I am going to bite the bullet and purchase my first SLR camera. Anyone have any recommendations on what to look for or what brand they prefer? We know a few people with Nikon 40DX's and they love them. I am definitely a novice right now but don't plan to stay that way. Any help would be appreciated.
If you are looking at Nikon, I would look for a used D70s. KEH is a good source for used equipment. The D70s is a nice mid level camera, and since you plan to upgrade, it will last you longer than the D40x will, which allows you to spend more money on glass which is more important than the body. Also, it will make an excellent backup body if you upgrade to something on the D200 level or higher.
Sonny, I would try out the Canon Digital Rebel(s), the Nikon D40 and maybe the D80 if it's in stock - the D70 is similar to that. And also try out the Sony Alpha series. The A700 is probably a little over your limit right now, but....Sony is expected to release at least two new dSLRs at PMA this month, one of which will be a more Sony redo of the A100, i.e. the A200. Sony's A700 shares the same sensor as Nikon's D300 but Sony put their own noise reduction processing on the chip. With PMA being mentioned, Canon is expected to release a new Digital Rebel, and Nikon's D40 is over a year old now, so it may be updated as well. But maybe just the D80. If you want to wait a few weeks, and see if the prices of the existing models drop anymore.
I love my D40 but you said that you were a novice. I don't know what your definition of novice is but I would recommend educating yourself about photography. I would say that if you don't shoot manual on your P&S then you shouldn't switch to a DSLR. I don't think that you can take advantage of the features of the DSLR if you don't know about photography. Anyone disagree if you wish, remember this is only my opinion and I'm sure there are many that disagree.
I bought a Nikon D80 in June and have LOVED using this camera. I have to admit one reason I picked it was because I already had several lens that would fit it from my previous manual Nikon. While this was not my first digital camera, it is certainly the best I've used! It's easy to use, understand and manipulate as you learn more. Let us know what you choose and how it works for you.
well i'm going to put in my .02 cents worth, 3 questions 1. will you read All the instruction manual, i'm not talking about skimming or the quickstart. i'm talking about maybe only 1 chapter a day, with the camera in your lap, changing the settings and dials as you go, until many of the settings and creative results become instinctive 2. will you read any basic book about photography, doesn't have to be brand new,or even recent go to the public library and take one out, but not a highly technical book such as ansel adams zone system, too complex for right now, you want to get some basic knowledge of exposure and lighting 3. will you buy or borrow a book about digital photography, this one should be only a couple of years old, if the honest answer is yes to all 3, then go right to an entry level dslr with a kit lens, you are only talking a couple hundred dollars more or maybe less than an advanced point & shoot, even consider if budget allows a good quality lens, something along the lines of 17-55. 18-85, these are just sort of a reference framework, buy a used entry level body from keh, go out and learn all you can, if you follow htese steps you'll know when your ready, when the camera is holding you back creatively, and by that i mean when you can upgrade the body and achieve the same results with less thought process and less menu/setting tweaking, go with 1 of the big two, canon or nikon, easy to find good deals on used bodies, known company with a committment to the current mount/lens lines, go with whichever body feels right in your hands, go try out similar size bodies on for feel at best buy/circuit city, etc, the big box store doesn't need to know you are just sampling now experiment away with your gear, see what happens with different settings, don't chimp and delete, upload them all to the pc, review on the monitor, then delete, if it doesn't please you, try to figure out why, is it technical, is it aesthetic? now it's time to go back to the library, now it's time to look at others work, if outdoor work is your thing, then it's time to look at galen rowell, john shaw, people, anne leibovitz, street pj, cartier bresson, weegee, manray learn from the masters, wonder why they stood where they stood,see how they framed things sorry for the length, but i honestly feel this is the path to walk towards better photography, i'm still on my journey, probably will be all my days
Thanks for all of the replies. I am serious about really getting the most of my camera and am actually looking to purchase from an outlet that offers a photography class with the purchase of a DSLR. I am going to head over this weekend and talk to someone. I think I'll look at the entry level Nikon or Canon.
I would recommend the D40. I love it, it is the most intuitive camera. I saw it at Best Buy and started playing with it. I learned how to use the camera in the store. My other choice was the Cannon Digital Rebel XT. I chose the Nikon because I liked the screen size and the way it felt in my hand. The cannon is also bigger and heavier.
