I kind of like photography, always did, I would like to start taking better pictures, and have more control on them, but I'm not looking to be a pro or something, just as a hobby.

All the pictures Ive posted are from regular point and shoot cameras, either an old canon powershot, or my current one is a Sony.

I want to buy a DSLR, my "budget" has selected this 2 options:
-Canon Digital Rebel XT 8 MP
-Nikon D40 6.1 MP

In other forums, most of people's advice is that both are good, that you just have to "feel" which one is better, etc, I want to hear some techinical input based on your experience, remember, Im not actually an amateur, I want to become one atleast....lol....

thanks.

There really is little in it, though I would also add the Sony Alpha K200 and Pentax K200D into your decision making. For a DSLR for architecture the most important factor is probably the lens, and you can quite easily be looking at a similar price for a lens as for the body.

With the reduced sized sensors of all the above cameras you'll need something which goes down to 17 or 18mm for many shots. On a reduced sensor I would even consider something of the 10-18mm range.

Kit lenses are of a range of quality - however, as a Canon user I always advise to go beyond the basic lens. I hear than with the others mentioned this might not be the case.

In your position I might consider either the Sony or the Pentax. I've now got too much invested in Canon kit to justify a change.

I m planning to buy nikon d60 next month and I was wondering which kind of lens is more appropriate fot interior shots ...(maybe low light /no flash)
I often use for my sketchup models 60deg but I m not sure the equivalent mm value ....
I m not interested for a fish eye lens cause I think that a lot photoshop tweaking is needed for the distortions (not all the time of course..)
anyone tried an "architectural lens" ??? (expensive but without distortions..)

double post , sorry

I've always been a Canon man, so I'm somewhat biased in my opinion! ;)

I got the Canon Eos 300D when it first came out four years ago, cost me $1700 with one lense.

Then came the 350D, and now the 400D with twin lens kit, which I've seen for $900 now! :(

I like how you can either use it in dumb mode which anyone can use or really get into it. Canon for me! ;)

Take a look at this thread (http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1429), might be helpful (it was for me).
The advice I got when asking a similar question, and that now I can confirm to be correct, was to first consider the lenses you'll want (considering range and image quality) and then see what brand offers you the best options, and only finally decide which camera body to buy.
I ended up getting the Canon 400D (rebel XTi in some markets) mostly because of the excellent canon 10-22 zoom, with very little distortion, ideal for interior spaces and streetscapes. There are several people in PPB who use this lens and are very happy with it, as you'll find out in the other thread.
Be careful if you choose the Nikon because the equivalent Nikon zoom is not as wide, it's more expensive and has more distortion (I remember Pitrak provided great links in the other thread). And if you consider lenses from other brands besides Nikon, you should check if they focus on the D40, because to make it cheaper the engine is in the lens, not in the camera (Sigma lenses with HSM are the only ones that I know focus on the D40s and D60). Also, if I remember correctly Nikon doesn't shoot in RAW format, something you should decide whether it's importatt to you or not. Having said this, I must add that I have a friend who uses the D40 and gets excellent pics from it, he uses a 10-20 from Sigma and if you don't mind some distortion it'a a quite capable combination.
Canon has excellent lenses (not the kit ones) and you have a wider choice from other manufacturers too. I would advise you against getting the XT only because it's a 2 model old camera (the XTi / 400D is a few years old already and you now have the XSi / 450D) unless it is REALLY cheap, which it should be by now.

A Canon.

I have the cannon, its great!

Looking at the new olympus e-520 as it has image stabilization in the body as well as dust reduction. High pixels great color rendition and I have seen in use so I am thinking of getting it. I am staying away from the nikons and canons as my budget doesn't allow me to purchase the features that are found in the olympus. Less than $1000 for body and 2 lens kit.

canon 450D, its better and a value for you money. nikon d40 if you really want a much much cheaper camera but is a DSLR. good luck! :)

I have a Nikon D40 and it has been superb for me so far. When I bought it I was slightly worried about the 6.1mp compared to others which had 8 or even 10. Ive since realised that 99.9% of the time this does not matter and in fact will only matter if you intend on printing very large format images at a high resolution (ive printed 50x70cm prints from my nikon and they look great).

The camera is exceptionally easy to use, it has hints and helpful advise that pops up when you are navigating through the menus if it thinks something is set wrong(these can be turned off when you become more competent, although i am fairly competant with photography having owned a couple of film slrs before, i still found this feature handy.)

lens wise, the standard 18-55mm that comes with the camera is not very wide angle (you have to factor in the digital sensor ratio which with nikons is 1.5,ie an 18mm lens will act more like a 28mm.

Would definatley recommend the camera though, you cant really go wrong with a Nikon.

Im using Nkon D40, even is lighter but it really provides me a good quality of picture. But if u use D40, u need to find AF-S type of lens.. other lens wont work..

Unless you find higher series of Nikon DSLR

If it helps, try this link:
http://www.lesnumeriques.com/duels.php?ty=1
You'll have to follow three steps (3 étapes):choose the brand and model of the two cam you'll compare (étapes 1 & 2). Then choose the picture you want to see the result with the cams you chose.

I've got and would definitely go for the Canon. I did a bit of research prior to buying it (Eos 400) and took advice to get lens other than the one that comes standard. At least go for the twin lens deal or if possible then try to trade up to a wider range standard lens.

:)

Get the 12-24 Nikkor lens. Good, sharp lens for architecture. Kit lenses will not be wide enough, especially for interiors work.

I have the nikon D40 as well. I agree that the 18mm lens acts more like a 28mm. most cameras that allow you to have full controll would probably be fine, its the lenses that you want. for the nikon D40 the paralax shift lens ((Sp)? - the bendy one for buildings) costs about a grand.. so ive not invested in that yet. but a decent wide angle lens is definately my next purchase.

as far as the megapixel goes most normal printers cant print above 300dpi anyway, so there is hardly any difference in a small print. i find the 6mp fine on A3 prints. Anything larger that i have printed has been stylised in photoshop so i couldnt comment.