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so i have a new job which allows me the luxury of being able to actually have some disposable income. and my current digicam is an slr-like 4MP camera which was already almost a year old when i got it 5 years ago. i'd like to replace it with a new d-slr like one of the entry level canon rebel models or a nikon.

the problem is, i haven't had a tank since i moved from texas, and i would love to get another one going. my dilemma here is that i have never had to buy a tank on my own, so of course i'd like to keep that streak going if i possibly can! my question isn't really which one i should buy without the other one, the question is which should i buy first? i'm thinking camera first, then fish tank in a couple months. but if i can get a tank cheap enough then i may go that route instead. what a choice, right?

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

I vote you get the camera first (I personally recommend the Cannon 40D DSLR, as it's the best entry level DSLR on the market right now). That way, you can take pictures of the tank as you set it up

I would say camera, you cant really take pictures of your nice new fish tank(when you get it) if you dont have a camera

camera.

But the 40D is NOT an entry level. Maybe for a working professional photographer, but not the casual photographer.

Rebel XTi would be the way to go. The entry level Nikon only accepts certain (expensive) lenses.

I say tank first. But since you already said you are thinking camera first, then I suspect that's the way you'll go, as what people are thinking is usually what they will do.

Tank!

That's basically what I meant, Lisa. I wasn't about to call the 40D a high-end uber DSLR, though, either. I suppose entry level professional/mid-high level casual DSLR would be a decent category for it.

I vote the 40D over anything from the Rebel line. I personally HATE the rebel line because they need so much light to get a decent exposure. They're fine for shooting outdoors and high-light stuff, but they're not that great for macros (especially fish macros... they turn out REALLY blurry). I haven't used them for long-exposure stuff, but I'm guessing they'd be alright for that.

The 40D has a lot of really nice features--big LCD, live preview (not many DSLR's have that), multiple metering modes, etc, etc.

I would go for a good Digital SLR buy the best you can get remembering that when you up date it again you will want to retain the lenses (the very expensive necessary bits) If you wait until a new model of the camera you choose comes out the older model will be far cheaper. That is the only way I could have afforded my m]new camera also the lenses fitted the new camera perfectly.
Just a few weeks ago I looked at a good second hand Macro Lens with a guarantee and it was dearer than the camera with a standard lens I had recently bought.
My other suggestion is do a lot of research and get the correct info from people in the know and work in the trade.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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I'd actually go looking for a 30D at this point. Issue with the 40D is the new layout - menu navigation absolutely sucks in the thing, can't get to some settings as easily as you would like (at least for me) the live preview is OK, but will SUCK the battery life if you use it often. The way it works it could prematurely wear out the mirror/shutter since it gets moved out of the way in order to do the live preview.

But my recommendations are always to get a cheaper body (the XTi is actually a really good camera for the price - good in low light since it has been improved - I know a few pros that use it as a backup for that reason. Besides, its smaller, lighter so its easier to lug around) since camera bodies will never retain their value (unless its s 24k gold leica M8 or something with a diamond for a shutter button), and since there are always new bodies coming out, its better to put the money in lenses where the top area of image quality comes from.

Too many people that walk through the doors at my store think its all about the camera and not the lenses. But stick a horrible lens on a professional camera will not yield good results.

Save on the body and get better lenses.

well keith, thanks to this thread i now know that the nikon camera only takes expensive lenses, so i feel that much better already!

i'm kind of confused about the live preview thing though. isn't the point of the slr that you see the actual image instead of having it projected on an lcd? from what i've read so far it doesn't seem much different than any other digicam feature. at least, it's not enough of a selling point for what i think i'll be using the camera for.

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

the ONLY reason i'd see a use for it is in a studio still life kind of setting. it does slow down the camera response somewhat.

definately the tank first... you can get them cheap on like craigslist... then you have something to take a picture of

Camera;
You can take it places (unlike a new tank)

You can put it aside and it won't grow algae (unlike a tank)

You can create memories (unlike the fish in a tank - reputed to have poor memories)

You can do arty type stuff with the camera (unlike a tank)

You can learn lots from other forum members who are photographers (unlike a........ well tanks provide discussion opportunities too)



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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

craigs list is good. but also look for groups on yahoo that is called Cheap cycle. and also look on FreeCycle.Org.

These groups are regional to state and then city. Cheap cycle is basicy an online yard sale within the city. I got my 150g off cheap cycle for only $100. I'm not sure if this is just within the US or not.

And freecycle is a very good site. It is where people go that have things they dont want any more, but give it away instead of throwing it away. And freecycle, you never know what you'll see on here. But its usually always good quality stuff. and I know this group is world wide.

They are both non profit. I know alot of people on freecycle who organize events to gather items to send things to soldiers on active duty over seas. SO these peoples do alot of good for those who need it.

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

I'll take your camera recommendations too, as my parents are wanting to get me a camera for Christmas (my roommate stole my last one, a point-and-shoot digital deal). I'm currently leaning toward Olympus E-510, based on the review on Megapixel.net...

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nooooo!!!! you'll get tunnel vision looking through the horrible viewfinder. And forget about the live view on that also - its VERY slow!!!

Denver - you're a very good salesperson for the Rebel XTi...

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superlion -

1. I work in a camera store which allows me to play with all the latest offerings and see which cameras are good.

2. I shoot canon so I know them well.

Fair enough, looks like the Canon one costs a bit less too, I was actually considering that one also.

I hope you didn't take my last post the wrong way. One of my best friends pitches products like a NASCAR driver. It's pretty entertaining, and now I'm sad that the closest Napa Auto Parts is 18+ miles away.

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Okay finally decided
(yes I'm sure you were all holding your breath)

Camera. Although I might suggest looking in the used section of your LCS. Two (?) days after buying my 30D we found a 20D for a thou cheaper. Ah well. It would have been easier and cheaper to get additionals for it too. B&H was out of the flash I wanted to get and I didnt have time before I left the country. Of course now I've forgotten which one it was. Would have been tons useful to have for JB's wedding too.

"You can put it aside and it won't grow algae (unlike a tank)"

Yes, but stuff does grow on them, my Mamiya/Sekor is trying to get me arrested for camera neglect.

^_^