DSLR Time?!?

[Blizzard24]

Pappy, I am hoping you can point me in the right direction.

My wife and I are getting a DSLR for Xmas, I know you are a Nikon fan but I have to ask anyway.

Nikon D3000
or
Sony DSLR A330?

From what I have researched, the D3000 is a great camera and the DSLRA330 just has a lot of convenient features.

I am leaning towards the D3000 but I guess I just need to hear it from someone else.

[Pappy]

Both are decent...my suggestion would be Canon for the sole fact that lenses are usually cheaper. Quality wise they are all pretty dang close.

[honda400ex2003]

I really like my xti that i have. I have been taking great shots with it for a couple of years. I like it better than my gfs moms 50d. it is much easier to handle since it is smaller and has just about all of the features. steve

[250R-Dee]

You really need to look at the lens/accessory market for both cameras. I am a Sony (A700/A900) guy and I'd say the D3000 is a better choice between the two. The lenses will be much cheaper for the D3000 and there is a bigger market. Sony's selling point is the Super Steady Shot (SSS) that is built into the body.

I use a lot of Sigma and Minolta Alpha mount lenses on my cameras.

If you think you might upgrade again later it will be easier to jump from the D3000 to something better than from the A330 to an A700/850/900. The 1g A100 has more features than the A330.

One more blurb - You can get a NEW A700 for cheap ($700~$900) since the debut of the A850 or you can pickup a used one from somebody who upgraded to the A850/A900.

[bananaman]

In a DSLR it's either Canon or Nikon. I chose Canon, because I like the software on the camera, IMO they make the best glass, and more pro's use them than any other. The XS, XTi etc, are plastic bodied. They'll take good images, WAY beter than a PnS, but mor me, I need durability. The XXD series (40D, 50D) is affordable, big enough to get a good comfortable hold of, capable of great shots, 6 fps,..... Awesome.

It ALL comes down to IQ. Check out side by side images from just about any camera:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM

http://www.dpreview.com/
They do reviews, and customer feedback of just about any camera. Good resource.


You can check out some of my photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rsieminski/

The main thing is take lots of pictures. That's the only way to get good at it. Having a good understanding of the relationship between ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture is essential. If you use it like a PnS they'll look like they were taken with a PnS, even with the best camera. Likewise, a PnS in the hands of someone who can take a decent image, will take great images with that PnS.