Photographers please? ?

Question

okay so my friends birthday is coming up and she is really in to photography so me and a bunch of people are going to chip in to buy her a really nice camera. I don't know much about this kind of stuff so i'd love some help. She really likes my dad's camera (canon EOS some number and then it ends with a d). So i was wondering what is the latest version of this camera, what is a good price for it, what's a good amount of storage, zoom, and whatever other stuff I need to know before buying the camera. Thanks soooo much, as you can probably tell i know nothing about this kind of stuff, but would love to.

Answer 1

The "EOS some number then ends with a d" is either the 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D or 5D. The 40D is the replacement for the 30D which is replacement for 20D which replaces the 10D. The newest of those (the 40D) will cost $1200. The 5D is a professional camera and will start at around $2000.

If you want a Canon camera you'll probably be looking at the XSi or Xs. They can be had for $500 - $700.

Other than that, I don't have much to add on to what LEM said.

Answer 2

Canon makes good cameras but you may also want to look at the Nikon D40 or D60. Both are very good entry level DSLR

Answer 3

Well, first of all, D40 and D60 are made by Nikon, not by Canon.

Canon makes 40D, which is a far more advanced camera than the two above. Probably one your dad has. It's pretty expensive.

The budget cameras are D40 and D60 from Nikon and Canon Digital Rebel XT and XTI from Canon... Then there are lenses and other accessories....

Now, let me suggest something here.

Buying a right camera kit is a very complicated task. I understand, that you want to get your friend a nice surprise, but you may also end up making her use the camera she hates for years to come, and just thinking, ahh, I really needed something else. Either the whole system or particular lenses/accessories can be wrong.

If your friend is indeed into photography, she probably has a pretty good idea as to what camera she wants. So from here you have three options to make sure your friend is really happy with her gift:

1. Blow up the cover and ask her what camera she wants. As specifically as possible.

2. Try to discreetly find out what she wants. For example send over somebody to talk to her and say "you know, I really like to do some nice photography, and going to take some classes, I know you're into photography - can you tell me about all different cameras?", and then  during the discussion, just say "well, ok, I'm confused by all the options. Let's say you had x*x dollars, what would you buy for yourself?"... Or something along these lines. But even then make sure you get a gift receipt and buy from place where she can exchange it.

3. The easiest way - give her  a gift check to a good camera store so that she could buy it for herself.

I would very strongly advice against making decisions for her. I am talking from experience. I've been given very expensive gifts before that were not returnable, and had to be stuck with something I hated, but couldn't justify buying another equally expensive item, because I already had one (albeit one I'd never buy for myself).

Happy birthday to your friend, and good luck choosing the gift.

LEM.