I am looking for a professional digital camera. I have a basic digital pocket sized camera but want to start getting a little more into photography. Any recommendations for a good digital, decent price. Not a professional by any means, so I really don't know much about anything other than the pics I saw out of a Nikon D200 were SIKK!

The 30D is a nice camera. <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11204740&amp;whse=BC&amp;topna v=&amp;browse=&amp;lang=en-US" target="_blank">http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11204740&amp;whse=BC&amp;topna v=&amp;browse=&amp;lang=en-US</a>

Canon sucks. Go Nikon. Canon and their pretentious white lenses. <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/lame.gif" border=0> <BR> <BR>If you are looking pro, Canon and Nikon are the standards. Canon 30D and 5D. If you got money you can get the 1D Mark II/III. Nikon look at the D200 or D2Xs. <BR> <BR>But any photog will tell you it is the lenses that matter more than the camera. It is better to have a great lens on a cheaper body then the other way around. Be prepared to spend a few grand on "professional lenses"

Hope you got $4,000 ready to throw down, if you want an even slightly decked out D200. <BR> <BR>I have a D200. You can learn more about Nikons here <a href="http://www.nikonians.org" target="_blank">www.nikonians.org</a> You have to create a user name and password, but it is a free site. No recommendations on Canon's but you can not go wrong with either brand. The 30D is a very nice camera for sure. <BR> <BR>Make sure you purchase from a reputable company. <a href="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/475546.html?1185904120" target="_blank">http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/475546.html?1185904120</a> <BR><a href="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/479740.html?1185398564" target="_blank">http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/87667/479740.html?1185398564</a>

What is your price range? <BR> <BR>I have a 20D for sale which is the predecessor of the 30D someone listed above. If you're interested let me know.

I've been using the 30D since last November and love it. I would also recommend the 24-70 2.8L and 70-200 2.8L.

Go out and feel a couple of them at the local camera shop. As much as people say it is the lenses that matter, it sure is nice to have a nice body attached to that nice lens. Besides, when you are shelling out 600-1600 for each lens, what is a few hundred extra on the body. Basically what I am saying is, don't be cheap and buy a D80 when what you really want is a D200. <BR> <BR> Anyways, go grab a few of them, figure out your budget and then buy the one that you really like. I would save up for a few extra months rather than settling on something you don't like. <BR> <BR> Bottom line is that it is hard to go wrong on a higher end canon or nikon <BR> <BR>Later <BR> <BR>Bakes

Get a body under a grand (xt, 20D, D80 etc) and a do it all zoom - 18-200 or 18-250 tamron / sigma etc. for $3-500 until you figure out how deep you want to go with it. What everyone says above is true but I've come to the conclusion that you probably won't see the difference or your shots won't show the differences you get with faster lenses and better bodies until you figure out how to work the thing. <BR> <BR>At the point you've figured it out you won't need anyone here to tell you what to buy and if you never get there you haven't blown $4K on a D200 or 5D and a couple of lenses you can't take advantage of. These pro DSLRs will take worse pictures then P&amp;S's if you leave them on full auto or worse as some have no auto modes. <BR> <BR>You can always sell this stuff and move up too.

Agreed Rich, have had my 30D, 17-85 &amp; 70-200 2.8 and still don't know WTF I'm doing.....<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/rofl.gif" border=0> <BR> <BR>That doesn't even include knowledge of photoshop......<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/uhoh.gif" border=0>

Hey i have a Nikon D50 and that works great. under profesional i would recommend this camera. i have a nikor 70-200 lense with the VR reduction, nikor 70-100, nikor 80 (i think), nikor 35-50, few others that dont really matter. works great. no problems whatsoever.

I was going to quote some of Rich's text, but I would have quoted the whole thing. None of the low end digital SLRs will hold you back,lenses will. You can take some amazing pictures with "low end" SLRs. You can also take some horrible pics with expensive equipment. Learn about exposure and learn photoshop, but most of all learn about LIGHT and how it affects a picture. So I would get a cheap SLR and a decent lens set it on manual and learn, learn, learn. Then buy something expensive when you learn what you really want.

P.S. The best lens I ever bought that really taught me about light was a $80 50mm 1.8.

Jeremy, I love that lens. You talked about it before so I went out and bought it and it has given me some great pics. Thanks for the heads up, I would not have looked twice at it if you hadn't spread the word.

i'd say nikon or olympus <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/wink.gif" border=0>

check out an older Nikon D2h or D2hs... you'll save some money and it's an amazing camera! it has a 37milisecond shutter lag, which is quicker than any of the cameras listed above... superfast autofocus and it's super rugged...

I ended up getting a Nikon D80 with an 18-135mm lens. Pretty sweet, just need to learn how to use all the settings. I will post some pics when I figure this thing out! <BR>Thanks for all your help guys

canon... you can get a 17-40 and 70-200 for about $1050 new ( both L lenses) and be reasonably covered.. <BR> <BR>recently upgraded to a 24-70 and a 70-200 f4 IS and have been amazed..