Digital SLR Cameras

[TDoodle]

I'm looking at buying one this winter, what do people have, do you like it?
My main purpose for it will be taking pictures of the Northern Lights next summer and doing some random interesting night pictures. I want to get it this winter so I can play around with it and know what I am doing for next summer. I'm looking at spending ~800 after taxes for a package.

[Enzown]

Paging Mr Wilbury, paging Mr Wilbury.

I'm by no means an expert but I've always used Canons at work and been happy with their performance (I'm a journalist).

[JonV]

I got the Nikon D5000 from Costco for about that much and it works fine with the kit lens that came along with it. Check out the pics that I took with them.
JonV's Photo Blog - PokerRoad

[The 6th Wilbury]

I have a Canon EOS 40D, which is a bit outdated but it still serves me well. I'm trying to save up for the 7D, which I believe is what BJ Nemeth now uses. If I ever get my Full Tilt money back -- insert laughter here -- that's where it will go.

Given your interest in low-light photography and your price range, I recommend a Nikon. From what I've seen, the lower-end Canons (the Rebel series and 60D) don't handle noise very well, which is an issue if you're doing night shots. I'm a Canon guy but I do tip my hat to Nikons in that regard.

At your price point among the Nikon family, you're looking at either the D3100 or D5100. The D3100, which came out last year, is Nikon's lowest-end DSLR. The D5100, which streeted this year, is a step up before you get into the "prosumer" class.

I haven't followed the Nikon line as closely as I have the Canons, but here is DPReview's take on the D3100. I skipped to the "Conclusion" page as it provides a solid overview of their otherwise exhaustive tests:
Nikon D3100 Review: 19. Conclusion: Digital Photography Review

And here is that site's review on the D5100:
Nikon D5100 Review: 22. Conclusion: Digital Photography Review

Note: the D5100 is essentially the same camera JonV uses.

Just avoid those package deals that come with a lot of accessories. They tend to feature a lot of cheap junk. For example, when I bought mine, it came with a couple of really crappy lenses, a cheap case, some filters, a flimsy tripod and cleaning supplies. I've used almost none of those extras. I went into detail about just such a package in this post from an old thread from when scooter sought advice on a camera. It gives you an idea of how much crap they give you in those packages.

If you go with Nikon, this looks like a very solid buy in your price range:
Amazon.com: Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens: Camera & Photo

If you opt for Canon, the equivalent of the D5100 is probably the Rebel T3i:
Amazon.com: Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera and DIGIC 4 Imaging with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens: Electronics

As for other brands, I unfortunately don't know much about Olympus, Pentax or Sony. Olympus has its Evolt line of DSLRs, and Sony has the Alpha A33 and A55 models, but I've never seen them in use nor have I met anyone who shoots with them.

[The 6th Wilbury]

Oh duh... one thing I didn't mention, but it's pretty important for taking long-exposure shots (like night photography). Don't skimp on a tripod. I don't think you need to shell out for a professional Manfrotto 055XB, but if you go with one of those $14.99 off-brand models that weighs less than your gear, you could find yourself with a very different budget concern.

[JonV]

I gots steady hands.

[The 6th Wilbury]

Originally Posted by JonV

I gots steady hands.

Steady hands AND a VR lens.

No, when you're properly shooting nightscapes, you typically bring the ISO as low as you can go (usually 100), stop down the aperture to something very narrow (as small as f/22), then keep the shutter open for a good 10-15 seconds. Even the steadiest hand won't be able to keep the camera totally still for that long.

This is precisely the technique used for shooting fireworks, thunderstorms, etc. One of these days I'd like to take some long-exposure shots of a busy highway (getting those long streams of night) or even a busy sidewalk at night (with the buildings and lights clear but the people all one blur).

Attached are a few attempts I've done with long-exposure. Three are pretty standard while the fourth was me playing around with a laser pointer. I need to do more, though -- it's pretty fun and you can get some unusual looks.

Addendum: I just Googled for shots of the Aurora Borealis (example below). I'm officially envious of TDoodle... make sure you post your shots somewhere. I'd love to see them.