Which digital SLR camera should i buy?
I have a regular digital camera and am planning to upgrade to a digital SLR. I don’t want a really expensive one because it’s my first one. I’ve narrowed it down to two.
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Silver – 8 MP – $500.
or
Nikon D40 Black – 6.1 MP – $500.
The more megapixels you have, the better quality photos right? I want a camera that takes those “professional looking” photos. What would be the best choice of the two?
*If anyone has any of these cameras and have took photos, it would be REALLY helpful if you posted the URL of them on your answers so I can look. Thanks! 
In terms of image quality, there is effectively no difference between these two cameras. The resolution difference between 8mp and 6mp cannot be seen in a typical print or on a computer screen. In fact, 6mp is enough to make a 13″ x 19″ print, if the image is properly exposed and sharp.
You’d need to go to 10mp before you’d start to see a difference.
The whole megapixel “more is better” is just hype from camera makers to get people to spend more money by upgrading needlessly.
With these two cameras, they are both excellent choices and you won’t go wrong with either one. The Nikon lineup leads in customer satisfaction. The D40 is a huge seller for Nikon. Canon sells a lot of cameras, and overall, with their point and shoot lineup, sells more cameras than Nikon.
The real differences between the two cameras come down to 1) the skill of the photographer and 2) the ergonomics/feel/build quality of the cameras. For 2), you need to actually pick up both cameras in your hand, handle them, see how they feel, how the buttons and menus are laid out, check out the build quality, etc. The camera that feels right in your hands will be the camera you enjoy using.
As for the “professional looking” photos, there’s three things to think about: 1)Lighting, 2) Lenses, and 3) Composition. Photography is essentially all about manipulating light to make it do what you want, then capturing the image. Use light/shadows to highlight and sculpt your images. Lenses help you to get more in focus or blur backgrounds or create other effects. And how you compose the image can make it dramatic or bore a viewer to death. At the very least, get a book on posing and lighting and ideally, take some classes and work with pro photographers.
In any case, the better of the two cameras you’ve named is the one that you handle that feels “right” to you. The specs for these cameras are so close that it comes down to things that cannot be measured by specifications or other people’s opinions.
Canon EOS Rebel XS Digital camera SLR 10.1 Mpix (Body only) Sale
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Kit w/… $215.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Kit w/… $225.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Body Only) $175.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Kit w/… $268.88 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Kit w/ EF- $300.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Body Only) $96.36 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D SLR Camera – Black (w. Kit Lens EF-S 18-55mm) $179.99 |
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Battery Charger for NB-2L NB 2LH CANON EOS Digital REBEL XT 350D SLR Camera $8.88 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Kit w/… $224.72 |
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CAMERA Battery PACK FOR BP-2LH NB-2L NB-2LH CANON EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT SLR new $6.88 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Kit w/… $500.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Kit w/… $175.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Black (Body Only) $180.00 |
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Canon EOS 350D / Rebel XT 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Black(inc 18-55mm EF-S II) $104.75 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Black (Kit w/… $210.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Digital SLR Camera – Black with 18-55 & 70-300 lenses $499.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver w 18-55mm $132.50 |
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Charger for CB-2LW BP-2L12 BP-2L13 Canon Digital Rebel XT Digital SLR Camera $5.99 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Black (Body Only) $175.00 |
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Battery Charger for NB-2L NB 2LH CANON EOS Digital REBEL XT 350D SLR Camera $5.99 |
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Canon EOS Rebel XT 8.0MP Digital SLR Camera – EXTRA’s $275.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Black (Body Only) $189.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver, 18-55 lens $315.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Black (Kit w/… $290.00 |
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CAMERA Battery PACK FOR BP-2LH NB-2L NB-2LH CANON EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT SLR new $6.99 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera w/ 75-300mm Lens $100.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Kit w/… $458.99 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Black (Body Only) $149.99 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Body Only) $50.00 |
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CANON EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT / 350D 8.0 MP DIGITAL SLR CAMERA – BLACK $212.50 |
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Charger for CANON EOS Digital Rebel XT 350D SLR Camera $8.47 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Body Only) $94.00 |
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Bower SCB1350 SLR Bag Camera Backpack For Canon Digital Rebel XT XTI XS XSI $38.49 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Black + MORE $165.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Body Only) $175.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Black W/2 LENSES $158.05 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (with lens) $315.00 |
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Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm Lens $102.50 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Kit w/… $200.00 |
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A25# Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP 8MP Digital SLR Camera BODY NR $15.50 |
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Charger for CB-2LW BP-2L12 BP-2L13 Canon Digital Rebel XT Digital SLR Camera $9.20 |
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Canon DS126071 Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera $229.00 |
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Canon EOS Rebel XT 8.0MP Digital SLR Camera W/18-55MM. 24-105MM Lenses $91.00 |
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CANON EOS Digital Rebel XT Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Kit w/ EF-S 18-55mm Lens $91.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver $11.50 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Silver (Kit w/… $249.00 |
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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D 8.0 MP Digital SLR Camera – Black (Body Only) $100.00 |
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NB-2L NB-2LH Battery Charger for CANON EOS Digital REBEL XT 350D SLR Camera NEW $10.00 |
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Canon NB-2LH Rechargeable Battery Pack for Rebel XT/XTi Digital SLR Cameras and VIXIA HV Series and ZR Series Camcorders (Retail Package) $70.00 The Canon NB-2LH Lithium-ion rechargeable battery that is compatible with the following cameras and camcorders: DC310 DVD Camcorder DC320 DVD Camcorder DC330 DVD Camcorder Digital Rebel XTi Elura 40MC Elura 50 Elura 60 Elura 65 Elura 70 Elura 80 Elura 85 Elura 90 EOS Digital Rebel XT HV20 High Definition MiniDV Optura 30 … |
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Canon BP8 Battery Pack for Canon Rebel G, GII, X, XS & XSN SLR Cameras (Retail Package) $33.99 This light weight compact battery pack is design ed for use with the Canon EOS Rebel G, X and XS cameras. It is a cost-efficient power supply, requiring only 4 AA alkaline or NiCd batteries. Depending upon shooting conditions, up to 100 rolls of 24-exposure film can shot with Alkaline batteries, and 75 with NiCd. Models: Rebel G, X/XS… |
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PWR+ Charger & Battery Combo Canon NB-2L NB-2LH CB-2LW NB2L NB2LH CB2LW for Canon SLR Digital PowerShot S30 S40 S50 S60 S70 S80 G7 G9 Rebel XT XTi; HV20 30; DC 310 320 330 Series Cameras … |
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Maximal Power FC600 CAN LPE8 Rapid Travel Charger Canon LP-E8 for Canon T2i Digital SLR, Canon Battery BP-2L14, BP-2L12, 2L12H and more $14.99 Maximalpower Rapid Travel Charger Canon LP-E8 for Canon T2i Digital SLR,Canon battery BP-2L14,BP-2L12,2L12H Battery; Canon Camcorders HG, HV, ZR, Optura, and Elura,Charger for NB-2L and NB2LH Batteries for Camcorders Rebel XT/XTi Digital SLR Cameras and VIXIA HV Series and ZR Series… |
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Wireless Remote Control for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, XTi, XSi, T1i, T2i, 7D & 5D Mark II Digital SLR Cameras (Canon RC-1 Or RC-5 Replacement) + 1 Ultra Fine GOJA Microfiber Cleaning Cloth * WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL – Wirelessly Trigger the Shutter. After switching your Canon cameras in remote mode, you can instantly trigger the shutter with this wireless remote form a distance of up to 16ft. It allows you to include yourself in the photo and take picture whenever you are ready. Minimize Vibrations – Since you can trigger the shutter without touching the camera body, it can minimiz… |
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