Advice re' best DSLR under $1000. ?

I'm seriously considering getting my first DSLR, probably either a Canon or Nikon, and would like suggestions/advice from knowledgeable DSLR users as to what would be the best choice for my money in $700. - $900. range? I realize that's not much to spend on a DSLR, but that's all my budget will allow at this time. I will be using it mainly for landscape, wildlife, etc., and family photos, but hopefully it would take good macros and super macros too.

I've been using my 6 mp Canon S3 IS for the last year or so, so will miss having that 12x zoom and swivel LCD for some situations I'm sure, but assume a DSLR will give me sharper pictures, better indoor low-light capability, and other advantages, correct? I've been reading about Nikon's D-40 and Canon's XTI, both of which fall within my budget. I can get the D-40 with both an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX and a 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens for about $700, which would give me some decent zoom still, although I'd have to change lenses. (Does the "AF-S" designation mean it has image stabilization/anti camera shake? My S3 has that.)

Are these two cameras the best for my needs and budget, or are their others available that might be better? Thanks.

Not right up on the Nikons, but I am fairly sure that the D40 has no AF motor so you may be limited in what lenses you can use.

My Xt has served me very well IMO, I would have thought you could find a XTi = 18-55 = 75-300 for $1k in LA

Get a used XTi or 20D for about $500 and spend the other $500 for a couple of glass - maybe a Sigma WA 2.8 (18-50?) or the Tamron equivalent. Then, get a 50mm 1.8 for a budget low-light prime (sell it later when you get money for a few bucks loss).

A few $$ left should be enough for you to buy a 2GB CF and a bag.

Well, there are A LOT of options. You can start 'bare-bones' on the body, and get a D Rebel (6.3mp) used for about $300. You can pick up a used XT for about $400 or a new one for about $500. You can find a used 20D (probably your best option in my opinion) for about $550-600. You can also get a 30D used for around $800 these days.

No matter what you get, you should invest in a decent lens or two. Also consider a flash.

If 6MP was good for you, then save some more money on an XT instead. Get Sigma's 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro 1:1, you can't beat the price.

For the money you could get used Rebel XTi, 20D or 30D. On the Nikon side of things I would stay away from the D40 but the D70 wold do very nicely, although it does not perform as well in low light with higher ISO's. Still, it's a very nice camera if you want to go that way.

Obviously the more you spend on the body the less you have for glass.

The best DSLR you can get new for under 1000.00 is going to be the Olympus E-510 2 lens kit, IMO. Built in IS (I know its not as good as lens IS but it is better than no IS) dust reduction system, live view CMOS sensor and 10MP. Prior to moving to canon I shot with a E-500 and loved it, Oly's kit lens are some of the best kit lens around also. I love my Canon gear but when it comes to bang for your buck for a consumer camera I feel Olympus has that market cornered at the moment.

Most of these wishes are more a function of the lenses than the body. In the budget dSLR arena (a bit of an oxymoron) there is not too much to recommend between the various bodies. At the minimum you will want an APS-C format body with an 18-XX normal zoom, some kind of telephoto zoom and based on your interests a macro lens as well.

Mainly better control, better low light performance (again depends on lenses a lot), faster reactions, no shutter lag and better IQ (again depends on lenses).

Biggest problem with the D40 is that it has no body focus motor and can only be used autofocus with the newest AF-S lenses. This cuts you off to some extent from Nikons older AF primes, which are cheap.

If this is a big deal then re-think the SLR. SLR cameras are not handy. Beyond changing lenses they are big and the better performing lenses are usually very big.

No, it means the focus motor is in the lens so it will work on the D40. Nikons image stabilization is called "VR" and Canon's is "IS" and they work the same.

Thanks to everyone for your helpful comments so far. I appreciate them.

That's true, but I don't have any old Nikon lenses anyway, and as I mentioned I could get it new with those two kit lenses I mentioned which would probably meet my needs for quite a while.

Where can I buy a used, problem-free one ? Isn't it risky to buy used cameras and lenses on eBay or from private owners?

What don't you like about it; the no focus motor issue?

Thank you for all your insightful and direct answers to my questions, Jeffery.
Won't either the Nikon D40 or the XTI give me decent macros just with their "kit" lenses?

Do you know if the D40's 18-55 kit lens and/or their 55-200 AF-DS lens come with that VR automatically? Thanks.

braduardo wrote in post #4149781
You can pick up a used XT for about $400 or a new one for about $500. You can find a used 20D (probably your best option in my opinion) for about $550-600. You can also get a 30D used for around $800 these days.

Where is the best place to buy a used 20 or 30D? Ebay? I'm a little leery about buying a used camera because isn't it like buying a used car...you're (potentially at least) buying someone else's headaches? Where can you buy a used one with a good warranty, in case something's wrong with it?

Try www.keh.com.

N/A wrote in post #4150768
Where is the best place to buy a used 20 or 30D? Ebay? I'm a little leery about buying a used camera because isn't it like buying a used car...you're (potentially at least) buying someone else's headaches? Where can you buy a used one with a good warranty, in case something's wrong with it?

You should be able to find one right here on this forum. I would personally recommend buying a 20D to get started. It's a VERY good camera, and will most likely do everything you could want in the near future. You won't get a warranty, but you can at least be a bit more selective about the seller and the camera buy communicating before the purchase. I've bought 2 lenses and 2 cameras from the forum, and have sold a camera and a lens or two. Buyer beware, but most of us have been very satisfied.

Thanks, Liza & Brad.

Don't be too quick to jump to that conclusion. Prime lenses are the only lenses with fast (<f/2.8 ) apertures. And the cheap zooms are usually really slow, like f/4 to f/5.6 while even the cheapest primes are f/2 lenses. That all might not mean anything to you right now but if you end up liking the camera and getting into this at all you will come to find out that this is a big deal.

Access to optically fast lenses is for many people a very important part of the dSLR advantage over having a camera that is actually portable.

You are welcome. A "true" macro lens goes to at least 1:2 magnification (some say 1:1). This (the 1:1 bit for example) means that the lens can focus on something so close that the item will be reproduced life size on the sensor. In other words, something about the size of a quarter would fill the entire frame.

For starters, no zoom lens is a true macro. The closest focussing of them will go to perhaps 1:4 kind of range. This will get you close up images of medium to large flowers but not detail shots of the pistle or small bugs and such.

Look up the lenses you are looking at on the Canon or Nikon web sites and you should be able to find a macro or maximum magnification information in the specifications.

If so it will be in the name of the lens. Using Canon for example (cause I know Canon better) you might see a lens

EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM

Translated:
EF-S - fits Rebel, RebelXT, XTi, 20D, 30D, 40D only. (EF lenses fit those plus 135 format cameras).
17-55 - Focal length range. If one number it is a prime (no zoom) lens.
f/2.8 - Maximum aperture, smaller number = bigger aperture = faster = better.
IS - image stabilized
USM - Canon's best focus motor, fast and silent.

Your Nikon example:
AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55 f/3.5-5.6G EDII

Translated:
AF-S = focus motor in lens, otherwise the D40/D40X won't drive it. This motor is similar to the Canon USM in performance.
DX - Like EF-S for Canon, these lenses do not fit 135 format bodies.
18-55 - focal length range
f/3.5-5.6 Variable aperture, the lens is faster (f/3.5) at 18mm than it is at 55mm (f/5.6)
G - I dunno, I think this is Nikon's cheaper lens line.
ED - I think this means it has one piece of nice glass in it, but again not sure.

If the lens had VR it would appear in the string of letters and numbers, so this lens is not image stabilized.

On Nikons site I noticed that they have two versions of the 55-200, one with VR and one without.

N/A wrote in post #4150768
Where can I buy a used, problem-free one ? Isn't it risky to buy used cameras and lenses on eBay or from private owners?

I would not buy a used body unless you know the seller, as you never know what has happened to the body.
I would suggest get a 400D if you want Canon. Do you have a plan to get any L lens or fast tele zoom lens in future? If the answer is no, you could have a look at Pentax or Olympus, they are cheaper than Canon or Nikon.

JeffreyG wrote in post #4150416
Biggest problem with the D40 is that it has no body focus motor and can only be used autofocus with the newest AF-S lenses. This cuts you off to some extent from Nikons older AF primes, which are cheap.

You can use ANY MF NIKKOR (incl non-Ai and non-Ais) on the D40, unlike any other Nikon short of the D200/300.