Entry level Canon/Nikon DSLR?

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My Dad is looking to get back in to Photography after last being interested in the 80’s with a film camera. Back then he had a Canon and Olympus cameras but as I shoot with Nikon and have a collection of Nikon lenses I am going to suggest he buys Nikon. He’s only going to be after a basic model but what I want to make sure is that the body has a focus motor so that he doesn’t have to worry about the lenses he buys having to have an in built motor.

So my question is what is the entry level Nikon DSLR which has a focus motor in the body?
 
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D90.
 
D90 is the cheapest current Nikon with in body AF.

D3000/D3100/D5000 don't have AF motors.
 
2nd hand D50, 70, 80 or 90. D100 at a push. the 50 and 70 are a mere 6 MP but still deliver decent A3 prints.

D40, 60 etc will be cheaper but don't have the in body AF motor and the extra cost of AF-S or similar lenses can quickly wipe out any savings made on the body.
 
As above, a new D90 for about £600 would be ideal, or you could always buy one used for about £450-480. I've seen quite a few around since the release of the D7000.
 
All Canon bodies are non in camera focus, All EF and EF-S lenses have motors that focus in the lens.
 
thank you ladies and gentlemen I stand corrected
 
All Canon bodies are non in camera focus, All EF and EF-S lenses have motors that focus in the lens.
So if you get the very entry level body and the cheapest of Canon lenses then they WILL autofocus? If this a problem that you only see with the Nikon range?
 
So if you get the very entry level body and the cheapest of Canon lenses then they WILL autofocus? If this a problem that you only see with the Nikon range?

Depends how far back you want to take the argument/question.

Almost 95% of all Nikon F mount lenses ever made will fit most of the Nikon SLR bodies ever made (I have a 40 year old 300mm f4.5 which will work on all my Nikon bodies - manually) with Canon only EF(s) lenses (ignoring other manufacturers) will work with Canon dSLRs.

That is very much an oversimplification but it depends upon what you want to achieve and what kit you have already.
 
I have the D50 and its a very good budget pick to my mind. The only real down side is no jack for a cable release, its IR only. Though these can be had for under £2 on eBay from China.
 
That is very much an oversimplification but it depends upon what you want to achieve and what kit you have already.
Well the reason I asked the original question about Nikon cameras and lenses is because I have a kit bag full of Nikon but my Dad doesn’t have any camera gear at the moment apart from a rather basic point and shoot. I think he used to shoot with Canon back in his film days but all that is long gone now.

So, from 2 minutes of looking on the web it seems the 1000D is the current entry level Canon DSLR. If I were to get this body and use it with any Canon lens currently on sale at Jessops for example I would get autofocus with all of them?

I’m not after a fantastic camera that will do everything but I do want to make sure he doesn’t have to worry about which lenses he has to buy in future.
 
I’m not after a fantastic camera that will do everything but I do want to make sure he doesn’t have to worry about which lenses he has to buy in future.

On that basis i would be looking at a Nikon D50 or D80, you could pick up a D50 for around £150 and a D80 for around £250ish, both are very capable cameras and should do most of what you want for the prices mentioned, if however you can stretch to a D90 (around £500ish) all the better as the ISO capabilities are far superior to the other 2, and of course newer technology, but as said the D50/D80 are very capable cameras in their own right :)
 
So, from 2 minutes of looking on the web it seems the 1000D is the current entry level Canon DSLR. If I were to get this body and use it with any Canon lens currently on sale at for example I would get autofocus with all of them?

Yes, all of them.
 
Well Ive got a nice Nikon D80 on here up for grabs its in good nick been well loked after low mileage. have a look always open to discussion.
 
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