1. 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
2. Kit includes body and EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens
3. Large 3.0-inch LCD display with enhanced Live View and broadened color gamut
4. 6.5 frame-per-second continuous shooting; sRAW mode; 35-zone metering system; integrated Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit
5. Powered by BP-511A, BP-511, or BP-512 lithium-ion battery pack; stores images on CF cards

Editorial Review :

Welcome to the next generation of digital SLR photography-the Canon EOS 40D. The EOS 40D combines Canon's tremendous know-how in both the digital and photographic worlds, creating a camera that not only does everything one would expect of a traditional digital SLR, but one that incorporates staggering leaps forward in technological innovation. With new features like Canon's EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a more powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, plus a 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3.0-inch LCD monitor and more, the EOS 40D elevates digital photography to new heights, enhancing the shooting experience, and delivering images one could only expect from a Canon. EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Picture Style settings, Spot metering, and Highlight Tone Priority for advanced in-camera image control Large 3.0-inch LCD monitor and advanced Live View Function with new options for reduced shutter time lag and quiet operation Wide range of accessories, including interchangeable focusing screens, extensive remote control options, new battery grip BG-E2N, and new dedicated wireless file transmitter WFT-E3A DCF 2.0 (Exif 2.21) - JPEG, RAW and RAW + JPEG simultaneous recording possible - up to 3,888 x 2,592 resolution JPEG Auto and manual exposure and focus modes Shutter Speeds - 1/8000 to 30 sec. (1/3-stop increments), X-sync at 1/250 sec. Auto pop-up, retractable, electronic-flash in pentaprism Dimensions (W x H x D) 5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 inch (Body Only); 26.1 ounce

Customer Review :

Just what the photographer ordered at a better price

Great camera! Perfect the advanced amateur and the beginning professional. A great camera to grow with as well. the camera is managed by buttons on the back rather than an involved menu. Hence it is easier to learn and easier to make adjustments while shooting. I upgraded from the 20D and it was worth the price of admission. With the introduction of the 50D, prices on this model came down. the bigger LCD is great and so it the option to magnify an image before moving on.
I would highly recommend this camera.Canon EOS 20D 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Rating :

Excellent Camera and Amazon Service!

Excellent price and service. Only minor complaint is the packing from Amazon was less then perfect. Packed in a large box, but camera was packed in one corner of box, all padding was off to the side. Coming from a 300D and 10D, this camera is a big improvement! I highly recommend the 40D with all the discounts available right now.

Rating :

Custom functions make this camera a breeze to use

I have owned this camera since June 2008, prior to this shot with Canon's PowerShot G2. So my review is based on upgrading from an old but still very good point and shoot camera with manual controls to a modern SLR. Since there are obvious difference between the two I'll concentrate on some of the features I like: Custom setting (C1,C2,C3) and the My Menu setting.

The 40D has a multitude of options available, highlight recover, iso noise reduction, mirror lock up, bracketing, live view, etc... but generally you don't need all of these options all the time, that's where the custom setting function comes in handy. Swapping between different shooting profiles is as easy as turning the dial.

Another feature I like is the My Menu setting as you can put your "favorite" menu items on this page giving you quick access to them as some of the settings are a few menus deep in the system.

Learning how to use the 2 features above to your advantage makes the camera that much easier to use.


Rating :

I LOVE IT!

The quality of the pictures is amazing. The more I use it, the better, the picture. There is so much to learn, but that is what makes this camera so fun to use. Very easy to learn on.

Rating :

A work horse

What can I say about the Canon 40D that hasn't already been written in dozens of photography magazines and web forums? Probably not a whole lot! LOL!!! If you are seriously considering this camera, chances are you are already familiar with the brand if not the model by now so I will just highlight the things I've found useful and the things I have found annoying about this camera (and YES, there are some things I've found annoying).

First let me say that for a "mid level" DSLR, the piece of equipment is, as my review title states, a serious work horse. Having stepped up from a Canon Rebel XT, which was a great DSLR in it's own right, I was quite impressed with the quality, both of the camera itself and the images it creates right out of the box. My first gripe however is that after using my XT for a while, I found the 40D to be rather bulky and cumbersome. If you are just stepping up to a "pro" level camera from something like a regular point & shoot or if you are like me and simply have small hands (or as in my case, both!), this is something to be aware of. The best analogy I can give is to be used to driving a small compact car like an old Chevy Chevette and suddenly finding yourself behind the wheel of a '56 Buick Roadmaster! It's large, it's heavy and it feels rather awkward. Personally I also find having the info LCD on the top of the camera instead of the back of the camera to be...well...stupid. I really don't like having to stop and "tilt" the camera upwards just to read my settings. There is a button on the back to use the rear screen for this, but it's an extra step to have to do it...I thought the lay out of the Rebel XT was much nicer in this regard.

Now as I said, the image quality this camera produces makes the annoyance of the camera's size and poorly placed info LCD well worth dealing with. Even with my "cheap" third party lenses, the images that have come off this camera have been superb. I've cropped images at close to 100% that have still been very printable. Also I shoot in mostly Aperture Priority mode and I've found the camera to be pretty much right on the nose most of the time. Speaking of crops, another thing to be aware of is that this camera does have an APS-C sized sensor (NOT full frame) so there is aprox a 1.6x crop factor involved with the lenses. Not a complaint mind you, but something to be aware of. Please note however this IS just a crop and not an actual zoom factor...and there IS a difference.

And speaking of "IS"...this leads me to my second gripe. If you are already familiar with Canon, then you should know by now that they have not yet started to incorporate IS or "Image Stabilization" into their DSLR's the way many of the other camera makers have. As such, you usually have to pay a great deal extra for this feature as most Canon IS lenses are rather expensive. In fact with the exception of a couple of recently introduced EF-S models, Canon IS lenses start around $600 and the sky is the virtual limit compared with many other brands with many of their lenses costing several thousands of dollars.

All and all, this is a great camera but it's not "perfect" in the way some Canon aficionados would have you believe. Another minor gripe was that moving up from my XT I had to purchase new spare batteries all over again as the "Rebels" and their higher end counter parts use different batteries...even though both are Li-ion. The same is true of many of the accessories as well...I had to get a new remote, the vertical grips aren't compatible, etc., etc.. If you already own a Rebel, this is something to be aware of as you'll have to replace all of these accessories that you've already shelled out cash for!

Now after reading this I'm sure you're asking, "With all these issues, is it worth it?" and the answer is yes. I've gotten shots with this camera that simply would not have been possible with anything else I've ever owned (digital or film). The focus is fast and accurate, I've had no compatibility problems with any of my lenses (although I do have one fussy flash unit from ProMaster that still won't work with it) and once you get used to it, this camera has a lot of very useful features, such as Highlight Priority, etc.. If you already own Canon EOS gear (remember, this bugger won't work with FD equipment) then it's a very worth while upgrade considering the price drop. If you don't need the high ISO's of the new 50D or the full frame wonders of the 5D Mark II, then the 40D is a wonderful investment and should serve you well for many years.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. KIT INCLUDES 9 PRODUCTS -- All Brand New Items with all Manufacturer-supplied Accessories + Full USA Warranties:
2. <#1> Nikon D60 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm VR Zoom Lens Outfit PLUS + <#2> Nikon AF-S 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens +
3. <#3> Transcend 8GB HC SecureDigital Class 6 (SDHC) Card + <#4> Spare EN-EL9 Li-Ion Battery Pack + <#5> Nikon SLR System Case +
4. <#6> USB 2.0 High Speed SecureDigital (SD) Card Reader + <#7> Digital Image Recovery Software +
5. <#8> Memory Card Storage Wallet + <#9> Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

Editorial Review :

Kit includes: 1) Nikon D60 Digital SLR Camera w/ 18-55mm VR Lens; 2) Nikon 55-200mm Zoom Lens; 3) Transcend 8GB SDHC Card; 4) Nikon EN-EL9 Li-Ion Battery Pack; 5) Nikon SLR System Case; 6) USB 2.0 SD Card Reader; 7) Digital Image Recovery Software; 8) Memory Card Storage Wallet; 9) Microfiber Cleaning Cloth ♦ The Nikon D60 Digital SLR Camera provides a resolution of 10.2 effective megapixels, Nikon's exclusive EXPEED image-processing concept, in-camera editing functions and a 3-area auto focus system. The camera offers continuous shooting at 3.0 fps, near instant power-up in just 0.19 seconds and high ISO sensitivity, all in a compact, lightweight body with a user-friendly ergonomic design. ♦ The Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Lens is an ultra compact, lightweight standard zoom lens that has a 3x focal zoom range and is ideally suited for use with compact Nikon digital SLR cameras. The innovative Vibration Reduction (VR) system allows handheld telephoto zoom shooting even in poorly lit conditions. ♦ This Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens features a compact rod-type Silent Wave Motor (SWM) enabling ultra-high speed autofocusing with exceptional accuracy and super-quiet operation. ♦ Take more pictures with this high speed 8GB SecureDigital HC (SDHC) Class 6 memory card. ♦ Providing an extra 1100mAh of power, this spare EN-EL9 battery pack will not put constraints on how you want to shoot. ♦ This Nikon SLR system case will easily hold your camera, lenses, flash and accessories. ♦ Transfer files quickly and easily with this USB 2.0 SecureDigital (SD) Card Reader. ♦ Recover lost or deleted images from your memory cards with Image Recall Digital Image Recovery Software. ♦ Keep multiple memory cards protected and organized with this durable storage wallet. ♦ Keep your camera and lenses smudge-free with this handy microfiber cleaning cloth.

Customer Review :

Best Deal & Outfit out there !!!

after doing my resaearch about cameras - this Nikon is easy to use and has been taking Great pictures, from day one !!!

Also, everything included and thrown in has been working really well!

I am going to buy again and tell friends about this purchase.







Rating :

Great Buy

We purchased this camera to take on a sailing Windjammer trip in Maine. We could not have made a better choice. The pictures are absolutely beautiful, and the camera was very easy to use. I am completely satisfied. Also Camita Cameras was great in answering my questions before and after purchase. I would strongly recommend this camera.

Rating :

One Fantastic Deal!!

This has been one fantastic purchase with great pricing from Cameta Camera. I ordered the Nikon D60 to get better shots of the grand kids and as an added bonus getting action shots of my nephew's football games. Being an amature in the photo game this camera has been an easy one to set up and learn how to use. The many settings are easy to learn while referencing in the manuel is well laid out. The pictures have all been of good quality and the D60 far exceeds what I expected.
In the future for any camera needs I will use Amazon and Cameta Camera.

Rating :

d60 slr camera

i bought the d60 package and it comes with everything you need to start taking pictures besided a tripod. works great and love the carryings case and extra battery.

Rating :

good deal

i have been using nikon D60 for about 1 month, i searched and compared nikon D60, D80 and canon 40D. i think this item is the most cost effective choice for me. it has nearly everything that i need. DP review was the most useful address to compare the properties of these SLR cameras in internet. The most important reason that i choose this SLR camera is that my plastic surgeon and professional photographer mentors told me to do so:) I always trust professionals and my friends so i am definitely happy with my choice. The only thing that i miss is liveview but i can survive without it.. enjoy:)

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 14.6-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-sized prints
2. 2.7-inch LCD display; body only--no lens included
3. Dust-proof, water-resistant construction; comprehensive Dust Removal system
4. New Live View function
5. Capture images to SD/SDHC cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

The Pentax K20D digital SLR offers advanced photo enthusiasts an array of exciting Pentax innovations. The CMOS image sensor brings out optimum performance of Pentax interchangeable lenses. Featuring 14.6 effective megapixels (highest in its class) and noise-reduction technology, the sensor assures superb image quality. This SLR will make you feel in control with its Live View function that allows the photographer to see the image on the camera's back panel LCD monitor while shooting. Customizable features ideal for shooters who demand complete control include the Expanded Dynamic Range function that allows users to gain more contrast / detail in bright settings and a Custom Image function to select / adjust finishing touches to an image. An improved Dust Reduction system features prevention, removal and alerting devices. Combine these innovations with the renowned Pentax-developed Shake Reduction (SR) system, Pentax Real IMage Engine (PRIME) and incorporate them in a dependable dust-proof, weather-resistant body - you've now got a superb camera that allow photographers to shoot anytime, anywhere, even in dusty or rainy environments.

Customer Review :

K20D

The Camera I have been waiting years for. I digital SLR that rivals 35mm quality. It works as it is suppose to and got here intact in a timely manner.

Rating :

Excellent IQ

Very nice upgrade to K10d. Better detail in shadow areas. Great sharpness and texture to objects.

Rating :

Surpassed All Expectations! Bought instead of Nikon 300 or Canon

First, a quick disclaimer - I'm not a pro but probably fall into the serious amateur category after falling in love with my old Minolta Maxxum 7000 over 20 years ago. I'm the person behind the camera at all the parties and occassionally get the exceptional shot worthy of a few "oooh and ahhhs". I've also been holding out on buying anything more than a simple toss around digital until the cost and quality of dslr's were to my liking. As the price and quality of 10+ mp dslr's are now in the comfort range I decided to chuck the point and shoot junk I've been making do with and began shopping in earnest. After testing the Canon the speed seemed nice but I wasn't impressed so I narrowed it down to the Nikon 300 - it seemed to have everything I was searching for in a versatile camera. After adding decent quality lenses, storage, a few extras etc the price was going to come in at roughly $3,500 on sale...not bad but enough to make me take one last look around. On spur of the moment my better half said take a look at Pentax - they have been around forever and are known for making above average lens.

So, the K20D pops up with a 14+ mp on sale for $800 or 1/2 the Nikon...so far so good but I was a bit nervous about ordering it despite the good reviews. I spent the better part of the day researching the camera and decided to give it a shot [sorry - bad pun].

Ordered the K20D ($800), 8 gb card ($35), battery grip ($120), extra battery pack ($20), remote ($20) tripod ($18 on special), camera strap (free promo) and the Pentax 18-250 mm lense ($350). For $1350 I now have a very versatile camera for almost a 1/3 of the price of the Nikon....suffice to say based on price alone I'm one happy shopper. UPDATE: also added the Tamron 90mm Macro with 1:1 for another $365 after rebate. Good additional lens with a few issues (see my review on it separately). Between the two - have a nice 1:1 macro and portrait lens with a terrific "all around" lens...also added several filters [uv, polarizing, close up] an inexpensive tripod and another inexpensive monopod plus some excellent books...all for less than the cost of the Nikon with one lens!

Now, for the performance, look feel etc. The 14+ mp really make a difference - resolution is excellent and compares favorable to film. For the first time I don't feel like I'm missing anything major. This camera takes some beautiful shots even with my own limited testing.

The weight and feel are very nice - everything is ergonomically correct at least for my hands, intuitive access on all controls, solid and best of all - sealed! Screen size is adequte and I really appreciate the ability to set colors, font size and other adaptations to fit my needs. Diopter is also adjustable. The lens is reviewed apart but was a great all around choice - responsive and adequate although I intend to purchase additional dedicated/primary lens options soon. One thing I REALLY like about this Pentax is the backward compatibility - Pentax DSLR's allow the use of older Pentax lens so eBay and other options become a great way to find a quality lens at an affordable price. Since my old pricey Minolta lens' are no longer of any use that is a big bonus at least until Sony puts something decent on the market. In the meantime, this was a good starter lense [18-250 mm] that works well with the camera.

The menu and pre-sets are easy to use and versatile although I quickly found myself preferring manual - that is just a personal bias however. Preview was easy to use. There are a lot of negative mention regarding the Live screen option...having been playing with slr's for 20+ years I've never used the screen to take photos with but tested it for a few minutes and found it easy enough to use - just not sensitive to take a quality photo. It is possible to zoom in the live preview mode (contrary to what a few have mentioned) but all in all - it's not a feature I use enough to make a valid statement about.

The only other "flaw" that makes the camera less than perfect is the 3fps - it is substantially slower than other DSLR's on the market. Since I rarely shoot sports or have need for speed - it isn't a major consideration for me however, I would have gone with the Nikon if it were. This camera is able to shoot rapid series of shots in low quality settings of up to 21 fps - a fun little addition for playing around with but with a quality so low it isn't going to give more than email quality.

A few things I REALLY liked about the camera - other than price, resolutoin and intuitive design were several of the upgraded features. In addition to sealing both the camera and battery pack, the ability to take shots in raw and jpeg format at the same time is a great option. Likewise, this is fully compatible with adobe format so saves need for changing formats or fooling around with various options - just set on dual use and go. The battery pack with an extended memory card expand this to a considerable level. I was able to get about 750 pictures off just one battery using a flash part of the time and high resolution settings. The battery pack is very ergonomic, adds a battery back-up that is easy to switch and also allows storage for an additional card and remote control. When fully charged I expect to put at least 1500 photos on the card and battery before changing out - easily.

The camera comes with battery and charger, inexpensive camera strap - neigther were mentioned when I was buying so I ordered a battery charger that had to return.

One additional note - in addition to 10% off the price of a decent/versatile lens - be sure to register before the end of the year. Pentax is offeringa FREE upgrade to 3 year warranty on this purhcase!!! That beats all others hands-down. In addition to the pentax 18-250 mm lens, I also purchased the Tamron 90 mm macro which has a $90 rebate AND 6 year warranty right now. Good stuff! Good deals - even if Amazon has lowered the price $35 since I bought this a week ago [argh] and offers a free camera case that I missed [double argh]. Still very pleased.


Will try to review again after having owned/used but so far REALLY pleased with price, performance and resolution of the camera.

Rating :

Great RESOLUTION.

I'm a Wildlife Photographer. This is a great Camera. A little too good for the standard Pentax lenses. The resolution that the Camera supports is wasted on the optics of standard lenses. If you buy this camera, spend the extra 3 or 4 hundred dollars for the Pentax SMC DA* Series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL IF SDM, or the Pentax SMC DA* Series 50-135mm f/2.8 ED IF SDM lenses. The standard lenses are great for the K20d's predecessor, the K10D, but not the K20D. If you want to get the most from the K20D, a very Sharp lens will take full advantage of the resolution it supports. I have an older Pentax 100mm Macro lens that is allot clearer than the Package lenses that are normally sold with the K20D. Regardless of the lens you use on the K20D, make sure you take advantage of the Camera's AF (Auto Focus) adjustment to fine tune each lens with the camera. I have several lenses so I keep a note pad with the camera lenses with the correct AF adjustment setting for each lens. I was able to tweak a little more sharpness from the 2 standard lenses I bought, but they still aren't as sharp as the above 3 lenses.
I've shot over 3,000 pics from the Camera in just 1 month so far, and I'm ecstatic about the Camera's capabilities. Make sure you buy a SD card with enough space to meet your' requirements. I bought 2 Transcend 16GB SD cards, and I am so Glad I did. I love the large LCD on the camera, to review my pictures.
The only cons I can see on this camera are; The LCD Viewer works poorly in outdoor lighting situations, even with the brightness at max. You need to find a well shaded spot to review your pics. Not a huge inconvenience for me, considering the camera's other advantages. Buy an extra battery too. I have 3 batteries total, since I am away from recharging sources for days at a time.
If you're a Portrait Photographer, you'll like the camera's Bundled "Remote Assistant" Software that allows you to see your image on a Monitor as you shoot your pictures.


Rating :

Amazing camera !!!

I got this camera in Sep.2007, as a trade-in for my Canon Digital Rebel 8mp, which I had for two years.
I wasn't very happy with Canon, although I have two powershots, which are excellent(A80,95)
But Rebel wasn't.
I explored at least 10 reviews on K20D, and all without exception were outstanding.
Indeed, the camera is the best I had since Nikon F90X which I purchased in 1996, just at the beginning of the digital revolution.
Most people are absolutely brainwashed by the media biased towards Pentax. Nikon and Canon invest astronomical amounts of money to advertise and buy the media.It's simply brainwashing.
Pentax is THE BEST camera for the money you can buy.
Pentax is also feature rich camera, produces stunning images without the need to photoshop at all.
Highly highly reccomend!

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 10-megapixel CMOS sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
2. Lightweight ergonomic design; kit includes 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko lens
3. Enhanced in-body Image Stabilization with Supersonic Wave Drive technology
4. Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment technologies; Perfect Shot Preview
5. Compatible with CompactFlash Type I and II, Microdrives, and xD-Picture Cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

Your life is full of priceless, fleeting moments that you want to keep just the way you see and feel them. Preserve each moment with the E-520. With the E-520's Live View, you can shoot your subject while viewing it on the LCD monitor, so it's just like shooting with a compact camera. In addition to phase-difference detection AF, the E-520 incorporates a high speed Imager AF that offers easy 11-point multi-area autofocusing with Live View simply by half-pressing the shutter button. Face Detection AF automatically detects up to 8 faces at a time and adjusts focus appropriately. Accurate composition is assured by the monitor's 100% field of view. The E-520 is equipped with a 2.7" HyperCrystal II LCD monitor with high-definition 230,000-dot resolution, improved contrast ratio, and enhanced color reproduction capability. While shooting with Live View, framing-assist patterns or a histogram can be displayed on the LCD monitor to improve your picture composition and check exposure condition. The E-520 incorporates a Live MOS sensor with 10-Megapixels, Olympus' original TruePic III image processing engine delivers improved imaging, gradation expression and color reproduction capabilities as well as minimized noise at high ISO setting. Olympus' highly acclaimed dust reduction system employs a Supersonic Wave Filter in front of the image sensor, which vibrates at such high speed and with such great power that it removes even the most stubborn dust; dust that cannot be removed by just shaking the image sensor or by discharging the static electricity. Weight - 475 grams (body only)

Customer Review :

A superb entry level DSLR

I looked at Canon XSI/XTI and Nikon 60D and decided to go with Olympus. And I am very happy with my decision.

The body is light, the pictures are sharp. AF is very good. When I showed the pictures to my friends who owned Canon and Nikon, they kept asking me if I improved the pictures on photoshop or not. I told them no and they didn't believe me.

The battery lasted very long. I took hundreds of pictures so far in the last month and I have only recharged my camera once.

3.5 fps is pretty decent. The only minor complaint is that AF is a bit slow in low light situation, but it is no big deal for me.

Overall, this is the best entry level DSLR in the market.

Rating :

E510 / E520 | Awesome - Gem of the mid level DSLR:

Though I have E510. I actually tried and tested the E520 as well and picked E510 for the 2 kit lens deal and the extra features E520 has over E510 which I rarely care about. I thought to add my E510 review under this to give the readers a better idea about how the Olympus E510/E520 wins over the Canons XSi and Nikon D80 we tested. Hope this helps.

Myself and a Canon lover Friend and a Nikon lover Cousin were hunting for DSLRs. We had Film SLRs and few Point & Shoot Digis. We don't want to spend $1500+ for the DSLR and was waiting for the price to come down. When it reached $1000 mark, we started hunting for it and tried out few DSLR models in-stores by carrying our own flash memories and took few sample shots at the same lighting, focal length, ISO, f-Stop and Shutter and narrowed down to most people(s) three choices - Olympus E510, Canon XSi and Nikon D80. I went with E-510 right on the spot after looking at the images on the digital PC monitor in just 4 week end hunting. The other two contemplated a while and my friend went with Canon XSi and my cousin chose D80 as he wanted to use his old Nikon lenses and gears.

On a fine evening we got our stuffs ordered online. As soon we returned from work, we were excited to experiment our choices.

Right out of the box results: (No tweaking)
E-510 - Great Outdoor results with very good natural color processing well exposed. Indoor shots were good natural color tones with a bit dull and underexposed.
XSi - Great Outdoor and Indoor results with very little pink tinted color processing with a good exposure.
D80 - Great Outdoor results with little blue tinted color processing. Indoor results with very little blue tinted color processing with a good exposure.

You can see the pink and blue tint obvious on the skin tone and on the white base subjects. We actually compared the images captured by these three with what we saw with bare eyes. We all observed this very little tone changes when tried out at stores and agreed upon the myth that "Every brand has it's own way and nothing is perfect". But still it's too early to decide which one is best.

We tried it every evening as soon we come back and with little tweaking as suggested by the reviewers and professionals. In just 3 days - I made everyone to think that - I WON. Still those guys wanted to give a try because some times the results from Canon XSi and Nikon D80 will have the same color as E510 in long shots and when occasionally (say like one in 100 shots) E510 underexposes the skin tones will look greyish. We almost go as a group for all the functions/festivals and fill with flashes everywhere :)

After 3 months of coutinuous use at the same places, here is our findings:

Speed: XSi is better than E510 and D80. but thats for just 6-7 frequent shots. after that, the XSi will pop up with "BUSY" icon. It is famous and you can see the complaints in Amazon reviews. The other to will be steady through out the the session. no BUSY nothing.

Color Tone: E510 is more natural across the lighting conditions. Indoor shots need to have exposure compensation set to either +0.3 or +0.7

Indoor Photos: E510 is a bit dull and underexposed right out of the box but after a little tweaking it just blows the other two out of the window with very natural color tones and bright images. It actually chooses the right ISO required where as the Canon XSi always chooses ISO 400 when using flash I don't know why it is set like that.

Dynamic Range: Though the pro reviewers say, D80 is more dynamic we haven't came across a situation to prove it. Under most common outdoors shooting, we all three got almost identical resluts and we liked the E510 processing much better than the other two.

ISO:
upto ISO 400, E510 is noise free. It get's a slight noise pushing in at ISO 800 and at ISO 1600 noise is obvious. Canon XSi is noise free till ISO 1600. Nikon D80 is noise free till ISO 800 and at ISO 1600 it introduces a little noise. It is worth to be noted that we haven't seen a situation that we need to use more than ISO 400 under normal indoor/outdoor common user needs. We actually forced the camera to use ISO 800 and ISO 1600 just to see the results where the camera picked ISO 400 by it's own when you leave it to the camera choise in ISO. This is actually a dark night shot on the river bank pointing the camera at the lighted buildings on the other side of the river and the situation is really dark.


Auto Focus: E-510 locks on for sharp focus almost 99% of the time but hunts for focus at low light with too much flash strobes for 4-5 seconds drving you nuts. XSi is zippy but occasionally the focus is not properly locked. When you view on the camera display it looks fine but when blow up in the monitor, it's unfocused. Nikon D80 had the most mis focus. You can see these misfocus issues at both Amazon reviews and DPreview.

Image Stabilization: E510 wins hands down. I took tack sharp pictures using 70-300 lens zoomed all the way at 300mm with shutter going down till 1/30. XSi's lens based stabilization is not that effective when we used it with 50-200mm lens zoomed to 200mm. It was effective till 1/40. Nikon we haven't tried it as we don't have IS lens. Not to mention the hefty price my friend paid for the Canon 50-200 IS lens while I paid just $240 for the 70-300 lens as I had an effective IS built into my E510 body.

Fit and Feel: E510 wins again with more robust build quality. Nikon D80 is also built good but a bit bigger. XSi looks kind of plasticky and has an uncomfortable grip. E510 just lays in your hand so comfortable and is a joy to use.

Value for Money:
I paid $560 for the 2 kit lens. Sold my 40-150mm for $110 and bought the 70-300 for $240 making my kit to cost me $690. FL-36 flash costed me $150, totalled to $840.
XSi costed my friend $869 with 18-55mm (Now it is around $500-$600), 70-300mm IS lens for $510. With no flash his kit is now $1379.
Nikon D80 costed my cousin $910 with 18-135mm with no IS !!! He can't simply use his camera hand held as I am using it with my long zoom 300mm or as my friend using his XSi with his 200mm or in low light.
Now...you decide which one gives you more dollar for dollar...XSi with 70-300mm auto focus is faster than the E510 with 70-300 mm at the very long end of the zoom. XSi with 300mm zoomed couldn't get sharp results all the time, less than 250mm is ideal for hand held. E510 has effective IS and works all the way till 300mm handheld but had focus hunt when used in a slight shadow area.

Follow this link "http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/43/e510-sett.html" to tune up your E510 and enjoy the long journey of Digital photography. Good luck.

Verdict:
We also asked the rest of the people at home and our friends to see the pictures and pick which one looks better without telling them which one came from what camera. The end result is 80% of the images picked by the them who don't even know which camera produced it, picked E510's pictures.

We all three agreed that E510 is the best all around DSLR in it's category and we just pay the hyped price for the Canon and Nikon just for the label which produces image quality that is equal to inferior than the low priced, light weight E510. Look no further, go for this little gem and you will be more pleased than the Canon and Nikon users.


Rating :

EVOLT 520

A GREAT CAMERA FOR THE AMATEUR IF SERIOUS ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY, IT HAS AN AWFULLY LOT OF SETTINGS THAT CAN BE USED BUT TAKES A LOT OF STUDYING THE MANUAL TO MASTER ALL OF ITS POTENTIAL.
I HAVE YET TO EXPERIMENT WITH CONTROLLING WHITE BALANCE AND BRACKETING BUT I'M GETTING THERE.
THE PRICE GIVES MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK THAN THE MID-RANGE NIKON OR CANNON.

Rating :

great camera

I've never purchased anything but Olympus Cameras... I have three of them dating back to the 1980's. Every Camera has been an excellent camera as the E 520 has also has proven to be.

Rating :

Great Camera for the money

I have a E410, E500 and now the E520 body. All of these are great cameras. The E520 has a very fast recycle rate on both the images and the flash. It is very easily used as point-and-shoot in auto mode and I can still get all of the effects that I could with a manual film camera. One point I will make very clear. If you buy this as a "kit" with lenses don't expect this performance. The lenses that come in most kits are cheap. Dont get me wrong, they work great in FULL SUN... ANYTHING other though you will likely have slow responses and blurry photos. Many times the camera just will not aquire. Buy good quality lenses and you will not be dissapointed!

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1. 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor captures enough detail for poster-size, photo-quality prints
2. Large 3.0-inch LCD display; includes Canon's EF-S 18-55mm, f3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens
3. DIGIC III image processor provides fast, accurate image processing; improved Autofocus and framing rate
4. EOS Integrated Cleaning system, plus Dust Delete Data Detection in included software
5. Stores images on SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

12.2-megapixel effective recording * EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens (35mm equivalent focal length: 28-90mm) * 3" color LCD screen (230K pixels) with two Live View modes * Auto Optimization to maintain detail in bright and dark areas of your pictures * DIGIC III image processor for responsive handling * EOS Integrated Cleaning System (for cleaning image sensor) * wide-area 9-point autofocus *

Customer Review :

Love it!!!!!

I got this camera the day before Halloween, about 3 days before I expected it. I started using it right away. It is wonderful! I use it EVERYDAY. I have the original film Rebel from the early 90's. This one is even easier to use. Perfect for a beginner or a not-so-beginner, like me. I've had friends who had trouble with the Nikon DSLR - they have all returned theirs - and are now considering the Rebel. Everyone tries my camera and loves it. No regrets on this buy.

Rating :

upgraded from S5Is to XSI

The upgrade from Canon S5Is to Canon XSI was very easy. Setup and Menu easy to change. Pictures from XSI are very good and it allows a great deal more creative freedom. I added a Canon 55-255 zoom and a battery grip. For those wanting to move up to a DSLR this is a great combo.

Rating :

Great Camera!

I love this camera! I'm still learning all the neat tricks that can be done with it.

Rating :

Satisfied

This is our first DSLR. We took time to investigate the top brands and models. In the end we came to decide on the Xsi and we have not regretted it. It has been a great camera and we are very pleased with the ease of use and the flexibility the camera allows.

Rating :

Not completely satisfied

I use a Sony and Nikon digital cameras, as well as the Canon. The Canon takes wonderful photos, but using the Canon software is cumbersome. it will not work with my HP desktop, but will with my laptop. However, I do not like the Canon software ease of opoeration. If I knew the difficulty of using it, prior to purchase, it would have seriously influenced my non-purchase of this camera.

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