Nice shot.

Thanks!!

I love shots where wheels are off the ground.


KT

What a timely post. The wifey just reminded me that she has a birthday in a week, and that she wants a digital camera. I don't know jack about cameras, so where can I get a crash course? I'll take a peek on the OT, and see if I can find anything. Well this one didn't take long to find at all!
Both kids have point and shoots, but Mom wants to look like she knows what she's doing, so she wants a dSLR. Thanks to everyone here, it looks like I'll be shopping for the D40. Anything else I need to know?
As always, anything I need to find out, I can usually get it right here.
Thanks guys.

I sold all my Leica equipment, and bought a used Nikon F3HP for 200 bucks. Came with 35 mm lens. A $1000 pro camera when new. Beautifully made. I shoot film, put it on a CD and download into my computer. Just like a digital. Nikon film SLRs are a great buy these days. Back loading beats the bottom loading of my old M3. Ugh.

The new camera market has a lot of planned obsolescence built into it. I have a pocket digital camera as well, but wouldn't spend big bucks on a digital SLR.

buy a damn waterproof/dustproof/ TSA - proof juan.

buy juan that fits yer budget/and has underwater housing available. you never know............you might take up diving...........and even stranger it might RAIN!

order (1) pelican box(hard case) right now for your carry on.....................PADDED!

use it a whole bunch before boarding airline..........that way you'll be able to at least say you used it.........unlike ME!

Try the new Leica's. My Digilux 2 is wonderful and the M8 is even better. Expensive? Yea but are you going to take it all with you? Enjoy it while here...

Will:

I like DP Review for info and reviews of cameras, FWIW.

http://www.dpreview.com/

Good luck!

Best,

Kurt

Thanks Kurt, I'll check it out.

She already has an SLR. How do you load the film onto a cd? (Detached from the real world here. I'm probably 2 hrs. from the nearest city, mall, etc.)

Just about anyone that develops film will also dump them to a CD for you, for a price.

Film still has something digital can't match, but it's a hassle. On top of that, you're spending money every time you develop a roll of film that would be free with a digital camera. That said, the F3HP is an awesome camera.
The D40 can't be beat for the price, and even though the lens choices are limited, there are some really nice ones for dirt cheap. Thom Hogan is perhaps the best resource for Nikon info. The Nikon forum on Fred Miranda is also very good. A lot of pros there extremely impressed with the D40.

Thanks Kurt and Steve for the links that you both posted. Due to my relative lack of both knowledge, and time, I am going to go with the D40 based on what I have read in these posts and reviews. Can anyone recommend the best place to purchase one? I can drive 2 hours to the city, where there is Best Buy, Circuit City, or various camera shops. Or can anyone recommend somewhere online? I have 5 days to produce something.
Thanks in advance.

You can search prices online at pricegrabber.com and amazon and check a seller's ratings at resellerratings.com but be sure to verify the seller is an authorized Nikon dealer (go to nikonusa.com and check the "Where to Buy" link), otherwise you'll likely not have the 1 year warranty on the camera body or the 5 year warranty on the lens(es) if you send in the registration card. bhphotovideo.com is perhaps the gold standard in this arena, but I like theimagingworld.com the best. You'll always wind up dealing with Joel Weiss, the manager there personally. Consider getting the 55-200mm VR lens as well, and for sure a 52mm circular polarizing filter. The Imaging World offers a very decent Hoya for $33.

Try BHPhotovideo like Steve suggested, there are also Adorama & Ritz Camera.

The d40 kit lens is very good (18-55) but, as Steve suggested, the 55-200VR is excellent and a perfect complement. If you want a one lens solution, the 18-200VR is the "one"; it almost never comes off my camera. I think they are more readily available then they have been in the past at around $760-$775.

I bought my gear at Adorama and typically buy the US stuff.

FWIW.

Best,

Kurt

ditto from a long-time digi hold out.
Bill K

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