Need help on a DSLR

I want to get a DSLR but dont know what one to get. Back in the day I had a Canon 35mm film camera. So Canon is the 1st thing I looked at to get back in.

I have about $800 to spend right now. All I want to do with camera is take pics of kids and pics of landscapes that I might want to turn into something to hang on my wall.

I found what I think is a nice camera at a great price in the Pentax k-x with a 18-55mm lens for around $550. Or T2I body with the 50mm ($100) for a total of $900 if I can find in stock. Or lastly the 50D for about 1K with 50mm.

I know the 50D will hold its value. And is the best built. But for 1/2 the price the Pentax looks good. But will it take just as good pics as the Canons? I guess I want to know is can the Pentax take great pics like the Canons in the right hands? Or will it always be 2nd best in image? No matter how good the photographer.

Any of those cameras would be fine choices.
Its not the camera body that will hold its value, its the glass.
Consider your budget and how much you want to invest.
Research the glass you'll want to get and weigh the cost, since its the glass that will make or break your photos.
Bodies come and go, but glass is forever (until you drop it) lol

Im not sure that helped you, but its what I would do.
have fun shopping!

Accessoire wrote in post #9947012
Any of those cameras would be fine choices.
Its not the camera body that will hold its value, its the glass.
Consider your budget and how much you want to invest.
Research the glass you'll want to get and weigh the cost, since its the glass that will make or break your photos.
Bodies come and go, but glass is forever (until you drop it) lol

Im not sure that helped you, but its what I would do.
have fun shopping!

I agree. Maybe you should go with something less expensive like one of the Rebel X's so you can get some good glass and you can always upgrade in the future.

DSLR noob wrote in post #9946041
I want to get a DSLR but dont know what one to get. ...
I have about $800 to spend right now.

I had roughly the same budget when I decided to buy my DSLR just before Christmas. The one site I found really useful in making unbiased comparisons was DPreview.com which has both indepth reviews and image samples of pretty much every camera out there.

Once I'd short-listed them down to 3 or 4 (based on features I wanted plus of course price), I went in to my local Best Buy and checked them out for how they felt to handle. Cameras can be funny beasts, some just feel right in your hands (size, shape, weight), some don't.

Good luck with your purchase!

I'd go somewhere where you can actually physically handle the cameras...there's a big difference between the rebel series, and the XXD series...go down to best buy and check em out(i wouldn't really buy there though)...also do you still have your old film lenses?...if so what mount where they?

I bought a Rebel because it was the only thing I could afford. If I could do it over, I would seriously look at getting a used xxD. It does the job, sure, but it's small (though the battery grip helps a ton), and the controls aren't as nice.

I started out with the Canon Rebel XS and the kit lens (18-55mm). From there I upgraded my glass over time. I will keep upgrading slowly. It is a good place to start. The kit lens is abit soft and not too fast, but I have some great photos from it. It is convient for landscapes and kids with its range.

Since I am getting back into digital photography ... that is somewhat the way I am going. I got the XSi, with the idea that I would focus on my lens purchases .... and then upgrade later when the cash is there. I usually have a second body which the XSi will do fine!

My 35mm is a A-1 with FD mounts. Fd will not work with anything today right?

DSLR noob wrote in post #9952771
My 35mm is a A-1 with FD mounts. Fd will not work with anything today right?

You can buy adapters to use with FD fit lenses, but they introduce another piece of glass in front of the sensor and can degrade image quality. Also, FD lenses are manual, and the focus screens in Eos digital cameras don't have any focussing aids like the split prism in your A1, which can make focussing manually a bit tricky.