Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with dslr and nikon

Help me choose a beginner DSLR?

kylej — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:26:13 -0800

What beginner's dslr should I buy? I'm looking to purchase a camera within the next couple weeks. I have around 600$ to spend, and I'm looking to buy a beginners dslr.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Canon Rebel XSi.

It seems like it has a lot of options for me to learn and Canon has a nice lens selection if I want to buy more.

I've seen other questions on here, as well as numerous online reviews, but I wanted to see if you guys can think of any other options that would be good for me.

Stuff I'm planning on using it for:
Snapshots of friends
Macro(ish) shots
Travel shots(for when I go to Spain this summer)
Probably some informal portraits too

Another camera I was considering was the Nikon D3000, which is geared towards beginners, but I feel like it might be limiting as I get better at photography.

Thanks for your input!

Canon -> Nikon

aeighty — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:33:55 -0800

Switching dSLR systems, going from Canon to Nikon? I'm curious if anyone has done this. I've been photographing with a Canon Digital Rebel 350D for about 4 years now. I'd like to get a little more resolution for larger prints and better nighttime sensitivity. Recently, my father bought himself a Nikon D90, so I figure if I upgrade in the near future, I might as well upgrade to a compatible system so that we may share accessories (flashes, expensive lenses). I'm not heavily invested in Canon. I have a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, Canon f/1.8 50mm prime and the crappy kit lense. Oh and a flash. Over the years I've gotten used to Canon's menus and ergonomics, so I'm never fiddling with settings; equipment almost never interferes with the process.

I'm concerned that I may hate "the Nikon experience", although truth be told my initial Canon decision was somewhat arbitrary. At some point in the near future, I will borrow my dad's D90 to play with, but I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences.

Thanks

I need a 102, 103 class in photography. Suggestions?

GilloD — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:35:23 -0800

Where do I go for my 102 on photography? I took a couple of photo classes in high school and know my way around an SLR/DSLR pretty well. I'm at about 102- I understand an Shutter Speed and an Aperture and I understand the trade-off between the two, but I'm not always sure what I'm looking at when I see my photos, i.e. this photo looks great, but how'd I get there?

Now that I've gotten a bit more serious, I'm interested in how lenses interact with that process. I understand what's different about an 18-55mm lens and and 28-200mm, but I'm not 100% sure what those terms mean, in terms of being useful for me, and how they change the photos I take beyond "Well, this one can zoom farther than that one". I'm also looking for clarification on things like AE, and the various forms of AF and why one matters more than the other and... phew!

I got myself a copy of Understanding Exposure, but that's much more about picture taking than the complicated technical world of equipment. I'm really looking for a 102-103 class: "Okay, you're comfortable with the camera and you understand what the aperture and shutter speed are. Let's go farther.".

Suggestions? Books are fine, but I have limited access to English language books. Web tutorials are better and I don't mind shelling out for something I can DL. FWIW, I'm shooting on a shiny new Nikon D90 with 28-200mm Nikon lens.

DSLR n00b

chrisinseoul — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:00:36 -0800

New to the DSLR world, and I need the hive mind's help with a couple questions. I recently picked up a used Nikon D70 body (decent older DSLR, decent enough for the purposes of picking things up anyway) and a couple lenses (a 28-70mm and a 70-210mm lens, both Nikon). Over the past couple days I've spent free time reading through a manual that seems almost incomprehensible in places. I come from a fairly advanced point-and-shoot type camera, so I'm familiar with most of the terms like white balance, shutter / aperture priority, and the like. The advice of 'just shoot stuff' is certainly good, but a few things are bugging me.

#1: The longer lens (70-210mm AF 1.4-5.6 D) has one area to turn for manual focus and an aperture ring closest to where the lens hooks up to the body. There's no way to zoom in / out though - am I missing something here?

#2: I know the D70 has a crop factor of 1.5x. When I take a picture, it looks nothing like what I saw through the viewfinder. It's a *much* tighter shot than expected. Is there a way to adjust this, or is it just a mental adjustment?

#3: Looking to buy one more lens, primarily used for landscapes or macro. Is it possible to get wide angle and macro in a single lens without the cost breaking the bank?

Thank you O hive mind :)

Pentax DSLR vs Nikon vs Canon

mikepop — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:21:07 -0800

Digital SLR - does anyone have experience with the Pentax K2000 (comparing with the Nikon D40) This recent DSLR question was timely, as I'm looking to buy one as a gift soon and I was looking at entry-level Canons and Nikons.

However, the giftee has a Pentax film SLR and along with it a couple of lenses - a basic lens and a telephoto/zoom lens (sorry, I don't know what they are exactly). From what I'm reading in the other thread, it makes sense to buy the camera you already have lenses for, so I'm taking a look at the Pentax K2000.

A lot of people I know have a Nikon or Canon, but I don't know anyone with a Pentax DSLR. Is it just as good, generally speaking, as an entry-level DSLR? Any warnings?

And if I do decide to go with the Pentax, would it make sense to buy just the camera body (vs a kit) and save some money, since she already has a couple of lenses?

Which DSLR would you pick?

ddaavviidd — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:59:43 -0800

I need to choose between buying a used Nikon D50 and a used Canon Rebel XT. I would like to hear about your experience with any of these fine cameras. Both cameras pretty much have the same specs, and I can get them at the same price ( about $400 CAD), both come with the 18-55 kit lense, the Nikon also have a dx nikor 55-200 F4,5-5,6 and the canon comes with a sigma 70-300 F4,0-5,6. I will use this camera both inside and outside, and I don't plan to print huge posters. I'm not doing sport photography, mostly landscape and people. I was also looking at new Nikon D60, but they are still over $500 and I can't afford that right now.

I'd like to hear about your experience with these cameras. I'm leaning towards the D50 for its larger lcd, but I heard the XT does a better job for inside shots. I don't own lenses, so I'm not sold to any brand. Anything I should be aware of to help my choice? I've done lots of photography before, using manual settings and all, but always with point-and-shoot cameras.

Cheap DSRL for low-light?

Monday, stony Monday — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:20:21 -0800

What cheap kit should I get to take relatively low-light photos? So I found out that shooting hockey indoors is out of my price/skills range. Still looking for a camera. My subjects would be people in low-light situations, at close range (players on the bench, people in the crowd). Later, I'd use that setup to shoot family gatherings. Ideally, I'd like to spend less than $1000. I own no lenses, or body. It seems that a DSLR with an APS-sized sensor + a fixed lens would offer me the best compromise in terms of low-light performance vs. weight vs. cost.

This leads me to:

This Nikkor lens + a D40 (or D60 if I should) seems like the cheapest/lightest setup with a "normal" (like a 50 mm lens on a 35 mm camera) perspective. Amirite? Is there a good reason to avoid the D40?
Should I step up to a Sigma 30 mm/1.4? Here in Canada it's more than double the price.

Fast 50 mm lenses are relatively cheap. Would putting one on an APS body be an hindrance, given that I intend to shoot in close quarters (e.g.: people in a living room)?

Finally, am I overthinking this? Would whatever cheap kit zoom be enough for my purpose? For "shooting around a hockey game", a zoom would be nice since I could get relatively "close" to the players on the opposite bench.

Oh, and should I care about stabilisation, since I'm shooting people?

Best low-light lens for Nikon D80?

bollockovnikov — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:03:51 -0800

I am looking for a lens for my Nikon D80 that works well in low-light conditions. Something relatively compact and not too expensive would be best. I already own a 18-200mm VR lens, which is OK in low light, but not very compact.

I would obviously like my new lens to be useful in a range of situations, but I am more interested in the portrait to 10 metres range.

I do not own a flash unit and don't intend to buy one.

Thanks

Pokémon Snap was about as far as I got with photography.

joshrholloway — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:13:58 -0800

What are some absolute beginner DSLR tips and tricks my wife can pick up on quickly and start using today? My wife has recently become interested in photography as a hobby or potential career, but has always been a point-and-shoot person. Instead of sinking money into a nice camera and lenses, I decided to borrow a nice DSLR from a friend and let her use it for a day or two to see if it's something she would like.

I know about ISO and white balance and shutter speed in the sense that I know what they are, but not how to utilize them effectively. I want to help her be able to maximize her experience of using the camera, but neither of us have ever really used a DSLR before.

I know that these days you can set a camera to auto and just snap away, but are there any absolute beginner techniques to make your pictures pop like the pros? I know she's not going to be an expert in a day or two of using a DSLR, but is there something that would just take here a few minutes/hours to "get" to really see some results and room for potential growth?

(If it matters, the camera she was looking at buying is a Nikon D40, and the one I was able to borrow is an Olympus E-410.)

Too many cameras! So many features! Too much choice! Arrrgggrhhhh!

gergtreble — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:17:08 -0800

Calling all Mefi photographers. Help me choose my entry level DSLR. I just went to my local camera store to buy a Nikon D60 but I made the mistake of asking the guy in the store if there were any other similarly priced ones he recommended. He immediately recommended the Sony a350. This totally threw me I had made up my mind that I wanted a D60 no question! But the Sony A350 has a host of extra features I wasn't expecting to find with the budget I have. Here are the pros and cons of each model as I see them.

1) Glass - Nikon lenses are generally better than Sony right? But Sony bought Minolta so I can use old Minolta lenses if I want. I've also heard that Carl Zeiss makes all Sony lenses! Is that true?

2) Live view - The Nikon doesn't have it, but the Sony does. And the display is movable for shooting from the waist or from over the head! This is drawing me to the Sony.

3) Vibration reduction - The Nikon uses VR in the lens. But the Sony's VR is in the body. Technically I should be able to get vibration reduction with any lens I use in the Sony. But i would have to buy specific VR lenses from Nikon

4) Autofocus - I think the Nikon's AF isnt back compatible with old lenses. But I'm not sure about this.

Now to top it off I've started looking at the Cannon EOS 400D / XTi too! I'm a beginner photographer so I'm looking for a camera that will help me learn the nuances of photography. My budget is £500 ish give or take. I also plan to buy a longer lens before Christmas as I am hoping to spend new year in The Maasai Mara.

I'm torn and conflicted here! A decision that once was so easy has become unbelievably difficult! I would appreciate any advice or testimonies that you can provide.

Thanks in advance.

Best lens for low-light photography with a Nikon D50?

inatizzy — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:54:46 -0800

What is the best lens to use with a Nikon D50 for low-light situations where the subjects are moving? I would like to photograph people at swing dances, which are usually low-light settings and the people tend to move fast.

A friend has gotten some really amazing shots using a Canon EOS 30D with a fixed 28mm lens. (exposures were typically lasting .005-.01 seconds, f 1.8 or 2.) No blurring, beautiful colors. Really just gorgeous portraits of people having a good time, like a freeze-frame in the middle of their dance, and just enough blurring in the background to bring the viewer's focus to the subject.

I have a Nikon D50 and this friend has told me Nikons are not as good as Canons in low-light situations. But I don't really want to invest a lot of money in a whole new body *and* lens.

Is there a lens for the D50 that could accomplish this? (And that would be not-too-expensive? I'm happy to buy used.) In case it matters, right now I have the Nikon 18-200mm lens, which has been fine for everyday shooting but doesn't do as well in really low light. I might be willing to sell this lens to put the money towards the low-light one. (esp if the low-light one could also be used for more general settings like outdoors in the afternoon.)

thanks for your advice! :)

Old Lens with New dSLR?

awesomebrad — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:41:32 -0800

dSLRfilter - What will a dSLR think about my 30 year old lens? I've recently started photography as a hobby, and have been using a very old Nikon EM from 1979 that my parents had lying around the house. It only has one lens, a 50mm f/1. Series E, which I quite like. My limited but growing understanding of dSLRs tells me that because I won't be getting a full frame camera, the image is going to be different in some way because the lens is designed for film. What is that something? Is there anything else that will prevent it from working with a new camera?

Bonus: thoughts on Nikon D40 v. D60? I'd go with the D40, but I'm a bit concerned about not having a dust removal system...how big of a problem is that?

Inexpensive, basic lens for a Nikon D40?

The corpse in the library — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:33:53 -0800

Inexpensive, basic lens for a Nikon D40? I am overwhelmed by my options when it comes to lenses for my Nikon D40 DSLR. I have the 18-55mm it came with, but I would like something less bulky -- and less eye-catching -- for carrying around with me.

I see the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor lens, and it sounds great -- but I don't want to lose the autofocus.

I also see the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM lens, and it sounds glorious -- but too expensive.

Is there a basic lens out there, around $100, that will work with my D40, including autofocus?

Strike a pose, please.

jadepearl — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:31:54 -0800

Getting a DSLR today. What lens options should make a good set to take the plunge? having read all the threads or at least the most recent ones on DSLRs and having handled the various body cameras at a store, I have settled on the Sony A200. Before all the hatin' starts I say that the reasons I decided on this system were:

it felt good in my hands
worked when chasing a VERY active 14 month old around the store;
photo lag was minimal to me;
photos looked good of said active child;
price point was reasonable for quality and features. Mr. Jadepearl is a Nikon man but he was disappointed in the performance of the D40 while the camera clerk told me that the introductory Canon in this range was not a good competitor on price performance at this level
Older Minolta lenses work with it

So, what lens do I need to make a complete kit? The immediate plans are to take photos of kids, plants, landscapes and scenes from a moving vehicle. Did I mention that I travel with two hand puppets that I pose in ludicrous poses at famous locations or break some rules on museum displays and proximity?

So what lens should I go for to cover the widest possible conditions for this photo newbie? I plan to have this camera for years and figure that Sony is seemingly committed to their camera line.

Broken D300 or just bad design?

AstroGuy — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:26:59 -0800

Should the release mode wheel on a Nikon D300 (or D200) just spin or should there be click stops? Just got my new D300 a few days ago and I'm loving it. But I wonder if something is broken on my new camera or if this is a design flaw.

The release mode dial (to change between S, CL, CH, LV, and MUP modes) spins freely when the lock button is depressed. I would expect there to be click stops at each position on the dial to provide tactile feedback and ease making setting changes by feel. The D200 has the same control (minus the LV=LiveView, setting) but it's been about a year since I handled a co-worker's D200 for all of 15 minutes and I can't remember how that control felt on his camera.

If this is by design, that's cool, although I think it's a bad design, but I'm afraid something is amiss on my new $1800 camera body.

I've googled every search phrase I can think of and found nothing describing this and the manuals for both cameras don't say one way or another. What say you, MeFi shutterbugs?

I want a Nikon camera; I love to take a photograph, so hivemind, please help me choose!

odi.et.amo — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:49:15 -0800

What camera should I buy? I want to buy myself a camera for Christmas, but I can't pin down exactly what I should get. I want a camera that will take good quality pictures and that has plenty of manual settings for me to fiddle with as I learn about photography.

Portability is somewhat of a factor - I'm going to England next year, so I wanted something good enough to capture the beauty of old cathedrals but still be manageable as I tour and travel. I will also be taking the typical silly pet cat pictures and landscapes, as well as pictures from a moving car while on drives through the country.

To this point, I was planning on getting a Canon S5 IS. Decent image quality with occasional red fringing in certain situations, and small enough that I could stick it in my purse for travel.

On the other hand, I still want a DSLR. The Nikon D40 appeals to me quite a lot, for several reasons. I've used a friend's before, and loved it! For me, there's just nothing like the heft of a good camera. Also, my parents have several lenses from their Nikon film SLR - shouldn't these work with the D40, thus saving me oodles of money on good lenses? (money is another important factor here...) I'd consider Canon's entry DSLR, but the appeal of re-purposing my parents' unused lenses is strong!

If the answer is a DSLR, what bag would work that can carry my purse-ish stuff as well as the camera pieces and still protect me from the riff raffs and pick-pocketers?

What should I do, hivemind?

Hit me with your best (Nikon) shot

humuhumu — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:37:06 -0800

Nikon owners: persuade me...! brand new Nikon D40 (kit lens) or refurbished D50 (1 yr warranty, kit lens) or 2nd hand D70s? Ah yes, it's the old 'which DSLR' conundrum... Currently: Sony H2 - love it, but want to move on up.

The D40 (and D40x) has superb reviews but the manual focus issue on non AF-S lenses worries me. Superb in low-light though. The D50 had great reviews when it came out but I've got the impression it's been left behind by newer models. The D70 gets great write-ups for its age. I've read all the articles, looked at all the photos and the specs, handled each, know all the good and badb bits, and I'm just stuck.

Most use: children, partic indoors; people; the odd bit of scenery. I do want to add lenses as time goes on but the budget just ain't there atm.

So I'm left with emotional persuasion. Owners of any of these, make your most impassioned pleas for your own cameras, please! Show me your best shots, gush and criticise, and convince me one way or ther other...

Nikon goes full frame

matteo — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:40:59 -0800

I'm completely baffled by Nikon's DSLR strategy and I'd like to understand a few things better: first they create the DX line and seem to indicate that cropped is there to stay, now they go full frame. What should a serious film photographer who wants to go DSLR and already owns a bunch of excellent manual focus Nikon lenses do now? I also find baffling that they're not teling who manufactures their full-frame sensors -- don't potential customers have the right to know who makes the heart of the really expensive camera they may buy? Thanks.

Which SLR camera to buy: Canon Rebel XTi or Nikon D40?

madman — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 06:53:53 -0800

I want to step into the big bad world of digital SLRs but don't really have a huge budget. Please help me choose between the Nikon D40 and the Canon Digital Rebel XTi (also known as EOS 400D). I currently have a point n' click Canon A95, which I use mostly for shooting food photos (evidence is on my Flickr stream). I've had this camera for a couple of years now, and would like to graduate to an SLR camera. The Canon camera's limitation is the ridiculous amount of time it takes to acquire focus sometimes (makes a mess of moving subjects like people), and its uselessness in low-light photography. I'd like to be able to shoot portraits and street photographs also, and am looking to buy an entry level SLR. I don't expect to be shooting wildlife or landscapes much, since I don't get to travel anywhere as much as I'd like to.

My photography guru friends recommended the Nikon D80, but that's $200 more than the Canon Rebel XTi and also beyond my budget. I don't want to spend more than $750 on everything put together, so my choices are between the Canon Rebel XTi and the Nikon D40.

Which of those cameras would you recommend? I also intend to buy a f/1.8 50 mm lens to go with the camera, which should be a fast enough lens for day to day photos. Any other lens recommendations?

Whoever took my camera from my house, you suck

generic230 — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 09:33:22 -0800

My Nikon D50 was stolen, I need to replace it, but I don't want to pay $800 for a new camera. I still have one lens, the 55-200mm, so I need the 18-55mm. I notice Circuit City has the D40 with the 18-55mm lens for around $550. Are the D50 lenses interchangeable with the D40? Will my 55-200mm lens work with ANY Nikon dSLR?

Also, I noticed that no camera stores are selling the D50 any more. Why is that?

How-to buy a camera lens off craigslist?

docgonzo — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 09:32:07 -0800

Buying a used dSLR lens via craigslist: What to look for? How much to offer? I'm looking at buying a 28mm f/2.8D AF Nikkor lens for my Nikon d70s that I've found on craigslist. Intended use is nature/landscapes and low-light/night photography -- the kit lens is great but not very fast.

My questions: When I go to see the lens how do I check out its quality? I'll bring along the body and my Powerbook to check test shots. How best to tell the optics are still good and all the mechanics are in good working order? Also, the seller advises the lens was "made in Japan" -- What's the importance of this? Is it a good thing/bad thing?

Is this a good lens for my intended use or should I hold out for the 35mm f/2.0D AF?

Finally, if it's in good shape, how much should I offer? The lens retails new in Canada for $279.00

20D or 30D? You tell me!

hammerthyme — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:05:57 -0800

Help me choose which Canon DSLR to buy and where to buy it. I'm going to buy a digital SLR and it is currently a toss up between the Canon 30D and the 20D. A few years ago, I owned the 10D and loved the rugged body but am not too sure about the ruggedness of the 20D or 30D.

My other problem is where to buy it from. I'm not opposed to buying refurbished from a site like refurbdeport.com but I am a little afraid of buying a "brand new" 30D for $499 from a site like expresscameras.com. If you think I'm better off with another camera, I welcome the input; any/all advice is nice. Thanks.

Too many Nikon choices! Help!

wierdo — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 12:24:06 -0800

dSLRfilter: Which Nikon should I buy? D40, D50, or D70s? I've been thinking of purchasing a dSLR for some time now, and I'm seriously thinking of buying one very soon, but I can't seem to make up my mind. My body budget is limited since decent glass costs a lot of money, so I'm looking at a new D40 or a refurb D50 or D70s. Some further background: The main thing, to me, that the D70s has going for it is that it can control a Speedlight remotely, which may provide better fill or fill that would otherwise be impossible, or spend another $250 to fit an SU-800 or SB-800 on the D40 or D50. It only has USB 1.1, but I have a couple of card readers around that I could use instead of cabling the camera itself to the computer, so that's not a big deal.

The D50 seems to have a better meter than the D40, but seems otherwise the same as the D70s, except that it has no DOF preview button (but these are digital, how much do I really need that when I can just fire off a shot and look at the results instantly?) and has USB 2.0. Since it uses SD, that's important, as I don't have an SD reader

Other than the meter (which I may never notice!), the D40's only disadvantage to me is that it only supports AF-S and AF-i lenses. If I decide I want a 300mm zoom my only choice with the D40 is the $450 70-300 AF-S VR lens. On the other two cameras, I could opt for the $139 70-300 that doesn't have VR.

The D50 would be cheapest, while the D40 would be about $150 more, and a D70s is another $125 more than that.

Basically, it comes down to whether I should care about the wireless Speedlight control and whether I'll ever actually use the extra 100mm, and if so, whether the lack of VR would make it useless without a tripod anyway.

I like to shoot portraits, landscapes, wildlife, architecture, and lots of stuff in the dark; pretty much everything, but wildlife and landscapes (often at dusk) more than the rest, I suppose. Since I'm using a crappy p&s, it's ~~difficult~~ impossible to have any real depth of field control or decent low light performance, thanks to the teensy weensy sensor, so it's beginning to get quite frustrating, even before thinking about the very little zoom reach it has, which makes it nearly impossible to get decent wildlife shots.

Sorry for the long winded question, but I wanted to be clear about where I'm coming from. If you made it this far, congratulations! ;)

Finish my work for me

AnyGuelmann — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 06:31:42 -0800

Help me find the perfect digital SLR camera to substitute my Minolta Maxxum 300si I have already done research and read reviews, now I need to be influenced towards one of my available choices.
Biased photographers, influence me away.

Myself as a photographer:
- Totally amateur
- Totally pretentious
- Not quite there as far as technique goes, but eager to improve

My preferences:
- 8x plus zoom
- 6 Mpx at least, but no real need to go beyond that
- Fast startup
- Manual focus, or an auto focus that gives me choices and lets me choose
- Possibly a stabilization feature, as long as somebody tells me it really works
- $500 - $800 range, lens included

My targets:
- Architecture and art - wide angle just important as good zoom (right?)
- Close ups of "step by step" DIY projects, Instructables style
- Pets, lots of close ups
- Travel and vacation, with a flare for those (pretentious) artsy shots

The selection so far:
- Pentax K100D / 18-55 mm
- Nikon D70s / 18-70 mm
- Canon Digital Rebel XT / 18-55 mm
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50s / 12x zoom

My doubts:
- Will I be able to screw in filters on all of these? I like filters.
- Should I buy separate body and lens?
- Btw, what are the basic filters I should have? I currently have the somewhat tacky fog and four-point star
- I guess a couple of these are not really SLRs, but will that make a difference, based on I told you above?
- The Maxxum 300si was discontinued, but did Minolta substitute it with any equivalent digital camera I might take a look at?

Shoot, which camera should I buy?

mutantdisco! — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 13:15:12 -0800

Which used dSLR should I buy, being cost-conscious, and not invested in a particular brand? I would like to buy either a used Nikon or Canon entry-level dSLR, so either: d50, Rebel, or Rebel XT. I know the basics of photography, but it's a hobby; so I'm an amateur-level photographer.

I also know that the d80 and Rebel XTi are coming out in the Fall which should make some of my potential choices cheaper in the coming months.

Here are some direct questions that I wanted to ask:

1) Is it worth it to save some money getting the Rebel over the XT?
[I do like the quick startup on the XT specs, but do people generally just leave their camera on (thereby negating this feature). The difference in size would not matter a great deal to me, although I would prefer a smaller one over the larger.]

2) Is it worth getting a d50 over a XT if, for the sake of argument, they are both the same price? Or is this a philosophical argument?
[I do have some SD cards (and no CF cards), and an (unfounded) bias for Canon cameras.]

3) What should I look for when testing out a used dSLR?
[I have on my checklist: dust on sensor, hot pixels, # of photos taken -- Do these things really matter? ]