Going to buy a camera....

[ceres]

... what do you think about the Pentax ist SLR.... entry level SLR

Good camera?

Its about 800 dollars.

 

[Justin Horne]

I don't know if the IST is digital or not. That said, for the money, Canon 350D (Rebel XT, same thing).
For a little more, Canon Eos 20D is an incredible camera. Don't get the 300D though, it's a significant drop in quality from the 350d. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...189&is=REG&addedTroughType=categoryNavigation

 

[ceres]

Yes it is a digital SLR

 

[Justin Horne]

Well then, Canon it is.
Plus, because of the lens mount on the 350D, you get access to nearly all of the pro lenses, plus the regular ones, which is a great selection.

 

[Southern Cross]

Nikon is also a great option.

 

[phoenixwtc]

I have had the Nikon D70 for over a year and am very pleased with the results I get from it. I have a friedn that has the Canon 20D and he reported to me just yesterday that it has stopped working in any mode except the fully auto mode.

Bill

 

[Singin4Him]

The Canon Rebel XT is AMAZING! It's rated higher than the Nikon and from using mine I can tell you that you will not be disapointed with it at all!

 

[Southern Cross]

The Nikon D70S would be my choice (even if I was starting from scratch). It's got a killer 18-70mm kit lens, excellent white balance controls, and excellent flash exposure. The firmware upgrades have resulted in faster autofocus, better white balance, and far fewer blown highlights. The price just dropped again. If you can afford it, you can get a D70S with the kit lens and a 1 GB CF card for around $1,150 from B&H Photo and Video out of NY. The camera is excellent all around.

I take about 75,000 images a year as a pro photographer. I will be keeping my D70 bodies. They've held up very well so far.

 

[Piano Player]

The Nikon D70S would be my choice (even if I was starting from scratch). It's got a killer 18-70mm kit lens, excellent white balance controls, and excellent flash exposure. The firmware upgrades have resulted in faster autofocus, better white balance, and far fewer blown highlights. The price just dropped again. If you can afford it, you can get a D70S with the kit lens and a 1 GB CF card for around $1,150 from B&H Photo and Video out of NY. The camera is excellent all around.

I take about 75,000 images a year as a pro photographer. I will be keeping my D70 bodies. They've held up very well so far.

As a Canon to Nikon convert myself, I second the amazing support Nikon gives its customers. Years ago, I had a Canon FD system that took me two decades to collect. When my eyes got to the age where automatic focus was required, I felt abandoned by Canon. Thousands of dollars of Canon glass could not work on their new system. Converting to automatic focus was no longer a matter of a new body, and a few essential lenses. Canon's EOS system was incompatible with the FD system.

Nikon, on the other hand, kept the manual focus F-mount for its auto focus lenses, and its digital bodies. I can collect a 40 year old lens, mount it on my D-70, and take pictures with it. (focus assist will work, but metering must be done the old fashioned way). Nikon's recent free upgrade of the D-70 just stikes me as Nikon being Nikon.

 

[indigo tree]

Here's some advice. Go to your local camera shop, ask them to bring out all the digital SLR models out, and hold them. Too many people focus to much on what is the highest rated. I for one have not heard of one horrible digital SLR brand. It's going to come down to what's right for you. You'll want one that fits your photographing style. One that fits your hands, and one that certainly fits your budget.

This is not an attack on Nikon or Canon. They are wonderful brands, but too many people go for them simply because everyone else has them so they must be the only good ones. You must keep in mind that these brands (especially Canon) have much more marketing power than other names, which is why they are more out in the open.

 

[2Bhumble]

Here's an uncommon brand worth checking into...

http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/lumix/fz20/

I've had the FZ20 for almost a year and it's pretty awsome. Around $450.