Canon Lenses Dpreview
What I personally think is better? The Canon Rebel XT or Nikon D40? What objectives should I buy?

I read that the kit lens is "useless." I'm using a point and shoot right now. For anyone who uses the Canon Rebel XT, the Nikon D40, or both (preferably) What are your thoughts on them? What do personally think is better? These two cameras are in my price range. I would also like to know what type of lens should I buy? This is what we usually picture: animals (dogs, cats, birds), fish (aquarium and pond fish), life wild flowers, nature. Sometimes I have to shoot from distance and blurred out with my P & S. I want something that will give me an image you expect to see in a magazine. I have taken photos great with my S & P but I want to climb. Any input from the camera in what I buy is much appreciated (so that the lenses should be saving to ..)! I'm leaning more towards the Nikon, though. Pro / With reviews are good. I have read those in photo.net and dpreview etc but I want personal comments .. Sample photos would be great!

I love the Nikon D40. I've always liked Nikon products, and let me tell you why I think you should get one: level digital SLR bodies to entry are relatively the same. They have some differences, and perhaps one or two megapixel difference in resolution, but are very similar and you can not go wrong with any of them. However, you buy a Nikon to achieve good Nikon lenses. It is a kind of point of purchase of an SLR: for lenses. I'll say now: Do not lower the quality of your system by purchasing non-economic lenses (such as Tamron and Sigma). There are exceptions, but that's beside the point. Anyway, their lenses. You will get a kit lens settlement for the D40 will use most all the time while you are starting. All around the lenses are only that, however: footage of all trades but a master of none. You can buy the crazy 18-200mm lens and a zoom so wonderful, and although they are convenient, while taking good photos, not take great pictures. Pros first use, but some lenses that do not have any kind of zoom (and the distortion, either). If I was buying any lens as a beginner (or now, for that matter), would be the Nikon 50mm f/1.4. 50 mm is a perfect all-around first and great for portraits (pet, too), and this goal is extremely rapid. You will learn about openings and lenses later, but trust me: f/1.4 is fast. Find this very useful in low light when you photograph pets that will not stay still, and far less images will blur. If you like birds, you need a telephoto lens. As a beginner, you certainly can not afford a telephoto first rapid, but it gives me a good ending in a zoom focal length of 300 mm. Birds are difficult to get close, so you may want to invest in a teleconverter good too. They are not a substitute for a real lens, but to make your goal much longer (A 2x teleconverter will change by 300 mm by 600 mm). Nikon Nikon I like more because I like glasses. Still, if you like photography, you'll be happy with any of them. Just not on his glasses, and always skimp experiment and have fun! Edit: Ah, yes, Live View and that's not all good as it looks. It is NOT the same as using the viewfinder, the camera slows down, and eats batteries. Do what the professionals have more than one hundred years and look through the viewfinder.