A nice wide aperture lens like Canon’s50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens ~$99  Lets you shoot in lower light and create those great shallow depth of field shots that your friends still using camcorders drool over.

I don’t care how steady you think your hands are, if you want professional looking video it needs to be rock solid and steady . Use either a tripod I recommend  Manfrotto 785 Video Grip Head Tripod $70 or use a steady-cam system like Manfrotto 585-1 ModoSteady 3-in-1 Camera/Camcorder Stabilizer and Support System.

Large cards – Video, especially HD video eats up space quick -
SD – SanDisk 16GB Extreme – SDHC Class 10 You can shoot fine on class 6 cards but the slower cards will be painfully slow to pull the video off of.

Compact Flash – SanDisk16 GB Extreme III CompactFlash Card

External Mic (if your DSLR has an external mic port) Much better audio quality over the built in mic port
Rode VideoMic Directional Video Condenser Microphone w/Mount

And you might want to read up on using all of the above in From Still to Motion: A photographer’s guide to creating video with your DSLR (Voices That Matter)

And feel free to ask for my thoughts on anything else you come across while researching shopping.  I wil be happy to share with you my thoughts and recommendations @camerarec.

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Nikon D3000 to be replaced by D3100

Other features -

• 10 MP CMOS sensor
• HD video: 1080p/24 and 720p 30/24
• AVCHD video codec
• In camera video editing capabilities
• 3fps (same as D3000)
• will be sold with the 18-55mm lens

For those of you thinking that your current P&S has more Mega Pixels than this model please remember that the sensors in DSLRs are much larger providing higher quality images especially at low light.  The D3000 does a decent job in low light now and I expect this model will improve at least slightly on that.

I still usually lean toward the Canon entry level cameras simply because of the infocus body motor issue.  The D3000, D5000 will not auto focus with some nikon lenses – there are plenty of lenses still to choose from that will AF on those cameras but the one that is great for learning – the nifty-fifty (50mm)  does not.

How interested in this camera are you?

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Canon T2i – $899, Body only $799 | 18MP | 1080p @ 30fps | 29min 59 sec or 4GB movie clip limits |  9 point focus | 3.7 fps| 95% Pentamirror | 3″  1,040,000 pixels LCD | 18.7 ounces

My thoughts: offers all the video capabilities of the 7D at ~$800 less, SD Card memory(cheaper than the compact flash used by 7D), smaller/lighter body (some may not like the feel).  You lose the faster FPS of the 7D, the more precise AF abilities of 7D, and D90, the wireless flash control and a highly customizable control scheme.  Bottom line – this is more than enough camera for most folks. If you are primarily looking for a video camera I see little to no reason to buy the 7D over the T2i.  Put the dollars you save buying the T2i toward a nice lens. Note: as of May 04 the T2i is out of stock on Amazon and most reputable resellers so there is a bit of price gouging happening.

DPReview says: Quite simply, taken as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we’ve ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won’t look out of date in a couple of years’ time. (April, 2010)

Canon 7D – Body only $1599 | 18MP | 1080p @30fps | 29min 59 sec or 4GB movie clip limits |  19 point focus | 8.0 fps | 100% Pentaprism | 3″  920,000 pixels LCD | 28.9 ounces

Offers excellent ergonomics in weatherized body and control scheme that is highly customizable, external mic port for high quality sound, wireless flash control (allows remote triggering of 430ex and 580ex flashes), bright viewfinder(absolute pleasure to look through) with 100% coverage, battery life is approx 1000 shots

My thoughts: if you are making money from photography gigs, especially ones where you plan to use off camera flashes or are shooting sports and need the faster FPS you should consider  this camera, it is a stellar camera but it is hefty and solid and most folks reading this would be better off buying T2i and putting the savings toward lenses.

DPReview says: It offers excellent image quality in all shooting situations and an impressive speed of operation, combined with very good build quality and ergonomics. Both its specification and the results of our testing make it a very easy recommendation. (November, 2009)

Nikon D90 – w/ 18-105 lens $1021, Body only $749 | 12.3MP | 720 @ 24fps | 5min clip limits | 11 point focus | 4.5FPS | 96% pentaprism | 3″  920,000 pixels LCD | 21.8 ounces

My Thoughts: The D90 is an excellent photographic camera and the body only price is an amazing value. If you already have Nikon lenses it is a no brainer of an upgrade.  The build quality and ergonomics sits between the T21 and the 7D.  Where the D90 falters is video, Video is max 720 resolution, no external mic port, clips are limited to 5 minutes (which isn’t as bad as you might think) and video suffers from the jelly effect (straight lines look wavy when the camera is in motion) more than the T2i or 7D

DPReview says: After using and testing the D90 extensively, it’s hard to think of a better enthusiast-level camera. (October, 2008)

Which one should you get?

T2i unless you have specific and justifiable reasons for the 7D. D90 if you have Nikon lenses or have friends/family with nikon lenses you can borrow.

Want cheaper options? Read my Short/Sweet DSLR Guide

Need some lens recomendations? Read My Canon Lens Guide | Nikon Lens Guide [coming soon]

Feel free to leave comments or your thoughts.

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B&H is also offering $100-$200 instant on the purchase of Canon EOS 7D DSLR camera. See the 7D link for offer details.

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60D Specs

• Articulating screen
• Metal body, similar To 50D
• Upgraded 15.1mp APS-C Sensor
• 720p/1080p Video at 30fps
• Electronic Level
• New battery & battery grip
• Price about $1190

550D/600D Specs

• Articulating screen
• Body smaller than 500D
• Upgraded 15.1mp APS-C Sensor
• 720p Video at 30fps
• Price about $799

What do you all think of Articulating screens?  Love em, hate em?   Are these cameras worth waiting for?  Rumored release date in late spring/early summer

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DSLR Advantages:

• Fast- from cold start to picture taking DSLRs are king and time is measured in milliseconds.  And fast from shot to shot, many DSLRS can take several high quality images in less than a second.
• Battery life is exceptional in most DSLRs with numbers between 500-1000 depending on flash use. A good P&S approaches 300ish
• A control scheme that lets you change common settings without wading through menus. I am comfortable enough to change most of my commons settings by touch alone because the buttons are smartly placed and work well.
• Interchangeable lenses allows your camera to specialize in any type of photography- going from exceptional wide angle to incredible macro if you have the lenses.
• High ISO performance, this means that in low light you can take clear crisp pictures without a ton of grain(noise).
• External Flash – The ability to add an external flash to your setup can do more for your pictures than any other accessory including lenses.
• Complete manual control including hour long shutter length if desired.

DSLR disadvantages:

• Bulky/heavy, DSLRs are large, often heavy and will not fit in a pocket or even a small purse
• They are hard to hide, related to the above, and scream “look at my camera, steal my camera”
• Lenses can be as, or even more, expensive than the original camera
• You can get dust on the sensor, or in the lenses, this has been better addressed in recent bodies though

I have a DSLR recommendation guide and a P&S recommendation list

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Super Budget Zoom
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Decent lens with solid reviews very hard to beat the price. If shopping around make sure you don’t purchase the non-APO version which is crummy.
Price: $189.00

Budget Zoom -
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Very good lens with IS (image stabilization) which allows you to get sharper images with less light- nicely compliments the kit lens.
Price: $250

Mid-Level Zoom
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras
Some call this a hidden “L” lens. L lenses are Canon’s professional level lenses that offer superb optics at a serious price. The lens is excellent and includes IS and USM (ultra sonic motor for focusing).
Price: $540

High End Zoom
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
A beautiful “L” lens at an affordable price. You don’t get IS but what you do get is a lens that is bright and sharp at all apertures.
Price: $650

Serious Wildlife/Sports
Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM APO RF Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Getting 500mm of reach for ~$1000 is amazing, especially when it is at this quality level, downsides: big/heavy, no IS and you will need lots of light at the longer focal lengths.
Price: $650

OR

Canon – Telephoto zoom lens – 100 mm – 400 mm – f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM – Canon EF
Better quality, IS and a little less reach for a chunk more change.
Price: $1300

Walk-around

This is a difficult category to recommend – Some lean toward having the convenience of large focal range (i.e. the 18-200ish lenses) some want fast and light and some want something in between. You really need to take a look at the type of shooting you do and decide which of the following lenses is the best fit for you.

Budget
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens
Don’t be quick to replace this lens. The earlier kit lenses were crummy but the current IS version is quite capable and covers a useful range.
Price: Free with your camera

More range and USM (faster, more reliable focus)
Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 Image Stabilized USM SLR Lens for EOS Digital SLR’s
Similar to the kit lens with more range and the quick USM focus.
Price: $430

or

FAST & Affordable
Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
A constant f/2.8 lets in lots of light, a nice range at an excellent price. Not very wide starting at 28mm.
Price: $380

Pricey but excellent
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Fairly limited range but excellent quality and perfect for landscapes.
Price: $760

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras
Very expensive but gives you IS, USM and a constant f/2.8 – is it worth it?
Price: $1000

Ultra-Convenient!
Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Standard Zoom Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras
One lens that covers a very large range (11x) You do sacrifice quality and will experience distortion at the wide end.
Price: $580

OR

Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical IF Macro Zoom Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras
Suffers from similar problems but not any more so than the Canon and has the additional reach.
Price: $590

Wide-angles

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Solid lens, widest in its class at a decent price.
Price: $499

or Tokina AT-X116PRDXC AT-X PRO DX 11-16mm Ultra-wide Angle Lens for Canon
Less range but sharper and fast with a constant aperture of f/2.8
Price: $799

Primes

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens
Everyone should own the “nift-fifty” it is cheap and a great lens to learn/practice with shutter speed, aperture and ISO.
Price: Just a shade under $100

If you hope to do more portraiture check out the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Longer focal length, slightly sharper lens, faster focus and 8-blade aperture make this an excellent portrait lens.
Price: $440

Macro

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Excellent Macro lens. On a crop sensor the focal length can be a little long.
Price: $540

or

Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Digital SLR Lens for EOS Digital SLR Cameras
Macro and portraiture suitable lens.
Price: $399

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Canon's 7D

Canon’s newest DSLR, the 7D, is very nice. For $1699 (Body only) $1899 (with 28-135 lens) you get a DSLR with the following specs

• 18MP APS-C (not full frame)
• 19 point cross-type AF sensors
• 100% viewfinder coverage
• 3″ 920k dot resolution LCD display
• External mic stereo mini jack input
• Dual Digic 4 processors
• 8 Frames a Second
• Full HD video

• Gizmodo: Canon EOS 7D Full Review
• DP Review: Canon Eos 7D Preview
• Gizmodo: Canon 7D First Hands On
• SoftSailor: Canon Eos 7D Short Review
• Gadget Venue: Canon Eos 7D Review
• DPhoto Journal: Canon Eos 7D
• Info Week Overview: Canon Eos 7D Overview
• Phillip Bloom: Using the 7D from a cinematographers point of view
• Twitter Search for 7D
• Engadget: Video of the AF in action and 8FPS [wow!]
• CameraDojo Podcast #65: Review/Discussion 7D and D300s
• 7D Manual: Canon EOS 7D Owner’s Manual (6.7MB PDF)
• Photography Review Samples: Sample Photos
• CanonRumors.com: Minireview of 7D

Available now!  Order from Amazon

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The very short & sweet guide-

My Recs [Budget = Canon XS,  $700-$1000 = Canon T2i,  $1000-$1500 = D90,  Above $1500 = 7D] Updated 2/10/09

Slightly longer short & sweet guide-

Budget (< $500)

Best of the bunch: Canon XS (1000D)

Buy a D40 – Solid camera but the tech is getting outdated and does not perform as well as the next two in low-light situations (~$460) D60 has been discontinued, replaced with the D3000 below. Go for a used model.

Buy an XS – few more megapixels & features for few more dollars, live view is one (~$450)

A benefit to buying the XS- you can autofocus with a cheap but good lens like the 50mm f/1.8 (~$90)which gives you nice lower light performance and depth of field control. If you buy the D3000 the cheapest lens that will give you the same ability/control is several hundred dollars more. It might not ever matter to you, you may be happy using the lens that camera comes with, and there are plenty of other lenses that will work with the D3000, but you should be aware. Feel free to ask me follow up questions on this, it is confusing and intimidating trying to figure out what lens will do what for you.

Buy a D3000 – Most user friendly DSLR to date, no live view but has a guide mode that teaches as you use and decent low-light performance, very similar in image quality to the XS  (~$450)

NOTE: if you buy a D40/D60/D3000/D5000 you need to look at my list of compatible(will auto-focus) lenses Some of the cheaper lenses will not autofocus on this camera and for some that is a reason to buy the XS.

$700 – $1000

Best of the bunch: On paper Canon’s T2i Reviews are very good, noise levels are low and the video quality is excellent, on par with the significantly more expensive 7D.

Canon T1i – Solid 15MP camera with nice HD Video, Hi-res LCD screen, excellent button placement and control scheme (~$720)

Canon T2i, shipping in March will offer excellent HD video, high resolution screen, 18MP (more about its features) (~$899)

Alternate choice the Nikon D5000 – Better in low-light, HD video not as smooth as T1i but does have articulating LCD screen, I just wish it was higher resolution, the LCD is a 1/3 of the resolution of the T1i. (~$650) See my note above about compatible autofocusing lenses.

$1000 – $1500

Best of the bunch:  If interested in Video step back to the T2i | If you plan to only shoot stills or primarily stills the D90 is still an excellent value.

Buy a D90 excellent low-light performance, HD video(limited to 5 min clips), gorgeous LCD & viewfinder along with built in wireless flash capabilities at just about $1000 – This is best camera you can buy under $1500. More about why I love the D90 The D90 body only is now $779, this is an excellent price and up until the announcement of the T2i was the best value DSLR under $1500.  Now the T2i shoots MUCH better video, Better LCD, 18MP vs 12MP in the D90.  D90 advantages are in build, viewfinder is bigger/brighter,  built-in wireless flash control and a kit lens with more range 18-105 vs 18-55 with T2i.

50D Solid 15MP gives you access to all of Canon’s lenses but no HDvideo and no built in wireless flash (~$1130) I see very little reason to buy the 50D at this point.  The T2i beats it in almost all features except build and and possibly ergonomics but that depends on how it feels to you.  There are rumors of a 60D but at this point it is hard to figure out how that will sit between the T2i and the 7D.

> $1500

Canon’s 7D 18MP, 100% viewfinder, Dual DIGIC 4 and new AutoFocus are great.  Stellar HDvideo. Reviews have been very positive. Not Full Frame but not everyone needs that. More here (~$1899)

Buy a D300s12MP w/ 18-200mm VR II Lens – Not full frame but excellent quality, low-light performance and video in a much more affordable package (~$2500 w/ very nice 18-200 lens) (~$1800 body only)

Alternate Buy a 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens – Gorgeous giant images and jaw dropping HD video (~$3000)

If you buy a Canon take a moment to look at my recommended lens list and if you have any questions please find me on twitter @camerarec

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