Best Camera at a Price

[Boracho]

I wanted to get your opinion on what you think would be the best camera for around 1,000. I was looking at B and H and the 10D was $800. So really I want to know if the 10D is a good camera. And if not, then are there any other good cameras that are at the or below 1,000 dollar range that are pretty good. And as lenses go, what would be a good starting lense? I was looking at some of the 70-200, but is that a good all around lense that you can keep on your camera at all times for all occasions, or is there something else that suits everything from wildlife, to flowers, to people. Thanks for any feedback.

[Jake]

You can get a used 20d for $1000. I think a new Rebel XT would be better then a old 10d, it has better high ISO, Better sensor, ETTL-II, and so on.
The 10d is a very nice camera and has a better body then the XT but for the money it kind of dated.

[AjP]

well New 20D at B&H or OneCall is about 1100, why do you even think about 10D.. when you can get much much better camera for few extra $$

[snidow]

The 10D is a great camera, but as Jake indicated the XT or better yet the 20D would be a better choice. The 20D has been rated as one of the best DSLR's on the market. As for a lens, it depends on what you shoot, but yes the 70-200 is a good all around lens you might want a wide angle lens as well. If you are intersted in used cameras check KEH.com (they carry new cameras too) for some good prices. They currently have a 20D new for 1119 and an XT new for 694.

The Nikon crew can chime in on the best Nikon cameras for the price you are looking at.

[petert]

The way you've phrased your original post, it seems like you're not "locked in" (read as "don't have money sunk into lenses yet") on a manufacturer yet. If that's the case, look into the Nikon D70s + kit lens. The set would actually be less than your $1000 limit and you'd be getting a world-class product.

Actually, looking again, B+H has a special running where you get two lens and the D70s for $1079...

Just a suggestion...

[Boracho]

Thanks for all of your suggestions. My brother told me that the The Rebel 350D is quite small, and doesn't fit in his hands, and I have even bigger hands than he does, so that might be a problem. My dad has a D70, and that seems like a good camera. But I am still looking, so again, thanks for the information.

[gardener]

When I was looking (before my XT), I found that sometimes it wasn't the literal size of the camera that was hard to hold so much as how the case was configured and where the finger placement ended up... I also have fairly large hands but they "fit" best on the XT and considering the amount of money I was willing to let go of... I held both bigger and smaller cameras and some cradled nicely while others seemed to want to jump out of my grip no matter what I did.
Just noting that it might be best to determine what cameras fit your preferred price range first, then whittle down the list based on reviews, and THEN go to a retailer that will let you hold and examine the various brands and models before you make a decision based on what someone else says...