Yeah, the current one has vibration reduction and that is the one we are looking at getting in the other as well

 

Yeah, it's well worth the extra $$$. I wish I would have known beforehand..... Oh well.

 

To add to this thread is there a Good starter camera! We are looking at purchasing something that is user friendly! We currently have a Canon Power Shot SD750 that is very portable which is a feature we both like but clarity or definition can be something left to the imagination! Like to spend in the $500.00 to $600.00 range? Is anything available in this price range or are we dreamin?

 

Kevin, if you are looking at getting into a D-SLR you might want to look into the Nikon D40. They are selling them everywhere for about $500. A D60 can be had for around $600. Our D5000 was around $850.

 

Yeah, the Nikon D40 is the perfect entry level DSLR. (And I'm not just saying that because I have it's bigger brother...)

 

OUCH I guess it's kind of like figuring your needs and going from there! $850.00, I think I'd be needing to make money with it !

 

CCK, D40x ? Cost?

 

if you are already familiar with Canon and might not want to go the full SLR route, the one that was suggested early would be a good step, Canon G10. It is not big like the SLRs but you can still use it in full manual mode and get really great photos off of it. You just don't get the ability to change lenses like a SLR.

You can get a canon XSI (my new camera) for around 700 with the kit lens, which i is a good lens. I got the 2 lens kit from adorama.com, both the 18-55 IS and 55-250 IS for 850. or if you want it's little brother, you can get the canon XS for around 600 or so. They use the same lenses so you could always upgrade the body later.

With a zoom lens (and any lens in my opinion) vibration reduction (VR Nikon) or image stabilization (IS Canon), is essential. With the IS on my 250mm, zoomed all the way in, i can hand hold a shot at 1/15th and it still come out clear. You get 2-3 stops extra on it, and you can actually see it working. You can be wiggling the lens a bit and then press the button for it to activate and it is like it is in slow motion. Amazing

 

Dayton - depending on how much you would like to spend on a lens, i would recommend this Sigma(it is the same lens i want to buy for my canon, just make sure it fits your camera, it should):

http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-18-250mm.../ref=pd_cp_p_3

http://www.adorama.com/SG18250OSEOK....o=sigma+18-250

first of all, it is a 18-250mm. so, if your kit lens is a 18-55, and you are looking at a zoom that would cover 50-200, guess what, you only need to carry one lens, no switching them, you get the full range of wide to zoom. Plus, the extra 50mm over the 200 will make a difference.

You still get your vibration reduction, sigma calls it OS (optical stabilizer), because VR is copyrighted by nikon... Supposed to work really good on this lens.

This lens is a HSM, hyper sonic motor. This means that when you focus, it does it all internally, so the end of your lens is not twisting and moving in and out. The lens still extended because it has to, to zoom, but when focusing, it will not move. The benefit of this is 1, much faster, 2 if you compose your shot, and it focuses with the others, it can change your shot, then you have to recompose, 3, not annoying as hell, ha....

Also, the best part. Don't know what lens you are looking at but the aperture on this one starts at 3.5. The kit lens is 4.5, and most likely the one you are look at is too. With a lower aperture, you can focus in lower light without sacrificing shutter speed, selectively focus better, just a faster lens.

Sounds like i am selling them, i know, but i want this lens really badly. It would cost much more to get a lens like these from nikon and i don't even know if they offer one with the same specs. It is a brand new lens too, just came out a month ago, not the same ting they have been selling for years or anything.

 

As a Sigma zoom owner, be careful and review samples of the these big zoom lenses output. Sigma is noted for being soft on the long end, wide open. I have to shoot at least F/11 to get any kind of sharpness on my 135-400, 4-5.6, thank god I live in FL. Plus, Sigma is not known for their quality control, so copy variations will exist.
I'd wait until respected lense review sites start giving some feedback before plunking down the $.