Which digital camera?

[hXc drummer23]

I got the Nikon D40 when it was on sale at Best Buy. It works great and takes great pictures.

[drew.haynes]

Outdoor objects and such, should be good. If you are referring to LANDSCAPES, may not always be wide enough for what you want. Still, I don't think you'll ever regret having the 50 prime over the 18-55. The IQ is so much better and the lens has such a huge aperture, 90% of the time, the 50 prime will be a more capable lens than the 18-55.

EDIT: And also, always best to have good glass over a good body. You can always change the body if you get alot more "into" photography. There are some people using 5D's that still have that "nifty fifty" lens. Smart to go with the XT over the XTi or XSi IMO.. it's cheap, and then in a year or so if you wanna move up, you may find yourself looking for used 30Ds or 40Ds, you never know.

[evenflow]

Originally Posted by drew.haynes

Here's some samples from that 50mm f/1.8 Mk II (from FM):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ossStrands.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...1/IMG_5355.jpg

Flickr Photo Download: _MG_0185

http://robincaptijn.web-log.nl/senna...cale_clean.jpg

The Spirit on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Sweet Child O' Mine on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Pretty amazing stuff, and I read some reviews and it seems like an all around good lens.

[evenflow]

going with the Rebel XT next paycheck

[drew.haynes]

Tell me how you like the lens. I'm between camera's at the moment - one friend bought mine and I'm buying one from another friend, but I have used a 50mm prime a couple times before. I've used the 50mm 1.8 MK I (though, like I said, same GLASS as the MK II), as well as the 50mm 1.4. Quality is somewhat better on the 1.4 but not worth the price difference. The 1.8 is a great lens. You'll never see a f1.8 aperture lens for near that cheap anywhere else. The low-light abilities at that aperture kick the *** of the low-light abilities of the kit lens so many people use (which won't go below f3.5 at it's widest focal length and won't go below f5.6 at it's longest focal length ) - that was a mouthful. The sharpness of the lens and color is like many prime lenses, far superior to many zoom lenses, especially the kit lenses. Some find that the lens is a LITTLE soft at 1.8 (though most the people with that complaint are high-end photographers used to Canon L-series lenses) - you may think it's plenty sharp even there, but decrease the aperture a little into the f2.Xs and it'll be moreee than sharp enough.

Be sure to let me know how you like it!

[quakerroatmeal]

I noticed you said you are looking for a point and shoot camera, but you want a digitel rebel?

[drew.haynes]

It's an SLR but priced affordably and can be used with mostly automatic settings if he'd like - why not? Much more versatile than a purely p&s camera.

[quakerroatmeal]

Yes but a p&s is purely for compact reasons.

[drew.haynes]

Ah, I see what you meant. I would just consider a p&s to be any non-slr. I have a Panasonic FZ20 laying around somewhere - I'd consider it P&S but it's pretty large.

[sspeer]

I have a A620 and I think it takes amazing pictures and all the reviews I found before buying specifically praised that quality.

[drew.haynes]

There are some P&S cameras that do wonderful in good lighting, like the Panasonic I mentioned, but, especially if he's considering getting a 50mm 1.8, no P&S I've seen is gonna compete with that when it comes to IQ or low-light ability... especially since most SLR image sensors handle noise alot better at high ISOs. The low light ability should be way better for him. Unless you NEED something small, I would always go with a cheap/used SLR body these days and a good lens - way more control if you want it, and can still be pretty idiot-proof when you use pre-programmed settings.

[evenflow]

Am I going to be able to get good quality pictures out of just the auto mode? I really do want to learn about ISO and shutter speed and all that stuff but how are just the auto pictures?