Best Way to Spend $400-500 on Camera/Lens for Beginner

Rebel XSi with kit lens would be great.

The Xs is good too, but not a fast camera in terms of raw FPS.

USED 30d sells for less than $400

Xs kit

That XSi kit looks good, I'm checking to see if they are interested in it...

For that kind of budget I would steer them to Pentax or Olympus with a kit lens and flash.

If you want to go Canon you are looking at something like a 20D or an Xti, 18-55IS, and a YN flash.

I don't know, I think a beginner should not have to worry about changing lenses and most likely a used G9 or G10 would be a better bet. The idea is experiment and take as many pictures as possible, and the size of the G series camera insures that it is taken along on many occasions the larger DSLR will not go. The G series has everything the DSLR has in terms of learning how to use different features, and once a beginner has mastered the features then moving up to a DSLR would be simple. The G series will still take pictures that will rival any DSLR, and I have no problems taking it on trips if I don't want to lug my DSLR.

But if you just have to have a DSLR, I think anything from a used Canon 40D and up would be an excellent choice. You could probably go back to anything from a 20D and up, but for me sensor dust removal is a nice thing to have.

what did u decided to buy?

roosterslayer wrote in post #11136820
rebel xsi with kit lens. the lcd screen is large and clear, image quality is great, overall great camera to learn from. i see them online a lot for pretty cheap now.

I agree with this - I've had mine for 2 years and it's been great. They're a good value right now used.

My brother ended up buying the XSi with kit lens linked in this thread. Guy worked with him on price, and he should have it today. His wife is really excited, so I offered to give her my Understanding Exposure book, along with a 7 Million Dollar Home for her Christmas present! Should be a great little kit...