tax refund time = me looking for a new camera

[necropimp]

i'm looking for a decent DSLR in the ~$500 range my current camera is ok but has it's drawbacks (one of them being that it's more of a shared camera than MY camera)

so far the Nikon D40 and the Canon RebelXT seem to be the 2 i'm always seeing on sale in the price range i'm looking at and was wanting some opinions on these plus any other suggestions

[laxx]

Pick up an XTi used. I've seen them go for $400-$450.

[Davesrose]

The main drawback of dSLRs is that they wind up being more then you anticipate. You might find a good deal with a camera body....but then you'll get bit by the photo bug and then want to collect expensive lenses

If you just want to spend $500 on photography, then I might recommend getting a Canon Powershot, Panasonic Lumix, or Sony Cybershot for a simple, yet capable camera. This is a good site for checking out every feature of a camera:

Digital Camera Reviews and News: Digital Photography Review: Forums, Glossary, FAQ

[dj_mocok]

Canon has just released the 450D, so you might wanna wait a bit for the price of 400D come down or maybe even get the 450D for a bit more money. (although based from the specs it doesn't look like something so special... but who knows)

[Aevum]

i´d keep that money safe, 2008 is going to be an economical ****storm,

[Uncle Erik]

I haven't used a Canon, but got my father a D40 for Christmas and use a D70s myself.

I think the D40 is a terrific camera - very similar to the bigger Nikons and the image quality is just as good as mine. The 18-55mm kit lens is good, as well. You'll probably want a few filters, extra battery, and flash to go with it. There's more to buy with a DSLR, but you can add those gradually. I think they're worth it for the better image quality.

[Joshatdot]

+1 D40