewhere and hold, shoot and play with the controls on all three. That's how I ended up with my A700...it just felt better and the controls were easier to use (for me). The brand name or who is pimping the camera on TV doesn't make one camera better than another, they're all good and all have superb lenses available. She'll be happier in the long run if she picks the one that's good for her.

Good luck! It's a difficult choice.

Dave

[Wags67]

Dave...thank you so very much for responding...I appreciate the time & effort you took with a response..I'll bring up some suggestions to her and hope she makes the right choice Thanks for pointing out such good features to look for.. She is very antsy to purchase one Tomorrow! I wanted to do reviews and researches for her to help her in the decision...I believe she is opting for the D60, but if the Canon is just as good, I'd feel better knowing she could save a few hundred bucks! But, as you said , She'll be happier in the long run if she picks the one that's good for her.
BTW, it's my niece and not my daughter...if this was my daughter I would probably peer pressure her into the Canon ROFLMAO!!
If I was able to purchase myself one...I'd grab the Canon!
Thank you chipmaster and aplmac for responding as well

[pilotdane]

I do not think you/she can go wrong with Nikon, Sony or Canon. They are all good cameras. Just write back to let us know what she picks (and then give us your review).

---
Personally, I shoot Canon and I have to say I am not sure why Canon released the Xs (1000D) other than to have something less expensive. I would vote for the Xti or Xsi. The Xti offers a better 9 point focus system for a good price while the Xti offers a fair number of advantages but is more expensive. I don't really consider live view or megapixes in the equation (just flashy marketing talk) and even though the Xti's screen is only 2.5" it has the same number of pixels as the Xti and Xs larger 3" screen.

[cunarderqm2]

Gear is only as talented as the operator. She will be fine with any of them.

[Wags67]

Hi everyone...Well...I was supposed to go with my niece tomorrow to help her pick her camera out...I called her tonight to set the game plan up and she had already went and got a camera with her younger sister...With other encouragement, she got the Nikon D60..Best Buy, IMO, took advantage of her and sold her a package deal for $850 which included the camera, 200mm lens, tripod, and carrying case I didn't have the heart to tell her that I believe she was taken advantage of and spent way more then it should have been..I so wish she would have waited for me...
In the mean time...I will be wishin' for some extra money because my next camera will be the Canon Rebel I just got my last cruise pictures processed and received them tonight...I used my Canon Powershot S3 IS and they turned out so gorgeous that I'm in no major hurry to upgrade.

Thanks again everyone

[Wags67]

Dave...that Sony you told me about looks saweet also...
thinkin'....thinkin'...thinkin'....
Well...when the time comes when I can upgrade I've got a decision of my own to make...the Canon or the Sony...LOL unless the D60 comes down in price...then I'll really be in a mess of a decision to make

[chipmaster]

Originally Posted by Wags67

Hi...My niece is majoring in photography...she is ready to purchase a camera...she came to me asking, since I own three cameras and love to take pictures..which camera to get...here are her picks:

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS 10.1 MP SLR on sale $549 with 300mm
Nikon D40 $450 w/o any extra lens
Nikon D60 $699 with 200mm

I lurk alot around the photo section on here and value your opinion
I personally, going by prices, would go for the Canon since its $549 including the 300mm lens..If price wasn't an option I'd go for the NikonD60.
Thank you In Advance for any suggestions..

Here is a recent review of the major entry cameras: http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/5429/dslr-shootout-five-top-cameras-compared.html

Of course depending on wha you view is most important one will stand out.

[Wags67]

Originally Posted by chipmaster

Here is a recent review of the major entry cameras: http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/5429/dslr-shootout-five-top-cameras-compared.html

Of course depending on wha you view is most important one will stand out.

Great website...Thanks so Much

[Aplmac]

Originally Posted by cunarderqm2

Gear is only as talented as the operator. She will be fine with any of them.

Well said, sir!

[Wags67]

Originally Posted by cunarderqm2

Gear is only as talented as the operator. She will be fine with any of them.

Which is exactly why I'm not in a hurry to upgrade to a saweeter camera yet...like I mentioned my Canon S3 SI takes amazing pictures for me...I'm a point and shoot person, which tags me as not so talented (LOL)..However, that doesnt' keep me from wanting an upgrade....that would be a financial issue right now

Thanks for chattin' with me ya'll!

[Rllyfun]

Originally Posted by Wags67

Hi everyone...Well...I was supposed to go with my niece tomorrow to help her pick her camera out...I called her tonight to set the game plan up and she had already went and got a camera with her younger sister...With other encouragement, she got the Nikon D60..Best Buy, IMO, took advantage of her and sold her a package deal for $850 which included the camera, 200mm lens, tripod, and carrying case I didn't have the heart to tell her that I believe she was taken advantage of and spent way more then it should have been..I so wish she would have waited for me...

Just a thought...(a little late, I know!) But several places including Costco, have the genuine Nikon D-60 kit with 2 lens set (18-55 VR & 55-200 VR) along with a Nikon case & some extra educational dvds.... for $699.

No tripod, but I'm pretty sure the one BB gave her isn't worth taking home anyway....
So with two VR lenses & $150 less...it might be worth returning it to BB (unless they have a restocking fee...) as I think she still has a few days on BB's return policy...

(and if she shops around...tell her to make sure wherever she gets the kit, that it has the VR lenses as some places are selling kits with the non-VR lens...)

Just a thought....

[mariemorgan]

When I bought my G10 at Best Buy there was a big Restocking Fee sticker on everything. So I'm guessing if she were to bring it back to best buy she would be charged the restocking fee. I think it was 15%.

[Rosieo]

Costco is a good place to buy a camera. I bought both the Nikon D60 and the Canon Xsi and tried them both out. I liked the Canon much better and returned the Nikon. No restocking fee and you have 90 days for a return. Both came with 2 lenses, both Nikon were VR and Canon were IS. Those restocking fees can really add up.

[Rllyfun]

Originally Posted by mariemorgan

When I bought my G10 at Best Buy there was a big Restocking Fee sticker on everything. So I'm guessing if she were to bring it back to best buy she would be charged the restocking fee. I think it was 15%.

I just checked online and you are absolutely right! That would cost her about $120 after the lower sales tax...kinda takes the big savings out of it...

(Hopefully if her D60 only came with one lens....it was the Nikkor 18-200mm VR! That's about a $600 lens,... would make the deal a little better!)

[Rllyfun]

Originally Posted by Rosieo

Costco is a good place to buy a camera. I bought both the Nikon D60 and the Canon Xsi and tried them both out. I liked the Canon much better and returned the Nikon. No restocking fee and you have 90 days for a return. Both came with 2 lenses, both Nikon were VR and Canon were IS. Those restocking fees can really add up.

I agree!!! Costco has a great return policy...(It used to be even better!)

I just got my youngest daughter a D60 kit there....it won't get opened till Christmas, but I'll still have a few months to return it if something dosen't seem right or she dosen't like it!
(Couldn't get the wife to go for the D90, the Santa wallet's a little thinner this year!)

[Wags67]

Originally Posted by Rllyfun

I just checked online and you are absolutely right! That would cost her about $120 after the lower sales tax...kinda takes the big savings out of it...

(Hopefully if her D60 only came with one lens....it was the Nikkor 18-200mm VR! That's about a $600 lens,... would make the deal a little better!)

This is what her D60 came with:
Nikon 2166 Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR zoom lens...so it looks like she's good for that...I don't believe it was a $600 lens though...I still think that she could have gotten a better price if she didn't jump into it

[Wags67]

Originally Posted by Wags67

This is what her D60 came with:
Nikon 2166 Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR zoom lens...so it looks like she's good for that...I don't believe it was a $600 lens though...I still think that she could have gotten a better price if she didn't jump into it

Looks like it was originally a $299 lens...