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Camera recommendations Anonymous
A couple of years ago, I got a Minolta A2... it's a nice little camera for the stuff I do but I wanna get a more professional camera. I'm thinking of getting a Canon XTI. The problem is my current camera is 8MP and 10 MP is only about 100-200 pixels larger on each side which in print work adds less than an inch to print size.

I don't plan to spend more than $1000, but every other SLR professional digital camera seems to either fall into the ~600 range, which makes it pretty much like mine... or ~2000-3000 range, which is way too much. Is there anything that falls in the ~1000 range anyone could recommend?
>> Anonymous
Canon XTi and Nikon D40x is about in that range ~$700 as a kit with an 18-55mm.

Nikon D80, Pentax K10D, and Canon's new 40D (not released yet, but soon) will be in the ~$1200 range as a kit.

Even if you get a $700 camera you MAY still want to get some accessories:
- $25 carrying bags / straps / cleaning supply
- $100-$350 for a decent off-camera flash kit, and perhaps a diffuser. More advanced setups include flash brackets, light stands with umbrellas, etc.
- $$$-$$$$ for lenses, depending on what your needs are.
- extra batteries, UV filters, polarizers, etc.

Getting a cheaper camera and being able to afford other related items to experiment with and learn from is better than buying an expensive body and then not having money left over. Then learn and get better at photos or better yet make some money off it and then you'll know by then exactly what hardware you want to get.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
Resolution should not be a major concern. 8MP is plenty. 10MP is more than plenty. Pretty much anything over 6MP is fine. I'm too lazy to dig up the link, but someone (David Pogue, I think) ran a test where he blew up the same picture from three different resolutions to poster size, ranging from something like 5MP to something like 10, and nobody could tell the difference.

So anyway, yeah, I'd recommend the XTi. There's way, *way* more to it than just the resolution. I used to have a Minolta A200, which was the successor to your A2, and when I bumped up to the XTi, it was like night and day. The pictures my XTi takes at ISO400 are clearer and higher quality than my A200 could take at ISO100. Hell, its ISO800 beats the A200's ISO100.

Image quality of a sub-kilobuck SLR is going to blow away even the best non-SLR right now. Resolution is meaningless.
>> Anonymous
Thanks! I never took into consideration image clarity and kit options. I appreciate the input.
>> Anonymous
Olympus E-510
>> Anonymous
I'd consider something like a EOS 20D.
8.5 megapixels, professional quality prints and only 700 dollars US for a refurbished one.

On the other hand, the D40 is very good for those new to SLR- It has *really* helpful and easy menu tooltips
>> Anonymous
>>70609
Get the 2-lens kit if you want an Olympus. Their new kit lenses look and weigh like toys, but work surprisingly good.
>> Anonymous
If you like the Minolta interface, go for the Sony a100. I upgraded from a Konica Minolta a200, and it's been good.
>> ac !!VPzQAxYPAMA
>>70667
The interface on Canons is actually pretty similar. And Canon SLRs aren't made of fail like Sony ones.