help: plan to get a digital SLR from USA

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^^ Not worth it since the D80 is an old model and is set to be replaced. It is not a bad model btw, but with so many new models being launched it is no longer a great choice.

I would recommend this - 2757B003 Canon Digital Rebel XSi SLR Camera Body Kit, 12.2 Megapixels, Chrome with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Image Stabilizer Lens

And add this lens to the combo and you are all set. 2044B002 Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer Telephoto Zoom Lens

This camera has a few advantages over the D80. -

1. Less Noise

2. More megapixels ! (Not important but still will help in times of cropping)

3. Bigger LCD monitor (3 inches vs 2.5 inches)

4. Live view ( Difficult to use but at least you have the option)

5. Both lenses are stabilized (In the Nikon, the 18-55mm was not stabilized)

6. 14 bit Raw (Vs 12 bit Raw in the D80)

7. SDHC support (You can use 8 GB and 16 GB cards)

8. Lighter (475g vs 745g)

Though the Nikon has one big advantage over the Canon - The viewfinder. The Nikon's viewfinder is bright and big. One major plus for the Nikon. But still the Canon is a newer model and the Nikon is an End of Life model.

If you can up your budget a bit to approx $1500, you can go for the Canon 40D model which is made of a tougher magnesium alloy body and it has a burst of upto 6.5 fps !
 
Thanks!
I am quite confused between Canon Xsi and Nikon D80. I read the Anandtech review of XSi also. Interstingly, in spite of being an old model, many people are recommending it over the Xsi. I guess it ultimately boils down to the lenses.!!

Canon pro range is out of budget for me.

Any other suggestions?
 
+1 for the XSi. especially for the included lens with IS :ohyeah: + the pricing isnt bad ;) else even look at the older rebel XTi if ur on a budget. I guess it must have gotten a major price drop :D
 
A D80 will surely have an edge over the XSi, after all the XSi is a consumer level body and the D80 has semi-pro features like a Pentaprism viewfinder, etc.

However, I'd suggest you get a Canon 30D instead cause that'll be more of a match to the D80, you can find great deals if you look around. Add a 18-55 IS and 55-250 IS as BF1983 suggested and your good to go!
 
u can also try the sony A350,u get a free image stabilized images.although the IS wont be as good as the ones found in canon or nikons lens still is a good feature.the sony produces great images too.
 
I'd either get the D80 or 30D in that range. The ergonomics of the XT/XTi/XSi are not great and I'd steer clear from the D40/D40x/D60 as they are very limited. If buying D80, I'd avoid that 18-135 lens and get a Tamron 17-50 or a Tokina 19-35 and that 55-200 VR. If going canon, get the same tamron/tokina and a 55-250 IS.
 
^^ Then why do you have a Nikon Coolpix 5100 ? Coz a Nikon is a Nikon right ?:ohyeah:

Anyways Countdown, its your choice. All three cameras - D80, 30D and 450D are capable cameras and you won't go wrong with either of them. But remember if you want to grow with your camera i.e. get more lenses later on, use the more advanced features like manual focus, manual exposure etc, then the D80 and 30D cameras make more sense.
 
BF1983 said:
^^ Then why do you have a Nikon Coolpix 5100 ? Coz a Nikon is a Nikon right ?:ohyeah:

Anyways Countdown, its your choice. All three cameras - D80, 30D and 450D are capable cameras and you won't go wrong with either of them. But remember if you want to grow with your camera i.e. get more lenses later on, use the more advanced features like manual focus, manual exposure etc, then the D80 and 30D cameras make more sense.
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u missed the digital rebel XT, n the 570IS he has :P
 
Thanks guys. Very helpful information. I'll check those DSLRs and see how they feel and how much difference ergonomics makes.

I still have couple of old Pentax SLR bodies (K1000 and MX) and lenses. Any chance that those lenses will be usable in digital SLRs?
 
Count_Down said:
Thanks guys. Very helpful information. I'll check those DSLRs and see how they feel and how much difference ergonomics makes.

I still have couple of old Pentax SLR bodies (K1000 and MX) and lenses. Any chance that those lenses will be usable in digital SLRs?
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Depending on the mount, it can generally be used. But low end/prosumer DSLRs using smaller CCDs than 35 mm film size/full frame (36x24mm), the focal length will be higher, say X 1.6, apart from other quality issues. No problem with professional ones using full frame CCDs like Canon 1DS MarkIII. (MRP 4 lakhs) BTW, Canon was the first to introduce full frame CCD cameras.
 
If I were you, I would buy a cheaper cam ( Like Canon 400d ) and good lenses.

This is because the lens quality is a far greater factor deciding image quality than the body.

These are some of Canon's fantastic (and affordable) lenses.Canon EF-S 10-22mm, Canon 17-40mm, Canon 50mm 1.4 and Canon 70-200mm f4L. See which you can afford and then buy. BTW, 18-55 IS and 55-250 IS are good recommendations if you are on a budget. (One more BTW, I own a 18-55mm IS and image quality is not that great. :()
 
cool_dude said:
If I were you, I would buy a cheaper cam ( Like Canon 400d ) and good lenses.

This is because the lens quality is a far greater factor deciding image quality than the body.

These are some of Canon's fantastic (and affordable) lenses.Canon EF-S 10-22mm, Canon 17-40mm, Canon 50mm 1.4 and Canon 70-200mm f4L. See which you can afford and then buy. BTW, 18-55 IS and 55-250 IS are good recommendations if you are on a budget. (One more BTW, I own a 18-55mm IS and image quality is not that great. :()
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How much for Canon 70-200mm f4L since the L denotes it is luxury series.
 
Anish said:
^ Grey market prices for the Non-IS are ~ 30k and IS selles for ~ 45k.
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At a time when IS is preferred even for 18-55mm, IS is essential for 70-200mm and can 45K said to be an affordable price that too when grey?

BTW, still using my 10 year old Sigma 400mm (no IS) with my Canon EOS. (film camera)
 
Wait a minute ! You say you have some old Pentax lenses ? Which ones ? The Pentax K20D is available and it a very good camera. Pentax is compatible with almost all its old lenses (though some require an adapter).

Amazon.com: Pentax K20D 14.6MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction (Body Only): Electronics

Its available for $1113 at Amazon. For that price you get a 14 MP low noise sensor, In body IS that works with EVERY compatible lens. (Some older lenses require you to input the focal length first before taking a shot). Live View etc.

If you already have some lenses, it may be a good idea to go with a Pentax body.
 
^ Older film lenses are known not to give great results with dSLR bodies. The lens working is one thing and producing great shots is entirely another.

Over the years, lens technology also has drastically improved and he'll be missing out on stuff like Anti-CA elements besides film lenses tend to vignette heavily, are pretty slow (around f/3.5) and nowhere as sharp as a prosumer level zoom like the 17-50 Tamron or 18-50 Sigma.
 
^^ Yeah but at his budget he was going to get a Nikon D80 with two decent lenses. Now he can can a better camera and use his old lenses for a while till he can upgrade to some sharper lenses like the Tamron 17-50mm as you mentioned above.

And with Pentax, he has the IS inbuilt which means no more spending extra $$ for lenses with IS. Heck he can use IS on wide prime lenses which Canon or Nikon do not have.
 
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