What would you recommend as a great but unexpensive 35mm SLR? I'm a Canon girl for life, I must admit. Once I like something I tend to stick with it.

I've been looking into this http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Canon-EOS-Rebel-T2-35mm-Camera-9426A001AA/sem/rpsm/oid/109006/catOid/-13064/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

It seems to have good reviews.

Then there is this one http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-9/qid=1183789522/ref=sr_1_9/602-8229189-6451004?ie=UTF8&asin=B000I6P3N0

I don't know much about SLR. I've always used a point and shoot, but I'd really like to expand my horizons!

Thanks!
Sara

I've used the entry level Canon EOS 300. It was pretty good, but lacked the magical quality if you know what I mean. Ended up gifting it to the ex ...

I own a couple of Nikons, the N70 which is light and easy to carry around and does fantastically well at exposure but does not have the auto depth of field feature like the Canons do. However my other much much more expensive F5 does have that feature.

I personally think the F5 is the best SLR ever made bar none, with the F4 coming a close second if you're looking for features and exposure quality especially that magical something that makes you gasp in delight .... provided you get something like the 80-200mm 2.8 glass with it. Don't match this with the discount lenses in my opinion.

I've also heard very very good things about the Canon 1V. Very expensive but very very pro. And the Canons have a series of very expensive glasses called the L Series that can give Nikons a run for their money as well ...

There that's my two cents worth!

Good luck. Happy shooting. If you do end up getting a Nikon drop me a note if you don't mind?

if you can live without autofocus, look at a used canon ae-1, f-1, or t90.

the f1 and t90 are pro-level. they're almost bulletproof. the ae-1 is a great little aperture-priority camera. it's pretty solid.

the fd prime lenses are sharp, and they're pretty cheap now.

look at keh.com for good values on quality stuff.

i am absolutely in love with my pentax k1000

you find them for pretty cheap, and the lenses....

rugged, tough camera...

it uses a single battery for the light meter, but the camera itself requires no battery to operate.

it is completely 100% manual.... no auto-anything

this was (is) my first SLR, got it a few months ago now, and i love using it... and love the results...

makes me feel like a real photographer
i think (hope) i have learnt some things using this camera...

i have a reasonable digital camera too (Sony F717) which i love... but there is something truly magical about my K1000