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Digital SLR experts, HELP!

Old Dec 6, 2007 | 09:27 AM
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Default Digital SLR experts, HELP!

Im lookin to purchase a new SLR. So you know i have no experience with them so I need something thats relatively user friendly but something that wont become usless.

I have been looking at the Nikon D40x and the D40. Do I really need 10 megs or is 6 enough. I also just saw this on Dell's website, what do you think? http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...9&sku=A1335346
Throw me some suggestions guys.


Thanks
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Old Dec 6, 2007 | 09:41 AM
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Do not get hung up on the megapixels. It's the size and quality of the CMOS or CCD chip that really matters. I minored in Photography, but that was back before the advent of affordable DSLRs, so I can't help much on specifics.

I do know that, in my limited experience, I preferred the Nikon DSLRs over the Canons, but that was a couple years ago.
Old Dec 6, 2007 | 09:42 AM
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sweet deal. 8MP is plenty good, unless you are planning on printing mural sized images.
Old Dec 6, 2007 | 09:50 AM
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I'm not an expert but hope to be in the future.

I just bought the Canon XTi. I have a standard film Nikon and didn't like it much, plus the website/catalog guy at work uses only canons for all the ads and marketing stuff. I played with his XTi and though it was nice. The local camera shop (dad's good friend) had some refurbed black XTis for a steal so I got it. He had 2 more when I got mine 2 weeks ago, PM me for price if you are interested. He did say they go fast, esp. this time of year. It doesn't have a real time display on the LCD though, i think some of the newer DSLRs have that now, maybe not the cheaper ones. I didn't care about that caus I use the ol' viewfinder but the guy here at work bitches about it.

Plus I wanted to be able to use the same lenses as my wife's canon dslr.

Last edited by TurboTim; Dec 6, 2007 at 10:13 AM.
Old Dec 6, 2007 | 10:01 AM
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the d40 is supposed to be great.
Old Dec 6, 2007 | 10:19 AM
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Get the D40, if you have extra cash laying around get the D40x. The only differences are megapixels and I think firmware improvements. The sensor size is identical, they just crammed more pixels onto the same CCD. Another thing to consider is resale, the D40x will be easier to resell later because ignorant people get hung up on MP. 8 vs 10, 8 is plenty, believe me. You will never need more then 8 unless you are printing anything larger then A4.

I liked Canon XTi a lot as well when I got to play with it, but after using a D40 I was sold. It just overall felt better for me then the Canon.

If you want to see some real world shots with a D40, let me know and ill link you my picasa album with 1000 or so pictures taken in London with a D40.
Old Dec 6, 2007 | 10:21 AM
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Sam whats the link, im intrested.
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Old Dec 6, 2007 | 10:24 AM
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Sam do you think this is a good deal? http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...9&sku=A1184375
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Old Dec 6, 2007 | 10:27 AM
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Originally Posted by levnubhin
Sam do you think this is a good deal? http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...9&sku=A1184375
**** no, what are you smoking?

http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=NKD40X1855

I have bought from this company numerous times for myself and others, shipping is the fastest I have ever seen and super customer service.

Edit: Never buy from dell unless you have a coupon or can stack some, take 2% off for preferred customer, and 9% for student discount.

Last edited by Saml01; Dec 6, 2007 at 10:49 AM.
Old Dec 6, 2007 | 10:32 AM
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Sam link us mother ******
Old Dec 6, 2007 | 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Loki047
Sam link us mother ******
Oh fine.

http://picasaweb.google.com/slibus

London with Ivan and Vlad 1
London with Ivan and Vlad 2
London with Ivan and Vlad 3

Were all with a D40. The rest were with a S3IS.

I took those during the 6 weeks I lived in London and while their I traveled around Europe on the weekends. My friends from NY came to visit for one of them.
Old Dec 6, 2007 | 11:08 AM
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Cool pics. Do it like a European FTW!!
Old Dec 6, 2007 | 04:56 PM
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I have a 6MP D50. Takes great pictures and does what I want. D40 will take excellent pictures as will an xt(i). Look at them both and see which one you like better. The only thing I dont like about the d40(x) and its not a big deal is you need af-s lenses for the auto focus. I had Nikon lenses already so thats the only reason I went for a d50. I get camera bodys that do what I need and spend more money on lenses. In either case get one of th inexpensive 50mm prime lenses. They are excellent for the money and fast.
Old Dec 7, 2007 | 11:13 PM
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Although not a digital SLR, I have the Canon S5 IS, absolutely amazing. It has a ton of manual features as well as a pretty good automatic feature for just point and shoot.
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 01:10 AM
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I have a Nikon D50 and love it! If I were to buy again I would buy Cannon tho, there aftermarket support for the hobbiest is much better.
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 01:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Saml01
Oh fine.

http://picasaweb.google.com/slibus

London with Ivan and Vlad 1
London with Ivan and Vlad 2
London with Ivan and Vlad 3

Were all with a D40. The rest were with a S3IS.

I took those during the 6 weeks I lived in London and while their I traveled around Europe on the weekends. My friends from NY came to visit for one of them.

Isn't Anne Frank's house just crazy?
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 01:48 AM
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I'm by no means an expert photographer, but have owned a dSLR since about 2003. Never took a day of photography school or read a book in my life and can take some incredible pictures IMO.

I'm a canon person myself, but thats just by preference. All the cameras I've ever owned have been canon and don't really plan on changing. Currently use a 300D but am soon making the jump to a 30D. Bust mode on the 30D is UNBELIEVABLE. It'll take and write about 60 photographs in the time my 300D takes to take and write six.

found a good deal on an XTI (350d I believe) on slickdeals.net yesterday.

http://www.slickdeals.net/?permadeal...ect_deal_10985
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 09:20 AM
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I think my XTi says 400d on the box.

I paid $525 3 weeks ago for my factory refurbished black XTi with the standard 18-55 (?) lens, standard warrantee, etc. Bought it from the local camera shop/friend of the family guy.
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 09:27 AM
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Since this is such a DIY forum, for people who have the Rebel XT or Xti which are mostly software crippled versions of the more expensive models (not exactly, but close), there are software upgrade/hacks to unlock a lot more features. I tried an earlier hack a couple years back that was a little buggy, but I've read that the latest ones are pretty good, but havent had the time to try them yet.
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 09:30 AM
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Originally Posted by thesnowboarder
Isn't Anne Frank's house just crazy?
Honestly?

I waited in line for 2 hours in the pouring rain and it wasnt that worth it. I mean some people go ape **** over it, but I just didnt think it was that awesome as people made it out to be. Yea its a tiny house, yea she hid in it, yea some her stuff was still there but honestly I would have enjoyed it much more if they recreated what it looked like from the videos they showed on the televisions. That would have been much more surreal.

Plus I was in Amsterdam for only the day, and 2 hours in line really cut into my sight seeing time.
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