a good camera?
 

hello all,

I am looking to purchase a new or used digital 35mm slr for a graduation present. The recipient plans to become a private investigator. The budget is under $500.00. The camera's requirements are:

--hot shoe
--automatic & manual mode
--4.0 megapixels ....was told this is what required for a good quality 8 x 10 enlargement.
--at least a 4x zoom


thank y'all
---adam

If you are looking at a Digital SLR, you will need to push your budget up another $500. The Digital Rebel is $1000 right now and that is the cheapest Digital SLR on the market right now.

christian,

http://www.epinions.com/Digital_Cameras-SLR-4_0_5_9_Megapixels
here is a link to some D-slrs priced well under 1g. I know i will be limited in my options-----I am trying to see if one of the lower end cameras are more desirable than the others.

thanks
--adam

The page listing is inaccurate. None of the models on that page priced below $1000 are D-SLR's. Everything listed there below $1000 can be classified as an advanced digital still camera, but not as an SLR. The zoom spec gives it away... models listed with 4x, 5x zoom etc. have fixed, non-removeable lenses. An SLR would have a lens mount and are most often shipped without lenses (the Canon Digital Rebel being the exception; it includes an 18-55mm lens). That said, any of the advanced digicams listed there below $1000 would make a fine gift. Hope this helps,

I know this is almost $400 over your budget but below & other 'deals' are posted on www.techbargains.com. Other deals I saw recently there for Canon A70 & A75.

AbtElectronics.com has 10% off with code: ANNIVERSARY68 Exp 5/2/04
Free shipping on many items, Tax in IL, IN, WI, MI

Canon Digital Rebel 6.3Mpixel digital camera SLR $889.20 shipped free. In stock. Model# is DIGREB1855 so it should have 18-55 lens.

Robert

thank you all for the information....I am seriously considering the rebel from Abt--thank you Robert for the link and rebate offer.



adam

No problem ... this community has been great in helping me with my newbie questions - both on my recent Panny purchase & while I'm on the fence on buying a DSLR.

I've been doing more research on the 'net & I see that there's a Russian dude who has hacked the Drebel firmware that opens the custom functions that were present in the bigger brother 10D. Not all custom functions seem to work on Drebel but the important once do per people who tried the hack. This might convince me to Drebel too.

That techbargain site, I know there are others like fatwallet site, is a great source. I think onecall has something at the same price range.

Robert