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I’m also looking at getting a new digital camera with some lenses. Here is the system I decided on getting this week.

$870 Canon Digital Rebel with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6: this lens will be my everyday walk around lens.
$410 EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ISU: This will be my telephoto
$470 Macro EF 100mm f/2.8: I want a macro for taking some close up shots
$75 EF 50mm f/1.8: I’ve heard too many good things about this lens not to try it at this price
($405) This weeks Cannon Rebates.

Total price for all this is $1420 before taxes. Can't wait to start playing with it.

lasuther
 
Another Canon vote. This seems to be a great mix of price and quality. I am going to go the camera store after work to look at them.
 
You can buy it either with an 18-55mm lens or body-only. However, I'd strongly recommend getting the kit that includes the lens. It's not a great lens, but it's a pretty good one, and definitely worth the $80-$100 more that you pay for the kit.

Yes, the 300D has an internal flash. It's a very nice one and pops up very high, so you almost never get red-eye. You can get much better results with an external flash because of the ability to bounce off the ceiling, diffusing the light.

I'd also highly recommend getting the Canon 50mm 1.8 lens for around $75 via mail order (as somebody else pointed out). It's a great (and inexpensive) way to get into "available light" photography.

With regards to Canon vs. Nikon, I've also read great things about the Nikon D70, but the Canon is no slouch. The plastic may not feel that great at first touch, but I've read posts from owners who have had it over a year and say it holds up very well. By all means, try them both if you can overcome the price difference. See which one feels better to you. If you like the Canon well enough, you might as well take advantage of the price difference - especially with the triple rebate. You could get the 300D, kit lens, 50mm 1.8, and something like a 28-135 IS lens for about the same price as the Nikon with kit lens.

nospleen said:
So the 300D does come with a lens right? I can always upgrade to a nicer lens once I get more involved and my technical knowledge grows. On dpreview, I have to say the 300D pictures looked great to me. Does it have an internal flash at all?
 
Well, I ordered the Canon with the lens. I found it factory refurbished for 665. (with lens). I figured that I would go this route and see how much I really use it. If I love it, I will upgrade the lens or sell it and go for the Nikon D70. I just wanted to say thanks for everyones help!
 
Okay, one more question. What book should I get that is a good, easy guide to using Digital SLRs?
 
Congrats! As to books I not found any that are truly great IMO. The closest I have found is the Dummy book on Digital Photography.
 
Benj said:
Digital SLR's are a massive step up from even the very best of the prosumer/all-in-one digital cameras. Better images and fantastic lens flexibility. Plus any investment on lenses can be kept for future camera bodies (I still use 10+ year old lenses).

Canon EOS Digital Rebel / 300D is a fantastic camera with prices plummeting.

I'm not in the US so don't know too much about retailers, but this is almost within your price range and has a lens included (the USD 999 option - black or silver).

Mmmm. Cheap EOS.

I second that, Canon 300D/Rebel (rebel in US) is a GREAT camera.

http://www.dpreview.com/shop/merchants.asp?id=canon_eos300d

Remember, hi megapixel does NOT equal better picture, just bigger print possibilitys.

A GREAT place for help with photography, lenses, anything like that is the forums at http://www.dpreview.com/ - the forums there are invaluable for everything photography, including photoshop touchups etc.
 
shuurajou said:
A GREAT place for help with photography, lenses, anything like that is the forums at http://www.dpreview.com/ - the forums there are invaluable for everything photography, including photoshop touchups etc.

I second this, and add www.luminous-landscape.com as probably a better tool for learning photographic techniques. Much larger tutorial section. However, I should say that I learned most of what I know about photography now from hanging out in the dpreview forums. There's a specific forum for the Canon 300D. Go there often, post questions, browse through others questions, or even post pictures and ask for critiques on how you can make the shot better next time. It's an incredibly useful source. I think it would help a lot more than getting a book.
 
Thanks for the advice. I just switched my order to a new unit, they called and said with the rebate, it would only be 20 bucks more. 🙂
 
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