Digital SLR Camera Help - For Christmas Gift.

[wikdsvt]

I Need Great assistance here.

I want to buy my G'F a SLR camera for Christmas and Looked at the Nikon D60. Read some reviews and they said it was a little expensive for the options, but I don't know anything about this.
Costco has the D60 for $... umm ahh crap I forgot how much. But it comes with 2 different lenses and a 2gb card...

HELP would be greatly appreciated.

I'm going to send my G'F to a photography class (she wants to take one) and wants to get into photography, as a hobby.

Previously she's used regular (cheapy) digital Camera.


what are my options, what do you recommend?

[little2v]

Personally, I am a bigger fan of Canon than Nikon.

I would think hard about this before you buy a DSLR as a gift. DSLR's are *not* point and shoots. They don't take as good of pictures unless you know what some some of the settings are. Some of the DSLR's don't even have an Auto mode..

[JDP]

ya, you need to know what your doing with an SLR to take good pics.

i remember a guy on another forum posted his first pics with an slr and my pics with a point and shoot looked a lot better.

[avbcon12]

i also prefer canon over nikon in the consumer lines. try the canon XS or XSi (if you need large pictures). i held and used the nikon D40 for a few days (my cousins) and it felt like a toy. best thing to do is to go to the store and feel them with your own hands. to keep costs down, theres no real need for someone just starting out to have a zoom lens. the kit lenses are just fine and will be way better than any point and shoot.

Im not quite sure on what "help" youre looking for but if you have any specific questions on cameras (ie which of the two are better?) id be more than willing to help.

[ShadowRuleZ]

I'd look at adorama.com or bhphotovideo.com for pricing, I've picked up stuff from both of them and been happy.

I've heard both the entry level Canons and Nikons are more or less the same, so pick the one that fits better into her hands and is the most intuitive to her.

[Joe]

I'd buy the D40 or comparable Canon for around $400-$500 personally. Costco usually has a nice price on both

[Violent J]

I'd buy the D40 or comparable Canon for around $400-$500 personally. Costco usually has a nice price on both

X2

[xxljrfan]

check this out might find a good deal

http://dealnews.com/categories/Elect...?filter=c:168;

[lucky7]

i'd skip the D40. must have autofocus lens to autofocus. kind of a PITA.
D60 would be nice. i have an XTi.

[Cbacarella]

I'd buy the D40 or comparable Canon for around $400-$500 personally. Costco usually has a nice price on both

x2! Plus, they both have an auto mode and take nice pictures in auto mode! They are also pretty easy to work with and for the price, arnt too bad! I think that would be the best choice. Plus, when she wants to learn a little more about pictures, she can switch from full auto mode to semi auto modes, or full manual mode as time goes on.