Digital SLR Camera Equipment for beginner?

You should get some decent photos using any of the starter DSLRs with a kit lens. If you want you can just get a body and a lens roughly in the 17 - 70 mm focal length. A tripod is a must for night photos and landscapes so you should invest in a quality tripod. Memory does not come with any DSLR unless you find a "kit" with one. As for how much memory you need, it depends on if you are going to shoot in jpeg or RAW format and which jpeg quality setting you will use. My 6 MP DSLR takes about 330 JPEGs in the highest quality using a 1 GB memory card, and shooting RAW with it using the same card I can only take about 90 photos. With a 10 - 14 MP camera you will need more memory to take the same amount of photos as a 6 MP camera and a 1 GB card.

The Sony A100 is being replaced with new models. You should find it at bargain prices. Its a 10mp camera.

The Sony can use every Minolta Maxxum AF lens made since 1985 so you have a large selection of lenses to choose from. Sony also incorporates their version of Image Stabilization in the camera body, along with dust removal for the sensor. You can buy an A100 body and then shop on eBay for the Maxxum AF lenses you want, secure in the knowledge that they will be image stabilized.

IMO, you might consider the Maxxum AF 17-35mm f2.8, the 24-70mm f2.8 and the 70-210mm f4 lenses. It might be possible to just have the 24-70 and 70-210 and get by just fine. If you plan on much indoor photography without flash you might consider the Maxxum AF 50mm f1.4 lens.

In fact, I'd suggest the 17-35, the 50 and the 70-210.

I'd definitely take a light weight Bogen or Manfrotto tripod with a ball head.

You might want to invest in a camera backpack to make carrying everything easier and more convenient.

The perfect setup:

Canon rebel xt or xti BODY

EFS 17-85mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM Image stab is critical in night scenes

Pick up a wide angle lens of some sort for landscapes

2- 2gb cards, sandisk extreme III for best performance

TRIPOD is a must, pick up a decent one at best buy fro under 50 bucks.....

A few things now, get some UV fitlers for your new lenses, if you drop the lens and shatter the uv filter, who cares ITS only $20 instead of the 300+ for the lens! Always have your camera in a secure spot, europe is a hot spot for crooks to snag your camera. SLR's come with no memory inside. Make sure to practice alot before you go to become familiar with the controls, a class could help. Extra batteries are always good and make sure to get international plug in's for the wall. the stock chargers for canon do not charge in european outlets.

if you just want a nice simple setup with one lens, a couple cards then snag a 4gb card, pentax k100d super with kit lens and a tripod and go crazy. I would personally rec. the Canon though.

Any of the major cameras, Pentax, Nikon, Cannon offer good, high quality, high feature DSLR's. More importantly, make sure you have a lens or lenses for portrait (wide angle) and telefoto lens.

Also, have a good case, spare batteries (I suggest rechargeable batteries)

Also, you can do this and keep around 1000 (may creep up just a bit, but not by much). If you are serious about becoming an amatuer photographer, buy your camera from a camera store, not a big box store.

The Pentax K10D is a good camera from what I hear. Nikon d40, d60(new) might also be good. Im not sure of the price. About the mem cards, 4 GB should do it. But Cyber shots use memory sticks which is a different format from SD (secure digital) format, which nikon and pentax use. Sony d-slrs (Alpha series) are somewhat expensive but only those can accept the card you have.

Megapixels aren't so important on DSLRs - the sensors are larger than on smaller, compact cameras which is more important. The D40 is an excellent entry level Digital SLR camera. If your husband sticks with photography and starts to get held back with the equipement, he can always upgrade in a few years time. I don't think you can go wrong with the D40.

well, how much do u plan on spending? i just bought an awesome (point and shoot) camera from circuit city for $229.. then 3 days later it was on sale for $184 so i went back and got the sale price. this camera has 7mp, 10x optical zoom and tons of cool features. i'm using a 2gb memory card with it. i got this camera on feb. 1st and i'm still using the batteries it came with!!

i took my son to Go Diego Go last night, after taking a few pics they say we're not aloud to take pictures, so i turn the flash off and the pics are still clear as day (and we were sitting kind of far back from the stage). Anyways it is an awesome camera and i promise you will love it

p.s. its on sale again for $175.99

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Fujifilm-FinePix-S7...

I would recommend the Nikon D200 10.2MP (Body) Digital Camera or the Pentax K10D SLR Kit 10MP Digital Camera.Both are awesome.

You can find GREAT deals at www.bhphotovideo.com check out a Canon XT 8MP kit or buy the body and pick out the lens of your choice, that is what I did.

I bought the Canon XTi 10MP body & Tamron 18-250 macro zoom. The lens is a almost one lens does all, great local lenght coverage from wide angle to telephoto and awesome color rendition.

buy nikon d60 it is the newest nikon camera