USVI-On-Line

Cant go wrong with Canon or those Nikon optics.

That said, the nice thing about the Canon digicams is that the control settings etc. are very similar to their 35mm cameras so there is very little learning curve if you've had an AE1 or A1 35mm for years.

Not to complicate matters, but a very reasonable/next best thing to the SLRs are the larger more advanced Canon Powershots with long optical zooms such as the S3 IS that I have and the newest version of that camera which is the S5 IS with more megapixels and even a hot shoe. I find the S3 is good enough for me 95% of the time. When not using the viewfinder, I use the pivoting LCD screen on that camera a lot for different angles, etc.

What about the lenses? I wanted to get the VR and the telephoto VR? Is it worth it?

Nature Girl,
This is the company that I bought my new Canon from. When I was diggin around they had the best prices that I could find.
It looks like they have the Nikon D40 with two lenses and a 1GB card on sale for $559 including shipping.

http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/product ... u=NKD40KT2

They also carry the Canons
http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/searchr ... evCti=2014

Tell him Merry Christmas

Thanks everybody for your help. Do you think the autofocus telophoto lens is necessary?

Thanks and I'll tell him. An a very Merry Christmas to you and MrsCaptain Jay and all!

Naturegirl, I echo Island Hopper on the fact that that Rebel Xti would be the comparable Canon and on the fact that the Rebel is very small. That is actually the primary reason I chose the Rebel. I have small hands and it was a much more comfortable camera for me to operate. Women seem to prefer the size of the Rebel. Men don't.

I also have a Canon Rebel xTi. It is my first SLR and it has been quite easy to use. It has a fully automatic setting, programmable setting and i think it can also be fully manual (I'm not there yet.).

My husband is the photographer in our house; so I know he did a bit a research before purchasing it for me. He thinks the Canon has better jpeg quality and the photos show less noise in low light. The Nikon, however, has better dynamic range.

I'm sure your husband will be happy with either. They both take great pictures. And if the pictures aren't so perfect, there is always Photoshop Elements to help.

If you want a really good deal, I have a slightly used Olympus Evolt 500 for sale.

Thanks Jaysadee for the offer but I decided on the nikon and if my husband prefers the canon he can exchange it for that. I'll let you know how it goes.

Sorry Nature Girl, but I don't have the time right now to read all the replies. If I repeat something you've already heard, I'm sorry.

Since you already have a Canon AE-1, you need to think about the fact that the lenses are interchangeable with a Canon Rebel. As VickyH so aptly put it, what you like really depends on what you first used. He seems to have Canon experience. Does he like it?


JIM