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Just one word for Nikon D40, don't touch it. You may end up regretting the buy later some time. The reason for it is that you won't be able to check out the best and optically better lenses with either D40, D40x or D60. They are made only for Small Sensor size optimized lenses & don't work with best of the class lenses from Nikon. That's is something which may prompt sale of a whole collection of lenses in longer run, should you want to upgrade to better glass. In Nikon, D80 onwards, there are some really good cameras but I am not on that platform so can't comment on pros & cons.

Coming to Canon (ah that sweet thing, I own one), D450/1000 is the best beginners bet. You can strap on any lens from Canon's entire range and you know for sure you don't have to think 1/2/x times before checking for compatibility. Besides that, everything is one's preferences. I prefer to suggest Canon as they are better serviced across India (more service centers). Even if you get their body from outside, you can always get those 2 yrs US warranty to go and get it repaired there by someone, should there be an issue.

Looking at your requirements, you should be able to find a 1000D for 32K india bill and warranty. Price on Amazon is 477.26 $ (23863 INR going by 50Rs/$) with 18-55 IS Lens which is a good package. Complement that with a Canon 55-250 IS & a couple of CF/SD cards and you are good for a long time.

Don't deal with Jayesh for now. Even though he is a reputed source, some of his latest supply to BangalorePhotographyClub (BPC Forum) members haven't been that good. He is also charging considerably more than a US sample.

PS: Just read your reply to RufRoc and since you are inclined to buy a Canon, here is a link you would like to justify you purchase of 450D. 450D costs $639.00 & 1000D $478.00, so the difference is 150$ which you are paying for a slightly more advanced camera & better picture quality and better ease of use (Not to add that you get wireless control also!). Now here I leave this up to you and you decide for yourself.

Canon XSi / 450D vs Canon XS / 1000D

Thanks RufRoc for the pointers, i somehow always liked the canon shot pic's compared to nikon (no am not referring to a certain bazooka shots). How do i explain, hmmm, picture is more softer from a canon which is more to my liking, Nikon's are always too bright like Sony TV :D

So if i pick it should be Canon, now i need to find out if the extra moolah's are justified, if am going for 450 instead of 1000D??? 2 Meg Pix more really doesnt matter for my use, what do you guys feel. Is it VFM to go in for 450D instead?

Hey thanks given2fly, we replied at the same time i guess. So 450 or 1000?

Jaggu, I say neither. I find 450D too light and 1000D may not be very different, having a soild hold is very important. I say get a 30D, must be really cheap now. It will give you all you need. The dSLR bodies lose their value very fast. The E-3 I bought in Jan-08 for $1700 was available for $1200 in Oct-08.

Don't get influenced by the latest and greatest features, they don't really help much.

Do agree with Samurai. If you can find one cheap enough (Adorama lists it at 649$) & Aamzon (Seller Ritz Camera) is selling it for 661$ (With 2 GB CF Card). It is an excellent buy but you will be sacrificing on live view, sensor cleaning (Do they really clean, I doubt!), few MP & a few features here and there which you can find out on googling. I will say, keep 1000D out of the equation, decide on 450D or 30D or if your budget allows 40D (listed with a kit lens for 899$ @ Amazon).Can't make it simpler than this.

Thanks for the pointer, Samurai.

Sir, I totally agree with you on that, Ive read some reviews saying that there is more noise on lower ISO's in A Sony than the other cameras.

But in my situation where I already have 2 Minolta lenses 18-75 AF and 70-300 AF zoom which I got with my minolta Maxxum 5 are only compatible with Sony and not with Canon or Nikon. I gotta use the lenses somehow as I would'nt get much in the resale of the lenses anyways.

Hence I just have to buy a sony a200 body which is available for about 280$.

So in this situation do you think buying A sony would make sense? What do you suggest?

Thanks
Dhiraj

I need options that are available in India and preferably in 30k INR range, ie if am buying now, or i shall wait a lil more longer (recession!!)

After reading a comparison on 450 and 1000 am leaning towards 450 LOL, lets see what ol man has to say ;)

Hi,

I started this thread 3 years ago when I was planning to buy my first dSLR. After many recommendations I bought a D50 and never regretted it.

But now it's time to upgrade, and I am thinking of buying a Nikon D90; so that I will be able to use my existing lenses. I am getting D90 for USD 900 from adorama.

Any feedback on D90?

\N

I have been doing my research on D90 and it seems many examples have shown some kind of error messages(CHAERR and others), which Nikon has not acknowledged so far. Not to alarm you, just FYI. Maybe it pays to wait a bit more if you want to pickup this camera. DPreview forum has details on this.

Tried TWO D90's; Both had CHA ERR msg: Nikon D90 - D40 Forum: Digital Photography Review

Also Adorama price is 869$, all other sites are saying 899$. Ebay may offer it lower, but it maybe a shady deal.

Thanx Kuttapan,

Yep, it looks like it'll be better to wait. On Adorama there is a package which includes a 8 GB memory card, a shoulder carry bag, an aluminum case and an additional battery. That costs $929, I was thinking of going for that one.

\N

Jaggu, it all depends on what you would like to do with your camera.

Although people say that more megapixels is all just hype, there is one area where it really DOES matter to have more megapixels, apart from printing. And that is cropping. More megapixels help you in retaining quality of an image even after cropping it. If you take bird or wildlife photos, or macros or street photography, you would be cropping your pics more often than not. Specially in bird photography.

So, thats one area where 450D scores over 1000D, and i have not regretted choosing 450D over 1000D one bit.

Rest all the points are covered in that article someone else has posted below. I am yet to start using spot metering, although some experts believe that spot metering is the way to go, rather than relying on the camera's evaluative metering mode. With 1000D, you wont get the option of spot metering.

Bottomline i guess is how serious you want to get with your photography. Since you mention that you are interested in travel and family photographs, why not look at a higher end point and shoot instead? The Canon S5 IS will fit you quite well i think.

Btw, the grey price for canon 450D with 18-55 IS kit lens, 4GB memory card and a bag is 35K or thereabouts.

Cheers
Amitoj

Hi everyone, I have posted the following in the digital camera forum thread. Thought of sharing in this thread too. Read on...

Guys, I thought of taking FZ28 but have decided to go ahead and invest in a dSLR. I'm planning to take Canon 450D after reading the reviews and also after consulting a colleague of mine, Naveen, who is also a member on this forum. Thanks to him, I got to know a new store in Hyd. :) He is also into photography and owns a Canon 400D and has adviced me to go ahead with a 450D.

I'm not sure whether guys here know this or not but in Hyderabad, there is a store called Pixetra, which currently sells cams of all brands, with receipt and warranty. Though their range is not very huge, I think they have most of the brands and models. You can access their website here pixetra - buy digital cameras, camera accessories, hobby optics and order photo prints online in India (I hope I'm not flouting any rules of the forum. :confused:), which hosts everything from the features, the price, and to what the package contains. I found it very helpful and will be visiting this store soon to get my 450D.

Pixetra is a chain - they have stores in Bangalore too. They are significantly costlier than other joints selling with b&w. Apart from not having a decent range, most of the times specific stuff that you may want will not be available. They have no clue what to stock and what not to - they don't even stock filters and polarizers, forget range of lenses. Both the shops I have visited in Bangalore were staffed with salesmen totally ignorant of photography and cameras.

Not meant for anyone even moderately serious about photography. If you are serious, go look for a JJMehta-equivalent in Hyderabad. Even the grey market guys will be able to tell you the good shops that sell with b&w.

Probably you have more choice in B'lore, when it comes to camera sellers with b&w. I don't think it is the same case here in Hyd. Moreover, this store was recommended by an avid photographer friend of mine and I'm sure he knows what he's recommending.


There is one more store in Hyd, which deals with cameras and similar equipment, with b&w, and they are charging almost 8K more than Pixetra, for 450D. So I guess Pixetra is still better. I will check out the store and will let you know if it better than the one in B'lore or similar.

@Jaggu,

If you leave out the price, 450D is clearly superior to the 1000D. But you want to consider, if the extra bucks that you are paying for 450D are really useful. I mean, are you going to make real use of the extra features that you get on 450D over 1000D ? Can you spend that extra cost on may be a superior lens which will be more useful than extra features like 12 MP and spot metering etc?

I was also in similar dilemma, and then zeroed in on 1000D instead of 450D, as I am just a beginner in DSLR photography, although I have tons of experience with prosumer p&s cameras like S5 IS etc. I didnt feel I could do full justice to the advanced features on 450D as compared with 1000D, as I am just a beginner with DSLR. So save those $200 or so and planning to buy a better lens with it.

Searched the thread for Pentax DSLR, but could not find much information.

I have Pentax Film SLRs and hence my first preference would be to go to a Pentax DSLR so that I can reuse my lenses.

Please advise on K200D. Comparing with its Canon and Nikon breathren.