Scott,

I'm not very familiar with Canon cameras at all, so I won't comment on those. I am familiar with and own Nikon cameras and believe these two brands to be the leaders in both film and digital SLRs. As for Nikon, take a good hard look at the 6MP D50, 6MP D70s and 10MP D200; prices range between about $700 and $2000 including at least one Nikon lens. Don't go for offers of lower cost packages that include a non-Nikon lens; I've seen kit offers for these cameras with, in my opinion, inferior lenses like Quantary. It doesn't make sense to buy a quality camera with a lower class lens. Other lenses like Sigma and Tamron are of high quality (I own several) and those I can recommend as well.

Don't be alarmed by the conversion factor; it makes lenses a little more tele, but there are now great very-short focal length lenses down to 10mm. Keep in mind that the smaller sensor size is inherently lower in cost and makes the lenses for those cameras also lower in cost, smaller and lighter.

In terms of photographic quality printers, be careful because about everybody in the industry claims "photographic quality" results. I would stay exclusively with Epson. I have a Epson Stylus Photo 2200 and am really happy with it, except for the lack of true black when I print black and white images; there is always some color cast. If you want true black and white, choose Epson printers with K3 inks; they have three kinds of black ink cartridges and they are the only "colors" used when printing in black and white mode and the results are reported by about everyone to be extremely good. One of these printers is definitely on my wish list.

Frans Waterlander
frans2001@netzero.net

Hi, I am not a pro by any means but remember it is not the camera that makes the photograph but you and the lens (quote:-If I go with the EOS-20D I have to buy a more expensive lense.) I think you are better to buy the best lens or lenses you can afford (got to be 'L' lens with Canon) If it is your 1st digital the Canon 20D is your camera to go for (in my opinion)and if you look at this forum you may get a better idea of what the Canon cameras and lenses have to offer.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/
Hope this helps you.

Don't sweat the conversion factor. Your bottom line is images and I discovered something interesting this past weekend. I have a friend who's a retired newspaper photographer. He has a LOT of old Canon lenses which we tried on my Digital Rebel XT. Now these lenses were manufactured back before the Digital Rebel was available, but they all fit and they took some pretty spectacular pictures.

So don't worry about interchanging lenses among Canon products. They work.

And as far as the Digital Rebel XT goes, the quality of the photos is spectacular and it has lots of capabilites I haven't begun to explore yet. I've got years of enjoyment ahead discovering its secrets.

I believe that the Canon FD lenses that fit the AE-1 will not work with the EOS mount camera, digital or film.

No..XD lenses will not work on EOS cameras. Lenses must be EF Autofocus.
I have looked at both and would definitely go with the EOS 5. however, it is quite a bit more expensive. I have a number of EF lenses and don't like the conversion factor of the 20D.
Take a look at some of the 3rd party lenses...Tokina, Tamron, Sigma. They offer great features and are somewhat less expensive that Canon.

Scott, I guess I dont understand why you would have to buy more expensive lenses if you get the 20D?? I have both the 20D (well just sold it) and the 5D and like I said, dont understand the comment above. Actually, IMHO the 5D is more choosy about lenses, L lenses are almost needed on the 5D and not so on the 20D.
Also I see someone posted about 3rd party lenses, once again, IMHO you almost always get what you pay for. Do your own research on the lenses when you decide what body you will get and see for yourself, although the 3rd party lenses do sneak in a good one from time to time, they will not compete with canon glass 95% of the time. Just my 0.02$
George

Ronk,

There is a Canon (optical) adapter/converter to use FD lenses on Canon EOS bodies including digital. It works quite well, but of course does not support any lens to body electrical connectivity, so the lenses are entirely manual.

Get a cheap used 6mp digital rebel and a lense adapter to get your feet wet and practice using digital, then in the latter part of this year make your decision after you have practiced. By then the next generation processors should be out and your digital rebel will still make a fine second camera