Today's Apocalypse Sign: I Have Less Than 4 Months....

Yes, I am sure that title will get many readers to check out this post to see if my welfare is in danger. It's not. At least as of this typing. I have less than four months before my combination birthday, 10th anniversary, and my wife's dive trip....to Fiji! (How many other words have three dotted letters in a row in them?? That aren't Arabic that is.)

We have quite a bit of planning to do and some of you recall the ridiculous stuff we did in December just to go to Ohio...which is not Fiji by the way!

Now I need your help or at least those who are knowledgable to give it...

I am finally going to upgrade to a DSLR camera. Nothing unreachable like a Nikon D3 (I mean it's a car payment, right?) But I have been researching several different brands lower end models that are basically starter kits.

I have a notepad document on my desktop where I copy sites that I am using for comparison shopping. (Remember the days where you actually went to the store and had the salesman help you? Crazy huh?) Anyway, I have investigated the following so far:

Canon EOS Rebel XS 10mp with 18-55mm lens

Pentax K2000 10.2 mp same lens

Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15MP same lens

NIkon D3100 14.2mp same lens



Olympus E-410 14-42mm lens

Of course the problem with the Internet is two-fold: 1) information overload on each product, and 2) a wide range of products. I am not a professional photographer. I have no formal training in the field. I like photography to the point if I could do it well enough I would do that for the rest of my life. But I know just a minimum of the technical aspects.

I digress, I said I needed the help of any of you that may be willing to take the time. Personal advice, other blogs to check out, online help, even pointing me in the right direction would be fine.

I need some help, advice, counsel, etc. on what you would look at as a starter DSLR camera. I may never get to Fiji again and I intend to capture as much of it in pictures and video. My Fuji Finepix 5200 just is not up to the task. So without rambling on any further, I would appreciate a shout-back from any of my blogs mates out there. The one "MUST" for me is the camera has to have a live view LCD screen. Period.

If you want to email me rather than commenting that would be fine and actually preferred. You can let me know in the comments that you have sent me an email. And of course donations are welcome (Just kidding!).

And I'll be sure to share some Fiji pics when I get back!

I truly appreciate any help you can give me.