Okay, so my birthday is September 16. I will be upgrading from a Canon AE-1 35mm SLR (with 50mm and 135mm lenses) and my small Olympus SP-350 8MP digital camera to a DSLR. I found a few deals. Here are my options:
A.) Nikon D40x 10MP DSLR from Costco for $950. Comes with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses, 2 dvds on photography, rechargeable battery and battery charger, camera and accessory bag, 1GB SD Card, etc...
B.) Canon Digital Rebel XTI 10MP from Costco for $850. Comes with 18-55mm lens, battery and charger, and not much else
C.) I can buy the Canon Digital Rebel XTI (body only, no lens) on amazon.com for $630 here. Also on amazon, I would buy either this lens, a Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM for $375, or this Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM lens for $236.
D.) I can buy this deal from amazon.com (please check it out, it comes with SO MANY THINGS) for $950
Soooooo, option A is good because Costco has a good return policy. However, I held the D40X, and wasn't crazy about the way it looked or felt. I love the way the XTI looks and feels. Option B is good again because it's Costco. I do worry about options A and B having poor lens quality, but someone told me you won't notice unless you zoom, crop, or blow-up the image a lot. Is that true? But I don't get a bag, memory card, or much else from option B. Just the kit lens. Going with option C is good, and I have a choice of two lenses. One has a better range and features Image Stabilization, but the other is still good. Option C is a little expensive. I don't want to spend much over $1000. You have to consider tax/shipping too. Option D sounds great, becuase it comes with soooo many things. It comes with 2 lenses, 3 filters, carrying case, memory card, 2 tripods, cleaning kit, etc...
So what do I do? I read that the D40X will autofocus only with AF-S lenses, which kind of sucks. Doesn't that mean autofocus will only work with Nikon AF-S lenses, so using Tamron or Sigma lenses will mean no autofocus?
Oh boy. What should I do? Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions, advice? I would REALLY REALLY appreciate it.
Equipment: Canon AE-1 35mm SLR, Canon FD lenses (50mm and 135mm), Tiffen uv and close-up filters, Promaster flash, and two tripods.
Favorite photographers: Bryan Peterson, John Shaw, Patrick Hoelck, George Lange, Steve McCurry, Jim Zuckerman, Jim Miotke, Andre Gallant, Joe McNally, Scott Kelby, Kerry Drager, Dave Hill, and Moose Peterson.
***Anyone on myspace? Add me if you want:
www.myspace.com/ericfx***
A.) Nikon D40x 10MP DSLR from Costco for $950. Comes with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses, 2 dvds on photography, rechargeable battery and battery charger, camera and accessory bag, 1GB SD Card, etc...
B.) Canon Digital Rebel XTI 10MP from Costco for $850. Comes with 18-55mm lens, battery and charger, and not much else
C.) I can buy the Canon Digital Rebel XTI (body only, no lens) on amazon.com for $630 here. Also on amazon, I would buy either this lens, a Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM for $375, or this Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM lens for $236.
D.) I can buy this deal from amazon.com (please check it out, it comes with SO MANY THINGS) for $950
Soooooo, option A is good because Costco has a good return policy. However, I held the D40X, and wasn't crazy about the way it looked or felt. I love the way the XTI looks and feels. Option B is good again because it's Costco. I do worry about options A and B having poor lens quality, but someone told me you won't notice unless you zoom, crop, or blow-up the image a lot. Is that true? But I don't get a bag, memory card, or much else from option B. Just the kit lens. Going with option C is good, and I have a choice of two lenses. One has a better range and features Image Stabilization, but the other is still good. Option C is a little expensive. I don't want to spend much over $1000. You have to consider tax/shipping too. Option D sounds great, becuase it comes with soooo many things. It comes with 2 lenses, 3 filters, carrying case, memory card, 2 tripods, cleaning kit, etc...
So what do I do? I read that the D40X will autofocus only with AF-S lenses, which kind of sucks. Doesn't that mean autofocus will only work with Nikon AF-S lenses, so using Tamron or Sigma lenses will mean no autofocus?
Oh boy. What should I do? Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions, advice? I would REALLY REALLY appreciate it.