My price range is pretty much limiting me to these two. In size, they are comparable, with the Canon being a little heavier. The obvious differences I am working on weighing out, but would like opinions on which is going to be most important. Some of it for me is just personal perference, and I will indicate that. As far as pros and cons, here we go:

Nikon D40 Pros:
Small and lightweight
Larger sensor (unsure of performance difference)
Has Auto ISO
Larger built-in flash
Better exposure compensation
Unlimited JPEG at 2.5fps
Longer self timer (which I will be using often)
2.5" LCD
230,000 pixel screen
Uses SD cards (which I have)

Nikon D40 Cons:
6.0 effective MP
More expensive than 350D kit
Autofocus only with AF-S and AF-I lenses

Canon 350D Pros:
8.0 Effective MP
Top LCD
Less expensive
Built in AF

Canon 350D Cons:
Uses Compact Flash?
Smaller LCD
115,000 pixel screen

Please guys and gals, enlighten me on things I may not know about or have taken into consideration. I do not have a Canon or Nikon bias. I don't see the need for me to have an 8MP camera; I just don't see where I'll be taking shots and blowing them up big enough to require it. However, the IS is important to me, and if glass is going to cause a big price difference when I buy new lenses, PLEASE make me aware of how much that difference has potential to be.

I do not intend on selling this camera at any point. If I ever move up from it, the camera will be handed down of sorts to my stepdad or my lil bro, but it will not be sold. My stepdad shoots a Minolta Maxxis film SLR and the thing takes crappy pictures.

Now, here is what I'm going to be shooting:
- Outdoor stills, single human subject and landscapes as well as sky shots
- Indoor low light shots, human focus once again, B&W often as well
- Outdoor night shots around Boston, probably dark areas with bright lit items like neon signs
- Football, probably going back to Giants training camp in Albany, NY in summer
- Outdoor very bright areas, such as the beach, multi and single human subject
- Car, interior and exterior shots

I am a photo n00b and am nervous about making the "wrong" decision. I have noticed the Nikon seems to be available with a different lens than the 18-55 as a kit from places like B&H. I plan on getting a 50 1.8 as I have read about but am unsure about the AF on it with the D40. If there's anything else I can add, please tell me and I will do my best.

Thanks in advance,
Chris

P.S. I have $230 in my checking account and some room for a few hundred on my credit card. I really can't do anything over $550, with $600 being the absolute limit. Please take this into effect if you are suggesting another camera, the Pentax cameras had initially been on my list but I had to nix them. I think it's really down to these two.

Given your shooting conditions I would lean towards the Xt as it will do better at high iso.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

this isn't aimed at you Chris, but should a thread like this be in "what to buy"?

Also, don't consider CF cards a negative. They're the same price as a comparable SD card and they're much hardier. You can sit on them and they're fine where SD cards can be a bit more fussy/delicate. (I've broken 3 SD cards due to stupid random ****) But if you own SD cards I can understand that.

I vote go try them out and pick on ergonomics. I have a preference, but it's because one layout make more sense to me. So I'm not going to share it.

Sorry Ben, I should've looked around and gotten more familiar with the board before posting I'm sure you can understand that I'm excited! I really can't put it off much longer, money or not, I'm buying, so it gets me really hopped up Thanks for moving it though!

Originally Posted by BCinMB

The D40 only has three AF points, as opposed to the 350D's seven AF points.

My understanding isn't that great, but I'm guessing this means the Canon focuses on more areas while autofocusing?

Originally Posted by Geekybiker

The 350D has DOF preview where the d40 does not.

I see. Does it seem like DOF preview is going to be something I'd use a lot?

The more I read, the Canon seems the way I'm gonna go. Now I just need to figure out where to get it the cheapest. B&H is looking really good, but they have two kits. One has the typical 18-55 lens, and the other has a 28-90 lens. What's my better option here? Price is almost exactly the same.

Originally Posted by Stime187

18-55 would be my choice for sure. Good wide-angle with a nice bit of mid-range. 28-90 wouldn't be wide enough nor long enough for me.

Also, since you're saving a few bucks over your initial goal, you might consider picking up the Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens, it's a fantastic prime that will be a great tool for learning depth of field and working in low light.

Also, if you're unsure, a prime means it's a fixed focal length lens (no zoom).

Since there was no hyphen I assumed that it was fixed. I will definitely be getting that lens in the very near future if not with the camera. My brother has offered to loan me a good chunk of change but I feel bad taking it from him; he's 15. Hard to find reviews of the 28-90 but what I did find was mostly awful.

Scott, talk to me about B&H's protection policy. Does an accidental drop get covered? I'll spend the extra money if so.

Yeah, poking around on Adorama I found a refurbed Rebel XT 18-55 kit for 399.95, don't know if that makes it worth it though.

Didn't realize Amazon was cheaper than B&H. Damn I just want to pull the trigger. I'm a big fan of saving money but I have no idea what refurbished entails, so I agree. $450 from Amazon isn't bad, I'm sure there's some kind of code I can dig up on SlickDeals that may help out as well.

Originally Posted by Stime187

Go for it if you can afford it, you won't be sorry. Does the kit come with a memory card? Make sure it does if not.

Doesn't look like it. For $25 more I can snatch a 2gig CF II SanDisk card though, so like 474.93 or something was my total.

Originally Posted by Stime187

I'd say you're looking at around 300 (more if anything) shots per card at the highest JPEG setting.

Alrighty. I think I'm gonna end up with the 4gig card then. Looks like I can save $30 if I sign up for a credit card, so I think I'll be doing that as well. Too bad I can't save 15% like at Kohl's!

Thanks for letting me know Scott. Does write speed suffer with larger cards? Luckily I have an external HD so wherever I go I would just be able to unload pics to it and wouldn't really have the need for a 4gig card spacewise.

Originally Posted by Geekybiker

doh nevermind that table messed up.

I saw that!

Hey guys, just got back from Target. Held both the D40 and the 350D, and was much happier with the Canon. The Nikon felt better with both hands, but I will be doing a lot of one-hand shooting of myself and others, especially while I'm doing other things. The Nikon did feel solid in that aspect but there were just too many things getting in my way. The dial at the top right on the back was especially annoying.

Holding the camera with the lens facing me, the Canon was handsdown the winner. I was disappointed that it didn't have power and the Nikon did, but what did I expect from Target?

Anyways, Canon it is. I'm excited

It's been a while for me here; I've been struggling financially with no job and was going to get another CC just to put this on it. I'm still going that route I think, if I buy new, but I just found out the GF is going to need a dSLR for her Digital Photography class in Amsterdam this summer. She didn't budget for this so I'm just going to suck it up and buy the camera now and let her take it with her.

I've been looking at used 350D's but don't know what lenses she may need on her trip. We have three Minolta Maxxum lenses, which is why I'm now considering one of the Sony dSLRs. Throw some suggestions my way! Used/new, and 350D or Sony package?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-Alpha-A100-...QQcmdZViewItem

Considering this, any feedback?

Originally Posted by Geekybiker

Yah, don't buy stuff on credit you can't pay off immediately. :\ Sucks but its not worth it.

That's not the concern right now. The concern is getting the right camera for the money that gives my gf the best options for her class. Too bad the professor won't give any info on what she'll need for lenses.

How cheap is dirt cheap? I'd like to go Rebel or Rebel XT as it seems <400 is doable for body + kit lens and maybe a nifty fifty.

Daniel, I don't have $500 to drop on a kit, honestly, and it wouldn't leave me in a good position anyways. I'm thinking used kit, or new body + some other lens. I was set on the 350D, and am only considering the Sony now because I have multiple other lenses she could take.

- Chris

P.S. I made that tortilla soup and it was ****ing bomb!

Originally Posted by b84wm

oh word, ok dude.

keep an eye on craigslist and i'll be on the lookout around the slick deals forum, k?

i love tortilla soup!

i actually made a pizza and chocolate chip cookies!

I use Opera and the SDF is one of my 9 speed dials. NASIOC, FB, Gmail, NSOP are the other main ones I click on, so I'll be looking on SDF as well. I wish I had gotten to Staples or Circuit City or whoever had the Sony kit for $330 :-(

I found a used Nikon D100 for $300 on craigslist, seems to be similar to the digital Rebel. Ahhh I don't know what to do; I shouldn't be doing this at night.

::edit:: I should mention I will only buy something local I can touch and leave with after I pay. If it was for me only, fine, but this is imperative for her class and I can't have ANY issues.

Daniel, PM me some details.