Looking to spend around $1000 total

[Retnuhrace]

So I'm quite the newbie when it comes to DSLRs as I'm looking to invest in my 1st one. I'm looking to spend around a grand total (including the camera, lenses, memory device and any other needed accessories). I've been heavily researching this stuff for the past few days, and I've just been going back and forth between cameras. I've been considering the Pentax K100D, the Nikon D50, the Canon Rebel XT, and the Olympus Evolt E-500, as all are priced similarly.

So basically, I need help in deciding. The three things that I really want to use the camera for are taking awesome, up-close macro shots, general nature and wildlife shots, and the occasional sporting event shots (at baseball and football games). Now, I realize that with my budget I really can't achieve all of these things with perfect precision. However, one thing that may narrow it down somewhat is the fact that I'd like to use the camera strictly for the outdoors; so I don't need a great low-lighting camera.

I'm guessing lenses are going to be the big problem. I'd like to package pretty good lenses with this camera that are budget friendly (if possible). I've essentially worn out the pricegrabber machine trying to find decent deals, but it really is hard to know what is a decent lens and what, well, isn't (and that's what I'm here now for :) ). I've been looking at some sites that have camera "bundles," like abesofmaine.com, but, once again, I don't know which lenses and accessories are good and which are crap.

So I ask you guys for some advice, about which cameras and/or lenses to avoid, and which are good bangs for the buck. Thanks in advance!




Budget

* What budget have you allocated for buying this camera? About $1000 TOTAL

Size

* What size camera are you looking for? Or does size not matter at all to you? Doesn't matter really

Features

How many megapixels will suffice for you? I guess over 6

* What optical zoom will you need? Doesn't really matter I guess with a DSLR

* How important is “image quality” to you? (Rate using a scale of 1-10) 9.5

Do you care for manual controls? Sure, once I learn them

General Usage

* What will you generally use the camera for? Outside shots (as mentioned above)

* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not? Not really

Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos? No

Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos? Hopefully

Miscellaneous

Are there particular brands you like or hate? I hate bad brands :)

Are there particular models you already have in mind? Mentioned above

(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? (Wide Angle, Image Stabilization, Weatherproof, Hotshoe, Rotating LCD) Hopefully image stabilization (I know the Pentax has this)

[Retnuhrace]

Ok.... I have revised my budget. I realised that its going to be difficult to get anything decent with a grand, so I've decided to extend the budget to around $1500. What I am looking for is a camera that won't leave me feeling the need to upgrade in a couple of years and a couple of lenses that are good... lenses that will get me good quality pictures so I don't need to upgrade those right away either. Just remember I am very much a beginner who is eager to learn. Thanks in advance for any advice!

[SpecialK]

I've seen the post that you have to spend $700 on a body and $400 per lens to take a quality photo. You might be able to get a Nikon D50 and 2 decent lenses for $1500. However, if you want top performing (fast) or specialized lenses, you can easily add $500 or more to your budget.

Third parties such as Sigma or Tamron make some good lenses for most popular bodies, and they are normally not so pricey (though still a chunk of change.) However, if you go with non-Nikkor lenses, then you have to decide if the body has the features you want, not just the lens mount.

The Canon XTi is not that much more expensive than the XT (but a significant increase over the D50), and with the newer upgrades and performance, I'd go with the XTi over the XT. However, you'll blow almost 1/2 your budget already, and Canon lenses are close to Nikon in cost.

In my comparison shopping of D80 vs Xti, I found out that Canon = small hands, Nikon = big hands.

Ulitmately I decided not to go the high-price route (though excellent quality) which lead me to the Pentax K100D. It has plenty of features and does the basics. There is a good and growing selection of Pentax (or Sigma/Tamron) lenses that are decent performers that don't break the bank. With rebates going though Jan 9, there are some good buys out there. My body and three lenses was just over $1400. It's not top of the line, of course, but plenty for me. There is also the K10D body which may be an upgrade in the future.

[Retnuhrace]

Haha... I didn't want to edit my post over there looking like a dork, so I came over here, and had to edit my post anyways! :D Thanks man for the advice at both places. I promise, this is the last "budget upgrade" for myself!

[SpecialK]

Hi:

I don't know where "over there" or "both places" are, sorry :-)

Oh, if it matters, the Pentax shake reduction gets turned off if on a tripod. The Nikon VrII system apparently allows panning while on a tripod - the subject of debate elsewhere though it mixes apples and oranges I think.

[Retnuhrace]

Whoops, nevermind, when you said "the post that you have" I thought you were talking about another post that I made with the same kind of plea for advice at another board. Whoops. :)

Anyways, the 2 cameras that I've really narrowed it down to are the Pentax that you are talking about and the Nikon D50. I like the Pentax because of the shake reduction of course, but I like the Nikon because it supposedly has a little bit better of image quality. Both are around the same price right now, so I think really it comes down to which camera I can get the better bang for my buck in terms of good quality lenses, memory, and so on.

[SpecialK]

You've read both DCRP reviews, I assume. It's a tie :-) Perhaps you should price the lenses first and see what body fits on the back of them.