My equipment:
Canon 5 D for portrait sessions
Nikon D90 (some portrait sessions, most personal work)
Nikon D700 wedding workhorse!
SB900
SB600
Nikkor 35G (stays on my D700)
50 1.8
28mm E series (mf)
85mm 1.4 (mf)
50mm 1.2 (mf)
homemade tilt shift
and many more, because I love collecting old lenses.
So you want to buy your first SLR?
I get this question asked all the time, if you are mainly purchasing for your own personal use, as a hobby then buy a Nikon. ALL THE WAY! I have experimented with entry level canons and the focusing and slow response had led me to miss some shots.
Check out the Nikon D5000 or a D7000. If you want to save some money, buy a used camera off craigslist. You can find decent ones for cheap, like the D40 or a D60.
The lens you SHOULD have is the very cheap Nikkor 50mm 1.8. You will make beautiful "blurry" background photos!
Where to buy:
Adorama call and ask for Joel! Tell him I sent you.
Good luck!
