Canon Rebel XT (silver, body only) for $549 (AR) free 1GB card
 

$20 more for the black version:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830120028

I just ordered one, the $5-ish 3-day shipping option doesn't work. I'm guessing that b/c the combo deal, the free 1GB card.

It's a great buy for those of you want the body only. I have been debating between the Pentax and Canon for a while now. I gave in to the Canon Rebel XT. I'm purchasing the kit len separately, b/c most people don't like it and you can get it for around $50 used.

So, the total ready-to-shot package is $628

$569 Rebel XT body
$0 1GB card
$50 18-55mm kit lens (used)
$9 3-day shipping

That's $253 more than fellow DogingCars paid for his Pentax DL.

So, for $253, i'm getting the following:
1. Brand name (i guess it's like the IPOD thing, but the truth is, IS BETTER product-wise)
2. 8mp vs. 6mp
3. Get to use Canon lens! Again, brand name thing, but the good Canon lens use far superior materials.
4. It's a better camera (software-wise to spec-wise). I believe this along is about $200 difference.
5. Oh, that price included a $25 value 1gb CF card :)

The rebate for Canon expires 7/15 and postmark no later than 8/5.

Nice...I bought one about a month ago, (with the Kit Lens) and I love it. The amount of nice Canon glass is the hard part.

I would pick up a nicer lens then the kit lens if I had it to do over again, but it is good enough. (The kit lens over laps many of the other lenses I'm looking at, so it's kinda redundant)

Edited to add: This is a good thread with pictures from the kit lens.
http://www.photography-on-the.net/fo...d.php?t=185522

Pentax is a good brand name they practically popularized the 35mm SLR movement and continue to make good cameras.

Yes, agree with you. Price-wise, Pentax DL is not too cheap either (if they bump to 8mp, i think the price is pretty much like the Rebel XT). Pentax got good reviews and lots of people like them.

However, overall, i still think Canon's name is more favorable than Pentax.

Cool, very good price. You should join the potn forums as there is a lot to learn. http://photography-on-the.net/forum/

Wow, great site, just registered. Lots of good info there and all Canon! Cool!

Oh, thanks jrjay and welcome to dvdtalk :)

Thanks Ocelot. :)

Thanks for letting us know about this, Ocelot. I've had my eye on this camera for a while, so I decided this is the time to get it.

BTW, I may skip out on the kit lens and just get the Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens.

Yeah, the 50mm lens is on my list, the next one actually... It's great for portraits. You're welcome!

A day late. :(

Pentax might not be as popular a brand as Canon, but they are a long-established camera manufacturer and you can get some great, cheap glass on eBay for them... I bought the DL because I had a nice selection of k-mount lenses (28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 100mm, 200mm, 300mm) -- all fully manual, but you just slap them on the camera, switch it over to manual focus and aperture and are ready to go.

My only complaint is that Pentax doesn't make a DSLR at this point with a full-size CCD, so everything is multiplied by 1.5x on the focal length. Canon does offer a full-size CCD camera, though not in the six hundred dollar range.

I just got my camera today. To claim the mail-in rebate, they want us to enclose a copy of the warranty card. Does the card need to be filled out?

I think you do, the card should have your name and address and the dealer's name and address. I filled out mines and ready to mail it today. From all previous rebate experience, i enclosed the invoice (in the e-mail), order detail (newegg order history) and package slip (in the package).

Usually the package slip is enough, but the thing is, some e-retailers don't show the price of the items on the package slip.

It's gonna cost me more than one stamp :(

I would recommend doing the website rebate form as well. They will send you updates for the rebate to let you know it was approved, sent, etc...

Ah! thanks for the tip... Darn it, too late for me, i already mailed the letter and i don't want to confuse those people who process the rebate by "prequalify" it. Man, i just "delayed" the rebate check, doh!

Oh boy, i signed up the prequalifing thing and i mailed the forms before i did that... I guess instead of speeding the process, i actually confuse the crap out of them!

I hope there's no problem with what i did. The worse thing is that they might reject my rebate b/c there seems to be a duplicate (HOPE NOT!).