5 comments about Sony Alpha A200W 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 and 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Lenses.

1. This camera takes great pictures as expected but has quite a few user friendly available adjustments. Being able to adjust exposure is critical to me and there are several simple to use features in the camera allowing you to do that. Shake reduction built into camera works well and allows for use of any lens to take advantage of it.



2. The Sony A200 camer, I did not get a clear picture out of it yet, the reason that I gave it a 2 stars, because it will not take AA battery, and it will not take standard flash,( like my Vivitar, 283, 285.) The reason that I bought it, beacuse, I have all other camers already, and I like to try out for a sony, and turn out this is the worse camer that I have, because it will not take standar flash.



3. This is really an excellent camera. I definitely don't consider myself an expert in DSLRs (I have only spent time shooting with Nikon D200, D70, and Canon Rebel XTi), but I've been very pleased with this one so far.
   
   Image quality is extremely comparable to the Rebel XTi, except in the greens, where it appear to be superior. Noise reduction is where the Sony sort of fails- low ISO noise is very acceptable, and definitely on a par with the Canon, possibly even better depending on the image. Once you get up to ISO 1600 the Canon appears superior and the Sony is beginning to look fairly noisy- check out sample images on camera comparison sites to see if it's acceptable to you. ISO 3200 results in very noisy images, but frankly the Canon can't hit 3200 anyway, so at least there's that! In short, at low ISOs the Sony holds it's own or slightly exceeds it's competitors, at high ISOs it looks worse, but at the same time it's capable of hitting ISO 3200 whereas the competition isn't. Kind of a toss up, I guess.
   
   The kit lenses are about what you'd expect- a little soft, but overall not something the average user is likely to complain about. Image distortion and chromatic aberation don't really appear to be a significant issue. They're decent lenses, overall, definitely comparable to the kit lenses you'd get from any other maker.
   
   Battery life so far is totally acceptable. The Dynamic Range Optimization isn't as powerful as I'd like, but does work and is actually fairly cool. The in-camera image stabilization is truly a great feature, and works well. From what I've seen it maybe buys you two speeds' slower shooting that without it.
   
   The thing that really sets this camera apart from the others I've played with is accesibility- it's truly easy to use. I mostly got this camera for my wife, who's interested in SLR photography but generally unfamiliar with it. She's had absolutely no trouble or intimidation in picking up and learning the camera quickly.
   
   Overall a very good little camera that's an excellent choice for learning and having fun with, and is also capable of taking great pictures in experienced hands.



4. Prequel: I am coming from a strict Nikon background and due to having my $4000 kit(D80, 3 VR, 3 2.8 pro lenses, etc) stolen out of my car, am starting all over again.
   
   That being said, I don't have $4000 to plop down at once, so I decided to get an "entry to mid-level" system and after many internal battles, decided to try something different and go with the Alpha system. My thoughts were if things didn't work out with this setup, I haven't spent that much and could use it for a carry-around camera. So far I see absolutely NO reason to go back to Nikon. Yes, this system is THAT good.
   
   First off, the built-in Image Stabilization(Super Steady Shot) works wonders. I was able to hand hold the camera at a shutter speed of 1/5th of a second with an ISO of 400 and still get usable output.
   
   Second, the kit lens is actually pretty darn good! There are some signs of CA(purple fringing) and softness wide open, but they are kept to a minimum. This lens is CERTAINLY better than the kit lens offered with the XT and Xti (I haven't had a chance to try out the XSi kit yet) and equivalent to the excellent 18-55mm Nikon kit lens(The De facto of kit lenses). Not to mention the image quality the body brings to the table! I have printed out and framed a picture taken at (ASA) ISO 1600! Now don't get me wrong, theres noise at that level, but its nothing like the 1st gen, a100. Of course, it goes without saying, lower ISO shots are very vivid and sharp.
   
   Lastly, the menu structure and usability are second to none. Everything is laid out in a fashion that just makes sense.
   
   All-In-All, this is a system I have NO problems recommending to ANYONE!



5. This is a great DSLR at an amazing price. It is a very sophisticated camera yet easy to use. The fucntions you need to change most often are easily accessable, not buried in a menu.
   
   Although this is considered an entry level DSLR, it's far more advanced then that description would imply. You have total creative control over the image as well as in body stabilization.
   
   I would have given this camera 5 stars had it not been for the lens included in this kit. The lens is an old Minolta design that probably worked well with a 6MP camera but its limitations are clear with this 10MP CCD, the lens exhibits a limited area of sharpness and produces retatively flat images.
   
   My suggestion is to buy the body and look elsewhere for the glass.

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

1. Though this camera is not as good as the 30 which I have since upgraded to it is a great starter camera. The review is a bit slow through pictures and I feel the camera is a bit small in my hands other than that it was wonderful.



2. happy happy happy happy BUT I have a hardware problem, the flash lid is not popping up and give an error sign. So, I sent it to Cannon and they were absolutely wonderful about fixing the problem in a timely manner. Got my camera back,......same problem. POO POO I still love my camera. It takes awesome pictures. I am sure my malfunction is a fluke and I would definitely buy the camera again.



3. This is my first digital SLR camera and I was a bit hesitant at first to spend almost $500 on a camera. However, it was well worth the amount. I've had a lot of fun with this little camera and I've already taken some pretty amazing shots. It's real user friendly. A real small body so it's easy to travel with and the battery power is outstanding. I will purchase a different lens soon. The one that comes with the body is alright if I had to rate that I'd probably give it three and a half stars. I've had a real hard time with trying to focus on people with that lens when trying to take portraits. Other than than that it creates sharp images. I suggest this to anyone who is new to the digital SLR cameras.
   
   enjoy!
   
   [...]



4. excellent value for price. Clear sharp images, good color. the camera is easy to use with a short learning curve. It is small and light. there is a wide variety of lenses available both from canon and third party vendors. the only drawback is the view finder which should be extended slightly further from the body of the camera.



5. la cámara es increíble, pero el lente al ser un Zoom no es muy luminoso, por lo que hay que compensar con el iso de la cámara, incluso 1600, pero ahí la imagen pierde nitidez aparece el grano.

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

1. I picked up this camera two weeks ago at a local store. Overall, it's a solid camera. Color reproduction is wonderful, it's quick, low noise with high iso, and terrific macros. The camera is blazing fast. Please refer to the other posters for the good points of this camera.
   
   Now i'll discuss the shortcomings. The major one, which has been referenced to in various forums such as dpreview and a few online review sites is poor AutoFocus. Not all cameras are affected, but mine was. If you shoot at an object from w/in 10 ft, it has trouble over 50% of the time picking up the autofocus point and often selects the wrong point. If you use center focus, it gets pretty close but final image is still a bit blurry. It becomes a bit sharper w/ the live view autofocus system. When I took some outdoor pics of some animals, i couldn't quite lock on what i was interested in. Even when taking shots of people outside w/ a prominent background, it seems to have trouble deciding if it wants to focus on the person or the background. I'd say that 20% of my shots were actually in focus and those look wonderful. The remaining ones had the focus off. So i'm gonna send my camera to canon for repair. I went to best buy and tried out a 40D and the focus was rock solid. If you get a good camera, kodus to u.



2. We have had this camera for about 3 weeks now and I have to say we love it. I had a Canon G3 years ago and love every picture taken from it. This is my first DSLR and just as the reviews say and I thought, it is amazing. Most of the pictures were clear and amazingly capture nature, people, landscapes, and night shots with awesome clarity. I looked hard at the 40D and I must say it is a better camera, I just didn't want to spend $500 more for many features that I may never use. I have had some auto focus problems but I attributed them to my own fault.



3. I have previously owned the Canon Rebel XT. I liked this camera as an improvement over my previous Powershot. The SLR offered the focusing and lens possibilities I had experienced with my film Elan camera. However, I found the Canon XT did not do well in low-light situations and that it did not handle situations with varied lighting very well.
   
   The new Canon XSi is a VAST improvement over the XT and well worth the investment. Photos are much sharper. The XSi easily adapts to all types of lighting situations. Also its new larger LCD screen is much easier to use. This camera feels more substantial in the hand, and I find all the buttons smartly placed for ease of use.
   
   I might add that I have added the 55-250mm IS lens to the 18-55mm IS lens. Both are light and easily used. With 2 lenses I have both fairly wide angle and telephoto capabilities. This is a great lens set up for anyone wanting to use their XSi in travel and hiking situations.



4. The Canon EOS Rebel Xsi was a very good buy at Amazon
   
   The price was excellent, the camera arrived within 5 working days of the order, and there were no shipping charges or sales tax.



5. A very popular review here suggested that the 40D was a better deal. I'm here to say I ignored his suggestion and am glad I did. I've only had the XSi for a week, so haven't taken more than 100 real shots yet, but I'm really pleased.
   
   First off, the XSi is $200 cheaper than the 40D (at the moment, it varies greatly) and 2/3rds the weight, both of which I appreciate. I've never used the 40D so my comments below are about the XSi and the improvements over the Xti.
   
   Pros:
   
   * Bigger screen is great for viewing your results and checking the settings.
   * Seeing the ISO in the viewfinder is wonderful! In the past I'd messed up shots because I'd left it set wrong, but no longer.
   * The viewfinder seems brighter and easier to view (haven't used in low light yet).
   * New Auto ISO makes getting quick shots in changing light easier, though I'll manually set it for shots when I had time to check all my settings.
   * Digital noise seems to be slightly reduced than the Xti.
   * Battery life is *excellent*. I've only charged it once so far.
   * Even though the Live View focusing is a little funky, it works pretty well. I can definitely see using it for night shots when the viewfinder is too dark (or maybe it won't be anymore?). Nice touch that you can display a 3x3 grid on the screen for composition. For auto-focusing, I prefer the Quick Focus mode, which blanks out the Live View while you're holding down the * button and the focusing is happening, but it's definitely usable. The other auto-focus mode (Live Mode) takes so long that I won't use it. Manual focusing is made much easier since they've added the ability to zoom in 10x in Live View, which is *wonderful*. I'd missed that feature when I moved up from my Panasonic FZ30, which had it.
   * I like having the new spot metering for night shots.
   * I *really* like the new "My Menu" where you can select your favorite 6 menu options and they show up first, which means less digging through menus.
   
   Cons:
   
   * Highlight Tone Priority feature eliminates the ISO 100 option, which means you can get a little more digital noise. And you can still get blown out highlights. Maybe I'm not using it right or expecting too much?
   * Buttons on the back of the camera are more recessed than the Xti, making it less-obvious when you're trying to hit the right one w/o looking. It's also *really* crowded back there! Tough having fat fingers!
   
   Neither pro nor con:
   
   * RAW files are much bigger than in the Xti, many around 14MB, which means you get fewer shots per memory card (135 RAWs on a 2GB card, vs 197 on the same sized card in my Xti). I expected a little increase from the increased resolution, but didn't count on the increase in the A/D bits from 12 to 14 to increase things too. This also makes file transfers and loading into image editing software slower, and I think I'll need a bigger hard drive soon!
   * When reviewing photos, you can hit the Disp button to see more shot details. Hit it once to just add that the storage format and picture count, which I *don't* think is worth its own step. Hit the Disp button again to see the brightness histogram. Hit it once more to see the luminescence histogram plus 3 small histograms for Red, Green and Blue. Personally I don't have use for this last mode (or the second), so wish there was a Custom Function to disable them.
   * High ISO noise reduction - another feature I've turned off in Custom Functions. Better to do advanced noise reduction on the computer. Plus is slows down the continuous shooting mode to about 1.5 shots per second! Ugh.
   
   All in all the XSi is a really nice pro-sumer camera that lets you get down and dirty with details when you want but can also rip off quick shots w/o thinking about every little setting.

5 comments about Sony Alpha A200K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens.

1. This camera takes great pictures as expected but has quite a few user friendly available adjustments. Being able to adjust exposure is critical to me and there are several simple to use features in the camera allowing you to do that. Shake reduction built into camera works well and allows for use of any lens to take advantage of it.



2. The Sony A200 camer, I did not get a clear picture out of it yet, the reason that I gave it a 2 stars, because it will not take AA battery, and it will not take standard flash,( like my Vivitar, 283, 285.) The reason that I bought it, beacuse, I have all other camers already, and I like to try out for a sony, and turn out this is the worse camer that I have, because it will not take standar flash.



3. This is really an excellent camera. I definitely don't consider myself an expert in DSLRs (I have only spent time shooting with Nikon D200, D70, and Canon Rebel XTi), but I've been very pleased with this one so far.
   
   Image quality is extremely comparable to the Rebel XTi, except in the greens, where it appear to be superior. Noise reduction is where the Sony sort of fails- low ISO noise is very acceptable, and definitely on a par with the Canon, possibly even better depending on the image. Once you get up to ISO 1600 the Canon appears superior and the Sony is beginning to look fairly noisy- check out sample images on camera comparison sites to see if it's acceptable to you. ISO 3200 results in very noisy images, but frankly the Canon can't hit 3200 anyway, so at least there's that! In short, at low ISOs the Sony holds it's own or slightly exceeds it's competitors, at high ISOs it looks worse, but at the same time it's capable of hitting ISO 3200 whereas the competition isn't. Kind of a toss up, I guess.
   
   The kit lenses are about what you'd expect- a little soft, but overall not something the average user is likely to complain about. Image distortion and chromatic aberation don't really appear to be a significant issue. They're decent lenses, overall, definitely comparable to the kit lenses you'd get from any other maker.
   
   Battery life so far is totally acceptable. The Dynamic Range Optimization isn't as powerful as I'd like, but does work and is actually fairly cool. The in-camera image stabilization is truly a great feature, and works well. From what I've seen it maybe buys you two speeds' slower shooting that without it.
   
   The thing that really sets this camera apart from the others I've played with is accesibility- it's truly easy to use. I mostly got this camera for my wife, who's interested in SLR photography but generally unfamiliar with it. She's had absolutely no trouble or intimidation in picking up and learning the camera quickly.
   
   Overall a very good little camera that's an excellent choice for learning and having fun with, and is also capable of taking great pictures in experienced hands.



4. Prequel: I am coming from a strict Nikon background and due to having my $4000 kit(D80, 3 VR, 3 2.8 pro lenses, etc) stolen out of my car, am starting all over again.
   
   That being said, I don't have $4000 to plop down at once, so I decided to get an "entry to mid-level" system and after many internal battles, decided to try something different and go with the Alpha system. My thoughts were if things didn't work out with this setup, I haven't spent that much and could use it for a carry-around camera. So far I see absolutely NO reason to go back to Nikon. Yes, this system is THAT good.
   
   First off, the built-in Image Stabilization(Super Steady Shot) works wonders. I was able to hand hold the camera at a shutter speed of 1/5th of a second with an ISO of 400 and still get usable output.
   
   Second, the kit lens is actually pretty darn good! There are some signs of CA(purple fringing) and softness wide open, but they are kept to a minimum. This lens is CERTAINLY better than the kit lens offered with the XT and Xti (I haven't had a chance to try out the XSi kit yet) and equivalent to the excellent 18-55mm Nikon kit lens(The De facto of kit lenses). Not to mention the image quality the body brings to the table! I have printed out and framed a picture taken at (ASA) ISO 1600! Now don't get me wrong, theres noise at that level, but its nothing like the 1st gen, a100. Of course, it goes without saying, lower ISO shots are very vivid and sharp.
   
   Lastly, the menu structure and usability are second to none. Everything is laid out in a fashion that just makes sense.
   
   All-In-All, this is a system I have NO problems recommending to ANYONE!



5. This is a great DSLR at an amazing price. It is a very sophisticated camera yet easy to use. The fucntions you need to change most often are easily accessable, not buried in a menu.
   
   Although this is considered an entry level DSLR, it's far more advanced then that description would imply. You have total creative control over the image as well as in body stabilization.
   
   I would have given this camera 5 stars had it not been for the lens included in this kit. The lens is an old Minolta design that probably worked well with a 6MP camera but its limitations are clear with this 10MP CCD, the lens exhibits a limited area of sharpness and produces retatively flat images.
   
   My suggestion is to buy the body and look elsewhere for the glass.

5 comments about Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-135mm AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens.

1. This camera is packed with options that will never even be used, but they're nice to have just in case. Jus tneed to spend time and learn how to use them. Would reccomend this camera to everyone.



2. An avid photographer, I was upgrading from a Sony Cybershot that I had had for 5 years and that had essentially been another appendage. So I read review after review... knowing simply that I wanted my next camera to be user friendly, have more pixels/take clearer photos than my previous, have greater zoom, a larger LCD screen and give me editing options for photos taken. Well, my Nikon D80 delivers all of this and more. I've had it for 1 month today and I've taken over 200 photos... and to give you another's perspective, friends have commented on the clarity of all the photos that I have shared with them. I'm a thrilled with it. It was worth EVERY PENNY!



3. I won't go into the individual specs because every other review does that. Ever wonder why it is compared to the professional Nikon D200? Most people don't know this but the D80 and D200 are brothers! The little brother, D80, has most of the same functions, CPU programs and CCD image sensor (10.2 mega-pixel) but the D80 must be preprogrammed to set up your shot (unless using AUTO), a time consuming process, and the main frame is made of plastic.
   
   The metal D200, however is for the pro who has the camera to their eye everyday and knows the settings like the back of their hand, thus it can be programmed on the fly by rubber finger knobs and settings can be read in the viewfinder so they don't have to take the camera from their face. That's a lot of itty-bitty info for an amateur and although it can be used in AUTO, what self-righteous photographer wants that?
   
   In short, the D80 is meant for the semi-pro while its big brother, D200, is the D80 on steroids!



4. Nikon D80 is my first Digital SLR(In fact, first serious camera I bought), my previous camera was canon SD1000 point and shoot. Overall I am pleased with the picture quality. But I don't like the fact that Nikon D80 overexposes photos a lot in automatic mode. Many of the photos I took in bright sunlight is washed out. After reading and experimenting a lot, I learned to take pictures in manual model, with different metering(SPOT and CENTER WEIGHTED) to avoid this issue. But after spending about 1299 $, I don't like the performance of the camera in automatic mode at all. I hope Nikon will release a firmware update to fix the metering. If you are a novice DSLR person like me, and is considering buying a system, I suggest you go with Canon EOS 40D, I haven't used it, but after researching a lot online, I haven't come across major issues with EOS 40D. Experts can correct me if I am wrong.



5. The D80 is my first digital SLR, and my fourth Nikon camera. I've owned 35mm SLR cameras since 1975 or so. The D80 is already my favorite of them all. It packs a lot of features, Nikon reliability, and a good form factor into one well-priced package.
   
   I had first intended to purchase the D60, but after doing a side-by-side feature comparison, I decided that the D80 provided more bang for the buck. One feature the D80 has that was critical to me is a depth of field preview -- an important feature for macro photography, and not one you will find on the D40 or D60 cameras.
   
   People with small hands may find the D40/D60 easier to handle, but the D80 feels great in my average sized hands.
   
   I purchased the 16-85mm and 70-300mm VR lenses at the same time and I am very happy with my choices.

5 comments about Sony Alpha DSLRA300K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens.

1. I'm a long time digital camera user for more than 12 years. The last camera I had is a Sony V3 with a built in Carl Zeiss lens. A very good and a descent camera with a little problem at indoor shots (poor flash).I bought this camera for traveling and vacation with the family and this is my very first SLR camera. I upgraded my old camera hoping for a better quality pictures. The Alpha 100 had very impressive reviews at Amazon.com and that made me decide to buy the Alpha 300 with the kit.
   
   I have taken several outdoor shots for both V3 and the new alpha and compared the image side by side. The result was not a big difference as far as clarity. The picture taken by alpha was just a little bit better only because of higher mega pixel. I had a very high expectation and I'm not too happy at all. With my disappointment, I thought of returning the camera but I decided to give another try. I have read opinion of other reviewers who are not too happy either and strongly recommend the 16-80 Carl Zeiss lens. Bought this to a local store and planned to return just in case.(I'm telling you, these lens are very expensive. The price of the lens is even more expensive than the price of the camera kit). Anyway I did another side by side test and the Zeiss lens performed a lot better especially when you zoom in at every detail of the image so I decided to keep it.
   
   Overall the camera kit is okay when you are taking pictures without cropping or editing. Otherwise if you are very picky in term with picture quality and clarity then look around. You have to remember that I did not compare with the other brand of the same category. But the money I spend with the Carl Zeiss lens, I could have bought the more expensive version of Nikon or the other brand.
   
   My only complain so far beside the cheap lens is the low location of the built-in flash. Raising up quarter of an inch could have prevented the shadow of lens to the subject taken at least 2 feet away. For this an external flash is required.
   
   The things I like are.
   
   Live View
   I will tell you the advantage is. Because you can be tilt the screen, in the crowd you can raise camera and you can still see you subject as well as on low elevation.
   
   I myself want to be in the picture once in a while. When camera set to live view, it will turn to a point shoot setting and people who have a very limited experience can still take good picture. My youngest kid he's 9 can take it 99% good quality pictures I guess with the help of the
   built in stabilizer.
   
   Low light and ISO
   It can still take good picture quality without the use of flash.
   
   Built-in stabilizer



2. I have been using the a300 for about and a month and I love it. These are the best pictures I've ever taken. I am still learning to take advantage of all the dslr goodies, but it is simple to take professional looking shots right out of the box with auto settings. The articulating live-view and auto-focus are nearly perfect.
   My dslr research led me to Sony and I am very glad it did. Amazon (and Electronics Expo) gave me a great deal and fast delivery. Great camera!



3. This is an outstanding camera. A perfect balance between options and simplicity. And boy is it fast. I have small children and it is wonderful for catching fleeting expressions. Also, if you are looking at whether to get the A200 or the A300, get the A300. The live view alone is worth the extra money. I didn't think I would use it as much as I do, but its really handy. While I am not planning on splurging on any accessories right now, its nice to have the option out there.



4. After researching all the available DSLR's cameras online with in depth reviews from reputable unbiased sites, I found the sony alpha 300k, to be the best price/product available.
   
   I have tried the nikon D 60, and then returned it,.I am aamazed at the sony alpha 300 ease of use and excellent pictures quality. All the features included, i.e.: tiltable screen, live view, extra foucs, steady shot and the 2 lenses i got with it, I thought this to be a steal...
   
   I am a beginner with DSLR's but not with photography,..I thought i will be using the live view, but I find myself shooting more with the OVF.
   
   All the reviews about the small size of the OVF are bull, you see what you are supposed to see and what you need to see to take excellent photos... the CF feature is great.
   
   I bought the extra flash (199, ONLY 99 W/SPECIAL COMBO OFFER), the pictures qualities at night are amazing, it adjust automatically to the zoom degree to give excellent exposure.
   
   I bought extra batteries, sony alpha bag, and uv protector lens. I think i'll be bying the 28-300 mm zoom sigma lens once the price drops some more..
   
   Overall, after spending hourse of reserches, I was drawne to the this sony alpha 300,..i did not know about it befiore, but i am extrmely pleased with the pics quality. ps the 14 mp, does not make a lot of difference unless you are shooting in macro, as the lens mount is the same for the 300 and the 350, in fact it may blurr the puiture by trying to insert more mp through the same size lenses,.. i am glade i stuck to the 300 and saved me 200 dollars.
   
   
   The camera built and feel is excellent very pro, and is very well designed even for the smallest fingers, has a great grip and feels well buils, unlike the nikon d-60.
   
   So all of you who may be confused about the camera or what to get: the sony will not disapoint, I am picky by nature and can not find flaws in this machine yet... just make sure to get the extra flash (wireless), and some extra zooming lenses,.. you'll be happy you did.
   
   Amazon deliverd the camera in under 1 week, excellent conditions. Just buy the CF, i found the transcend brand to be exceptionaqlly good and fast. get the 8 gb it is a bargain and do not forget the CF reader as most computer doe not have ability to read cf yet. it cost about 15-30 dollars depending on brand.
   Happy photography dslr style.
   paul 06 29 08



5. I am not unfamiliar with DSLR's and in fact I bought this to replace a Nikkon D40. The sony is easier to use and takes great pictures. However, the flash is a pain in the rear because it is mounted very low. It will leave shadows (from the lens) if you are not careful. I don't use the flash much so it really doesn't bother me. The ability to preview your shots with the LCD is a nice feature, but only use it when you absolutely have to. I recently took 400 shots using only the LCD and the pictures all looked great on the LCD, but they were over/underexposed when I uploaded them to my PC. The photo quality was actually a little bit worse than the D40, which was a disappointment because of the higher megapixel. I have not bought a better lens yet, but that will fix the problem. The problem with that is I could have bought the Nikkon D60 kit for the cost of a high quality lens. I still give it 4 stars. The price is right and the LCD is handy, but do not rely solely on your LCD. If you have the extra money I would recommend the D60. This is a great entry level DSLR I just wish the kit came with a better lens.

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

1. I've waited for years to buy something better than a PowerShot. I've never taken photography classes, always loved taking pictures, and have been told many times I have a good eye. This is the perfect camera to help me realize my full novice potential. I don't know how it rates with old school SLRs or even comparable products, but I do know that I love it and will keep it with me always. You never know when a perfect photo op will present itself.



2. I will come back to modify this review when I hear the result from either J&R or Canon.
   I was doing a ten day trip and shot a lot of pictures. So I bascially charged two batteries every other day alternatively. Unfortunately, the fourth or fifth time the charger just went bad. I had to shoot pictures very selectively.
   When I came back, I sent an email to J&R and they asked me to call Canon service since my charger is still under warranty. So I called canon, and was very disappointed to be told that the charger was not covered in warranty!
   The rep kept asking me whether the charger was damaged when I received it! I am trying to contact with both J&R and canon and see how this got resolved.



3. Just bought it a few weeks ago. Very nice camera so far. Will be doing a lot of close-up work soon, so that'll be a critical test. I expect all will be fine.



4. My Dad is an avid amatuer photographer but his old digital camera requires these tiny discs that he can't find any longer. This was the perfect Father's Day gift, it keeps him busy, entertained, and I get to see lots of great pictures!
   
   The Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR arrived promptly and produces great quality images. I'd recommend this product to anyone interested in creating outstanding photography.
   
   I would most defintely purchase this camera given a second chance. I would also recommend this readily to anyone unsure over whether or not to invest in this product. As always Amazon does not disappoint.



5. I bought this for my boyfriend's (now husband) b-day back in March. We both have only been accustomed to using point & shoot digital cameras. This Rebel is very user friendly and takes GREAT pics! The 10.1MP allows you to take beautiful shots and you can print enlargements that look professional!
   The only draw-back I have is that it doesn't allow you to use the LCD monitor to take the pics, only for viewing pictures already taken. Something about the mirrors.....blah blah blah. But we're used to it now.
   Other than that, we use the camera on a weekly basis.
   Thanks Canon for making such a camera at such an affordable price.
   LA in TX

5 comments about Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX and 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens with 2 Nikon School DVD.

1. The new D40 I bought from Amazon broke within the first month! An error with the shutter release button (yes the button you press to take a picture only lasted about 200 photo's!). I have years of experience with SLR's so I was pretty shocked that it broke so quickly. I am writing this angry review because I am one week into a two month trip though India and Nepal and service centers are not really available. Don't count on Nikon for help. Buy a Canon!



2. Great product, easy to use and understand and takes great pictures. Easy to download to computer.



3. This digital camera takes great pictures and is easy to operate. It "feels" like a film loading 35mm camera I used to have and loved. Pictures are sharp and clear. The color is beautiful. We also use this camera when shooting pictures for our school and website.



4. I have owned my d40 for several months now. Before purchasing it I compared the D40 to other entry level Nikons (d40x and d60) as well as Canons. I am absolutely happy with my purchase. Buy this camera with the 55-200mm vr lens and you cant go wrong.



5. This is my first SLR and I've only had it for about a week, but I absolutely love it! The automatic modes run laps around my old point and shoot, but the real fun is in manual modes. The menu is very intuitive and easy to make the necessary changes I'm looking for. I'm not a big fan of hard light and don't really like the built-in flash. I played around a little with the flash compensation, white balance and ISO, but I still find the flash not to my liking. I just ordered the SB-400 with a diffuser so I'm looking forward to some more balanced lighting. I highly recommend the D40 to any entry-level DSLR owner.

5 comments about Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only - Black).

1. Though this camera is not as good as the 30 which I have since upgraded to it is a great starter camera. The review is a bit slow through pictures and I feel the camera is a bit small in my hands other than that it was wonderful.



2. happy happy happy happy BUT I have a hardware problem, the flash lid is not popping up and give an error sign. So, I sent it to Cannon and they were absolutely wonderful about fixing the problem in a timely manner. Got my camera back,......same problem. POO POO I still love my camera. It takes awesome pictures. I am sure my malfunction is a fluke and I would definitely buy the camera again.



3. This is my first digital SLR camera and I was a bit hesitant at first to spend almost $500 on a camera. However, it was well worth the amount. I've had a lot of fun with this little camera and I've already taken some pretty amazing shots. It's real user friendly. A real small body so it's easy to travel with and the battery power is outstanding. I will purchase a different lens soon. The one that comes with the body is alright if I had to rate that I'd probably give it three and a half stars. I've had a real hard time with trying to focus on people with that lens when trying to take portraits. Other than than that it creates sharp images. I suggest this to anyone who is new to the digital SLR cameras.
   
   enjoy!
   
   [...]



4. excellent value for price. Clear sharp images, good color. the camera is easy to use with a short learning curve. It is small and light. there is a wide variety of lenses available both from canon and third party vendors. the only drawback is the view finder which should be extended slightly further from the body of the camera.



5. la cámara es increíble, pero el lente al ser un Zoom no es muy luminoso, por lo que hay que compensar con el iso de la cámara, incluso 1600, pero ahí la imagen pierde nitidez aparece el grano.

5 comments about Pentax K20D 14.6MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction (Body Only).

1. I previously owned the Pentax istDl and liked the pictures it produced. The K20D has been a fantastic camera so far. I personally really like having the shake reduction in the body because now all my lenses can take advantage of this. The dust removal has already saved me once where I was shooting and was able to get the dust off immediately without getting out the blower and brush :)
   
   One problem I had was on my Mac Leopard Mac Book Pro I could not get the software that comes with the camera to install. For me this is not a major problem because I use other software that I prefer. I did notice the previous Mac Software update had some patches for the K20D as well as several other cameras.
   
   Here are some examples photos I have taken with the K20D and the older istDL. [...]



2. Some great features for the $. Super images. I recommend the 18-250 lens. I moved over from a Nikon D50 and, after the learning curve, really appreciate what this camera offers.



3. A much bigger jump from K10D than I expected; wonderful color and contrast; A little on the heavy side but very good balance.



4. In March of 2008 I bought a K200D, my first DSLR. Loved the camera, but wanted more control and more options. So, I then bought a K20D.
   -----------------------------------
   
   ****CONTROLS :: The controls on the K20D are incredibly awesome. Everything is just *right*. Changes from the basic K200D layout:
   
   A) External Metering dial
   B) External bracketing button
   C) External focal point mode dial
   D) A second e-dial, which is great.
   
   I absolutely love, love, love K20D ergonomics and menu system.. I can operate the camera and all its functions without looking at it. I never press a button I don't intent to press, and I never confuse buttons. Things just "make sense". It's so hard to describe. This is worlds different coming from Canon and Nikon comparisons -- Perhaps it was my unfamiliarity with those cameras, but their menu systems, while flashy, were downright confusing.
   
   You also have a "Green Button" mode and a "User Mode" on the K20D which is very interesting -- You can set up a custom "profile" on the K20D in User mode which sounds cool, but truthfully I haven't used it yet.
   
   
   ****PERFORMANCE:
   
   The K20D performs admirably, just like the K200D. There are a few differences, though:
   
   1) The K20D has a MUCH improved buffer - I can shoot 15 RAW files at 3.0FPS (still low), compared to 4 RAW at 2.8 FPS on the K200D. Unfotunately the FPS on the K20D remains incredibly slow at full resolution.
   
   2) The K20D has a "burst" mode of 21 FPS at around 1.4MP. Neat to play around with but nothing special.
   
   3) ISO goes up to 3200 standard (K200D is maxed at 1600) with 6400 available. However, IQ drops severely after ISO 1600. ISO 3200 is OKAY if you have a picture with non-dark areas, but there is visible banding at ISO3200 and for the most part I avoid it. I use NoiseNinja on my ISO3200 images and they're acceptable if you're not going to crop.
   
   4) A noticeably improved viewfinder -- I can tell the difference immediately over the K200D. Brighter, nicer. Lovely.
   
   **** IMAGE QUALITY
   
   Great, just like the K200D. As a matter of fact, I really couldn't tell you the difference in IQ between two 100% crops of the cameras, except that the K20D's crop is going to be slightly larger from the added MP.
   
   I've tested this extensively with three lenses (DA 16-45, DA 55-300, DA* 50-135) and there is really no IQ difference between the cameras. I may need to get a high quality prime to tell the difference, and even then, you'll be pixel peeping.
   
   However, the K20D *DOES* allow you to get slightly larger prints before you start interpolating pixels, which is something to consider.
   
   
   ****OTHER:
   
   Live view - Almost worthless. I get hot pixels on the image when I use live view for any extended period of time. I've refused to upgrade to the 1.01 firmware for fear of it breaking some software compatibility. Nothing really important to me, though, because the Pentax implimentation of Liveview isn't that great.
   
   Sealing - Better than the K200D, but by how much I don't know. The battery and SD card doors are latch opened instead of slide opened like the K200D.
   
   Battery Performance -- Pretty good. Pentax has retained their rather uninformative battery meter, unfortunately. I really wish they'd get with the times and introduce a %-estimate for their battery meter.
   
   Autofocus Speed-- Absolutely zero difference between the K200D and the K20D -- I have tested this extensively with two lenses using a video camera for frame-accurate timing.
   
   Autofocus Performance -- Decent. Low light it suffers (EV5/6 or lower), but tries for accuracy, so I'm not sure what to say. I wish it were faster.
   
   
   
   OVERALL --- A highly recommended camera. Pentax makes some great glass. Match them up with a K20D and ENJOY shooting photos. The camera is an absolute ergonomic and control-layout pleasure to use. Menus make sense. Performance is good with just a few small things to gripe about.
   
   I really like the camera and it's recommended for those people not needing very fast FPS or first-party lenses past 300mm.



5. I highly recommend this camera. After a year with the K10D, I recently upgraded to the K20D. The K10D was fabulous and I loved it. But I really wanted the LiveView mode and the higher resolution of the K20D. I was disappointed with LiveView though. It is mostly useless. It is nothing like a typical LiveView on most new compact digital cameras. On the K20D, you flip a lever to activate it, at which point auto-focus no longer works (without pressing the AF button and waiting several seconds while the screen goes black and it refocuses... on "something"). You can manually focus, but that can be a challenge based on the LiveView screen, especially in bright light (and the viewfinder is blank when LiveView is active). After taking a shot, there is a several second "blackout" period where the screen goes black. This is the #1 annoyance in my opinion, and it's the main reason I never use it. You can continue shooting while it's black, but you won't really know what you're shooting. So my use of LiveView is limited to the occasional self-portrait shot where I need to set the camera on the ground. It is sometimes "slightly" useful to frame a shot in that situation. (A flip-out screen would make it much more useful.) So aside from my complaints about LiveView, I do love everything else about this camera. The higher resolution and better quality image sensor is definitely an improvement over the K10D. At the highest resolution, pictures are much larger, of course. (I shoot in RAW, so I bought a 16GB SDHC card, which holds about 600 RAW images.) There are a few other "cool" new features (like a 21 fps low-res shooting mode), but I really haven't found any practical use for them. The picture processing engine on this K20D is faster than the K10D. In summary, if you want the higher resolution, buy the K20D. If 10MP is enough for you and you don't care about novelty features, buy the K10D. But you will be happy with either of these great new Pentax cameras. For the next model, I'm hoping for "real" always-on LiveView and a flip-out screen!