I want to buy a nice digital camera before my baby is born, and was wondering what you like and dislike about it. And if it takes good and professional looking pictures (especially of people)
Thanks Or - get a Nikon D40. The mode dial even offers a "Child" mode. They say, "Use for snapshots of children. Clothing and background details are vividly rendered while skin tones are given a soft natural finish. The camera [automatically] selects the focus area containing the closest subject."
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40...
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_revi...
http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3756/cam...
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/d40...
You can get the D40 with the 18-55 kit lens at B&H Photo (available through Yahoo! Shopping or at 1-800-622-4987) for $550 (May 2007) and this is with TWO Lexar 1 GB cards. You can get the same kit with one Lexar Platinum (higher speed) card for $560.
If you are going to go with Canon, I will agree with KoKo and say that you ought to get the Rebel XTi, as long as you are taking the plunge. The XT with the "standard" 18-55 lens and a 2 GB memory card will cost you $630 and the XTi set up the same way will cost you $790.
Gee. The D40 doesn't look so bad next to those prices, does it? (haha) Or you can see my eBay auction for Item No 200110531132...
Thanks! Report It
I would spend a little more for the XTi honestly. The XT is a great camera but the XTi is a bit more flexiable with options that the XT doesnt have like Picture Style. I have the XT, but I would agree that you should go for the XTi. The image quality on the XT is phenomenal. I am a professional photographer and I use the XT in all of my work. It has just enough manual features combined with automatic settings to allow for brainless creativity. (Meaning you don't have to think very hard about the aperature, shutter speed and ISO to get results you want.)
The only reason why I suggest getting the XTi is because of the short amount of time it takes for a camera to be outdated. Getting a newer camera would lengthen the amount of use you got out of it before it was obsolete. Some would say that the higher megapixels (10 rather than 8) is worth it, but unless you are a professional and plan on printing 16"x20" or larger prints, anything above 6mp is a waste of money. The higher quality is only evident in the higher resolutions - some go up to 3200x1500 (or similar) or higher, when all you really need to be able to print a 4x6 or to see a high quality large image on a computer screen is 640x480 up to 1240x800; the latter of which is the size of most large computer screens.
But I digress. It also has an excellent Macro mode, which can really come in handy when you're taking photographs of your baby. You can get the camera up close, fill the frame with your subject (your child), and take a highly detailed picture without having to use flash and disturb the child. The XT is a great camera to have if you don't plan on doing much editing on your photos. It's has the best out-of-the-camera photos and given the price, it's unbeatable.
The XT/350D was my first digital SLR until I moved up on to the Pentax K10D, leaving the 350D to my brother. It's great to learn about photography, as it has both preset modes as well as manual options, just make sure you get a better lens than the one that comes in kit.
In fact I believe the XT is the top best-seller of all times.
However, in the light of the new XTi, I would say the XTi(400D) is the best choice, as it has sensor cleaning, more megapixels and slightly more intuitive interface. | 