Cheapest DSLR i can buy?

Get a Nikon D40 is a great little camera, very easy to use and quite reasonably priced. It has a few "consumer friendly" totally automatic modes that make it very easy to use - including a "Child Photo" mode - but still offers total photographic control when you are ready to take charge. It will get you in the Nikon family which is a great place to be. If you buy accessories and lenses, you will be able to use everything on any Nikon that you might upgrade to later on.

Check out Nikon's "Picturetown" promotion, where they handed out 200 D40's in Georgetown, SC. http://www.stunningnikon.com/picturetown/

Here are a few reviews, in case you have not read them yet. Be sure to note that they are several pages long and some of the reviews also have some sample images that you can look at.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/nikon_...

http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3756/camera-test-n...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/d40-recommend...

I hate to see people slam the camera because it can't autofocus with older Nikon lenses. It is true that there is a "slight problem" with older Nikon lenses not autofocusing on the D40, but if you do not own a bag full of older lenses, it is not going to be a problem. It is barely a problem anyhow. If you check www.nikonusa.com for "AF-S" lenses, which are ALL 100% compatible with the D40, you will find 23 lenses, including 7 "VR" (vibration Reduction) lenses and one true macro lens with "VR". There are another 25-plus lenses in the current catalog that provide all functions except autofocus as well as many (possibly dozens) "out of print" lenses that will work just as well. In addition, although these lens will not autofocus, most of them will still give focus confirmation. From the D40 manual: "If the lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 of faster, the viewfinder focus indicator can be used to confirm whether the portion of the subject in the selected focus area is in focus. After positioning the subject in the active focus area, press the shutter release button halfway and rotate the lens focusing ring until the in-focus indicator is displayed." (See http://www.members.aol.com/swf08302/nikonafs.txt for a list of AF-S lenses.)

The D40 only has 3 autofocus zones arranged horizontally at the center, 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. This might be considered a limitation, but realistically, most people will find this perfectly adequate, especially if you are moving up from a point and shoot with only a center zone.

There is no "Status LCD" on top of the camera, but Nikon chose to use the rear LCD for this information. This is actually a nice move, as the display is bigger than the top display and you aren't using the read LCD for anything BEFORE you take the picture anyway. This is not a step backwards and it actually makes sense to me.

You can get the D40 with the 18-55 kit lens at B&H Photo available through Yahoo! Shopping or at 1-800-622-4987) for $525 (June 2007). Add a Lexar Platinum (60X speed) card for $25 or 2 GB for $35. B&H also have used D40's with the lens from $475.

Yeah, A Nikon D40 or Canon Rebel XT. I think the d40 is a 6.1mp and the rebel is a 8.1mp. Also, both models have a better sub-model, the D40-s and XTi, both featuring 10.1 effective megapixel sensor (around the same price).

Also, if you really know what you're looking for, or what you like best, you should probably buy your camera body and lens seperate. Head over to your local Ritz or Wolf Camera and go play with a few floor models. Have someone there help you. Tell them what kind of photography you want to do (ie. macro/studio, outdoor landscape/telephoto, etc.), and they will match it with a price that fits your budget.

Buying your body and lens seperate will probably save you lots of time, money, and frustrations, as long as you get the right pair from the get-go.

Also, if you do this, avoid getting mixed up with an incorrect product by going somewhere in person to purchase your camera..not ebay. (plus you get to play with the camera in-hand before purchase)

www.ritzcamera.com

The best "affordable" value is the Pentax K100D 6.1 mp DSLR which comes with two Pentax lenses: a normal 18-55 mm lense and a 50-200 mm telephoto. The Pentax K Series has the best in-body "shake reduction" bar none. It also have "multiple" burst exposure capability. This camera kit sells for $600 [after Pentax mail-in rebate good until July 31, 2007] at samys.com. and comes with (1) case; (2) 1 gb SD memory card; (3) tripod; and (4) 200 free prints @samys.com Here's a review link:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/k100d_...

Good luck!

Try ebay. Make sure it's a legit seller. But you'd be surprised what kinds of deals you can find. You should be able to get a Canon 350d/rebel xt for about $600. New from the store it would cost closer to $1000. Honestly though, if you are going to invest in a camera, it's worth it to spend a little more to get a better camera. If you don't feel confident in ebay, spend the extra $400 and get something you will be 100% satisfied with.

Go for the Nikon D40 for an overall camera...

Good camera...

The image quality is as good as the Canon XT and XTI without the price... And from having to deal with them... they tend to not be as durable as many of the other cameras on the market... If you go Canon... go for the 30D...

The other option is the Pentax K100 or K110...

They feel good in the hand and are rather durable. They also take a comparable image as the Nikon and Canons...

The only down side with the Pentax cameras is that they are not as readly aviable...

But they are still good cameras

Please note that unless you are doing or planning on doing lots of cropping of the images. The 6MP, 8MP, and 10MP camera difference is not of any importance... A 6MP SLR can early print to poster size...

If you are looking online make sure that the camera is USA warranty...

If it seems like a great deal then it probably is not...

Grey-market cameras have a drastically higher failure rate over US cameras...

The S2980 is a bridge digicam, no longer a D-SLR...and that i'm no longer an expert. The S2980 is advantageous if all you opt to do is take photographs of family contributors & acquaintances, the dogs... while you're extreme, seem at a Nikon D3100 or Canon rebellion T3, the two very extreme-high quality get admission to point cameras. the two merchandising for around $450 with a 18-55mm equipment lens.

May I suggest the Olympus E-410. Comes with two lens kit and is excellent value.

NIKON D40 WITH 17-55 LENS ABOUT $500