calling all enablers: need camera suggestions

[Bambi]

"I'll take door number one...No wait...Door number three...No Door number one!"

It's funny because it's true

[Andrew Boyd]

Canon or Nikon. Although there are lots of other good cameras out there, these are the two 800-lb gorillas out there with the professional systems to support whatever you end up wanting to do, photographically.
I have a post that looks into this initial purchase, you might want to check it out.
Good luck!
Andrew
The Discerning Photographer

[JAS_Photo]

Canon has at least three tilt shift lenses, Nikon only two, neither of which are very wide angle even on full frame. I'm slowly coming to learn that tilt shift lenses are not only for architecture. For example in the last Canadian outdoor photography mag a look at Darwin Wigget's must haves in his bag were all three of the Canon tilt shift lenses.
And so it goes...good variety.

Yep, Darwin uses all three tilt shift lenses and he uses them to make mini panoramas as well but tilt shift lenses are highly advanced lenses and Darwin makes a living using them.

Nikon - 5 year Canadian warranty on all lenses.

[F8&Bthere]

Just FYI, looks like Futureshop has a 2 day online boxing sale with the Nikon D5000 with kit lens at $699

[TimeLapseTulsa]

I've been looking for my first DSLR too, and the DPreview review of the Pentax K-x is absolutely glowing. Not just video, but also in-camera HDR processing (although probably a pretty basic version). And the statement that it's the best low-light performance this side of full frame. And on top of that, US$550 with the kit lens at Amazon. $520 if you sign up for an Amazon Visa card. :-)

On paper this appears to be the best deal, by a good margin. But, it's not a Canon or Nikon, and I just wonder if it makes more sense to stick with the big two.

[Mad Aussie]

Somewhere further back in the thread there were some very good arguments for going for the Pentax brand I think.

Frankly, I think that in the pro-sumer market that we are talking about here, its hard to buy something that won't perform really well if you know what you are doing.

[Fortytwo]

I've owned a Pentax as long as I know. I've never regretted not owning an Nikon or Canon. Not for a single moment. A Pentax does the job just as wel...

[F8&Bthere]

I somehow found myself immersed in two systems, Pentax and Nikon, and in some ways that sucks. I want to focus my attention and finances on one system, yet I can't seem to find the way to back out of either brand. My point is that I have both and use both, and I've never really felt that anything was lacking with my Pentax kit in comparison to Nikon. As MA says the current crop of DSLRs, regardless of brand name, are all very capable.

Now, if you are wanting to do a lot of travelling light, street photography, or anything where a very compact kit would benefit you, the combination of the Pentax Kx and one of their DA Ltd "pancake" lenses would be an awesome combo.

Good luck in your decision!

[Bambi]

IMO, cameras are like dogs, cars or men: there's not one that's right, there's just the one (or two) that are right for you

[Mad Aussie]

IMO, cameras are like dogs, cars or men: there's not one that's right, there's just the one (or two) that are right for you

So ... two men huh Bambi?