That is because the focus could not lock, turn off the autofocus and try to focus manually.

No. My Canon 30D is lightning quick.

One of the photography mags (I think it was one from Great Britain) just compared the A380 to the D5000. It was only a few points in each comparison that the Nikon won by, but they took in other factors such as availability of new, used and rental lenses, other accessories, and then a few other items. They recommended the Nikon a lot more than the Alpha.

Go to a camera shop, use a high speed card, and pick up the D5000 with a VR lens attached. That camera is lightning quick with a high speed card. It's got a decent buffer and if I was in the market, that's one I'd consider. Right now I'm headed a little up the ladder, but don't need the video capture. Looking at NOS D200 cameras.

Gotta agree with Abject: sounds likely to be a focus-lock issue; try it with stationary, contrasty subjects in full light, and see if the problem persists; also, try (gently) cleaning the inside: the focus-sensor may be partially-blocked.

New DSLRs aren't like that, at all; none of them. But then, neither should your film EOSrebel be like that -- there's some problem with it. Nikon, Canon, Sony (also Pentax, and many others) all have good offerings. I *think* that the film Rebel's used lenses compatible with the digital Rebels -- good Canon glass might be a reason to stay with Canon!


Also gotta agree with UCPhotog: try the camera in-hand before buying!

My only caveat is that Nikon's D5000 is -- afaik -- one of the ones without a focus-motor in the lens; Nikon sells LOTS of motorized lenses, but you need to be sure you buy THOSE, not the ones that need motors in the camera (kit lenses sold with the Nikon shouldn't have a problem).