5 comments about Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body only).

1. This is a really great product, even 2 years after its launch. Ok, a new one may be available in a few months, but way more expensive. And this one is almost perfect!
   the only bad experience I have is the write speed: it is "only" 9Mb/s. So wif you shoot many pix in a row, the bufer will be full and the camera won't be able to write fast enough on the card, even with an extreme III. To shoot without any trouble, you need to but the quality in jpeg (the better compression) and not raw.
   Except this, it is a very good camera!



2. I upgraded from the D40 as my introduction to DSLRs to the Nikon D80. There were a few more knobs and gadgets on the camera but well put together. I went to Seaworld and snapped off some shots with my 18-55mm and my 105mm Fisheye glass. I couldn't believe the difference this was from my D40. I am so impressed with the quality, I am enrolling in UC San Diego Extension class to learn the things I can't seem to get from all the books and manuals I've read. This has become my new passion and I feel, without spending a mortgage payment, this camera can get me to the next level and maybe start getting paid for what I now love to do.
   
   Research the product and figure out what you want to do with it. Whether it be strictly a hobby or move into the professional realm. This camera is a great starting point.



3. I recently upgraded from a Nikon D70 to the D80, and I am in love with my camera again! I had stopped using the D70 because it seemed no matter what I did my images were always grainy looking. With the D80 all of my images have been extremely sharp, even with an older 300mm lens. I also love being able to hold down the shutter button and let the camera take picture after picture, I have been able to get some amazing shots as a result. I think the built in flash is more powerful than on the D70 as well, some pictures I took inside turned out good and did not look like an obvious flash picture (shadows, dark background, etc.). I highly recommend this camera.



4. This is my first digital slr camera, which I've had for about a month now and it's great. Considering how many features it has its relatively easy to use, I just picked it out of the box and started getting amazing quality pictures with my nikkor vr 18-200mm lens. I'm sure it'll be only better when i figure out the more obscure details.



5. The D80 has two problems. The first is a "firmware" defect that causes most pictures to be under exposed, most pictures look too bright. The second problem involves the sharpness of the pictures. I bought almost every lens that Nikon makes, and could never get that sharpness that I was looking for, until I bought the Nikon D300. Wow, the Nikon D300 is INCREDIBLE! The problems I had with sharpness, were do to the SENSOR I believe, and it makes sense! Yes, the D80 takes "good" pictures, but the D300 takes INCREDIBLE pictures. The D80 has a CCD sensor, and the D300 has a CMOS sensor, is this the difference? I don't know, but my D300 takes razor sharp images! Wow. I sold my D80, and I've never been happier!

5 comments about Olympus SP-570UZ 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. Tried the camera out for the past 4-5 days, under various conditions. All and all, for the price and the functions/ability this camera offers, it is a solid camera.
   First of all, this is obviously no SLR camera. The aperture and the shutter speed are more limited than I would prefer. As such, it probably might turn off people that are looking for a SLR styled camera. While the high ISO values allow you to take pictures in low light conditions, the noise reduction is simply not enough to make those pictures look presentable. Image stabilization was no match for my cat in those low light situations, even with high ISO values. Fast shutter speed remains the key against blurry pictures.
   The selling point of this camera, the 20X zoom, works as advertised. The zooming ring works fine, but it might not be sensitive enough if you are trying to zoom meticulously. There are 4 AF modes to choose from, ranging from giving the camera total control of choosing the object to focus on (not as "smart" as I like), face recognition, center focusing, to basically using the arrow keys to manually point at the area you want to focus. Also, there is a manual focus option, though not very practical to use, IMO.
   The "High-Speed Sequential Shooting" I think is handicapped by the slow writing speed of the XD-Card. Perhaps the H XD card might make a different, but the M XD card was simply too slow. I have yet to try the pre-capture mode.
   The LCD is big and clear, and you have the option of using the viewfinder window to take pictures, though it is not a "real" viewfinder window.
   The battery life on this thing is amazing. It would take some heavy shooting to drain the battery out in one day (of course, that depends on the kind battery you use).
   All in all, there are goods and bads to this camera, but for the price and the functions that you got, I think it is a good camera for what it is designed for.



2. As a pretty happy owner of Olympus SP550UZ, I borrowed this latest version, SP570UZ to tested it out for several days under various conditions. I immediately saw few similarity and few non-similarity with this camera to the SP550UZ that I owned. From now on, I am dropping the SP and UZ reference and just calling them "550" and "570".
   
   Let me hit the good points first. First of all, I thought the capture speed and the write speed of 570 have definitely improved over my 550 camera. Of course, this is still not lighting fast but its an improvement. I think the weak xD card is the blame anyway as I was using their "H" card all the way. Second, you definitely see the difference between 28mm wide for 550 and 26mm wide for 570. Only 2mm difference but you can see it. Not much difference between the 18x and 20x though. Like the 550, the 570 is very easy to hold, handled and grip. The 570 is slighter larger but the weight felt the same. Major improvement I really like in control for the 570 lies in the fact that you can make certain adjustments like flash compensation right off the back LCD menu now instead of going through the menu system in the 550. The shadow adjustment mode does work pretty well under ideal condition. But not all that well depending on the extreme cases. Face detection system works well although I am not really a great fan of this. Still for both features, it better then not having one at all. Photos came out looking very good under most condition and I think they improved the color capture for red which was somewhat of a problem for the 550. The dual image stabilizer proves to be excellent once again and capturing at extreme zoom proves to be quite good as long as there is enough light. But those are the highlights of the good things about this camera. I am not going to bother going down the specs since Amazon have been so kind to provide it for all to read. One of the previous reviewers wrote that the battery life quite excellent and I do concur with that. But there is a reason for that in my next paragraph.
   
   The bad things about this cameras lies in three elements. One is that the electronic viewfinder is harder to use thanks to the increase reliance on the LCD that is almost on all the time. I like using the viewfinder as an old film SLR guy but if needed, I can adjust to this. Second element lies in the zooming...there is no auto-zoom. All the zooming are done by hand - your hand that is and to be honest, it is not an exact science here. While you still got the auto-focus, you have to manually zoom up and down. The lens control actually feel pretty "rubbery" to borrowed another person's term. Worst, with my 550, I can zoom and fire away one handed. There is no way I can do that with 570 since one hand is on the shutter while other hand have to adjust the zoom. Unless you got super long fingers, most normal folks would have to do it two handed. The lack of the feel of a firm control in zooming is quite puzzling and I supposed anyone can get a handled on it with enough practice but still felt pretty weak. A whole star was taken from the review on this feature. I wasn't too impressed. By the way, this is why the battery life have improve...camera no longer have to zoom, you have to do it yourself. (And they save weight by not adding the auto-zoom device into the camera.) Finally, Olympus totally failed to improved their camcorder system for the UZ series. Like the 550, 570 is light-years behind...let say Canon S5 IS in terms of taking video. The videos taken by Olympus 570 is okay if the camera cost $150 but totally unacceptable for $450 plus camera. It can be pretty grainy and sound was pretty weak. Another star gone for that.
   
   I supposed I could go on but I wrote enough. I am sure a more professional reviews on the Internet is forth coming and anyone interested can continue to investigate. I am not sure if this camera is really right for inexperience photographer or even for a casual one. It quite advanced piece of digital camera but its not really well designed. Manual zooming is nice as an option but not as a permanent condition. And the video recording for a camera of this price range is really pathetic. Personally, I can live without the video but zooming feature is a step backward to the 20th century...not a step forward for the 21st.



3. Sadly my Sony F828 was stolen, and I was looking for a replacement. Having used the SP-570uz for a bit, I am pleased with the camera. Before purchasing I was aware of the operation of the zoom lens being a little spongy - it doesn't have the same professional feeling that the Sony has. I have never used the Xd memory card before, and wished Olympus would use the SD card. Still, having hundred's of pics avaliable on a 2mb card is plenty for me.
   
   My needs were to have a compact camera that can take great shots indoors. These super zoom camera's are pretty good, but not all of them have a hot shoe, which was the deal killer for my needs.
   
   Holding the camera is a pleasure. You might be surprised how comfortable it is to hold.
   
   In addition, the wide lens is a great feature.
   
   The lens cap does come offer pretty easily.
   
   I think these companies that are producing these super zoom camera's are hitting a sweet spot for people like me, who do not want to spend over $1000 on a camera with a quality len's, but don't want to use a super compact camera because of its obvious limitations. I carry a Canon SD450 all the time, and enjoy that camera too.
   
   I believe most of these super zoom camera's can take wonderful day-time outdoor pics, but I need a camera that can attach an external flash for all the indoor pics I take.
   
   Everyone has their specific requirements, and this camera fit mine.



4. I stress, for a SNAPSHOT camera, this is a great camera. It is absolutely no replacement for a quality DSLR. The DPI difference between the 2 is extreme. My Nikon D70 has 300 DPI, my SP-570U has 72 DPI.
   
   The shutter lag is not to bad. The zoom and vibration reduction are most excellent. The 13 fps (in 3MEG mode) is extraordinary. One big downside is how long it takes to write the RAW images to the memory card, but again, it's a SNAPSHOT camera.
   
   It's compact and easy to carry with me wherever I go. That and the zoom were the main reasons I purchased it. If I would've realized that the DPI was limited to 72 then I would've checked out the Nikon Coolpix P80.
   
   I've only had the camera 2 weeks, I could take it back and check out the coolpix but alas I'm happy with the Olympus. It's a decent camera for what it is. Again, don't think you're going to get DSLR quality with this camera, but for snapshot quality photos it's an excellent product.



5. I bought this camera as an alternative to the very expensive 500mm zoom lenses for my Canon XTi SLR, as I have a limited need for a zoom over 300mm. Unfortunately, in a side by side comparison the zoom on the 570UZ, billed at 500+ mm, was insignificantly closer to the subject than my 300 mm Canon lens. The difference between 300 and 500 is less than the difference between, for example, 50 and 250, but it still should be very noticable. It is not. The superiority of the SLR over the 570UZ in every other aspect (except size, of course) means that this camera is probably on its way back to Amazon after a day of experimentation. Note that the 3 stars is mainly for the zoom and focus, not the other attributes.

5 comments about Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Black Body Only).

1. Ordered the camera with one day shipping, after two days it hadn't arrived. First rep. told me it would be delivered that day. When it wasn't, second rep. said it never left the warehouse and she cancelled the order on my request. Then the camera showed up the next morning after I had already bought it somewhere else ! Refused the package and had found it on sale at bestbuy for $25 less.



2. This body replaced my original EOS 300D Digital Rebel body. It is a bit smaller and lighter than my previous, but is still constructed well. Aside from the upgraded CMOS sensor and added features, the big difference for me is the LCD display. On my digital rebel the settings display only filled the top portion of the small LCD. On the XTi the information actually fills the whole screen which a 2.5" display. For my 40+ year old eyes that have reduced near vision that is great! I now can shoot and adjust without having to pull my glasses up to see the shutter speed, ISO, aperture, etc.
   The bottom line...its solid Canon quality at a reasonable price!



3. I love this camera. It takes beautiful pictures and is very user friendly. One reviewer said you can't review pictures but you can. Just press the green arrow on the back of the camera and you can see the photos on the memory card. I highly recommend this camera.



4. When I first went digital 6 years ago, I was a 35mm junkie, I didn't want to give up my EOS 850 with lenses just to go digital, but I bought one. About a month after purchasing an Olympus 3030zoom Canon came out with the Rebel, needless to say I was just a little bummed out; I couldn't afford to get both. I was never completely satisfied because I couldn't use my various lenses so I would always take the EOS right along with my digital. The 3030zoom takes incredible pictures, but I was still a 35mm junkie.
   I finally allowed myself to invest in this newer XTi about a month ago. This camera is so easy to use, almost a point and shoot, the functions you need are very easy to access either from the wheel or the menu. A lot of digitals are hard to operate because everything is buried in the menu, but you won't find that with the XTi. The pictures are FABULOUS! I have 3 lenses from my EOS that are at the oldest about 19 years old and each and every one has worked with it. One thing I would absolutely suggest to anyone who is purchasing, go to a store and put your hands on the cameras before you buy one. I was looking at the XT, thinking I will save a few bucks getting a couple of megapixels less with it. I went to the store to handle



5. Great camera... easy to use, and the menu setup is designed for quick changes on the fly. This is key when shooting-- you don't want to have to scroll through menu after submenu to get to the setting you want to change. Olympus, I'm lookin' at you.
   
   One thing to keep in mind: the APS-C sensor size results in an effective focal length of 1.6x whatever the lens says. For instance, a 50mm lens becomes an 80mm lens on this camera body.
   
   That having been said, any of Canon's EF or EF-S lenses will work on the Rebel body. Keep your old glass!

5 comments about Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens.

1. This camera has a very professional feel and good ergonomics.
   As far as physical build quality, it's very nice; much better than the lower end SLRs that Canon produces. The shooting speed is wonderful when trying to capture fast action. The autofocus works very quickly and accurately.
   While not cons, I should point out two details: 1) The camera's live preview is only designed to operate in the advanced modes (not in the point & shoot modes) 2) The camera's heavy duty build comes at the cost of a little more weight. If you are simply looking for a camera to casually carry around, this isn't it... but then again, you probably wouldn't be looking at an SLR. :)
   I would highly recommend this camera to anybody wanting durability and quality without the $2000+ price tag!



2. I went to my local camera shop without a budget in mind determined to get a really good DSLR. I admit this was maybe a little crazy but this is an approach I sometimes will take to shop for features, fit and function and then roll the price into the analysis on the last step. I had no existing buy in to an existing brand or any inventory that I needed to be compatible with. This left me free to look at Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Canon and a couple of others that escape me now. I actually think that almost any of these brands have fine products. I am convinced they all have marketing departments that are professionals at price pointing and feature trade offs. Plus my local camera shop buyer knows how to buy and make sure he covers all of the price points.
   
   So after going through abut 8 models all lined up on the counter I ended up selecting the Canon 40D. Here was my rationale at the time. Most of the models in this price area have remarkable similar features and prices with the end result being there are pretty simliar. So with the feature, function, price trade offs being relatively equal I decided on the Canon 40D. This camera fits my hand better than any other model regardless of maker. It also at 6+ frames per second was faster than any other camera without REALLY ignoring price.
   
   Now that I have had the camera for a while there are more reasons to own it then the sales rep was able to pass on at the time of sale. The build quality is just awesome and there are more options for controlling the 40D than I had a clue about. Another thing I discovered are the Canon L series lenses. I now have two of the F2.8 zooms each of which cost more than the camera. So in the future I am bought into Canon camera bodies but the 40D and the L lenses produce stunning results. So for me the fit and function were just right and the future is bright (F2.8 at 200MM). So if you think you will add lenses to your bag I would put that into any camera body decision. The 40D and the 70-200L F2.8 with the 24-70L F2.8 zooms will be around for a long time.



3. We originally had the Canon XTi and decided to upgrade to the 40D. As soon as we picked it up it was love at first shot. It's slightly bigger in the grip but definitely pleasantly noticeable. The large dial on the back also was a welcome change because on the XTi, F-Stop change required you to press a button and then roll the mini dial. There are so many different "upgrades" to list. My recommendation is that pass on the XTi and get this kit. You get a huge break in price when you get the the lens together in this kit. Have fun with it.



4. After several bad expreiences with canon 350d, i finaly decided give canon 40d a try. i bought one from a local store and brought it to a european trip. my wife brought her own camera too, a small samsung NV3. The only reason she carrys her camera is she feels her NV3 is cute. When we came back from the trip, we found out that her pictures are much better than mine! The picture taken from this canon are very noisy. I speak to the store and I was told I need a better lens.



5. No doubt this is a great camera. I bought body only along with 50mm f1.4 lens and images are extremely sharp. Live view is great although I prefer looking thru the viewfinder and the camera body feels very solid and professional.
   I was very impressed with Amazon's fast free shipping and great price. I looked everywhere (online & retail) to find lower prices but no one could beat Amazon. Free shipping is extremely fast, it arrived 6 days faster than the expected delivery date. I was glad I didn't pay for faster shipping. I highly recommend this camera.

5 comments about Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only).

1. I've had the camera for about a month now. After going through several point and shoot cameras (e.g., Canon G1 and Nikon 8800), I decided to jump into the D-SLR market. I don't believe I had a preference for Canon vs. Nikon vs. Olympus, etc. The reason why I picked the Nikon D300 is because it felt great in my hand plus the functionality is somewhat similar to my Nikon 8800...also the reviews on the D300 are stellar.
   I have not been disappointed so far. This camera is solid all around.
   
   After taking some digital photography classes at the local reseller, I've taken this camera on nature hikes (for nice landscape shots) and fast action shots (college sporting events like tennis). In both situations, the D300 along with the Nikon 18-200mm VR lens that I used on both occasions produced excellent shots. The multi battery pack (MB- D10) gave me the adequate fps to shoot fast moving college tennis players with no problem. The photos are crisp and clear. I've also taken indoor shots of my dogs and used the same lens and camera along with the SB-800 and the shots were also crips and clean.
   
   Again, I would highly recommend this camera for those who want to step up from a point and shoot or from an entry level D-SLR. The reason why I jumped straight into tha "semi-pro" D-SLR like the D300 is because friends of mine who purchased an entry level D-SLR often wished they had ponied up more money and bought a D-SLR with more features (actually lack of fast fps was often cited as a complaint).



2. I recently purchased the Nikon D300 as my first digital camera. It may seem like I was jumping in feet first by purchasing such a complicated camera, but with over 30 years of photo experience under my belt it really wasn't all that difficult.
   
   I am quite satisfied with my D300, especially with its 51 point focus zone that allows me to pinpoint exactly where I want the focus. I initially had some problems with exposure, but as it turned out I was the one making the errors, not the camera, so that is now water under the bridge.
   
   So far my only serious gripe about the D300 is the arrangement of its controls. While I fully realize that this is a very complex camera, and there is only so much room on the body for control buttons, some of them are very badly placed. I have missed several photo opportunities because I didn't have my finger on the shutter button, but on either the on/off switch, or the exposure control button, which are placed right next to it. A lot of times my photography requires literal snap shots, with little or no time to pause and gaze at the camera to make sure I have my fingers in exactly the right place. It's point, shoot, or lose the photo. Fixing this problem doesn't even require moving any of the buttons; Nikon should have made the shutter button more prominent, or different in a tactile sense so that the moment you touch it, you know you are in the right place, and that's actually what I've gone and done. I found some small self adhesive vinyl plastic nubbins and stuck one of them atop the shutter button, making it much more obvious, and I haven't lost a shot since, but considering the price of this camera I shouldn't have to be doing stuff like this.



3. The D300 has very awkward controls and their menus are a pain to figure out. Why did Nikon ever go with a non-standard dial on top of the camera. I can never turn it as easily as the normal dial. Their button and dial approach to changing between P, M, A is just awkward. I do not want to look at the LCD just to change my mode. Their hand grip is also off. I have no place to put my thumb. The grip on the Canon 40D is much better, a nice solid grip and feel.
   
   The Canon 40D also seems much easier to use. The 40D has a normal dial on top, all the menus are only 1 deep and you never need to navigate a complex menu structure. Very nice and quick to use. All the buttons are easy to memorize. I rarely have to take my eye away from the viewfinder. Plus I save $700 for basically the same image quality and dynamic range.
   
   The 40D even has a lower noise rating between ISO 100-400. Which is important to me. But it was surprising to learn that since the Nikon cost $700 more and the Nikon has lower noise ratings above that ISO range. I guess they had to skimp on the lower ISOs to reach 6400. This is according to popphoto.
   
   I also found out Nikon has the worst reliability among DSLR cameras, according to consumer reports. Almost twice the problems compared to top rated Canon. Thats all I need, spend $1800 today for a Ford (Nikon) that may have problems a few years from now. Looks like quality has suffered in their desperate attempt to beat out Canon.
   
   RELIABILITY RATINGS FOR DSLR BRANDS: The smaller the number, the fewer the problems. This data includes 2007 cameras. Pulled from consumer reports. The numbers are correct. Consumer reports sure has been dead on for past cars I have owned.
   
   4...Canon
   4...Olympus
   5...Fujifilm
   7...Nikon
   
   Note: For those interested, the reliability ratings for point and shoot digital cameras were closer. But I am a little more worried about cameras over $500.
   
   5..Canon
   5..Sony
   5..Olympus
   5..Kodak
   6..Fujifilm
   6..Casio
   6..Nikon
   7..Pentax
   
   (Data are based on over 221,000 responses about digital cameras to our Annual Product Reliability Survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Data have been adjusted to eliminate differences solely linked to age and usage. )
   
   Needless to say I ended up purchasing the Canon 40D. It was not even a contest. I love its look and feel. It has a steel interior and a magnesium alloy exterior. When I compare it to the Nikon and the Sony's, it just feels better built and looks like a Pro camera. I'm loving it. Just in time for spring/summer travels.
   
   So far the only downside to the Canon 40D is I now enjoy taking pictures so much that I quickly fill up my 8GB card. But I'm trying to reduce the number of pictures I take. I dont really need 130+ photos of a tulip farm in L+RAW. I think about 30-40 should be enough to capture the beauty. I guess I was having a little to much fun.
   
   Dont let the positive reviews for the Nikon D300 fool you. Look at both and feel them in your hands.



4. I have been a Canon user for over 15 years, I have shot on many cameras including Nikon, Olympus and Sony, but still I believed that the Canons (specifically the 5D and the 1D MkII) are/were the pinnacle of camera design and image quality that I have used.
   Needless to say that opinion has now changed, for how long I can't be sure, but believe me when I say that it is tough not to give the camera five stars.
   Superb build, ergonomics, image quality and the sheer amount of features put many other cameras to shame. There are a few features I would like to pull out for special attention that really sealed the deal; 3D Matrix Metering II and automatic in camera CA elimination (not just reduction, but elimination). Now I love my 17-55mm f2.8, but when it comes to CA it leaves a lot to be desired... Until now. JPEG's are simply amazing with the CA elimination, not to mention the active D-lighting (if you wish to have the benefits of these features for NEF files you HAVE to use Nikon's Capture NX, but more on that later).
   The Matrix Metering used in this camera is the best I've used bar none, it is extremely accurate and it really will make you a better photographer (or some say a lazier photographer, lol).
   I don't have to say much about the image quality of the D300, there are plenty of examples floating around the net, suffice to say it is very, very good.
   
   Now, I do have a negative. Capture NX. It is a resource hog, also in my subjective opinion it can be an unintuitive nightmare. That doesn't mean that the images that it produces aren't any good, in fact they're great, if you want the most out of the camera (CA elimination and Auto D-Lighting) you will need capture NX. I also use Lightroom, Apple Aperture and Adobe RAW, oh how I wish that I could tap the CA and D-Lighting in those programs - it would mean that I could avoid Capture NX completely. But I can't.
   
   Now there are some around here who would toss irrelevant comments at me for such a knock (Capture NX is free! or some such nonsense), but the reality is that many don't own an application such as Aperture or Lightroom, they really need this software to get the most from their camera purchase, which is not an insignificant dollar amount. I thank Nikon for finally realizing that Capture should come bundled with it's camera, but there is still some work to be done regarding it's performance in terms of speed of use and it's huge resource requirements. As a serious photographer I can't bear the thought of the horrendous time wasted waiting for changes to occur to my image in NX, but when some of the cameras best features will only be achieved through NX, it seems I don't have a choice.
   
   I was tempted to drop the rating to four stars because of the software, considering I can't do four point five stars; but A)It's harsh on the camera, and B)Giving the camera four stars is like bait to the Nikon fanboys, if you don't believe me look at some of the flaming in those four star reviews. They would probably just add a dose of unnecessary idiocy to a simple question; Is it a worthy purchase? Yes, yes it most certainly is.



5. I own a D200 and a D300. I do a lot of Macro work outside while hiking. The D300 focuses much more reliably for this. I also like the that there is more dynamic range.
   There are still things I like better about the D200 which is one of two reasons I deducted a star from a 5 star camera. One of the things I liked about the D200 was the multi-focus point area focus. The D300 can simulate this, but but exactly.
   The other deduction is that Amazon did a lousy job of packing the camera. The camera box was tossed into a large box with just a few air filled packing bubbles. It could bounce around in the big box. Luckily it is packed well from Nikon and has no issues.

5 comments about Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only).

1. This camera has a very professional feel and good ergonomics.
   As far as physical build quality, it's very nice; much better than the lower end SLRs that Canon produces. The shooting speed is wonderful when trying to capture fast action. The autofocus works very quickly and accurately.
   While not cons, I should point out two details: 1) The camera's live preview is only designed to operate in the advanced modes (not in the point & shoot modes) 2) The camera's heavy duty build comes at the cost of a little more weight. If you are simply looking for a camera to casually carry around, this isn't it... but then again, you probably wouldn't be looking at an SLR. :)
   I would highly recommend this camera to anybody wanting durability and quality without the $2000+ price tag!



2. I went to my local camera shop without a budget in mind determined to get a really good DSLR. I admit this was maybe a little crazy but this is an approach I sometimes will take to shop for features, fit and function and then roll the price into the analysis on the last step. I had no existing buy in to an existing brand or any inventory that I needed to be compatible with. This left me free to look at Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Canon and a couple of others that escape me now. I actually think that almost any of these brands have fine products. I am convinced they all have marketing departments that are professionals at price pointing and feature trade offs. Plus my local camera shop buyer knows how to buy and make sure he covers all of the price points.
   
   So after going through abut 8 models all lined up on the counter I ended up selecting the Canon 40D. Here was my rationale at the time. Most of the models in this price area have remarkable similar features and prices with the end result being there are pretty simliar. So with the feature, function, price trade offs being relatively equal I decided on the Canon 40D. This camera fits my hand better than any other model regardless of maker. It also at 6+ frames per second was faster than any other camera without REALLY ignoring price.
   
   Now that I have had the camera for a while there are more reasons to own it then the sales rep was able to pass on at the time of sale. The build quality is just awesome and there are more options for controlling the 40D than I had a clue about. Another thing I discovered are the Canon L series lenses. I now have two of the F2.8 zooms each of which cost more than the camera. So in the future I am bought into Canon camera bodies but the 40D and the L lenses produce stunning results. So for me the fit and function were just right and the future is bright (F2.8 at 200MM). So if you think you will add lenses to your bag I would put that into any camera body decision. The 40D and the 70-200L F2.8 with the 24-70L F2.8 zooms will be around for a long time.



3. We originally had the Canon XTi and decided to upgrade to the 40D. As soon as we picked it up it was love at first shot. It's slightly bigger in the grip but definitely pleasantly noticeable. The large dial on the back also was a welcome change because on the XTi, F-Stop change required you to press a button and then roll the mini dial. There are so many different "upgrades" to list. My recommendation is that pass on the XTi and get this kit. You get a huge break in price when you get the the lens together in this kit. Have fun with it.



4. After several bad expreiences with canon 350d, i finaly decided give canon 40d a try. i bought one from a local store and brought it to a european trip. my wife brought her own camera too, a small samsung NV3. The only reason she carrys her camera is she feels her NV3 is cute. When we came back from the trip, we found out that her pictures are much better than mine! The picture taken from this canon are very noisy. I speak to the store and I was told I need a better lens.



5. No doubt this is a great camera. I bought body only along with 50mm f1.4 lens and images are extremely sharp. Live view is great although I prefer looking thru the viewfinder and the camera body feels very solid and professional.
   I was very impressed with Amazon's fast free shipping and great price. I looked everywhere (online & retail) to find lower prices but no one could beat Amazon. Free shipping is extremely fast, it arrived 6 days faster than the expected delivery date. I was glad I didn't pay for faster shipping. I highly recommend this camera.

5 comments about Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black).

1. My first dSLR purchase, but I come with a strong analog photographic background (medium- and large-format photography).
   
   The XSI is very nice. It is nice and light-weight, great image quality, and is snappy in operation. I couldn't ask for much more (well maybe in-body IS like Sony, Pentax, and Olympus cameras).
   
   I laugh at the people who call this an "entry-level" dSLR. The image quality exceeds Canon's $1300 semi-professional 40D model. The features that more-expensive models include are mostly minor conveniences. I took plenty of "professional" pictures with my 4x5" view camera. I get about 1-frame-per-15-minutes with a large-format camera. And yet people seem to think that the XSI's 3.5 frames/per/second makes it entry-level?! Most photographers need nothing more. Yes, if you are a professional wildlife or sports photographer, you want the upgrade. If not, then this camera should meet your needs and then some.



2. I love this camera. With the Live View, all I do is hook it up to my laptop, and find a bright star, and magnify the view on the laptop and I can focus in seconds. With the Xti and no Live View, it was a long, painful process that never really focused right. Once focused, I can take several long exposure pictures with no problem. Much less noise at higher ISO's than the Xti. I was able to get great pictures, first night out.
   
   For other uses, its a great camera as well!



3. What can I say, except that this camera is the best thing that's ever happened to me, next to my dear wife that is.
   
   I came from point-n-shoot cameras, owned alot of them; mostly Sony and some were even half the price of this SLR. I've always had two major problems with point-n-shoot cameras. First, I always had to take 2-3 pictures for something to come out decent. It seemed that even if shooting in the same modes the color definition was always different in each picture taken. Second, it was a real challenge for me to capture objects in motion, most came out blurry; again I had to shoot 4,5+ times to get one acceptable result.
   
   On the contrary, I decided to spend 900 bux and get this camera. It simply refuses to break pictures. I've taken pictures from busses out the window while in motion, i've taken pictures at fast moving objects, and it just refuses to break focus. I'm extremely surprised at how well it behaves, even in auto mode. It all feels like a dream.
   
   The next thing i tried is the macro mode function at the Botanical Garden; and you can see some sample photos - the blue flower is one of the best :) I took about 5 pictures of each flower, because that's how I used to do it in the past. I shouldn't have. Each picture came out clear and sharp, however, keeping in mind that the kit lens is not really a macro lens, while shooting the really small flowers, there was some blurr, which is totally understandable. Some things are just too small to capture the details with the kit lens, not the camera's fault.
   
   Another nice feature is the ability to update the firmware yourself, which we all know improves stability, adds new functionality, and, if there are any, corrects any software bugs.
   
   The build quality is really solid too. It feels as solid as a rock, but not as heavy :)
   
   Lastly, the battery. I haven't drained the battery but I have taken about 230 pictures, about 30 of those were at night with the flash. By the end of the day, I was still running with a full battery. So while I can't say exactly how many shots u can get on a full charge, I can confirm that the battery does not get exhausted easily.
   
   Overall, if you have the money to spend and new to SLR's I would definately recommend this camera. Sure it's a bit expensive, but SDHC memory cards are cheap these days.



4. I upgraded to the XSi from my original Canon Digital Rebel. I really love the new features on the XSi and the live view option. I also like the ability to connect to the computer and control from there. Its a great entry in the Canon line of digital cameras. And for the price, you can't beat it.



5. I bought this camera a week ago as a replacement to my 5 year old digital rebel. I can experience the differences clearly. It is lighter and much faster. The speed in terms of start-up and shot-to-shot as well as auto-focus is incredible. It is dead on for the most part. This camera is a lot lighter too especially for someone used to the original digital rebel. I was not hugely impressed with the kit lens even though it has received rave reviews. I am still playing with it. My Canon 28-105 produces sharper images than the kit lens.
   
   All in all, this camera is definitely a step-up from the older digital rebel. Compared to the XTi, the 3 inch LCD and live preview is a major enhancement. Spot metering is a huge plus. I am very satisfied with this camera.

5 comments about Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Black).

1. Ordered the camera with one day shipping, after two days it hadn't arrived. First rep. told me it would be delivered that day. When it wasn't, second rep. said it never left the warehouse and she cancelled the order on my request. Then the camera showed up the next morning after I had already bought it somewhere else ! Refused the package and had found it on sale at bestbuy for $25 less.



2. This body replaced my original EOS 300D Digital Rebel body. It is a bit smaller and lighter than my previous, but is still constructed well. Aside from the upgraded CMOS sensor and added features, the big difference for me is the LCD display. On my digital rebel the settings display only filled the top portion of the small LCD. On the XTi the information actually fills the whole screen which a 2.5" display. For my 40+ year old eyes that have reduced near vision that is great! I now can shoot and adjust without having to pull my glasses up to see the shutter speed, ISO, aperture, etc.
   The bottom line...its solid Canon quality at a reasonable price!



3. I love this camera. It takes beautiful pictures and is very user friendly. One reviewer said you can't review pictures but you can. Just press the green arrow on the back of the camera and you can see the photos on the memory card. I highly recommend this camera.



4. When I first went digital 6 years ago, I was a 35mm junkie, I didn't want to give up my EOS 850 with lenses just to go digital, but I bought one. About a month after purchasing an Olympus 3030zoom Canon came out with the Rebel, needless to say I was just a little bummed out; I couldn't afford to get both. I was never completely satisfied because I couldn't use my various lenses so I would always take the EOS right along with my digital. The 3030zoom takes incredible pictures, but I was still a 35mm junkie.
   I finally allowed myself to invest in this newer XTi about a month ago. This camera is so easy to use, almost a point and shoot, the functions you need are very easy to access either from the wheel or the menu. A lot of digitals are hard to operate because everything is buried in the menu, but you won't find that with the XTi. The pictures are FABULOUS! I have 3 lenses from my EOS that are at the oldest about 19 years old and each and every one has worked with it. One thing I would absolutely suggest to anyone who is purchasing, go to a store and put your hands on the cameras before you buy one. I was looking at the XT, thinking I will save a few bucks getting a couple of megapixels less with it. I went to the store to handle



5. Great camera... easy to use, and the menu setup is designed for quick changes on the fly. This is key when shooting-- you don't want to have to scroll through menu after submenu to get to the setting you want to change. Olympus, I'm lookin' at you.
   
   One thing to keep in mind: the APS-C sensor size results in an effective focal length of 1.6x whatever the lens says. For instance, a 50mm lens becomes an 80mm lens on this camera body.
   
   That having been said, any of Canon's EF or EF-S lenses will work on the Rebel body. Keep your old glass!

5 comments about Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens.

1. Excellent product for the price, for just getting in to taking serious photos of the kids and activities, easy to use super fast and great quality. Thanks



2. I have had my Nikon D40 since Nov of 2007 and I've been snappin away ever since. This is my first DSLR and I don't see why anyone would need anything more expensive. I find the pictures are super and the functions are easy to understand and use. The menu is easy and if you don't know how to use or what certain feature in the menu means, you hit the ?/ question button at the bottom of the camera while you are in menu mode and it tells you what you need to know. A built in maual! What a great thing. It's helped me out a lot. There are so many more great things. One thing I can say that it does not have a live view of your image you are about to shoot but you get used to not having it. It is super easy to view it afterwards. Going back and forth from a shot phtot to the ready to shoot mode is quick and easy. Lens swapping is a breeze. Always keep handy a special lint and scratch or abrasive free cleaning cloth that is designed for lenses so you can keep your lens fingerprint and lint free. Always buy a UV fiter for each lens you buy and pay attention to your lens thread for buying the right filters. UV filters will protect your lenses from damaging fingerprints and scratches. Keep caps on when you are not using your camera. Protection Protection!!!
   
   I find this camrea is a great camera for someone who is starting out in the Digital SLR phase of their lives.
   You will find yourself buying more lenses. I use a Tarmon 300 mm lens made for the NIkon D40. http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/70300_di_a017.asp
   Check out the product info. This lens is inexpensive and works fairly well.
   THe kit lens 18- 55 mm lens is baisc but the photos are sharp.
   If it is made by Nikon, its got to be great!
   Happy Camper!



3. I paid $480 for the D40 with an 18-55mm kit lens. For the price, this is a great DSLR ample storage, battery life, and speed. However the kit lens is very basic and doesn't have vibration reduction. I will need to add better lenses to really take advantage of this camera. If I had it to do over I would probably spend a little extra and go with the D60 and some better lenses.



4. I can't believe my eyes that a SLR with less that $500.00 price can be so good. I bought it just three days and I love this. I take it where ever I go and the pictures comes great. I used mostly P/S/A and some times manual. And the picture quality is awesome. I was testing it tonight with almost no light at my room. I used tripod and the picture quality is like I taken it in a well-lit room. I am not professional or great photographer but I like to travel and like to take good pictures. And I think this is so far the best Camera for this price range. I was almost going to buy Nikon D80 but after reading lot of reviews I decided to try this and I am glad I decided to buy this camera. It saved my 400 $ and I can buy the 55-200VR lance with half of that price.



5. I've had this camera for three weeks and I absolutely love it. Excellent price from Amazon and I got a great refurbished 55-200mm VR teleophoto lens to supplement the kit lens. With what I saved on the camera I can continue to buy Nikkor lenses to give myself a full range of photographic tools.

5 comments about Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black).

1. I bought this camera for my daughter as a birthday present. I am going to steal it back. What a terrific camera!!! I have to have one



2. This is a wonderful camera. Great price, well worth the price. Would definitely recommend to friends and family.



3. My camera arrived in Great shape. This camera is so fool proof! Having a great time using it and showing it off. Looking to purchase a larger zoom lens now. It's very user friendly. Thanks Amazon for guiding me to this EOS XT!



4. This camera is an amateur photographer's dream. It's compatible with all current generation lenses (unlike the higher-dollar Canons). The kit lens is quite good quality but you may not be happy with its performance indoors. Make sure you also look into getting one of the inexpensive prime lenes (prime = non-zoom). The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II is an excellent value.



5. Love this camera! It takes wonderful pictures, easy to use, & great price. You can't go wrong with this one.