So i'm a beginner at photography and asked for a dslr for xmas. My choices are between the d40/d60/d80. For a beginner which do you think would be best suited for me. I want something i can learn on as well as get good at. I went to circuitcity yesterday and played around with the d40/d60. I found the d60 better, size is little bigger than d40 but the larger size didn't bother me. Just looking for opinions.

Right now MSNsearch is having a 30% off ebay buy-it-now products for the d40/d60/d80. I'm leaning toward a d80 as i can learn on it as well as keep it for a long period of time. The ones i've found come pretty much with everything.

Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G
Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G
Normal AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D Autofocus Lens
Wide Angle Autofocus Lens
2x Telephoto Lens
UV Filter:
Polarizer Filter:
FLD Filter:
sanddisk 16gig memory card
DC Reporter Backpack
SLR Pro Carrying Case
standing tripod
desk tripod (looks like crap)
LCD screen protectors
DC Shutter Release Remote Switch
Flash For Digital SLR Cameras (looks generic)


their packaged around 950-1000 with the 30% off around 700 bucks. What you guys think?

D60 is a bit newer than the D80 (which was a kinda meh effort compared to the D70 and D90), and the <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=nikon_d80%2Cnikon_d60&show=all">specs are pretty similar</a>. Big difference being build quality and focusing system IIRC.<ul><li><a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Nikon-D60-Digital-DSLR-Camera-Body-18-200mm-VR-KIT_W0QQitemZ120341833064QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigita l_Cameras?hash=item120341833064&amp;_trksid=p3286.c0.m 14&amp;_trkparms=72%3A1199|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3 A1318">G

<ul><li><a href="http://www.adorama.com/IDSSD8GE3.html?searchinfo=sandisk%20extreme%20iii% 20sdhc&amp;item_no=2">http://www.adorama.com/IDSSD8GE3.html?searchinfo=sandisk%20extreme%20iii% 20sdhc&amp;item_no=2</a></li></ul>

what do you think of the canon xsi dslr?

Works with my current lens set and offers all the features I will ever use. Only downside is that it does not have a metal body so might not be as durable.

all things that should help starting out.

once you get past the birthday party shots and the like and try for some more interesting/difficult photography, you'll regret the D40/D60.

with that said, I'd step up to the D90.

Seemed like a good deal and since it's her first SLR, I didn't want to spend too much. Comes with the 18-55 and 55-200 non-VR lenses and a few other misc goodies. Price was $100 cheaper than Amazon.

Good luck.

some of the merchants under MSN Live are pretty bad, and some are good. It is the bad one's that tended to have outrageously good deals, and then would require that you call them so they could sell you more stuff.. and then if you don't buy the extra stuff, they just don't bother executing the transaction.

Now that I look at the Adorama website, I think I might have gotten away with one. If I use Live Search to go to their website, the retail is listed as $699 with a $150 instant rebate and from that they came up with a price of $449. Add the 3% from MSN and it's $441

If I go directly to the Adorama site (vice entering through Live Search) the kit is listed at $549, not $449.

It seemed too good to pass up on considering I couldn't find the D40 with the 18-55 kit lens for less than $400.

Same relative size as the D40, but more MP's. The D80 is being replaced by the D90, so you can probably get some good deals on it...

But for me, the D60 is more than enough

So i'm pretty set on getting a d80 but i found this site, going to contact them tomorrow. I"ve yet to find a d80 for under 900 bucks with a 3 lense kit. On their sit their going for 540 with free shipping: http://shopdigitaldirect.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=6693 that's the link. check this out...either i'm confused why these camera kits are so much cheaper than anywhere else or something.

You're better off buying from B&amp;H, Ritz, J&amp;R, etc.