I think going DSLR is good choice. The 400D is a solid camera to use. However I would say that since the 40D came out in a short period of time the 30D price will drop even more. As of now it is 1000 USD as the 40D becomes more main stream that price will fall. If you can wait long enough you can get a better camera. Although the 30D is lower in MP it's a better camera than the 400D..

I am a canon guy but I have to admit the Nikon 40x is a better camera than the 400D, rightfully so the Nikon 40x cost a little more...

My guiding principle to purchases has always been to buy only what I need, when I need it..

If you dont know whether or not you need a DSLR, then you need to do more research. You need to understand what the advantages of a DLSR are over a good P&S, such as the G9, and then determine for yourself whether you need those advantages. If you dont need those advantages then dont buy a DSLR. Of course, buy what you need is always overridden by, buy what you want..

If you dont understand what you getting, how can you appreciate and utilize the expanded abilities of a DSLR? If you do understand what youre getting, then you should be able to make the decision without any help..

And dont forget the issue of portability. A G9 will fit in a jacket pocket. A DSLR will need it's own bag, or hang around your neck all day (you know...like an albatross. :o)..

The Nikon F3 is a classic. http://www.mir.com.my/...photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/index.htm If it still works, it should take fine pictures and teach you the basics of SLR operation, which will also apply to digital SLRs. Could be a pain if you aren't near a place that can make contact sheets for you (just an index print of all your negatives, which is cheaper than having prints made of each picture.).

DSLR's are like film SLRs with a bunch of extra fiddly bits, which can make them awfully confusing until you've played with one for a long time. The most important ones will be the same ones on a film SLR though.... metering mode, f-stop, shutter speed, depth of field preview and exposure compensation (for when the lighting or subject material will confuse the meter which will try to give the correct exposure for an 18% gray card...i.e. snow will be gray unless you over expose by a stop or two, and coal will be gray unless you under expose by a stop or two from what the meter says).

You might want to get a Nikon, or an adapter, that can use those old lenses... they might be pretty good, and you can learn a lot from them too, they had handy markings for hyperfocal distance (vanishing from modern lenses), which is a handy thing to know about. http://www.dofmaster.com/hyperfocal.html..

Thanks for the replies. I feel that I could really use the advantages of an entry level dslr vs the g9. sometimes I go to tracks and shows where the lighting is not ideal. in general ive taken quite a few pics in the night as well, and I think id benefit from the speed. even though it's bigger I think it's what I want to learn..

I can still keep a smaller camera to carry about..

The nikon lenses havent been touched in a long time, they would definitely have to be serviced. I think I'm going to go ahead and get the xti. I keep reading the d30 can be had at a discount but ill stick with the xti..

I guess the only question that remains is if I should get the canon 17-55 f2.8 even though I would only have a xti, and given that I'm learning. or should I try to find the new canon kit lens like it? it's slower but with IS and the dslr's cmos sensor, it should be a major improvement over what I had before, no? or would that be potentially redundant to get that kit lens if I would later on get the f2.8 version anyway..

Tekknikal32 wrote:.

I guess the only question that remains is if I should get the canon17-55 f2.8 even though I would only have a xti, and given that imlearning. or should I try to find the new canon kit lens like it? itsslower but with IS and the dslr's cmos sensor, it should be a majorimprovement over what I had before, no?.

You are asking questions that only you can answer. By most accounts, the 17-55 mm f/2.8 is an excellent lens, but it is also expensive. Do you need f/2.8?.

The current kit lens only adds about $80 to the price of the camera. You can use it to find out what you would want from a better lens by seeing where it limits your shooting: focal length, aperture, IS, resolution, close focusing distance, etc..

Or would that be potentiallyredundant to get that kit lens if I would later on get the f2.8version anyway.

Yes, it would be redundant, but you could always sell one of them..

Brian A...

Why would the Nikon lenses need to be serviced? I just sold a bunch of old Canon breech mount lenses that I bought in about 1982 and they worked just fine. Unless they've gotten wet, rusty or moldy they should be okay. Worth a look anyway. The F3 was not a cheap camera so I imagine that at least the two prime lenses were pretty decent, and probably better than many of the cheaper modern "digital" lenses (which is why I suggested something like a Nikon D80, or possibly a D40, that can maybe use them in manual focus mode, though you can probably find a Nikon to EOS adapter if you are set on Canon). Unless the camera is trashed, you should at least put some fresh batteries in the thing and see if it works. Even if you don't want to keep it, you might be able to get a hundred or so selling the lot..

If you do get the Canon, don't get the kit lens unless you just want to experiment with it... they're cheap, but pretty awful accoding to every review I've ever seen. Buy a good one... people here can tell you which ones are worth considering (I went from old Canon FD film to Olympus digital so I don't know which of the Canon EOS lenses are the good ones) Your pictures will depend more on the quality of your lens more than which camera body you hang it off of..

BTW:Here are some pages on identifying old Nikon lenseshttp://www.nikonlinks.com/unklbil/nomenclature.htmhttp://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-153.html.

Here is a compatability chart... if they are AI lenses, it looks like you could use them in manual focus modehttp://www.nikonians.org/nikon/slr-lens.html andhttp://www.bythom.com/lensacronyms.htm..

Good advice to try the old Nikonit is a great camera. I don't know the origional posters location but many film processors (most in US) will burn a cd and give you a contact sheet with processing for very little extra..

Also, good to hear from a fellow Cornhuskereven though I deserted the state to earn a living I'm still loyal...

You can probably better identify the lenses from this site:.

Http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/lenses.html#50%20slow.

If they were bought after about 1985 they may well be AF lenses and will autofocus on something like a D80 (but not a D40x. They would have to manual focus on that.) The f/1.4 lens is certainly worth keeping or selling..

Chris Elliott.

*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.

Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/..

Tekknikal32 wrote:This article will help you sort out what is what with these lenses:.

Http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikortek.htm#afd.

Lens 1. NIKKOR-S Auto 1:1.4 f=50mm 1183841 Nikon (it looks like thereare f stpos and focus adjusters on this one).

A type A lens circa 1973. No AF and will meter. It will not fit a DSLR without a modification but well worth considering. This link will tell you more:.

Http://www.mir.com.my/...companies/nikon/nikkoresources/50mmnikkor/index6.htm.

Lens 2. NIKKOR-H.C Auto 1:3.5 f=28mm 893129 Nikon (again looks likethere are f-stop labeling and focus adjusters on it).

This will be manual focus on all Nikon digitals and will not fit without mods as above. Circa 1973.

See this thread re the above two lenses that will tell you more about what needs doing:.

Http://forums.dpreview.com/...ums/readflat.asp?forum=1034&thread=24657863.

Lens 3. Zoom-NIKKOR 80-200mm 1:4.5 252329 Nikon (same as above, readjustments).

This lens is the f/4.5-5.6 and will AF and work OK on all Nikon digital SLRs except the D40/x where you will lose autofocus - So D50, D70, D80, D200 - take your choice. It will work on all of them ..

This link will tell you more about Nikon lenses generally.

Http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/nikortek.htm#afd.

Chris Elliott.

*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.

Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/..

Ignore the first reference for the f1.4 50mm. This is the correct one from the same site:.

Http://www.mir.com.my/...companies/nikon/nikkoresources/50mmnikkor/index2.htmChris Elliott.

*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.

Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/..