Help needed on finding the right DSLR?

Question

I am looking for a reasonbly priced DSLR that allows pictures to be taken by using the viewfinder and the LCD screen.

I also want a camera that would be good for action shots (specifically my nephew who is a toddler) and great for both indoor and outdoor use.

An added bonus would be if the lens kit tht came with the camera was decent.

I have been looking at the Cannon Rebels but not sold on anything particular.

Any suggestions? Thanks for your help!!!!

Answer 1

DSLR's can't take pictures through the viewfinder.  It's one of the disadvantages of using them.

If that's a priority for you, I'd recommend that you go with a simple point and click that gets good reviews on dpreview.com or cnet.com.  That way you won't have to worry about the lense.

I bought an Canon xTI with a kit lense.  I regret it.  I wish I just bought a body and then got a nifty fifty (canon f/1.8 50mm).  This is good for general pictures, but it can't zoom in and out.

Answer 2

As far as I am aware the only camera on market today that satisfies all of your requirements is Canon Rebel xsi. No other reasonably priced dSLR has live view (ability to take pictures using the LCD screen). It will do well for you as far as the rest of your requirements. It's fast enough to catch your toddler and performs well indoors and outdoors. It is not weather proof though, so don't take it out in a rain uncovered!

On the bright side - if you want the live view feature just because you are used to it from your P&S experience. You may find pretty soon, that it is so convenient to shoot with dSLR using a viewfinder - that you may realize that live view is really not as necessary as it seems. It's only real value is when you want to take a shot from some weired angle where you can't stick your head (e.g. from ground level pointing up). But that's a pretty rare application.

My old Olympus E-10 had the live view, and I barely ever used it. Only in situations as I described above.

Now, if you can live without that - also consider a Nikon line-up. D40 or D60 are both very good cameras, and I believe D60 now comes in a nice kit with 18-55 and 55-200 VR lenses that are very good! So you can give that a shot.

Go here:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews -- and read the detailed camera specs on all the candidates, then see if you like one or another. Then go to store and handle each to see which is more intuitive, or easy to hold for you. Because it is only you who can tell. We can only suggest what to look at, but since you're the one who'll be shooting it, and every person is unique, it's only you who can make the final call!

Good luck!

LEM.

Answer 3

My first DSRL a Canon Rebel XTi and I love it, though I did look at a few others like the XT and 2 Nikon's (all 4 models were 8 & 10MPs). I have always been a Canon user and yet after reading a couple of reviews & tests, I still picked tha Canon over the Nikon, my choice. No regrets whatsoever.

Answer 4

The Canon XSi would be an excellent camera, meeting the requirements you've stated.  The kit lens for the XSi has Image Stabilization, and is quite good.  I'd also get the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 lens.. it's great for indoor photography and portraits.. and is very inexpensive.