Well, it's a done deal -- the order is placed

Jim, aka HullBoss, ordered me the Canon D20 with Canon 17-85 mm and 70-300 mm AND (and I didn't know this was coming) the 10-20 mm Sigma -- plus good filters, a 1 GB compact memory card, and the Canon 580 FX flash. OH - MY - GOD. I think I've died and gone to heaven.

Now all I have to do is make him proud. :) I'm sure I'll be asking all of you for tips and tricks. I guess the only thing I'll ever need now is maybe the 50 mm you were talking about, Raging, for the low light.

I just can't believe he did this for me. I think I've got the best husband in the world.

ed. Actually, the Mavica goes down to 2.5, so maybe I'll just use it when I want to shoot in low light.

Wow ... I'm just speechless.

I damn near ordered that Sigma 10-20 today myself. :). That's on my "to buy" list. I want a good ultra-wide. Right now it's a toss up between that and the Tamron 12-24 (I'd consider the Nikon, but it's twice the cost, I can't justify that big a leap). I like the wider angle of the Sigma, but I like the fixed aperture of the Tamron, so it's a tough call, and I keep changing back and forth between them :).

WooooHOOOOOOO!

I'm psyched for you! :bounce:

Oh, and I've heard VERY good things about that 50mm too :). Put it on your future to buy list. I read somewhere that Canon used to make a 50mm with a 1.0 fixed aperture. We're talking shooting detailed photos of black cats in a dark room :)

Make sure to share you new camera with us.

I'll be out there snapping away like crazy, I'm sure, as soon as it arrives (hopefully, by Tuesday). I'm still kind of in shock about this whole thing. I never thought I'd be able to have anything so grand -- it's really the best gift of my life.

:bounce::bounce::bounce::woohoo: :woohoo::bounce::bounce::bounce:

Can't wait to see your pics with that camera. Congrats and will wait impatiently for the photos.

I'm a little intimidated, but Jim got me an instruction DVD, so that should help, I would guess. You all here have taught me so much -- I'm sure I'll be constantly asking questions, but I am so much looking forward to playing with this. Santa has been very, very good to me.

online, and play with it. It isn't hard at all and it is much easier to learn on a digital with the instant feedback. Shoot in RAW for the best pictures and learn how to use the histogram. I'll see what I can find out for you help wise, though I have the Nikon the college has the 20Ds and Rebels.

A start on histograms while you wait...

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/understanding-histograms.shtml

I can see I've got some studying to do. Wish I didn't have to work. You know, I was thinking ... I was a legal secretary for 25 years, but in the last two or three years of that time I started doing court transcripts on the side at home, just for some extra cash. Then when my firm downsized, I was able to move right into doing the transcripts at home full-time with no problem. Maybe now I can work on the photography on the side and then later work that into a full-time thing. Boy, would I love that. I would be a very happy camper then, for sure. Hey, in a couple of years I'll be able to get my social security, so I won't need to make so much money working -- what perfect timing! :)

what this RAW thing is that everybody keeps talking about in terms that a complete novice would understand?

different file format photos. Your other one most likely took jpg. (Guessing there) Here is a great site on the 20D http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/20d.html and a good site explaining RAW http://www.photo.net/learn/raw/ They explain so much better than I can.
It seems overwhelming now I bet but once you have the camera in hand and start playing with it, it will make more sense.
Also I agree with the more flash card space the better. Though I will add what the local news photographer shared after a bad experience. He said to stick with many 1 gig cards instead of one bigger card. Though one card is convenient cards can go bad. If you have more than one smaller card you don't lose everything if one goes bad. He lost a whole weekend of local races when his card corrupted. (Don't ask have no idea how or why)
Anything computer based seems to decide to mess up just to remind a person to back up everything important.

There was a 4GB mechanized (?) card that came with the package Jim bought, but the camera dude said that there are problems with those larger ones in cold places like Alaska, so he recommended the 1GB compact one instead. I certainly do intend to get at least one more just so I don't run out of space if I get carried away. I'm always amazed at how many pictures I've shot, even though it seems like just a few.

Oh, and thanks again for the links. I'll be checking that out. Yes, the Mavica takes JPGs and I couldn't find that histogram thing you were talking about on it either, although that's probably just my lack of knowledge showing if it's supposed to be on all digital cameras.

I suppose I should just wait until I have the new one in hand so it all makes more sense, but I'm just so anxious to know everything.

and have two of them so far. They have gotten a lot cheaper than they used to be too.I still have a few 256 mbs from when I had my coolpix 800. And they work in the newer one though only hold about 23 RAW pics. Mechanized sounds like something that would fail sooner than later though. The Steve's digicam link has great close ups of the 20D and explanations. The one for the Nikon was much better than the manual when I got my camera. Since I am still learning I still use it.
I'm not sure if all cameras have a histogram, but pretty sure most newer ones do. Just list your questions and I'll keep hitting the Canon people I know with them and for links.

The "mechanized card" is a MicroDrive. Believe it or not, even though it's the same size as a CF memory card, it's actually a miniaturized hard drive (!). That gives it greater capacity but, as the "camera dude" pointed out, makes it a lot more sensitive. I would think there could be problems operating it in sub-freezing temperatures.

As to CF cards, my advice to you would be to check out the camera's manual (if you can't wait, you might be able to download it from Canon's website). Most companies list "recommended cards," which are the ones they tested the camera with. That doesn't mean that other cards won't work; but they might not write the data as fast. (As an example, I mention the el-cheapo PQI cards -- most definitely not recommended by Nikon -- I bought at Fry's for my 5700, which can take more than a minute to write a 5MP raw image.)

Lastly, and this is more a matter of my own personal preferences: although you can get high-capacity cards, I stick to 512MB cards. Why? Because I make it a matter of habit to immediately back up the full memory card to CD-ROM before I start playing with the images on my computer, and that's the largest size that will copy onto one CD-ROM. YMMV, depending on your backup strategy.

that I'm going to have to make into a habit. I haven't had to do that with the Mavica because once I've downloaded the pictures onto the computer I just stash the disk away somewhere and I've got it forever. I've liked not having to worry about the back-up, but I think you're right that it's a good idea to do that right away. I would be so upset to lose any photos if the computer crashed.

But you'll be having fun while you're learning.

I was just at Fry's this afternoon, where the 20D is the official high-end camera, and got to play around with it a bit. I want one! (Well, I'd settle for a 20D or a Nikon D70s or D50, and since the last of these, with lens, costs half of what the 20D's body alone goes for, it's probably the one I'd end up with...but that Canon IS lens is incredible.)

I've never recieved a gift like that, and a D20 at that! The most I can ask for is $50 for help on buying one, which I really am thankful for...I'm just jealous anyway.

I won't give you the story of my life, but, suffice to say, I've had my share of hard times in my 59 years, nothing has come easy, so this gift almost brings tears to my eyes. Not to sound like Wayne and Garth or anything, but "I'm not worthy." I'm really feeling extremely blessed right now.

is as happy as you, probably even more, since being able to give something with special value to someone who you care for is a rare privilege. Especially given long-separated childhood sweethearts back story.

Buy at least one extra battery and don't be shy about racking up memory cards.

You did good by buying the 1 GB. The last thing you want is to be without battery power or memory card space when a good photo op comes up. The camera comes with a recharger, but I went as far as to buy a special recharger that connects to the cigarette lighter in my car.

that we bought last summer when we were on our five-day camping trip, and I do believe Jim got an extra battery for this new camera. I've always had two for the Mavica. Yeah, I hate it when the battery runs out or I get to the end of the disk space. I always try to carry extras.

Update - Yes, there's another battery in the deal. Jim's so thorough, I didn't really think he'd forget that.

...for the body and 17-85mm lens alone is around $2,000.

Now that the truck is almost paid for, I think HullBoss just wanted another big payment to take its place. One gets used to one's budget. :) This package also included a really good sturdy tripod plus multi-coated filters for each lens and a hard case for storing everything. I'm sure I've left something out. It's really just an amazing set-up, and I'm still kind of in shock that I actually own it. My husband's the best.