I've been looking into getting a better camera, in the price range of around 1000 bucks. I came across an ebay listing for a D50, from a reputable seller, and thought I'd get your feedback on it's value. For around $1050.00 total (including shipping) it lists: - Nikon D50 Digital SLR Camera Body - Black - Nikon 28-80mm Zoom Lens with 5 Year USA Warranty - Nikon 70-300mm Zoom Lens with 5 Year USA Warranty - Transcend 2GB 150x Ultra Speed SecureDigital Card - USB 2.0 High Speed SecureDigital Card Reader - Nikon SLR System Case - Lens cleaning kit Is this a good deal? If you had no camera equipment, and were going to spend no more than 1000 dollars total, which package would you go for? Nikon? Canon? The guy at the local camera shop here was really pushing the D70 over the D50, with it's 100 dollar mail in rebate. I guess Nikon is clearing it's inventory. Thanks for your input!

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?&Form.ShowMessage=2371091

That is what I would go for. You get a great start with the Nikon.I just weihed out all those options a few months back and ended up with Nikon D70 plus all that too. But with tripod and cam bag a few filters and other accesories total came to $3000, but then in the USA most things are cheaper.

You think Nikon is the only one with rebates? Canon has some, too.

thanks cyn and db. I'm finding it awfully hard to choose between the rebel and the D50. As far as rebates on the canon slr line, I have yet to run across any. But I'll keep looking.

Yeah, what Doug said ;o) (one cant be careful enough around here, with the Canon vs Nikon thing)

Attached Link: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond50/

Not sure what your level is in photography but may or not dissapoint...remember, not the cam, its the guy behind it :)

Yes Enmos..sad fact of life. I met a guy with a Nikon D2H (pro body) HE was the only Nikon owner I have met who took the time to stop and chat to a Canon Pro cam owner! Talk about divide!!! PS..I do tend to see more white lens's though :)

Don't think you can go wrong with either the Canon Rebel XT or the Nikon D50/D70. As Nameless said, both brands can produce great images! Really it's a Chevy vs. Ford thing....both have good points....both have bad points. A few general comments though; 1) I would be cautious of the "package" deals...they often throw in "stuff" you don't want...or of lower quality. 2) Make sure you get the USA warranty on the body as well. 3) Go to a local store and physically handle both brands...test them if you can...you will be able to see what features each has...and "feel" the cam! 4) If you end up leaning towards Nikon....see if you can find a new D70...not D70s model....you may be able to pick it up for the same price as the D50 and get more features. 5) If a friend has a suite of lenses that you can borrow, that may weight your brand decision somewhat. 6) Don't count out other DSLR makers either...there is some good stuff out there.... my 2 cents....

Im driving a Fiat myself. Outstanding vehicle i must say. And for a cam i just have a "simple" Canon Powershot Pro1...which means i cant even change my optics...my LCD-panel does however fold and turn in every possible direction, and frankly i dont think that i can do without that feature anymore. Truly comes in handy when youre trying out different POVs. No more crawling on the ground for me. Do either of the above mentioned DSLR have a "screen" that does that? Welcome to the forum by the way, I took a quick look at your gallery and you have some darn fine Bryce-renders there. Im sure youll be quite pleased with whatever camera you decide to purchase. For my birthday im personally wishing for a Rebel...but i hardly think my wife wants to encourage this "obsession" of mine any further, LOL. (these smileys has also become an obsession of mine...thanks Cindy, LOL)

I'm always LEERY of those EBAY deals! On the surface they may seem GREAT..but you gotta read the fine print sometimes! Theses packages often include stuff you don't need. They also charge premiums for the accessories...like extra batteries and whatnot! Checkout out the dpreview site mentioned above! They have in-depth reviews of most cameras and provide links to resellers with pricing! (I've bought from buydig.com & Butterfly photo)they both have pretty decent pricing!

For what it is worth, I would probably choose the Rebel over the D50 if I were in your situation, but that package deal does "sound" good. Almost too good. I pretty much echo what everyone else is saying. Do some research at DPreview.com and elsewhere on the net. Try to handle both cameras, some just feel more right in one's hands. They both will make excellent pictures, so in the end it is a personal thing. I have an Olympus C8080 and though I may not be able to change the lens, I don't really WANT that right now. It is much easier to have an all in one camera that takes DSLR quality photos. I'm betting that if I wait another few years, digital cameras are going to be even better and the prices lower. Ask yourself what you will use it for, and that should help you decide. My 2. Good luck!

Fuzzy, From what I have read on the D50, I would be leaning more towards the D70. The D70 kit comes with the 18-70mm lens which is a sweet lens! You can purchase the Nikkor 70-300mm lens rather inexpensively. I don't know about either of the other two lenses they are offering with the D50. Nikon had a $200 rebate when I purchased mine about six months ago. shrug If I were going to invest that much in a Canon D SLR I would have to overlook the Digital Rebel,spend a little more and go with the 20D body, then spend a little more to get a quality lens to go with her, because the kit lens included isn't all that. As a side note: If it looks to good to be true, it probably is. I would much rather make a purchase like this from someone local, simply because if you have a problem, the local guy isn't going to give you any kind of help if you buy from someone off the internet. If you buy from the local guy, and there are any problems, you just go to them and they are usually more then willing to help you in any way they can. Thats my two cents. Brenda :)

One more thought from experience..I have a D70 Nikon and the standard package lens came with it. There was a $200 US rebate(takes about a month or so to get the check) which helped a lot. Since then, I have purchased Sigma lenses for the camera. I chose the better ones, generally a bunch higher priced than the consumer market level Sigmas. Still, these are less than the better Nikon lenses. Nikon has consumer level lens and much higher priced better lenses. For me, not having the means to afford a $2000 telezoom I went with a "better grade Sigma", not comparing it directly to Nikon but to other Sigma lenses. This was not an inexpensive lens but affordable. Consider the lens...Digital optimized or 35mm size. The zoom is the heavier 35mm lens. Works well on the smaller sensor of the D70 and IF I ever go to a full frame digital this lens will work just fine. The others I got were made for digital size for the Nikon D70. In the future I would go for the full frame 35mm lens simply because even at my age an upgrade is possible. This is something to consider. Thanks for reading my long post. TomDart.

Well as much as I hate to admit, I saved up , worked overtime and bought canon 20D with macro lense and am more than satisfied, 20D with canon give you a lot of lense possibilities. my 2 cents good luck tought decision for me, spent almost a year deciding (course i'm way over analytical)

My experience tells me.. that if you are first timer on any new range of product, it is better to go the market shelf and look and seek what suits you most. As for package offers, once you are into it ( that is use of the product) ... you know what the real worth of the package is and if it would be worth or not... atleast you have a fair idea.

I use a very simply toy model camera ( thats what I call it) A kodak dx 6440. I bought it from the regular showroom.... the interesting part is... I actually bought a DX 6340 and in 3 months time it developed a minor problem. The lens cover which was supposed to auto shut after I switch off the camera was not shutting fully. Since it was on warranty I took it to the dealer and showed him... he told me to wait for a week and .....

I waited 2 weeks, 3 weeks and then I got bugged and went to the main office. They made some enquiries and stuff and sent me to the main service station. On reaching their they informed me that the problem had compounded while attempting to repair it. I told them... fine, give me a replacement then. They said... well Sir, dx 6340 is not in our stock or else we woulda given you an immediate replacement. I said.... ok, so what do you propose? ( By now I was looking at them like a Maniac.) They went into whisper mode and one of them spoke up... Sir, I can show you DX 6440 its the best available in the market ....bla bla bla......... and I shut him up.... Listen, I sent a camera to you for you to fullfill it's warranty agreement or replace it. I am not here to buy a new one. The manager took me aside and says...... just shell out few Rupees more sir and you get the latest and the best, why are you rejecting such a beautiful offer?? .... I remained adamant..... I will not pay even a single penny for anything new or replaced. JUST GIVE ME MY CAMERA AND KEEP THE WARRANTY AGREEMENT!!!!... They went back to the whisper mode. By now, I was being offered Soft Drinks and Snacks ( I was enjoying it all.... ) Finally, they came to me and asked with fear in their voice. Sir, would you accept the dx 6440 as replacement for the dx 6340?... you don't have to pay nothing sir and we will offer you fresh warranty from today and not the original date of purchase of the other camera. I couldn't believe my ears.. I sat dumb.... they probably thought I was not buying in.... They went in and brought a new pack , opened it, demonstrated it..... and wow!! it sure was much better than the 6330... I would have been a fool not to accept it. Anyway, I enjoyed their discomfort for some more time and finally accepted the deal with feigned reluctance.... you should have seen their face, they were so very relieved.

I have captured over 50 thousand images with the 6440 and it is still holding good and no I din't have to go back for warranty claim.

Sorry about the long story..... the only moral of the story is that sometimes, it does appear that paying the Warranty is a waste but trust me it is not. It does pay at times. With electronics you are never sure.

A quicker example..... today I am to go and collect my Cell phone... a Nokia 3230 whose memory card went splat ( it was my fault I guess but no body is sure..... so why should I admit it) and they have offered to replace the card plus check the phone for virus. Reformat it and load all the software once again.... again within warranty. I am so glad I bought it with warranty or else..... it would have been a foolish idea to go and buy a new memory card for it in just 4 months time.

Along with me goes a colleague of mine who bought the top of the line in Nokia 7660 without warranty whose display went splat. He is virtually fishing out half the cost of the phone to get it fixed......

So at the end of the day , who is wiser??

I know this thread was not about Warranty Vs. No Warranty but I just poured out. Sorry for side tracking from the main subject.

I would suggest you my friend...... that you use your better judgement before going in for it. If the deal seems very good to you... go for it..... worst case scenario... you don't like it at a latter stage... atleast you should be in a position to push it out without loosing much. Consider your resale option if you don't bite into it at a latter stage.

As I already mentioned I have been wise twice...but I have also been foolish 20 times. ;)

WISHING YOU THE BEST OF BUY!!

:o))

SNAKEY

Thanks everyone for all your input! I've got a couple of days off next week to visit a few more camera shops. Until then I'll visit the sites you recommended to so some more research. If I have any more questions I definitely know where to come!