Help with my first DSLR

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: lesch2k
and do amazon.com merchants charge sales tax?

If they have a location in your state, then yes. Otherwise, no.

 

[kyzen]

I would avoid the D60, I had a bad experience with one personally and had to return it (many dead pixels on the sensor). A friend of mine purchased a D40, and loves it, though he's running into limitations on usable lenses, which you'll hit with the D60 as well - neither the D40 or D60 can autofocus with Nikon's "AF" lenses, you need to have "AF-S" lenses in order to autofocus (if you're fine manually focusing though, this is a moot point).

I purchased a Rebel XSi after returning my D60, and love it. It's a great camera, and from what I understand, the XS is very similar. My only gripe so far is the relatively few AF points (especially when compared to the Nikon D90 or D300).

As for lenses, no, IS means "Image Stabilization", while USM means "Ultra Sonic Motor" - IS lenses will help negative some of the effects of shakey hands while you take pictures; USM lenses just tend to autofocus quicker and quieter. Of the two Canon lenses you listed, I'd suggest the 55-250mm IS lens - it's fantastic.

 

[extra]

If you get the rebel (fantastic camera btw, the nikon d60 is also fantastic)...

DO NOT GET THE 75-300 lens, they are awful!

Get a 55-250mm IS or a 70-300mm IS (if you must have the extra 50mm)
the 55-250mm "Nifty two-fifty" is inexpensive and is optically very very good.

18-55mm IS, 55-250mm IS, and 50mm f1.8 == great (and cheap) trio of lenses that will serve you well ^_^

 

[Lalakai]

unless you are hard core and can pick the small details, 90% of the mid-line units out there will give you everything you need. you might want to check the accessories that you can get with the various models. Even more important...........how does it feel in your hands???

each camera has a different layout and feel, the balance, weight, and "logical sequence" of the operation. get to a good full line camera store and put 3-6 models on the counter, then play with each of them. see which ones feel more natural. you want a unit that feels like an extension of your hand; that way you won't be fumbling around trying to find various options. Yep you can learn the layout, but if one of them feels more natural, that's where i would start.

think of the camera like a pair of shoes. do you walk in and just buy your size???? and the shoes will feel different on your feet even though they may be the same size.

good hunting