DSLR with sharpest lens and best optical zoom, under $1000?

[rexbobcat]

I'm not trying to be pretentious, but I know what you're looking for and that's like wanting a Ferrari for the price of a Pinto.

Not pretentious, but all these replies sound so snobby and elitist. Because some of you can afford $4000 cameras doesn't mean everyone can.

I'm asking about relative sharpness of lenses in the price class I can afford, and instead, I get "you're living in a dream world". Gee thanks.

Entry-level DSLR $400-$900

Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 $350
50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 $100 and $350ish

Problem solved? Thread is done?

 

[adartsesirhc]

Rexbobcat has the right idea. Although the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 is closer to $450, if purchased new. This lens almost rivals Canon's $1200 24-70mm f/2.8L in terms of sharpness (note the almost).

If you want to buy new, that plus a T2i ($550 with kit lens on Amazon... it's only $10 cheaper without it) reaches your budget. If you can buy used, then you can probably get the whole bundle (T2i, 28-75mm, 50mm) for about $900.

 

[JSER]

Under $1000 my tele cost more than that

Check out pre owned

 

[JDFlood]

I've enjoyed amateur photography since age 12, and am now 63. My first decent camera years ago was a Minolta SRT 101 if I recall.

The budget has been tight lately, with this economy, but a few birthdays back I got a Canon Sd4000IS for a purse camera, and because I enjoy taking natural light photos of our birds.

I think you ar on the right track. Probably the biggest factor in photography is skilled composition. You may have to spend a little more time with lighting but a contemporary cheap digital camera can do amazing things. I would get a new Nikon D3100 with a kit lens or two (I took a quick look, you can get them for $900 with one kit lens or $1,100 with two.. Some of the kit lenses are extremely sharp. Just not so great on light gathering and snob factor. Look at B&H Photo. Check out Ken Rockwell's site, he is really good at relating tradeoffs. Sensors have been inproving dramatically, so I would not get a used camera. JDFlood

 

[KmH]

Only Canon lenses made to work with Canon's EOS system (EF and EF-S mount), auto focus with an AF motor in the lens.

Canon abandoned it's FD-mount in 1987, for the (EOS) EF-mount when Canon added auto focus to all it's cameras.

Nikon didn't abandon it's F-mount when auto focus was added to SLR cameras.