Need to get my wife a camera for Xmas, Which one do you recommend???

[83blazer]

These are the ones I was thinking.

I am thinking about this one
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Productgroup....1opnav=&s=1

or this one
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Productgroup....topnav=&s=1

or this one
Canon Rebel XSi 12.2MP


Or which one do you recommend?????

LINKS SHOULD WORK NOW

 

[Kit Fox]

None of the links work.

 

[5.9cummins]

I would opt for the D60 vs the D80. There both good setups and so is the Cannon. I have a Rebel Xt about two versions prior to the XSi. Its only 8MP but its just fine for me.

I see alot of people with SLRs that dont really know how to use them or how to take a good photo for that matter.

If your going for something more along the lines of point and shoot i would go cheaper vs $$$$$.

If shes going to be really using the camera i would go high end because thats when your going to need more features and pixles.

I will tell you having multiple options for lenses is nice but if shes doing telephoto 300 + you will need a tripod unless shes got really steady hands and you would also need one for doing some macro. but that would be more down the road.

just my

 

[5.9cummins]

Here are a couple of sites with reviews of cameras, lenses, and equipment.

http://www.dpreview.com/

http://www.fredmiranda.com/

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/

 

[barel74]

I don't know much about cameras, but my step father has the d60, and loves it. Takes great pics.

 

[BDB]

Yeah, I second the point and shoot comment. Depends on the photos she's taking. If your looking for basic shots, vacations, kids etc, the digital SLR's are pricey, large and harder to work if you like simple shots. Basically overkill. My wife does some professional work so the digital SLR works great for that but I never make full use of it. I am not sure on the nikon but I know when I bought my wife the Canon D30 it was all about the lense. The stock one that comes with it is garbage. I spent $600 on a decent lense alone. I'd check with someone who really knows their stuff related to the nikons to see if the stock lense is worth it or not.

 

[slanttop357]

my sons photo teacher recommended the cannon rebel this in a vary nice camra, for family and outdoor photos i dont think i will upgrade for a long time. good luck.

 

[83blazer]

My kids play soccer and baseball, do ballad/tap dancing, school musicals/plays, and a lot of family gatherings. I know she wants a real good camera. She and mostly I am tired of not having a decent camera to capture images when they count the most. Hate having a blurred picture of my girl kicking a goal and wondering what the blurr was. I have spent $400-500 on Sony smaller digital cameras and don't like what I get. I bought another Panasonic dmc-Fz3 and don't like the pictures that I get with it.

I want to be able to take a picture of my girls on a scoring drive, kicking the ball in front of them and at the right moment click when she releases her leg, touhes the ball, the ball barely lifts from the ground. i want to be able to do multiple shots, fast.

I know my wife will take a photography class to learn how to use the camera.

I am just frustrated with having to take 30-40 pictures to get one good one that looks pretty decent. If you saw the pictures we took at my girls play yesterday you would be upset and they are not even your daughters.

 

[Kit Fox]

The D80 is a much better camera. The D60 is digitally enhanced and gets a crappy rating by Ken Rockwell. The D60 also has lense compatibility issues, the D80 does not.


The 70 300 VR is a nice lense. My wife and I have a Nikon D-50 with the 18-135 (offered in the D80) kit, and can't complain about the quality of our pictures.



See if this is detailed enough for you. D50 18-135 lense.

Horse's eye

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/311796...b5a541a62_o.jpg

Camp fire

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/268037...2215d3fe2_b.jpg

 

[5.9cummins]

Kit sounds like he knows a little about Nikon at least more than I do. But your post above helps.

I think any of the cameras you mentioned would get the job done. Just look into it more like he said. I will say that if you’re going to be doing a lot of shooting like you described above I would definitely recommend a 300+ lens for when you have to reach out there. I love mine but often times I find myself still wishing for more (all in good time).

As for the camera class I would highly recommend it. I took 3 years of photography in High school and another in college. They really help with composition of the photo and knowing what settings you will need for different situations. Once you start shooting in a manual you have to do the computing vs. letting the camera do if for you.

I think you / your wife will really enjoy it.

Be careful though its addicting my wish list of camera stuff is almost as long as my wish list for hunting / fishing gear.

 

[83blazer]

Thank You all very much. My wife will be very happy this year. I am leaning towards the Nikon D80 and the canon rebel xsi. I am going to look at the reviews on both.

 

[Kit Fox]

A few places to visit are Flickr discussion boards related to Nikon. My wife visits these groups daily.

Nikon DSLR Users

Nikon Digital Learning Center


Nikon wanted to appeal to a greater audience (with a less expensive camera) when they created the D-60. The D-80 was always a true work horse that I would be happy to own, if I could afford one. A bit more expensive, but high on my "want list" is the Nikon D-90

Pricegrabber.com has a few D-80 combos worth checking out.


This is a Killer Deal from the company where we purchased our 18-135 lense. That combo has two lenses, a camera bag, card reader, a tripod, lense covers, you name it for only $929.00.

The 18-200 gets better reviews than the 70-300 VR 70-300 VR review. 18-200 VR review.

 

[83blazer]

Hey Kit do you happen to have a coupon for the site for the Nikon D80? Would you suggest I get the extended warranty?

 

[One Track]

I bought my wife the D60 and she loves it! So do I!

It'll do this:

[attachment=57346:Safari_Pics_193.jpg]

 

[Hideandwatch]

Since noone has mentioned the Olympus E-Volt System cameras, I would highly recommend one. I have the E-510 myself that I purchased as a kit with the 14-42mm and the 40-150mm lenses.
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/...digital_slr.asp

reviews
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse510/
http://www.amazon.com/s/?field-brand=Olymp...-browse=3017941
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/olympus/e520-review/

The guy at this link uses both the E-500 and the E510, with lenses such as the 14-42, 40-150 and the 70-300.
http://www.jbusigin.org/

 

[Kit Fox]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (83blazer @ Dec 19 2008, 02:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Hey Kit do you happen to have a coupon for the site for the Nikon D80? Would you suggest I get the extended warranty?[/b]

I don't have any coupons, sorry.


Their extended warranties are a bit expensive. I did notice they aren't an "authorized Nikon Dealer" so you might consider their warranty. I think being an authorized dealer means you get to chage more for Nikon cameras.

 

[Chenango Dave]

83Blazer,
I started out with a D80 and loved it. I knew I was going to get into photography a bit so I spent the $'s and started right off with the 70-200 VR f/2.8 - what an excellent lens- its razor sharp and has excellent low light capabilities. I bought the D80 with the kit lens - but as soon as my 70-200 came, I used that probably 98% of the time. It would be a great lens for capturing your daughters sports.

Heres a few pics with that combo.

I don't think you could go wrong with any of the Nikons - I've since upgraded to the D300 and a 200-400 lens. But I still have the ole D80 and 70-200 and still use it quite a bit.

Hope this helped. Take care and have a great holiday season. Let us know what you decided on.

 

[Kit Fox]

Chenango Dave,

The crispness of that $1600 lense is something else.

I could only imagine the shots the $5500 zoom lense takes.

Do you "shoot" for fun / hobby, or is it your profession?

 

[Chenango Dave]

KitFox- so far its just a fun hobby - haven't sold a thing yet - But I do have quite a portfolio made up just in case. I have just as much fun with the camera as I do with the gun..
Heres one with the 200-400

Sorry Blazer - I didn't want to hijack your thread..

 

[Hideandwatch]

I had posted this link up awhile back.
The Top 5 SLR's
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,144098/article.html