Sony Alpha DSLRA500L 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera w/ Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SAM DT Lens + Pro Series Tripod + Monopod + Willoughbys 4GB PRO DUO Starter Pack Right now

The camera works great until you need to use studio strobe lights. Then you wont have a PC port, and the sync hotshoe from sony is very expensive! (and not available at amazon)
Nice features on the camera, the lenses included could use improvement.Get more detail about Sony Alpha DSLRA500L 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera w/ Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SAM DT Lens + Pro Series Tripod + Monopod + Willoughbys 4GB PRO DUO Starter Pack.

Lowest Price Canon EOS-40D Digital SLR Camera with 28-135 IS USM Lens Kit - Refurbished

Saved a lot of money because it's refurbished - camera looks brand new no marks on it at all, works fine I have been using it every day for about 3 weeks. If you want to buy a 40D Get this one. I've spent about 2months researching and looking for different prices online by far this is the best deal around.Get more detail about Canon EOS-40D Digital SLR Camera with 28-135 IS USM Lens Kit - Refurbished.

Low Price Pentax *istDL 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Pentax gives you quite a punch to capture images. I have owned my camera for three years and find it to be very flexible. It adapts to its surroundings and gives countless options for those who want to manually adjust. I would have rated 5 stars except for the fact that it collects dust which is typically of most of the early DSLRs. In order to remove the dust, you have to spend lots of time with Photoshop OR pay $120 buck to have an expert blow out the dust. This is a great camera but you need to be very careful when you change lens to prevent dust from collecting inside.Get more detail about Pentax *istDL 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only).

Save Canon EOS-1D Mark II 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

I purchased this camera used recently primarily because of the cameara's ability to take 1.4x teleconverters on longer slower lenses, lightning fast autofocusing capabilities, and super speedy 8.5 fps. Seeing as the 1D Mk III sells for a lot more, I decided to go for a used 1D Mk II. After 2 days of extensive shooting in the field, I am very happy with my purchase.

Let me first say what I love about this camera.

-45 autofocus points, selectable in nearly any possible combination. This is fantastic for getting your focus spot onto nearly any possible target.
-8.5 fps. It's hard to fathom how fast this is unless you experience it in the field. 8.5 fps is amazing!
-LIGHTNING fast AF. AF on this camera, especially at center point, is extraordinarily fast and very accurate.
-Responsive handling. The shutter button is very sensitive, which is great for making sure you get the shot you want when you want it. It does take some getting used to.
-Permanent portrait grip. Shooting in portrait mode on my 40D without a grip was difficult and uncomfortable. With the 1D Mk II, it's very easy and comfortable.
-Decent performance at f/8 center point focus. One of the big selling points of the 1D bodies is the ability to autofocus using center point with a lens like the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 with the 1.4x teleconverter. Autofocus is not fast by any means with this combination, but in good light, it is accurate and is very useful for getting close to non-moving subjects from a distance without breaking your bank.
-Weathersealing. As someone who shoots outdoors 2 days all day every week, weathersealing is a nice bonus. It takes a lot of the worry about taking this camera outdoors in rough situations away.
-3 stops of exposure compensation. I wish Canon put this on all their DSLRs instead of just 2 stops of exposure compensation!
-2 button menu. At first, I was somewhat annoyed with the 1D Mk II's user interface, mainly that it requires at least two button pushes to change any setting (with exception of the main wheel just above the shutter button). I soon realized that this is because the 1D Mk II is designed so that accidental button pushes don't change your settings unintentionally. Once gotten used to, this is a great feature for button-pushing prone people like myself.
-8.2 megapixels. Others may disagree, but 8.2 megapixels is quite enough for most photographic work and for printing even relatively large shots. Stuffing more megapixels on a sensor also tends to degrade overall apparent image sharpness. The 1D Mk II does a fine job of making the most of the sharpness quality and color contrast of any lens that is attached to it.

What I don't like about the 1D Mk II:

-Small dim LCD. The LCD on this camera is very small and not bright enough. The 1D Mk II N and 1D Mk III each have much larger and better LCD screens.
-Weight. This camera is HEAVY. I've nicknamed mine "the brick." It will wear your arms out until you get used to it. You should consider buying a padded neckstrap for this camera.
-Battery life under high speed shooting. The battery drains fairly quickly when shooting in high speed burst mode. You can still get about 850 shots on one battery while shooting in high speed burst mode. In one shot mode, it comes to just about 1100 shots. Low speed burst is somewhere between.
-1.3 crop factor. I really wish this were a 1.6 crop factor sensor. I miss the extra apparent reach of the 40D over this camera since I mostly shoot at longer telephoto lengths.
-Default settings. The default settings are somewhat odd on this camera. You have to set a custom function to display the ISO on the top screen, something I'm sure nearly every photographer pays attention to with each shot! Default file format is low quality .jpeg also! EEK!
-So so high ISO performance. When shooting in a controlled environment, the ISO quality at ISO 800+ was acceptable. After shooting in the field, ISO 800 is fairly noisy. This noise can be easily removed in Photoshop or an analogous RAW image editing software package, but if possible, should be avoided on this camera.
-No back button autofocus. For people shooting action, as this camera was designed to do, the back button autofocus is a very useful little tool. I was shocked to see it was not present on this camera.

All in all, this camera is nothing short of a very fine piece of equipment. Even many years after it's release, the 1D Mk II is still a wonderful and powerful DSLR and offers a lot of wonderful features that are only now coming available to lower end Canon cameras.Get more detail about Canon EOS-1D Mark II 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only).

Discount Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens

I got this camera on Ebay with a lens for around $600 bucks - I really wanted the D90 but didn't have the cash. I'm really happy with the quality of the photos from this camera. The portability is great, and it allows me to start building a collection of nikon lenses until I can upgrade. If you're looking for a solid camera on a budget i recommend this one.Get more detail about Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens.

Cheapest Olympus Evolt E-450 10MP Digital SLR Camera w/ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Camera and Lens Refurbished by Olympus U.S.A.)

Probably too soon to review, but I'm responding to an e-mail from Amazon to review my recent purchase. This is my fifth DSLR (Nikon D50, Olympus E-300, Samsung GX-1S, and Sigma SD14) and I have to say it has the best out-of-camera jpeg image quality of any camera I've owned to date. I've long liked Olympus's auto tone correction feature in their software, and now it can be applied in-camera at the time of capture (now called shadow adjustment technology and set by choosing auto gradation in the menu). Tonal range is quite natural, with open rather than too dark or blocked up shadow areas, yet retaining good snap and contrast to make bright, sunny days look bright and sunny. The ESP metering (a multi-segment pattern) has proven quite reliable as has auto white balance. I don't like having to post-process to get image quality I like, and the E-450 has been very good in this respect.

I've also decided that I have no need to replace the 14-42 kit lens that comes with the E-450 any time soon. Based on test reports, I just don't see any other available lens providing a noticeable image quality improvement for my needs. Almost all my shots are at my favorite 25mm focal length, outdoors in daylight conditions, and I prefer deep depth of field. The kit lens gives me no perceptible geometric distortion, no vignetting, well-controlled flare and chromatic aberrations, and sufficient resolution and contrast as to be indistinguishable from the higher-priced optics (according to Popular Photography's SQF charts). Plus, its light weight balances well on the little E-450 whereas the more expensive optics would all be somewhat front-heavy.

I downgraded the camera one star for features simply because it would have been nice to have separate buttons for auto-focus and auto-exposure lock. I have set the AEL/AFL button to auto-focus for me, but that leaves metering tied to the shutter release, which wouldn't be my first choice (though the ESP metering has been so good that it's a minor quibble). One of the best Olympus features has been their sensor dust reduction system, consistently rated as the most effective currently on the market, and I've had no sensor dust issues so far with Olympus DSLR's.Get more detail about Olympus Evolt E-450 10MP Digital SLR Camera w/ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Camera and Lens Refurbished by Olympus U.S.A.).

Cheap Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Digital SLR (Body Only) + Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto Lens + 32GB + Digital Photo Professional K#2

I hope nobody falls for this deceptive "deal" from Willoughbys. They have set this up to take advantage of inexperienced buyers... most likely, non-photographers (grandparents?) who think they are buying a very nice gift for someone else.

The reality is that even at an expensive high-end pro photo store, you could get this package of items for over $1000 less!

And it's not a very good package of items, anyway!

The 5DmkII is an excellent camera (list: $2699) that needs top-quality lenses to properly take advantage of it's exceptionally high resolution. The 50mm lens offered here (50mm f/1.4, list: $520) isn't a "bad" lens, but is definitely NOT what you should put on this camera. What you'd want is the 50mm f/1.2L (list: $1599) or a similar quality "L" Series lens from Canon.

Hmmm... someone unfamiliar with the different Canon lenses could easily confuse the f/1.4 and f/1.2L, which have a list price difference of appx $1000. Which is, essentially, the same amount that this package is overpriced. It seems like this is the heart of the deception... it's the one little bit they hope you won't notice.

All the rest of the items -- the bags, filters, tripod, memory card -- are simply a barrage of low-quality flack designed to distract you and make you feel like you're getting a good deal merely because you're getting a bunch of (low-quality) things.

5DmkII: $2700 list

50mm f/1.4: $520 list, but only $371 here at Amazon.

Canon 200DG Camera Bag: $35

Tiffen 58mm Photo Essentials Filter Kit: $40 on Amazon.

Lens Cleaner, Screen Protectors, & Card Wallet: $6

Samonite 2600 Tripod: $15

Transcend 8GB Compact Flash Memory Card: $25

Transcend CF Memory Card Reader/Writer: $11

---------------

TOTAL: $3,203.

That's a difference of $1294.99

These items aren't merely overpriced. Willoughby's appears to be packaging them together to confuse and deceive inexperienced buyers. I almost get the impression that the people running "Willoughby's Established 1898" are engaging in dishonest, disreputable business practices.

If so, Willoughbys should be removed as a vendor from Amazon.

They should probably be investigated by law enforcement, as well.Get more detail about Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Digital SLR (Body Only) + Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto Lens + 32GB + Digital Photo Professional K#2.

Buying Pentax K2000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DA L Lens and AF200FG Flash

This is my first DLSR, I upgraded from a point-and-shoot. Just handling the Pentax K2000 you can feel a significant construction quality difference versus the Canon XSi or Nikon D40. Of course, the D40 has no auto-focus motor and the Canon Rebel series doesn't have the in-body shake reduction, but on top of that, the Pentax has a nicer build and more logical button layout.

DPReview.com has a great in-depth review of the K2000 that shows the sensor noise is quite good at high ISO speeds compared to other cameras in its class. The default setting works well - the camera will auto-select an ISO between 100 to 800. At 1600 there is visible degradation that I think starts to ruin the photo. There is no auto-select setting between ISO 800 and 1600 but if you switch over to Sv mode (sensitivity priority) you can shoot at ISO 1100 and it is still acceptable IMO.

The built-in flash has a nice color temperature. I pop it outdoors when shooting sunny scenes and faces get darkened by shadows. You can dial -2.0 to +1.0 on the flash power which is very handy: trimming back to -2.0 or -1.5 faces are lit but it doesn't look like flash was used at all.

The external AF200FG flash isn't too useful to me. I don't like the harsh shadows of any flash when it is a primary light source. Outdoors in direct sun when subjects are more than 15 feet away and you want to light up faces the built-in flash is useless, so the AF200FG can throw more light BUT the flash sync speed is max'd at 1/180 sec. This means the shutter can't open, fire the flash, and close any faster than that. In direct sun a 1/180 exposure means you either have to shoot pin-hole apertures like F22 or use a 4-stop neutral-density filter to get down around F5.6-F8.0. Lack of high-speed flash sync is a drawback IMO.

The camera produces extremely well-toned, bright photos right out of the box. Color saturation, white balance, and accuracy are all superb. Like most digital photos, they are somewhat soft (google: demosaicing if you are curious why) so I generally bump up the contrast and sharpness in my post processing. But even untouched, the photos look great.

The recommended Lithium Ion AA's work for about 1000 photos as promised. For me, I have been taking 1000 photos a month, so after 2 sets of $11 batteries, I bought rechargeable NiMH, which work equally well - so far they last as long as the Lithiums.

I highly recommend getting the Pentax FA 50mm F/1.4 lens. The viewfinder will be much brighter, you can autofocus in very low light, and take some stunning portraits with beautiful bokeh. I bought the lens and camera at the same time and the 50mm 1.4 has been on 99% of the time. The kit lens just doesn't produce as impressive of photos and I only attach it to do a wide-angle shot in tight spaces. The 50/1.4 is THE best of the "fast fifties" according to LuminousLandscape.com and I think it would be a shame to plunk down $500 for a camera and not spend the $200 for a truly excellent lens to compliment. I tell people who compliment my photos that it is 75% due to the lens and 25% camera.

Lack of autofocus points (only 5) and indication (which one is active) is the biggest drawback on this camera. I have ruined a couple photos because I didn't compose the subject right in the center and instead got a pin-sharp wall and blurry faces. The technique I have to use to compensate is I now reprogram the AF button to "cancel AF". I point at the subject, depress the shutter halfway to focus, then lock the AF with my thumb on the AF button, then compose the shot and release. There is NO indication in the viewfinder which AF point is selected, so I find its best to program it to always use the center.

The big LCD screen is nice, and I really like Pentax's layout of the camera settings on the status screen. MUCH nicer looking than the competition. The look and feel of a Pentax is just so much nicer than a Nikon or Canon, I will never regret doing my homework and selecting a Pentax.Get more detail about Pentax K2000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DA L Lens and AF200FG Flash.

Buy Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera w/ EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black) + Two (2) 8GB Card + Spare LP-E5 Battery + Pro Case + Willoughby's Accessory Package

After a lot of frustration of searching for this camera in the DFW metroplex (there was an apparant shortage of this model at a major camera chain), I turned to Amazon.com to find a great value that was available for my upcoming trip to Alaska. The ordering was easy, and the shipment arrived ahead of schedule. Additionally, I saved over $100 when compared with the local camera and big box stores. I have told many of my great experience, and plan to purchase again with Amazon.com.

The Canon EOS Rebel T1i lives up to all the reviews I have read about, and I certainly appreciated the starter kit. The camera bag is a bit small, but the two 8GB cards make up for this for a value purchase. The spare battery is a must.Get more detail about Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera w/ EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black) + Two (2) 8GB Card + Spare LP-E5 Battery + Pro Case + Willoughby's Accessory Package.

Purchase Canon EOS 40D DSLR with 17-85mm lens

The 40d is nearly as good as the newer 50d, but when I got mine the sensor cleaner malfunctioned within a week. I ended up returning it for a full refund after using it for several shoots, and got a 50d instead. Pictures in low light are slightly better with the 50d, and that was my biggest need. Everything else really seemed the same. Get more detail about Canon EOS 40D DSLR with 17-85mm lens.

Where To Buy Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro 6.17MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

I bought this camera from Amazon.com couple of months ago (sometime in April of 2007). At the time, the newer model of Fuji DSLR, the S5, was just introduced. Although the S5 offers a lot of improvements, I decided to buy the S3. I had also looked at the Nikon SLR since I have been using Nikon for the past 35 years. I had seen many photographs taken with all of the models that I was interest in (except the Fuji-S5) and they were very close in terms of quality. Now it boiled down to other things and it was not the money issue, but in my case, the battery issue. The S3 uses 4-AA rechargable batteries. I did not buy a Nikon DSLR or the Fuji-S5 because of the use of proprietary batteries.

I have been using the Fuji-S3 along with my Nikon-F4 film camera for the past two months and I am VERY VERY please with the results. I had captured over 3000 images during my 3 week vacation with it. I had carefully examined a few hundred of the pictures I took (just in case that I didn't like the camera) and I discovered that it can deliver an exceptional quality. It shares the same Nikon lenses and I am fortunate that I have not had any incompatibility issues (I was warned about this). As of this writing, my F4 is probably going to join the F1 in the collection shelf....soon. I also bought two newer lenses from Sigma (I had never bought anything else other than the Nikon lenes) to try with the camera. Those Sigma lenses appear to diliver similar quality or in one case better than my Nikon lenses with this camera.

One complain...the ISO and the timer buttons of the S3 are placed in the most awkward positions. I am lucky that I don't change the ISO or using timer that offen otherwise this would have been one most inconvenient.

Get more detail about Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro 6.17MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only).