Canon EOS 20D
With a sturdy, well-designed body and an intuitive control layout, the Canon EOS 20D is a pleasure to shoot with. It lacks a spot meter and isn't without minor flaws, but serious amateurs and pros who need a compact, affordable Canon dSLR should put this digital camera at the top of their lists. With this camera, you don't want to skimp on the lenses--if you put a mediocre lens on a great body, the photos reflect it, and you're wasting the initial investment.
One of the sacrifices you make when you opt for a dSLR over an all-in-one design is the flexibility of a flip-out and/or twistable LCD for off-angle shooting. An angle finder, though a bit on the expensive side, partially restores that capability for an SLR.
This reasonably priced model is the widest lens you can get for a Canon dSLR. Its focal range translates to about 17mm to 32mm (35mm equivalent), and Sigma's DC lenses have smaller image circles than traditional SLR lenses, to match the smaller size of the sensor. Canon's version, the
EF-S 10mm-to-22mm f/3.5-to-f/4.5 Ultrawide Zoom Lens is faster but pricier.
If you frequently shoot at the far end of the focal range, this lens supplies much-needed image stabilization. Feeling flush? Get the
Canon EF 70mm-to-300mm f/4.5-to-f/5.6 DO IS USM, an extremely compact version of the lens with a really high price compared to the budget you probably have for this camera.
This tiny backpack will let you comfortably carry your Canon EOS 20D, a couple of lenses, and assorted accessories.
This sturdy tripod can elevate your camera higher than six feet, and it has a geared center column to prevent accidental slips. It also has a level built in so that you can align your shots with the horizon. The rubber feet come off to reveal spikes that will give you a firm hold on rough terrain. The tripod head that you attach the camera to is sold separately; you can choose any compatible Manfrotto model. For less than $300, you can buy the 475B legs and a
3025 3D Junior head together.
Fast cameras require fast media, and this is the fastest you can get at the moment.
