calling all photography nuts. your advice please.

[Alphamazing]

Naw, not that lucky. The 300D goes for around that price pretty regularly.

my bad...it's been nearly 2 years since I really looked at their prices.

I just got lucky with all the accessories.

Prices range from about $400 to $450 for just the camera body, lens, and paperwork.

I paid $430 shipped for mine, I now recall. Still, a good deal in my book. It's worked well for me so far.

[makenzie71]

all the accessories were basically freebies the way ebay works...I lost a set of EBC pro-lites becasue I thought they'd get a few extra bucks when I sold my Marvics...no dice...

[makenzie71]

This is mak's gf.  I am a photography major in college.

My first warning is if you are not willing to spend a bunch of money, find her a different hobby.  Photography is a very expensive hobby.  You definitely want a camera with at least 5 or 6 mp.  You definitely want to go digital.  In the end it will be cheaper cuz you can take as many pics as you want and look at them and only print what you want.  On a film camera you have to print them all to even find out if you got a good shot.  Digitals are much better for people who are learning.  Also if you want your pics on the computer and you went with film you would have to spend the extra money you would have put into a good digital on a good scanner.

Did she express interest photography?  I would personally ask her if she wants to get "really" into it, or she just wants to take pics.  I don't know much about your Casio.  I would say if she wants a point and shoot get a Nikon coolpix.  If she wants to try SLR try a Nikon D50 or Canon Rebel.  I prefer Nikon, but Canon is pretty good too.  I would try finding one on ebay for sure.  Photography gets real expensive.  Especially if you buy new.  My D70 was $1000.  But now they have the D80, but I havent looked at the price, but it has a lot more mp.  My D70 has 6.1.  I think the D80 has 10 or 12.  Ill have to look it up.  But unless you plan on printing really large pics you shouldnt need anymore than 5 or 6 mp.

As for computer programs.  If you are going to put money into anything, get Photoshop.  I wouldn't put money into anything else.

Would love for you or your wife to join my photo forum.  If you have any questions you can post them and I will try to answer as best I can, if I can't we have some other photographers there with quite a bit of experience. 

[weaselnoze]

hey kalee hows the forum goin? i havent been over in awhile.

[makenzie71]

It is slooooowwwwwwwwwww!!     You should come back and start posting more!