Best SLR for $1,500 budget

Hi, I am thinking of buying my first digital SLR for the purpose of taking pictures of my fishes.
Lets say I have a budget of about $1,500 +/-
What would be the recommended model to buy?

I am thinking the best brands would be either Canon or Nikon right?

Please provide some recomendations.
Thank you.

[trdsim]

Can get Nikon D80 or D90 for your budget. Wait for IT fair will have a better deal.

[Joop]

Originally Posted by trdsim

Can get Nikon D80 or D90 for your budget. Wait for IT fair will have a better deal.

D90 current value at $1988,

When IT fair??

[amiidae]

if your main aim is for fish photography, then there won't be too much diff in result if you get a $1500 DSLR or a $800 point and shoot cam.

you need a remote flash as part of your gear... that will certainly hit above $1500

Originally Posted by amiidae

if your main aim is for fish photography, then there won't be too much diff in result if you get a $1500 DSLR or a $800 point and shoot cam.

you need a remote flash as part of your gear... that will certainly hit above $1500

Really?
Why is that so?
I am currently using a Lumix LX2, cant seem to produce a good picture out of it.
That is why im thinking of buying a digital SLR, and hopefully i can get some pictures like those you have taken. I always ee you post nice pictures of rare fishes here.

What is a remote flash? and how will it improve the result of the pictures?
Any website to read up on these?
Thanks.

[amiidae]

it is basically all about lighting.

The brighter it is..,means you can push down the ISO, increase the shutter speed and reduce the shutter size - with that 3 parameters basically you can get sharper subject. Having flash is a simple method that can help you to acheive that "brighter" condition.

see this thread for my old set up.

http://www.arofanatics.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=275069

[bsplenden]

Do note that just the DSLR alone will not enable you to take good pictures.
You need more equipments. Lenses, flash units... These ain't going to be cheap. So did you factor these in your budget?

If you have considered these, by all means.

If not and you wish to have something good, how about the Canon G9?

I regretted buying the Canon S3IS because it doesn't come with a hotshoe.
The G9 has one!
Pricewise... I'm not too sure cos I havent checked it out for some time.

[amiidae]

For Canon system,

A transmitter (ST-E2) cost abt $300

Flash speedlite 580MKII is abt $720 or speedlite 480 is $450.

Canon G9 is abt $800.


p/s: I have not tried G9 before but my G6 do take pretty decent shots. better still.. get at least 2 flash.

[bsplenden]

Originally Posted by amiidae

p/s: I have not tried G9 before but my G6 do take pretty decent shots. better still.. get at least 2 flash.

Just a very short query with regards to this.

If you use 2 flash units, where do you place them?

[amiidae]

Originally Posted by bsplenden

Just a very short query with regards to this.

If you use 2 flash units, where do you place them?

The wireless transmitter (ST-E2) is able to trigger multiple flash at one go. so you can place a few flash on top of the tank at various locatin and fire in one go.