Update: Price dropped $4 on the lens, the total is now $581
Amazon [amazon.com] has Nikon D40 6.1MP digital SLR camera kit with 18-55mm lens + Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom [amazon.com] lens for $685 - $100 auto discount = $585 with free shipping. Thanks mrcoolguy209
$100 discount will show at the final stage of checkout befor submitting the order.
Note, price comparison is for camera kit only, lowest on PriceGrabber for the lens is $200

Before people start posting what they don't know, a 6MP camera is enough to make a 20x30 print, if it's a decent camera that doesn't have a lot of artifacts (noise). Cheaper cameras will produce a lot of noise at high ISO's (ie, indoor shots). You should have no problems with this camera if you buy an external flash.

6MP is definately good enough for up to 8x10 photos and ok for 10x13.

Amazon says photo-quality 14x19-inch prints, but that's not true. For a 6MP the biggest you can print at 300dpi (photo quality) is about 6.7x10 [cambridgeincolour.com], so about 8x10.

http://www.urban75.org/photos/print.html

Kodak, for example, suggests these resolution/file sizes:
For a 4" x 6" print, the image resolution should be 640 x 480 pixels minimum.
For a 5" x 7" print, the image resolution should be 1024 x 768 pixels minimum.
For an 8" x 10" print, the image resolution should be 1536 x 1024 pixels minimum.
For a 16" x 20" print, the image resolution should be 1600 x 1200 pixels minimum.
For a 20" x 30" print, the image resolution should be 1600 x 1200 pixels minimum.

Quote from kschlege : Before people start posting what they don't know, a 6MP camera is enough to make a 20x30 print, if it's a decent camera that doesn't have a lot of artifacts. http://www.urban75.org/photos/print.html Kodak, for example, suggests these resolution/file sizes: For a 4" x 6" print, the image resolution should be 640 x 480 pixels minimum. For a 5" x 7" print, the image resolution should be 1024 x 768 pixels minimum. For an 8" x 10" print, the image resolution should be 1536 x 1024 pixels minimum. For a 16" x 20" print, the image resolution should be 1600 x 1200 pixels minimum. For a 20" x 30" print, the image resolution should be 1600 x 1200 pixels minimum.

Very good post. I'm hoping people in the market for a SLR and spending ~$600 would realize the value the D40 provides.

Quote from kschlege : Before people start posting what they don't know, a 6MP camera is enough to make a 20x30 print, if it's a decent camera that doesn't have a lot of artifacts.

okay, boss

Quote from mrcoolguy209 : Very good post. I'm hoping people in the market for a SLR and spending ~$600 would realize the value the D40 provides.

Some people were going to Ritz B&M and getting the VR for $50 more. But like you said, NO TAXES with Amazon.

Quote from cdude38 : okay, boss

Usually people start to thread crap the D40 saying that the XTi or D40x is better because it has more pixels. If you don't know how to take a photo and have to crop out 80% of the picture, then yeah the XTi, D40x or D60 might be better for you.

[QUOTE=kschlege;11086603]Some people were going to Ritz B&M and getting the VR for $50 more. But like you said, NO TAXES with Amazon.

I was one of those people. Luckily, they ran out of D40's and I waited. I would have spent $600 plu $43 in taxes (live in Cali). This is a savings of ~$55 for me.

Can anyone recommend a good case for the D40 with lens and a second lens? I know the d40 with lens is small enough to fit in a camera case for superzooms or small dslr, but don't know what the best way to carry around the second lens would be.

Also, anyone have experience with filters? I've heard it is important to put a UV filter on the lens.

Is this better than XTi? I have a P&S camera.

great camera, great company (amazon), I've had the camera since december, I'm very impressed with it. My first dslr...

Quote from pokymon : Is this better than XTi? I have a P&S camera.

IMHO yes ... people who say 10MP > 6MP will say no

If the biggest you'll ever print a photo is 10x13 at walgreens or somewhere else, this will be more than enough, even if you have to crop it a bit.

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-55-20...B000O161X0

55-200mm lens link

It's a mfg rebate so everyone should be honoring it, abes, ritz, costco, amazon, etc, etc. I purchased from amazon this morning, just because they are the easiest and most reputable to deal with, plus costco charges tax and shipping.