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VaE39

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Hello everyone,
I just wanted to say hello. I love photography but I have no experience but I'm willing to learn. I've taking a few nice pictures here and there with point and shoots but I want to actually get a DSLR while I can get a discount while I work at a camera store for the summer. What would you suggest as a good beginner SLR for me? I want to keep pursuing this, but Hey I gotta start somewhere. Thanks for the help everyone.
 
What's your budget?
 
Well I get about a 25% discount on any camera and a 45% discount on olympus slrs. That being said, after the discount I have a budget of about $400-600. Something not too advanced for me I guess.
 
Is that a combined 70% discount? Or max 45% on the Olympus.

The Evolt-410 is highly recommended by Dpreview (although some of their cons would turn me personally off). However for the money and the discount you receive it might be an attractive offer - come out to around 500 or so with a 45% discount.

The Canon 400XT (700 bucks or so) is probably going to be a better buy however - cheaper (base price), greater resale value and no doubt better web presence to assist with any issues you might have.

It occupies that "high end amateur" dSLR strata, so pick up Understanding Exposure, and be sure to read the manual and it would be a very good first dSLR purchase. Use your employee discount to grab a nice prime lens and away you go.
 
Thanks for the info. Yeah its pretty killer discount. 25% on all cameras and max 45% for Olympus. I can get a E510 for 500 or so. I'll look into that 400XT. What about the good ole Nikon D40?
 
The Nikon D40 is a good camera, with lens limitations. The D40 has no internal auto-focus (AF) motor, so if you want auto focus (and using a digital its almost a must), you'll have to get lenses that have the auto-focus on the lens itself. It it doesn't - its all manual mode, which can be a pain especially when you THINK you got that image right, and on later review its not.

Also, this removes prime lenses from your arsenal as well - which is a HUGE downer.

Does your place have any D50's?
 
Ok thats what I've heard. So I'm guessing no internal af is a downer for a beginner. But its hard to say which brand is better. I'm thinking Canon would be the easier to upgrade later on down the road. What do you think about the rebel xt. I'll check on D50s later
 
Also, this removes prime lenses from your arsenal as well - which is a HUGE downer.

:pJust to jerk the thread a little; does anybody think Nikon will make some prime lenses for the D40?

have a good one
3Eo
 
Another option would be to just get a used dslr from somewhere. Like Bhphoto.com maybe? Another other suggestions?
 
so if you want auto focus (and using a digital its almost a must)

Why must one use autofocus when shooting digital? How is manual focus any different on a modern digital SLR versus a modern film SLR? The only difference is the recording medium.
 
Why must one use autofocus when shooting digital?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the computers rate of error in this regard is significantly less than the humans. Just an assumption though.
 
Another option would be to just get a used dslr from somewhere. Like Bhphoto.com maybe? Another other suggestions?

eBay and craigslist? Those two are essential these days for buying just about anything. And if you do some homework, you'll save a boatload of money.
 
Definitely check out eBay and you local Craigslist. The benefits of eBay and eBay stores is that you'll get something that you KNOW works. I got mine from a store on eBay (D80) for a nice price (definitely cheaper than new), but probably outside your budget.
 
I'm going to go out on a limb and say the computers rate of error in this regard is significantly less than the humans. Just an assumption though.

And again, how does this change with digital?
 

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