Rookie Needing Advise

[fireman]

ok wife asked me want i most wanted for Christmas if i could just have one thing. i said a slr camera if that wasn't to pricey for her. she said go get it and she will wrap it from our kids.

that being said i have been lloking at the canon t2i slr. when asked at best buy what would i have to compare that too, he said the canon d60 slr. he didnt care for nikon for few reasons which i agreed to what he was telling me. so little about my photography skills. like i said im a true rookie. know not even the slightest thing to make a decision on such an expensive purchase. so can you all help me decide on comparing these cameras or can you tell me about others and what i should look for besides pixels? i did like the pkg deal at best buy cannon D60 slr w/standard 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS lens plus the 70-300mm ISnf/4-5.6 telephotic lens. price for the D60 $1867 and the t2i is $950 but not the same telephotic lens.

so can you all educate me? veery much a rookie here, but would love to shoot. kids are getting to the point if i dont take more pitures of them i will be shooting their graduations from hogh school.

thanks

fireman

[Rolan Duffield]

You might go to DPreview.com and check their reports and recommendations. Cannon and Nikkon are my favorites though I'm leaning towards Cannon quality.

Rolan

[jdmidwest]

Canon makes the top of the line digital camera and has held the market for a long time. Your price differential in the 2 cameras is mainly due to the additional lens. The D60 is a professional series, the Rebel is more situated to an everyday user. Check the imaging system and features and make a decision based on the camera body itself first. You can always purchase the additional lenses to do what you want to for taking pics.

The Rebel series allows movie mode, the D60 is an older model that does not allow movies. Rebel 18 MP, versus the D60 6 MP image quality.

Go to Canon website or check out Dpreview other camera sites on the net for more info.

[fireman]

i have read the dpreview, but my biggest question i guess is a rookie really spending unnecassary money on the d60?

fireman

[Terry Beeson]

First of all, you will probably find that the camera is just a place to hold the lens... kind of like a fly reel... but the body IS important. I like Nikon, but Canon certainly is a very close second. As for the additional expense for the D60, I don't see it as important. I am new to this game as of a couple of years ago. I got a Nikon D40 and am very happy with it. Not sure if I need anything more until I learn more. I've bought several lenses for it (kind of like fly rods... the more you have, the more you want...) What you're looking at lens-wise is a good start, but find a good macro lens and a good 500mm tele in the future. I'm surprised at how many times I find myself with either too much or not enough lens.

If you go Canon, I agree with JD... The Rebel series is where I would go. I think you'll be happier.

OH... one more thing... Make sure you ask Santa for a good tripod to go with it.

[Geoff]

The Rebel series allows movie mode, the D60 is an older model that does not allow movies. Rebel 18 MP, versus the D60 6 MP image quality.

No, the 60D just came out a couple weeks ago. Its brand new camera. Has a tilt screen LCD on the back and all kinds of other nifty things.

You cant really go wrong with the T2i cameras. My buddy has a T1i and he loves it. It take nice pictures and works for what he needs. I prefer the bigger bodied cameras, ( I shoot with a 30D ) but thats me personally. I would go with the Rebel, it has more trinkets with it, that MOST everyday use people will want/or need. I have no need for video which is why I went with the D series body. The glass is going to be the biggest factor of your camera. The 18-55 KIT lens is ok, but if you can, buy just the body and the 70-300 IS if you want it, and then go shop around for a Tamron 17-50 or the Canon's similar range lens ( im having a huge brain fart on what it is right now )The kit lens will work but there are much better lenses out there for not all THAT much more money. I love the tammy 17-50, one of the best purchases I have made for my camera. I use it for pretty much everything, landscapes, weddings, general around people etc etc. Its on my camera probably 90% of the time i use it.

[jdmidwest]

No, the 60D just came out a couple weeks ago. Its brand new camera. Has a tilt screen LCD on the back and all kinds of other nifty things.

You cant really go wrong with the T2i cameras. My buddy has a T1i and he loves it. It take nice pictures and works for what he needs. I prefer the bigger bodied cameras, ( I shoot with a 30D ) but thats me personally. I would go with the Rebel, it has more trinkets with it, that MOST everyday use people will want/or need. I have no need for video which is why I went with the D series body. The glass is going to be the biggest factor of your camera. The 18-55 KIT lens is ok, but if you can, buy just the body and the 70-300 IS if you want it, and then go shop around for a Tamron 17-50 or the Canon's similar range lens ( im having a huge brain fart on what it is right now )The kit lens will work but there are much better lenses out there for not all THAT much more money. I love the tammy 17-50, one of the best purchases I have made for my camera. I use it for pretty much everything, landscapes, weddings, general around people etc etc. Its on my camera probably 90% of the time i use it.

Sorry Geoff, I was just going by the models he stated in the original post and he was comparing the older model D60 and the t2i slr. Whether he has the model confused is unknown to me.

Video is handy and about the same quality of other standalone video cameras of the digital variety. Mostly good for internet posting and making a few memories, but low quality compared to the old analog video cams. My carrying around camera shoots decent video with zoom and autofocus, my Pentax SLR does not.

[fireman]

geoff,

that is the camera i was talking about. the new canon d60. it is 18mp, has hd video, external mic jack, etc. i really liked the quick access buttons and some other small features. the body price really isnt that much difference in price from the t2i about $300. the big price is that 70-300mm lens. its $650. the regular lens that comes with the camera is the 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS lens.

fireman

[fireman]

video is 1080p hd

[Geoff]

Right, both cameras will shoot HD video.

Honestly its all really going to come down to your personal preferance. What feels better in your hands, do you want a bigger or smaller camera? Do you care about weight? How about weather sealing? neither are sealed THAT good but the D series is usually alittle tighter, making it harder for dirt to get inside. With that being said, i've had my rebel out in a light ran and in the freezing temps ( 15-20* )with snow falling and as long as i kept the batteries warm, I was good to go. I havent braved the 30D yet out into light rain, but it has been in snow and freezing temps and working just fine.

With those teleophoto lenses, the IS version is leaps and bounds better then the non-IS version. I have the non-IS version and its a light hungry lense. if there isnt alot of sunlight, its very difficult to use. The IS version is alot better about making better use of the visible light so its worth the extra money IMO