Thoughts about Nikon 8800?
 

Just wondering, what do people feel about the Nikon 8800? Good? Bad? Okay?

Or should I just save the extra money to get a Rebel XT or a D70s?

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/spec...kon_cp8800.asp

Well, I don't know this camera in detail, but I had an "SLR-like" for quite a while (my Powershow Pro 1) and it works very well. Still pretty compact, although "compact" ain't the correct word, easy to use if you want but with plenty of manual settings available, just like in my 350D. Decent zoom and speed. Still, such cameras are pretty far from real SLR once you test both, so it basically depends what you need. I am sure this one is a pretty good camera for most situations..
Also, when you spend the 800 or 900 or so $ to get it, you are done.. you will only need some more batteries, mem card, polarizer filter maybe, tripod and bag.. that's it. With an SLR you will need all this stuff (and more expensive) plus more lenses, flashes... and it will never end :D
But for sure an SLR is quicker and can cover situation an SLR-like would have some problems to deal with ;)

I see. . . well right now, I think I could pick one up for $500 slightly used that includes the following:

- 72mm UV filter
- step-up ring (I don't know what this is?)
- lens cap the size of the filters
- 2 spare batteries
- a 1GB Compact Flash card

That's why I think I would be set for $500. Where as in say the XT, I would probably be getting the Camera for $800 then another lense + accessories, and that would easily put me over $1000.

But I wanted to make sure that this is a good camera. Not something that I will regret and hoped that I brought a DSLR instead.

IMO it's ok and you are getting a good deal. UV filter IMO could go for a polarizer ;)

As for the XT, I'd say a correct price for starting up is more in the 1500 - 1700

Well those numbers are in US. And generally you could get the XT for $800 w/ the starter lense kit (which I heard isn't very good).

Thanks TT!

Yes, 800 is correct for the start kit, but add a telelense (which you'll need that costs around 600 at least), new bag, new tripod, battery grip, 4 batteries, mem card, filter.. you easily reach 1500 USD don't worry ;)

As for the stock 18-55 lense, honestly, it is crap. nikon's D50 or D70 have better stock lenses.. so if you want to only have a single lense, it's not a good idea to just buy the XT with the 18-55.. so again, easily well above those 800

a step-up ring is a convertor from say... 55mm--->72mm so a 72mm filter ring/lens cap will fit you 55mm camera.

If you want to go full out SLR, go with the Nikon D50. You can get it for $650 with 18-55mm lens kit. Its a pretty good lense and should hold you off for a while before you want to get a new lense. I just picked one up and I love it :)

I see your point ;) . So for $500 I could pick up that point and shoot and a few extras.

I see. Thanks!

Yeah, Dutch, I should've pick up that deal for $570. Too late now.

Turns out, that deal for $570 isn't much of a deal. The lense you get with that kit is crap. It's not even a digital lense and the build quality is a lot worse than the 18-55mm lense kit which goes for less than a hundred more.

You can find better deals on ebay actually. And an even better idea would be to buy just the D50 body and then buy a Nikon 18-70mm lens (lens that comes with D70). Should be able to get that for around $600.