Digital camera recommendations

Looking to make the move to "the next level" of digital cameras, past the point-and-shoot little crappy ones.

I've always had good luck with Sony cameras (and Sony products in general), and we're looking at these two. Those are priced at about the top end of what I'd like to spend, and I like that each of them have both the 18-55mm lens, and a telephoto lens also included ...

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DSLR-A390L-14-2MP-Digital-75-300MM/dp/B003ZFLONY/ref=sr_1_21?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1302987168&sr=1-21

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Digital-SteadyShot-Stabilization-55-200mm/dp/B0029U0X06/ref=sr_1_25?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1302986713&sr=1-25

Anyone with knowledge that has either of these or has thoughts of whether these are decent prices/decent produces or just colossal pieces of shit?

I would appreciate any input ...

 

I've always had positive experiences with Nikon so went with:

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-D3000-Digital-3-5-5-6G-55-200/dp/B002JSJYV2/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1303160198&sr=1-9

The second lens (telephoto) takes sweet clear photos from a distance. (Got some great pictures of humpbacks last summer in Alaska)

 

You can get a Canon Digital Rebel in the same price range. To me, Canon is the best there is, with Nikon running a close second. As far as I know, both are head and shoulders above other brands.

 

I bought a Canon t1i in November with an 18-55 and 55-250 zooms.
Love it. As some here will attest, it takes great pics -- tho my problems are usually A) expecting the lens to do too much during sports -- usually lighting issues -- and B) operator error.
T2I is probably what I paid for the t1i now....

I liked it so much, I traded in a high-end point and shoot -- Olympus 800UZ with 30X OPTICAL zoom -- that I had bought less than three months earlier to get it.

 

I prefer the simplicity of the point-and-shoots.

I love the Nikon Coolpix S8100 I got for Christmas.

Takes great pictures. The battery lasts forever. It's real easy to scroll back and look at your pictures. It gives you a bunch of settings. Viewfinder is big.

The only drawback is the flash is in an awkward location where you would normally put your index finger, but I think I can deal with that all things considered.

 

If you want an entry-level DSLR go Canon or Nikon, as both are head and shoulders better than anything else on the market. There's also a wider range of lenses available for each for when you upgrade in the future.

Nikon one-upped Canon on low-light performance, now they're both on par and I believe both are improving their video abilities - live autofocus being the latest feature.

Here's the latest Canon low-end DSLR, $599: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Rebel-T3-Digital-18-55mm/dp/B004J3Y9U6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1303199065&sr=1-1

And here's the latest comparable Nikon, $699: http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-D3100-Digital-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B003ZYF3LO/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1303199234&sr=1-1

 

Nikkon D5000 is what I just bought Mrs. t_b_f for her birthday and our trip to Ireland. Absolutely love it. Paid $800 for a refurbished model with two lenses and all the other crap that goes along with them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/d5000-NIKON-digital-camera-18-55-lens-/320684718444?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item4aaa4c796c#ht_4087wt_907

 

What are you taking pictures of?

 

90 percent family stuff/vacation stuff, some portraits and reunions, school plays and presentations, maybe a few of my kids playing school sports. So I don't think I need a pro-quality camera for shooting sports. I would like telefoto lens where I can zoom in and shoot a school choir performance and get a decent shot without having to schlup up to the first row and kneel in front of everyone just to get close enough to make out that it's my kid.

I guess I'm looking for the ease of a normal point-and-shoot, but I'd like it to be a level or 2 above that in features, quality and flexibility.

 

Forgive me for thread jacking this, but this what a Canon XS EOS Rebel can do.

And I have hundreds of photos as good or better than these...

 

I could not get those with a point and click.

The only negatives to the SLR is bulky and no video, but the photos will blow you away, and there is no delay at all.

 

And when it comes to taking pictures of kids, no delay is a HUGE plus. Great pics, 93.