What’s the best affordable digital camera for freelancing?

I would like to do some freelance photography but I need to get a digital slr first. I have a Nikon F50 and have borrowed a friends’ digital slr so I know how to use them, I’m just not sure of what the cheapest camera is I can buy that will still produce good enough quality to sell. I’ve been looking at the Olympus E-500 and Canon rebel. I won’t buy Nikon right now because to get over 6 MP you have to pay over $1000 (I’m in Canada). Any suggestions?

Don’t get caught up in the megapixel myth. Megapixels account for some quality, but then you have to factor in image processor and lens…. a camera with low MP and a great lens can take a better photo than with high MP and crappy lens. For instance, the Nikon D50 has 2 less megapixels than the Canon Rebel, but since it has a better image processor it can take a photo that prints as big or bigger and looks better IMO. Also keep in mind that 2, or even 4 more mega pixels is not as much as it sounds. For example an 8mp photo is not twice the size or quality of a 4mp photo. My suggesting for picking a camera is to choose functions, do you want a fast burst rate, bracketing mode, ect? Also, look at their more expensive models and see what you like, because you start in the cheaper models, but if you decide to upgrade, you want all your old lenses to fit. But the best advice I ever got was to get a subscription to Popular Photography ($3 a year on ebay) This months issue even has a full article about understanding the mega pixel myth.

Rolls Royce Olympus

Sanyo XX Battery Powered by eneloop, 2500mAh High Capacity, 4 Pack AA Ni-MH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries $24.99 RECHARGEABLE UP TO 500 TIMESLOW SELF DISCHARGE MAINTAINS 75% OF THEIR CHARGE AFTER 1 YEAR OF STORAGESTABLE VOLTAGE WITH LONGER POWER LIFE THAN ALKALINE BATTERIESNO MEMORY EFFECTSRECHARGES EMPTY OR PARTIALLY DRAINED BATTERIESPERFECT FOR USE IN POWERING HIGH DRAIN DEVICESUPC : 0086483080159Shipping Dimensions : 0.62in X 3.69in X 4.47inEstimated Shipping Weight : 0.29…

Eye-Fi Pro X2 8 GB Class 6 SDHC Wireless Flash Memory Card EYE-FI-8PC $79.21 Store up to 4000 photos or 3 hours of video with 8GB SDHC capacity supercharged with class 6 read/write speedsWireless upload photos and videos from camera through user’s WiFi workAd Hoc send photos and videos to a laptop Endless memory Eye-Fi card will automatically free up space once photos and videos have been safely deliveredGeotagging lifetime automatic Geotagging service helps user organize …

Olympus ME-52W Noise Canceling Microphone $11.99 The ME-52W plugs directly into your digital recorder”s 3.5mm microphone jack for uni-directional recording in high-noise environments. It will cut down on much of the background noise and result in a more accurate transcription….

Eye-Fi 8GB Mobile X2 SDHC Class 6 Wireless Memory Card EYE-FI-8MD $64.93 Compatible exclusively with digital cameras camcorders and puters that support SDHC memory cardsStore thousands of photos and videos with Class 6 SDHC memoryOnly card that can free-up space after pictures are safely deliveredWireless upload JPEG photos and videos fast through users home WiFi workAutomatic back-up wirelessly upload JPEG photos and videos to user’s chosen foldersEffortless sharing w…

Olympus LI-42B Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery (Retail Packaging) $6.80 High capacity lithium ion battery for D630, IR300, SP700, Stylus 700, 710, 720 / 740mAh Capacity,Extremely compact and ultra-slim design…

Nikon LC-52 Snap on Front Lens Cap $8.00 Protect your Nikon investment with genuine Nikon lens, teleconverter and camera body mount caps. Lens caps protect the front and rear portions of your lenses and teleconverters from dust, smudges and scratches. Camera body mount caps protect the mirror box and reflex mirror when a lens is not affixed to the camera body….

Olympus KA-333 Compaticord, Connects Earphone or Headphone Jack Output to Mic Input Jack $13.59 The KA-333 connects from the earphone or headphone jack output of a voice recorder to the microphone input jack of another recording device. With the KA-333, you can transfer recordings from your voice recorder to another voice recorder. You can also use the KA-333 to transfer recordings from a voice recorder to a PC or home stereo (check your PC or home stereo for jack compatibility). The K…

Lowepro SlingShot 350 AW (Black) $179.99 The Lowepro SlingShot 350 AW is perfect for the photojournalist or serious enthusiast who wants a sling-style camera bag that allows easy access while wearing, plus room for a notebook computer. The ergonomic sling strap evenly adjusts weight and easily rotates from back to front—making it simple to work out of the bag. The roomy main compartment is outfitted with adjustable, padded dividers…

Sony XAMC10 External Mic for BT (Black) $29.95 The Sony XAMC10 is an external microphone that can be connected to a Sony headunit with built-in Bluetooth that features a rear microphone input. The XAMC10 external microphone provides better quality in noisy environments than the built in microphone found on the front-panel of your compatible Sony Bluetooth headunit….

Nova Development US Family Tree Maker for Mac [Old Version] $32.99 Ancestry.com Family Tree Maker for Mac Software, which is based on Family Tree Maker 2010, makes organizing, researching and sharing your family history easier than ever, whether you’re just getting started or already an expert….