Which DSLR?

[cluderi]

Ok, I'm not looking to start a my camera is better than your camera argument or upset people so please bear that in mind when/if you post.

I haven't had a DSLR since my Nikon D70 about two or so years ago (when they first came out) but I'm in the market for a new one. I didn't follow the release lines as the newer models came out so now I'm a little lost among the newer stuff.

I got burnt buying the original 300D which IMHO was inferior to the D70 in a lot of ways. I'm looking to avoid a similar situation now.

So now I have to decide whether to go for a Canon EOS 40D or the equivalent Nikon (which I'm having trouble identifying at the moment)

I don't have any existing glass to use so from that perspective I'm able to go either way.

Anyone got any opinions or advice? I'm planning on visiting a local shop or two to have a play with both models to see which I prefer but it's hard to do all my homework in such a short space of time so I'm hoping to get some info here first.

[peg20]

What did you not like about the 300D? What do you have in the way of lenses and what type of photography are you interested in? BTW, the Nikon D300 is the latest prosumer model.

[Boink!]

Canon EOS 40D / Nikon D80* / Pentax K10D are roughly equal (+/- a bit)

What's your budget, what are you going to shoot mainly, do you have big hands?

I'd say you really couldn't go wrong with any of those, though it is advisable to wrap your mitts around them and try them out. You'll already have familiarity with the Nikon setup, from your D70 days (what happened to that?), but as you don't have any lenses to carry over, you are free to start afresh.

*or an end of range D200 as it's being replaced by the D300 soon-ish.

Have a look too in the "official" Canon / Nikon / Pentax threads as well.

[puddleduck]

Right *now* I would look at the Canon 40D.

It'll be tonked by the D300 in November, so it depends whether you are in rush, and how much you want to spend.

The Pentax K10D also looks fantastic, and for around £450 with a lens is superb value for money.

[cluderi]

Thanks for the advice so far.

I do indeed have largish hands and suffer from 'sausage fingers' :'(

The D70 was sold before I moved over here among other stuff, starting to regret it now but never mind.

Budget is around $2000AUD which just about covers the 40D and a lens over here (give or take a few dollars)

Regarding the 300D, it seemed a nice camera in some ways but suffered in others. At the time I was using it to take a lot of motorsport shots which required quick bursts of shots, the D70 could easily rattle shots off with a high speed CF card but the same card in the 300D was a lot slower.

I'm in no huge rush to buy at the moment, I'm just doing my research and I'll buy before Christmas.

[cluderi]

Oh, forgot to add that it'll mostly be used to scenic stuff during my travels plus some macro stuff once I get a decent macro lens (really started to enjoy that with my D70)

[puddleduck]

Focus on the glass rather than the bodies, that makes much more difference than blowing your money on an expensive body with a so-so kit lens. Many folks do this but its pointless buying a 40D or D300 then sticking junk infront of it. You'll get better results with a Nikon D50 or Canon 350D putting the savings you made on the body towards lenses you really want.