Looking to buy

[KingBC]

I need to get a camera in the next couple of weeks (baby on the way). I want to go with a 6+ mega pixel body.. What should I buy? i can get a 10 D for 900. Is that a good deal?

Next question. Considereing that I am looking at baby pics, what type of lens should I get first?

[Icecamp]

The 10D is a great body, I still use mine, and I see no need to upgrade at this time. $900 for a new 10D is pretty good, for a used one it's on the high side. You would probably be better served by getting a new Rebel XT or even a 300D. The 300D and XT will cost you about the same or less than a 10D and in the case of the XT it wil exceed the capabilities of the 10D, or in the case of the 300D nearly match those capabilities. If you install the hacked firmware in the 300D, it unlocks all of the capabilities and makes the 300D a mini 10D.
The kit lens(18-55)is merely adequate, and really needs to be stopped down to acheive good sharpness, so indoors it's not really useful.
The 50 f1.8 or 50 f/1.4 are very sharp and have the speed you will need indoors, the downside is that with the crop factor they have the FOV of an 80mm lens(kind of long).
The 35mm f/2 and 28 f/2.8 offer a wider FOV and decent although not blazing speed.
Zoom lenses tend to be slower than primes unless you want to jump into the L series of lenses. The L lenses are very expensive, though. I really don't know a lot about the third party lenses out there although I heard very good things about the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 xr di.
All that being said, a flash is really needed to get decently lit photos indooors, the pop up flash will work but will produce the deer in the headlights look a fair amount. A speed light or equivelent that will allow bounce flash will provide more natural light.
So I would invest in a prime or two 50 f/1.8 and 35 f/2.0 would be a good start, and a good speedlight such as the 550EX. This will get you started and give you decent indoor capability, you will see which lenses you want to purchase by experience in the future.

[Skip Souza]

Icecamp pretty much hit it on the head. For the money I would start with the 300D, kit lens and 420EX speedlight. Yes you have to stop down the kit lens so use the flash in doors. Don't forget a larger CF card and possibly a card reader. After using that set up for awhile you will have a better idea of what you will need lens wise for your style of shooting. BTW my wife has the Tamron that Icecamp mentioned and it is killer sharp and versatile. She uses that lens about 85% of the time.
Hope this helps. Just get what you believe will be right for you and go from there.

[Mohawk]

What is your budget?

I would go with the XT kit, and a 50mm f1.4 and the flash of your choice. This should keep you covered for awhile.

Why the 50mm f1.4? It is fast, for low light, no flash photography. Will work nice with the "new" one on the way, don't want to wake him or her with an annoying flash. I know it would p-ss me off, and you don't want to hear me scream!

Mike

[KingBC]

Thanks all! My budget is ~ 1000 for the body/lens/flash, so I know I'm looking at used gear. I'm a total newbie to the SLR world so my primary concern is in under-buying as I'm only going to get one chance to get this right.


Is what I'm asking for a pipe-dream?

[Leorooster]

300D with kit lens - $800

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=297501&is=REG


420ex - $180
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=206436&is=USA

Total - $980.00

[blue_max]

If you have a limited budget and it looks like it may be so for a while with a nipper on the way, please don't discount something like a G6. I had a G5 before this and it was excellent. The real advantages with dslr come when you throw some money at the lenses.

Sorry if you have discounted this route, but I was very impressed with mine.

Graham

[KingBC]

If you have a limited budget and it looks like it may be so for a while with a nipper on the way, please don't discount something like a G6. I had a G5 before this and it was excellent. The real advantages with dslr come when you throw some money at the lenses.


Sorry if you have discounted this route, but I was very impressed with mine.

Graham

I really want to get into the DSLR world and this gives me an excuse to dip into the bank.

Are there good sources for used gear? It's starting to look like the 300D would be a good body to start with. What should I watch out for?

[Andrew Pratt]

For used gear the Buy and Sell forum over at http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/ is as good a place as any. It moves very quickly so keep and eye on it and you'll likely soon see what you want. There's some great deals on the 300D bodies to be had which would allow you to also get the flash, a decent CF card and likely a 50mm prime.

[Chudilo]

Do a search for "Dell stackable coupons" you may be able to jump on a killer 350XT from Dell deal.

I got mine for $730.
Also Newegg.com has a great price on CF memory.
And look to eBay for a used flash.