After much hand wringing, a plethora of PMs back and forth with Gresch/Thunder, and lots of reading/debating, I await delivery
of a Canon 40D with 17-85 USM IS lens, etc.
1901B010 Canon EOS-40D Digital SLR Camera Body Kit with EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 USM Image Stabilized Lens - USA Warranty
I am also shopping hard for the Canon 10-22 USM lens, too, as I got
quite used to my old Sigma 17-35 film lens. $700 for the lens, plus
lens shade, and an occasional multi-coated UV filter for protection,
is some serious-azz expense for a hunk of glass, however.
Thanks to all that offered opins, ideas and comments...the 50D has
some FABs over the 40D, but vice versa. The other Canons "above"
the 50D were out of my budget/needs/desire range. As to the Nikon
vs Canon debate, it is a good arm wrestle, but in the end I decided
Canon and then worked on narrowing it down among 40D, 50D, 500D
and 5D, et al.
I am still pizzed that my budget Konica-Minolta 5d body, less than 2
yrs old, (used with my old film cam lenses), went kaboom. Even more
pizzed that Sony,UsuallyNoBaloney who bought K-M, would not even
blink on some accommodation on repair, as all the Sony DSLRs, even
the top end, suffer the same fault sooner or later.
NEway, I await the FedEx guy, if he can find our house here on the mtn.,
and look forward to dropping more dough on new lenses & stuff,
.
But, as much as I shoot/love photography, I am glad I was pushed into
a newer cam system.
BR,mD