We need a new camera, and I’ve been researching a bunch of them. I believe I’ve narrowed my search to the following cameras:

Nikon D60
Nikon D40x
Canon Rebel XSi
Canon Rebel XTi
Olympus Evolt E-510

Do any of you have any experience with any of them? Any feedback, advice, or recommendations would be appreciated.

Bud

I'm gathering information for a similar decision. One big plus of going Nikon is that Nikon makes a 18-200 lens that is a really good "all in one" lens. Getting a similar range with the Canons requires two lenses.

I have a fair amount of experience with digital SLR's, I've owned the XTi, my wife has the D40, and I currently have the Canon 40d.

Personally I'd stay with Canon or Nikon. Having said this, both make excellent products and the choice between the two is very subjective. The Nikon D40 fit my wife's hands much better, and I actually like the feel of a larger camera. I would recommend going to the store and actually trying out the camera's yourself.

Finally, without knowing what kind of photographer you are it is impossible for me to make any additional recommendations. With a DSLR, it is often as much about the lenses as it is about the body. Some people love their superzooms, and others demand higher image quality, low light capability, and/or more creative control and don't have the budget limitations that most of struggle with.

Nikon...

(Paul Simon didn't write no songs about no Canon cameras).

I have had a Nikon D-70 since 2004, and really like it. One of my coworkers just traded his D-200 in for a D-300. I had thought about buying the D-200, but the D-70 works well enough that I didn't see the advantage.

When I started out in the camera hobby in the '70s, I used to have a Canon SLR.

When it came time to buy my first automatic film camera, I went Nikon. I was a bit upset that all of my manual Canon lenses were not compatable with the newer (at the time in the early '90s) Canon bodies.

But with Nikon, a lot (but not all) of their lenses - even some made in the '60s can be used on the digital bodies. Nikon publishes a chart showing which lenses are compatible with which bodies.

I like that feature, as your old equipment is not obsolete. And, you can go on eBay and buy an old manual focus 400mm film camera lens really cheap and quite possibly mount it on a digital Nikon. And with the CCD size difference, it actually becomes an equivalent of a 500mm lens.

While you are limited to the functionality of the particular lens - i.e. if it is a manual focus lens, you lose the auto-focus function - it can be easier to buy a 400mm lens for $50 than a new one for $900 - espcially if its only occasional use.

When I upgraded from my film Nikon, all of my AF-D lenses works with the D-70 with 100% capabilitiy. So I didn't lose my investment; other than putting my film body in storage (where it will probably remain forever).

But in reality, with high-end DSLRs, either Nikon or Canon is going to be great. You cannot go wrong with either choice.

Ask Troop if he likes his E-510.

I have a Rebel XTi. The lens I use most is 70-300 image stabilized with f4-5.something. I really wish I had an f2 lens for lower light situations such as high school football games and my son's wrestling in poorly lit gyms. I am very inexperienced and have no exposure to such a lens, but I know it would be better. How much I have no idea.


From everything I've heard, you can't go wrong with either Nikon or Canon. But troop sure does take some mighty fine pictures with his camera.

My wife has a (her second) Nikon D50. We have the stock 18-55 lens and a 55-200 lens, plus some filters and an external flash. She takes near-professional pics with that, and has no formal training. The D60 is the most-equivalent camera from Nikon to the D50. The D40 is a little dumbed down from that. Nikons take great pictures but are somewhat fragile and VERY expensive to fix, which is why she's on #2. The first one got killed by my 3-year old, when he pulled it off a table by its strap, causing it to hit a cement floor.

Despite the fragility, I would recommend the Nikon D60. We spend a lot of time outdoors, and for that reason I'd also recommend going with a x-300 lens because for a lot of shots, the 200 we have isn't quite what we like, in terms of range and close-up nature shots.

I love my E-510. Probably one of the best buys out there for the money, and I would NOT have a DSLR without Image Stabilization, especially for use on a boat.

There is a new model, the E-520, now available, which makes the E-510 really cheap, but if I had my choice I'd spend more and get the 520.

The kit lenses with the 510 and 520 are some of the best, considering the price point.

Don't we all. Expensive glass. My 50-200 (Equivalent to 100-400) is F2.8 and ran almost a grand. Cameras are cheap compared to good lenses.

The more I look at the E-520, the more I like it. I've looked at the 3 tiers of lenses on the Olympus page (http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/lens/dea/products/lens/index.asp), but haven't seen the associated prices. I don't know how good the "standard" lenses, but it seems like a wise thing to do would be to go to the "high grade" lenes (if I can afford it). I imagine the "super high grade" is way out of my league.

I bought my first SLR system about 30 years ago, and at the heart of it all is the Canon AE-1. I still have it all (lenses, flashes, filters, etc. etc.), and it all works fine. So, I have come to like the Canon stuff.

However, I've had two 35mm cameras made by Olympus, and they still work fine.

Nikon has a very good reputation, so that is why I've been looking at them. I saw a guy's Nikon D40x with the 18mm - 200 mm lens and was very impressed. I don't know how fast the lens was, but the guy really liked it. I also don't know how the quality of the lens compares with the "standard" or "high grade" lenses made by ZUIKO for the Olympus, so I've got more research to do.

The only thing that the Nikons don't have that the Canons and Olympus do is the sensor cleaning feature. Can any of you comment on how important it is to have this feature? Is it a gimmick? Does it work? Is it necessary? Does it degrade the image by electronically editing the original image?

Sensor cleaning works. Dust is quite visible in your pictures, especially if you change out lenses a lot. If you don't have it you would probably have to have the sensor professionally cleaned from time to time.

I wouldn't choose my camera based on a feature like sensor cleaning, but this feature is a plus. One of the few drawbacks of digital SLR's versus film is the fact that since the sensor is permanent, dust will accumulate on the sensor over the many years that you own your camera.

The sensor cleaning features do help, but eventually you will have to clean the sensor. Having said this, I've ready many posts that indicate that you can clean the sensor yourself as long as you take reasonable care. My best guess is that you shouldn't need to clean the sensor often unless you are careless, or changing lenses in a dusty environment.

One last note - even if you do have dust on the sensor it doesn't always show up. Low f-stops often hide the dust, and the photo editing/touch-up software is getting pretty good at making it easy to remove dust from your final pictures.

I recently purchased a Canon xTi, an have been very pleased. It is my first DSLR, and I am no professional, but I have taken some nice shots. I got a package from Costco that includes 2 image stabilizer lenses ans 18-55 and a 55-250( or close to that). I have owned many other Canon products, and have been pleased. I don't think you will go wrong with any of the choices listed.

Check out this site: www.kenrockwell.com I found it helpful when I was looking.

I sure hope the DSLR recommendations on that kenrockwell site are more broadminded that what he showed for point-and-shoots.

Sensor cleaning is not difficult nor dangerous. There are lots of DIYs on the web that walk you through it. Just google "copperhill method" and you'll learn how to do a dry and wet cleaning.

Ken Rockwell is a polarizing individual. I'm not sure I'd rely on his site. Instead, you may want to spend some time on www.dpreview.com.

These days, you probably can't go wrong with almost any choice. Just realize that if you really get into the hobby, you're largest investment over time is going to be in lenses, not the body.

Alex