OK. Simple enough question I guess.

Which Digital SLR/package deal for up to

Would a 2nd hand 300d be an option?

If not then i'd say if you know nikon, go with it. I was always pentax, but then jumped on board with canon's dslr's so I'm on that hook now.

Really, I'd say little in them. It;s you not the camera that is the key.

Having used briefly the d70 it was nice, of course I also like my 300d

Would a 2nd hand 300d be an option?

If not then i'd say if you know nikon' date=' go with it. I was always pentax, but then jumped on board with canon's dslr's so I'm on that hook now.

Really, I'd say little in them. It;s you not the camera that is the key.

Having used briefly the d70 it was nice, of course I also like my 300d [/quote']

It's an option, but I've got the

I like the 300D to, very nice. I'll be taking one to the ring tomorrow. The 350D replacement looks good and also has more Megapixels.

I've been using a D70. Very happy with it.

You get a slightly different conversion between the Nikon and Canon. I think Nikon is about 1.5 whereas Canon is 1.6-1.7 so you'll get a slightly more zoomed picture with the same lens on a Canon than on a Nikon.

I went for the D70 because I prefered the black look and metallic-feeling body. However, if I were to start again, I may stretch up for a 20d

I believe the lens you get with the Nikon kit is better than the Canon kit, although maybe there are two Canon kits available. When I bought mine, I think Canon's kit included a smaller ranging lens which doesn't have internal focussing so if you want to use filters, it's a bugger. The lens in the Nikon kit (17-70) is very nice, offers internal focussing, and you can manually override the focus at any time moving the focus ring (a kind of auto-latching / auto-delatching mechanism). Not sure about the Canon lens.

Also, if you were to buy the Nikon lens seperately, it's about

I've been using a D70. Very happy with it.

You get a slightly different conversion between the Nikon and Canon. I think Nikon is about 1.5 whereas Canon is 1.6-1.7 so you'll get a slightly more zoomed picture with the same lens on a Canon than on a Nikon.

I went for the D70 because I prefered the black look and metallic-feeling body. However, if I were to start again, I may stretch up for a 20d

I believe the lens you get with the Nikon kit is better than the Canon kit, although maybe there are two Canon kits available. When I bought mine, I think Canon's kit included a smaller ranging lens which doesn't have internal focussing so if you want to use filters, it's a bugger. The lens in the Nikon kit (17-70) is very nice, offers internal focussing, and you can manually override the focus at any time moving the focus ring (a kind of auto-latching / auto-delatching mechanism). Not sure about the Canon lens.

Also, if you were to buy the Nikon lens seperately, it's about

So' date=' I've got plenty of choices, with the Canon EOS 350D, the Nikon D50, D70 and D70S, the Olympus E300 and the Pentax IST-DS and others.

[/quote']

Have a play with as many of them as you can. Buy the one that feels comfortable in your hands, and works in a way that your brain fathoms easily.

They are all good cameras. I have an EOS 10D, my father a Pentax *istD and a friend a D70. You'd be extremely hard pressed to tell which images came from which camera, IMHO. Any small differences will be overwhelmed by the most mportant factor: the person behind the camera.

You may also want to consider which lens you want to buy. Find a *quality* lens that meets your requirements and budget, and then buy the camera that it works with....

Ian

You can pick up a Canon 20D for that nowadys with a little looking (ebay etc), failing that a Canon 350D, and some extra memory/batteries/ accessory etc.

either the 350 or the nikon D50. I'd prefer the 350 from canon

Have a look at the Canon 350d excellent quality

put same picture taken on a 20d side by side with the 350d and you cant tell the difference, until you start enlarging beyond A4

Some pictures here taken on a 350d

either the 350 or the nikon D50. I'd prefer the 350 from canon

Vib, why the D50 and not the D70/D70S?

The raw specs suggest the D70S is the better unit, but I'd be interested to hear your viewpoint.

My opinion...if your want film cameras then Nikon is the daddy. If you want digital cameras then its Canon. I know Nikon make nice kit, but they are always trying to catch up Canon.

Personally I have the Canon 350D. It is an awesome little camera, with the word little applying here as it is small compared to the other DSLR's. That means its also lighter and easier to carry, as well as be used by smaller persons. The only downside is that some feel it too small. I have large hands, but I dont and I live its smaller nature over the 300D/20D.

My opinion...if your want film cameras then Nikon is the daddy. If you want digital cameras then its Canon. I know Nikon make nice kit' date=' but they are always trying to catch up Canon.

Personally I have the Canon 350D. It is an awesome little camera, with the word little applying here as it is small compared to the other DSLR's. That means its also lighter and easier to carry, as well as be used by smaller persons. The only downside is that some feel it too small. I have large hands, but I dont and I live its smaller nature over the 300D/20D.[/quote']

Right, that sounds reasonable... In the 'real world' so to speak though, will more than 10% of people actually be able to tell the difference between images from the two cameras? I was looking at comparison shots and TBH there were only a few which really seemed very different, but in those that did, I felt that the Nikon actually gave a more accurate representation of the subject, although the Canon's pictures did seem more 'contrasty' and 'brighter'.

I've basically answered my own question haven't I? Anyone else get the impression that I'm just gonna buy a Nikon?

Vib' date=' why the D50 and not the D70/D70S?

The raw specs suggest the D70S is the better unit, but I'd be interested to hear your viewpoint.[/quote']

cost.

D50 + 18-55 lens

I would advise a Nikon. I have a Fuji S2 (which is Nikon based) and tried a friend's Canon and I just can't figure them out... so it's definitely the Nikon for me. The kit lens is great as well. If you've used nikons int he past then it will be less of a jump as it were. But go to a shop and try all of them, and see what you like.

Hi

You might just consider Minolta as well. The built in image stabilisation means you can work at indoor car shows without blasting flash at everything.

Heres a sample from this afternoon. Hand held 100mm f11 @1/90 and ISO400.

Chris

http://www.cbuckle.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/Nature%20close%20up/Spider.jpg

Well I have just taken the plunge myself.

Just ordered a Nikon D50 + Tamaron 28 - 300mm zoom lens + 1g SD card.

Well, thanks to everybody who offered advice and hints. In the end, I did the usual impulse purchase, and stretched the budget slightly with

Nikon D70S body

Nikon 18-70mm G-CPU lens

Nikon 70-300mm D-CPU lens

Selection of filters

1Gb Sandisk card

Gadget bag

So, the