Whats up guys? I'm about to buy a nice digital SLR... I've been favoring the Canon 20d for a while(as you know Rev for ive talked to you many times about it) but what digital SLRs do you two use? By chance do either of you shoot on a Nikon d50? Aaron, I know you shoot on Nikon... What model do you use? Same wuestion for Carina.. Also, what would you suggest? My maximum budget is $1200.. But I'd perfer to keep it under a grand... Thanks in advance!

I have a D100, D70, D2H, and D2X.
carina has D100, D70, and D2X. she is thinking of getting a 5D too.

what do you want to shoot?

the reason i first bought the d100 was because i was at the first show i shot in the US and there was a female band photographer there....i chatted with her a lot....and that helped me make my decision. i didn't even play with it beforehand...heh

shortly after, i met aaron, he was at a point where he wanted to invest $ in a better camera....he wound up buying a d100 too....he played with mine and loved it....then we eventually both got the d70...(i actually like it more than the d100)....then i got the d2x last yr and aaron got the d2h...he would take my d2x to shows sometimes....and recently he got the d2x...all that to say we're a 'nikon family'

a lot of my work is with natural, low light settings, difficult situations with the lights always changing and i can't use a flash....i'm considering playing with a canon 5d...though i don't want to spend all the $$$$ right now...i think i'll see if i can play with one for a day...and then decide...

all this to say...if at all possible, play with the camera before you buy it and i don't mean for 5 minutes in the store...take pics you want to take and use it like you would want to use it...i don't have either one, but you are welcome to try mine....but i recommend bringing a compact flash card with you and go to stores and try them out...then when you get
home, turn on yer pc and look at the pics and how the cameras performed with the same settings.

now...in terms of lenses..dont go cheap..get the good glass. i started by buying sigma lenses because they were cheaper....well my pics weren't as sharp.

We could recommend lenses based on what you'd be using it for the most...and depending on which camera you wind up going for
body wise...they are both sturdy....i've used all my nikons in the rain and they took it...personally i think nikon is sturdier...as for lenses....again, nikon lenses seems more sturdy (i have a canon 35mm that i used before moving to digital).

thanks so much! FYI... Ive chatted with a bunch of Canon fans and the word on the street is that you dont get the same bang for your buck for a 5D like you do for the 20D.. just the increase in megapixels. but hey you guysare the D SLR buffs..

But as for what Im shooting... Basically the sole reason I want a digital SLR is for open shutter shots, Mostly light painting.. After I buy the camera I plan on purchasing a light pack so i can pop flashes throughout a 30 second exposure... So far the longest shutter exposure I can find on a Digital SLR is 30 seconds. Do you guys know of any cameras with longer exposure times?

All this info is VERY helpful thank you!