QUICK! DSLR Advice needed! Going to spend money very soon!

Pheezer

Okay, so I'm looking at a new camera and I need a cheap DSLR solution, I've concluded. Now locally, the Nikon D40 and the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT are both well within in my price range. It seems like the Canon has the edge, being an 8.0 MP vs. the Nikon's 6.1, but I don't know if that's the end of it.

I'm about to go browsing camera reviews online, but someone tell me: Are either of these reliable, good DSLR investments?

Also, which lense should I buy with one? I'll be doing I think a lot of close-up photos like all amateur photographers and I think I'd also like something that lets me take big pictures of pretty scenery. So tell me which lenses I'll need for those purposes.

Also, is there a LOT to be gained by dropping maybe $100 more on the camera body? Is there something really killer that's like only one step up the model line?

Pheezer

PS I'm leaving the house in an hour and knowing me I'm going to buy something.

embrik

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Nikon D40
I have no experience with either of these cameras, but those links should give you plenty of help. They both have in-depth reviews and sample galleries.

bread of wonder

I'd go with the D40. I've used a few Canons (all belonging to friends), but I find they get in my way too much, and require too much fiddling around with menus. I mean, a lot of people I know shoot with Canons and get fantastic results, but I'm the kind of person that would rather forget about the camera while I'm shooting and focus more on the subject. As far as I know, D40s still feature the top-panel LCD screens that show you exposure, ISO settings, etc without having to turn on the main LCD, and this is a feature Canon has long-since shed (bad move, IMO). The 6MP is really not a problem, there truthfully isn't much of a visual difference between 6MP and 8MP.

I was in the same boat as you a little while ago but after actually shooting with both the Nikon D80 and Canon Digital Rebel XTi for a day (the ones I was considering), I felt the Nikon had better ergonomics, and all the settings I ever need to change while shooting was available to me by pressing buttons on the actual camera - not going through layers and layers of menus. It's really just the small things like that that can make the difference while shooting.

I suggest checking this out for some cool shots done on a D40. Really, I see no flaws with the visual quality of D40 shots, so what it really comes down to is what feels more comfortable to you. Try both out.

edit: nevermind! the D40 actually doesn't have the status LCD that I love so much - the D50 does.

Pheezer

Yeah, the status LCD was dropped to make it smaller. The only things about the D40 I'm nervous about are the lower resolution and the fact that it can't autofocus normal lenses, you need the AF lenses or whatever because there's no internal motor.

Pheezer

Also, the Digital Rebel XT seems to get faster continuous shooting, and has that battery grip accessory that would let me use my NiMH batteries. Also DIGIC II which I don't know if it's snake oil or what.

bread of wonder

Why don't you ebay the D50? I saw a few going for like 300 bucks (body only - but that's ok, kit lenses suck). They're pretty much the same camera as the D40, but bigger and less stripped-down. You can supplement that with one of these - really cheap, but extremely fast, sharp lens that I actually use almost exclusively on my D80 (check out some of my sample shots here).

edit: Also, battery grips are next to worthless. Needlessly bulk up the camera and cost too much for what they are - IMO.

bombardier

Personally, I'd go with Canon, because I think their lenses are sexy. Once you get an SLR and then build up a good set of lenses, it's hard to switch brands of bodies. I got stuck in Minolta, and while their DSLR is very fantastic, Sony took over (uggggggh...) for the camera and lenses.

Battery grips are only worthless if you're a little girly man.

saltiness

Get the XT or D40 with a kit lens - whichever one feels best in your hands. The image quality of each is so similar you won't know the difference. You'll be happy and the camera should easily last you several years. Also, you can usually save a truckload of money buying online from somewhere like B&H or buydig.com.

Shazkar Shadowstorm

A year or so ago I bought a D50 with the D70 kit lens, um, I think it's pretty awesome. Canon felt too small to me to hold comfortably, and you can't really go wrong with Nikon or Cannon so...

Pheezer

I got the Rebel XT with a kit lense (18-55mm). So far it's preeeetty fuckin' awesome. The whole package was $750 CDN, and then I got a 2 GB CF card ($100), and a really nice Lowepro camera bag ($45). All told, $1011.76, and I got it on 0 interest 0 down for 8 months.