High quality DSLR for cheap?

Question

I want a dslr for under $1000.

is there anything better than the canon rebel xsi?

Answer 1

oh... tons, Nikon's D80 is good too.

B&H has it on sale comes with a pretty good VR lens for $900 before tax/shipping.  (no, I'm not a B&H saleperson, I just use B&H as a reference).

for comparison, try www.dpreview.com for details.

Answer 2

Rob Nock likes Olympus, but that's because he's lonely.  Nobody else owns one, except people who couldn't afford to get a Canon or Nikon I think.  Just kidding, I know Rob isn't lonely.  The Olympus system was supposed to make smaller and cheaper cameras and lenses, but they are not any smaller that anyone can notice.  Canon is better than Olympus, tho.  Canon cameras are good, but Nikon cameras are as good or better and less expensive.

The XSi is a very good camera, about the best of the bottom level.

But if you want to save money, the Nikon D60 costs a lot less and will do just as well.  I like Nikons so I think you should buy 1.  Or maybe a Canon XSi, but Nikon is cheaper.

Answer 3

The Canon Rebel is popular and decent quality but there are higher quality cameras available at comparable prices.  I would suggest you go this Digital SLR Guide web site and go through their steps for selecting a DSLR.  It is a very well organized process for finding out what works for you.  Plus it can provide lots of information about different features, explain terminology and reviews various models.

http://www.digital-slr-guide.com/index.h...

Personally I am partial to Olympus cameras because, while they are a smaller company then Canon, Nikon or Sony, they have taken the lead in designing DIGITAL cameras instead of just reusing 35mm film technology.

They have designed from the ground up to make smaller, lighter and more flexible DSLR cameras

HTH

email me if you have more questions.

EDIT: In response to Mr. A's light hearted comments about my preference for Olympus.  Thanks for being concerned about my being lonely.  I go backpacking to get away from people and get some solitude.

The Olympus cameras use the Four Thirds system mount which they pioneered and which is also used by some Leica and Panasonic models.  This results in a 2x Crop factor which makes all of their telephoto lenses TWICE the equivalent focal length of standard 35mm full frame lenses and 1.5 times that of typical DSLR sensors.  This means that telephoto lenses are significantly smaller and lighter for equivelent magnification.  My Oly 40-150 "kit" lens at full magnification is exactly equivelent to a 300mm 35mm Minolta fixed focal length 300mm that  I also own.  It is two inches shorter and one inch smaller in diameter and less than 1/2 the weight of the Minolta lens (plus it is a zoom lens that is also equivalent to my 100mm Minolta lens)and weighs slightly less than my 100mm although it is about 1 f stop smaller than that lens so I do lose some brightness.  

I originally switched from Minolta to Olympus cameras for backpacking in the 1980's because the OM series from Olympus was so much smaller and lighter.  They continue to innovate in design to make smaller, lighter and more durable cameras than any other major player.  This is, in part, because they are highly involved in the medical instrument business and design equipment that must be safe, durable and compact enough for  insertion in the human body.  Pretty good credentials for meeting high design standards in my book!

P.S.  All my Olympus OM lenses and my Minolta lenses can be adapted to the Olympus Four Thirds mount along with thousands of other lenses from Nikon, Leica, etc.