Entering the Twenty First Century

[montyp]

From 1994-1999 we filled two photo albums. Since 2000 we have filled 12. Most of this has been due to DW's part in the family of scribe. But since a family fall-out over my mumble-mumble birthday, the photography has dried up.

We're still interested in upgrading. The reason for the title is that we have only just bought a digital camera (a Canon 6MP snap-shooter - I got it for her birthday last year), after spending our formative photographic years with an old-school Pentax which had an auto-lens. That broke, and we ended up getting an older-school manual set of lenses which I enjoy but she doesn't. We said we would look at upgrading when the cost of a digital SLR was as much as or less than that which we paid for the SLR in 2000. Seems they have actually come down from that amount, so we might actually be in the market.

What should we be looking for? I love to set shots up, and play. She's the point-and-click type. Any recommendations?

[Nai]

DP got a Canon EOS 400D with IS lense kit for his birthday/fatherday/christamas for the next 2 years present - he LOVES it!

He also loves setting up shots and using all the functions blah blah blah. As you can tell I am more the point and click type and (provided he leaves the camera for me on the auto setting) I can even take some great shots.

We chose this camera as the EOS 450D had just come onto the market and hence the 400D dropped to a more affordable price. It has everything and more that DP would use. We added one of those big flash things, a remote shoot and tripod when we went o/s and got it duty free but apart from that just the basics.

Oh and if you do get one DP will highly recommend a Crumpler bag and camera strap to carry it in. It doesn't come with a particularly comfortable neck strap.

[montyp]

Just did a quick Y! search and it said something like $400 body-only. Which lens/es did you get?

[Nai]

IS (image stability - which DP thinks is worth the money) 55-250mm and 18-55mm and these coem in one of the standard kits.

I think all up we paid about $1000-$1200 for the lot.

[montyp]

Hmm .. maybe we need to wait just a little longer ... given DW's birthday is in December, I might need to think of something else ... unless I make it her Xmas gift as well ...

[Nai]

Yep - DP got his for this year and next years birthday/fathers day/christmas combined gift as it was big expense. I found that it is worthwhile shopping around as most camera stores will match any internet prices you find. We ended up going to JB HiFi for ours.