Home Forums Gear Photography What's a realistic price expectation for a good SLR Digital Camera

What's the best choice on a SLR from a cost benefit standpoint. What's a realistic price for a decent package for family use, -no professional photography purposes here.

entry level body (Canon XTi, Nikon D60, Sony A350) will go about $600-700.
A really good all around lens (Tamron 17-50 f2.8) will go about $410.
Add a 4-8G card and an extra battery and you're at $1100-1200 for a camera that will do all you ever want.
You can probably get by with the software that comes with the camera for basic use or splurge and get Adobe PSE6 for an additional $100.

I should add that you could get the "package" deal ie: body with a "kit" lens for less than the Tamron lens. These will take very good pics in bright light but you'll be sorely disappointed in low light (indoors or out) time and again. I do not recommend this route for a one-lens set-up.

Call cameraland and ask them to put a kit together. That is what I did, and they set me up with an Olympus E510 and two lenses, and a bunch of accessories for much less than I was seeing elsewhere for just the body and lenses. That camera is what I used to take the photos on my Africa installment posts in the Africa forum. And my goals were the same as yours--decent family use.

The Nikon D40, Canon XTi kit's are good options. You can add the 55-200 lens to the Nikon and that is a good begining. But as you start taking pic's your probably are going to want to upgrade. I know this since I'm looking at replacing the Kit lens for something better.

Its like everything else...once you get the hang of it, your going to want to get better equipment.

Pilll, check out this web site. I went through the research phase this year, and found Rockwell's info straight forward and unbiased. Good luck.

OUrabmen

I'm going to be selling a like new Canon 40D for a very good price soon. I've been using it as a back up, and maybe has about 500 clicks on it tops. Interested?

That is a great camera....what I use for now and love it. I am hoping to upgrade in the next year to the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III SLR if funds will allow it...the the 40D will be my back up.

More props for the XTi or 40D. I suggest sticking with Canon or Nikon for lens selection and availability.

I'm going to have a 1DmkIII for sale too (not the "s" though) if you're interested. Shoot me a PM.