Can't decide (first DSLR)

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LmidgitD

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Ok my dilema is that I jsut recieved my taxes back and have less than $700 (american, haha) for a DSLR. So far I've been undecided between the following: Pentax, Nikon D40, and Canon Rebel XT.
Pros: Pentax- has IS and is pretty cheap.
Nikon- Love it's look, pretty cheap, well known brand
Canon- I have 3 canon filters (cheapies though), I like canon, MP advantage

Cons: Pentax-Look of it, 6 MP, not that well known (by me at least)
Nikon- 6 MP, no IS
Canon- Price

I've held all three and have no real preferance but I do love the way the Nikon works. My problem lies in the MP count because I do a lot of portraits and nature shooting. Well actually, I'm an all-around photographer.
As for the kit lens, I think I'll be happy with ti for a while since currently I'm using a Canon Powershot A630.

Now I'm fully open to dieas and other opinions. Also I've looked around for used cameras but noone seems to be letting go of any DSLR's so :shrug:

Thanks to everyone and p.s. I'm not trying to start a war!
 
There should be Canon 350D's (same as Rebel XT I think) a plenty coming through on ebay now, what with the 400D being just out over here. You've started well as you've had a play with all those you're interested in. Really it comes down to what you're more comfortable with - gut instinct goes a long way when choosing a camera I think! One thing - you say you "like the way the Nikon looks" but remember - you can't see the beast when it's in front of your eye!
 
Haha yes I know looks dont matter. It's just I've always seen the Nikon brand as being more refined but Canon is like the working child. But I suppose I'll give ebay another go and see what's hanging around.

Thanks for the quick response!
 
You're more than welcome!

It's quite hard sometimes as a user of one brand to give unbiased (get a Canon get a Canon get a Canon) advice......the tempatation is always to shout "Buy a Canon" from the rooftops (get a Canon get a Canon get a Canon) but of course the same brand doesn't always suit everyone (except Canon of course) so the "try before you buy" is really the only way you can be pretty sure you're getting what suits you. The only other suggestion I can make is to take your budget figure into a camera store in cash, slap it on the counter and announce that you want to buy a **whatever** (get a Canon get a Canon get a Canon) with kit lens and that's how much you can spend......temptation to earn some hard cash MIGHT just get the better of them and you might get a deal!

Phew - that unbiased thing's tough....think I carried it off well though....!


;) :p :lol:

:canon:
 
Yes Witch you were very neutral:lol: :lol: :lol:

LmidgitD: Here's my advice:

1) FORGET MP's How big do you print regularly and how big is the biggest print you ever made?

6 Mp treated right will print A1 pin sharp no problem so why would you want to keep forking out to chase Mp's?

2) You say you are happy with your A630 and I'm sure you are but remember the average kit lens will give you about 28mm to about 80 or 90 mm and you are now used to 35-140 on your A630.

You will therefore have less in the long end of the kit lens when compared with what you are now used to.




PS Witch how is this for unbiased?:D





PS Witch, how is this for

3) You seem to like Nikon and even though I am a very happy Canon owner I would recommend you to go for the one you like better PROVIDED IT SUITS YOUR NEEDS!

4)Then comes budget of course...

to summarize...Get a good body but go for high quality lenses because you will be using the lenses 5-10 years down the road.

The same cannot be guaranteed for the body!

Cheers

Anton
 
Oh bol***ks

Now I fluffed it completely:bang:

So much for attempting an advanced edit:bang:
 
If you are happy to have a pre-owned camera, you can probably get a decent Nikon D70 for around the £300 mark :)
 
Thanks for the comments all! As for the used D70, like I've said I've been scouring ebay and other forums but to no avail. The average DSLR on ebay is running for 600 (for my 3 choices that is) but the reason why I'm worried about MP's is because sometimes I do a bit of cropping (I know I know, quit it! Haha) but I suppose 6mp would work just as well.
 
LmidgitD said:
Thanks for the comments all! As for the used D70, like I've said I've been scouring ebay and other forums but to no avail. The average DSLR on ebay is running for 600 (for my 3 choices that is) but the reason why I'm worried about MP's is because sometimes I do a bit of cropping (I know I know, quit it! Haha) but I suppose 6mp would work just as well.
Click to expand...

Don't hunt megapixels, hunt quality - Nikon D1 2.7mp

42992750.D1_2003092009.jpg


19309031.DSC_7455copy.jpg


19412529.CumberlandGap.jpg
 
Ffordes have a Canon 300D/Rebel, for £269.

202208.jpg


A Nikon D100 for £299.

211933.jpg


Several D70's from £279.

202149.jpg


... and finally 3 D70S's at £329.

193265.jpg


All guaranteed, and far better than a chance buy from Ebay.
 
Just remember...there is life outside Nikon and Canon (but not as we know it, Jim).........go to a shop, leave your money at home and try, try, try anything and everything........go back with your money at a much later date, when you've had time to really think. I know it's burning a hole in your pocket, but once you start buying lenses, you are really committed to that brand, so be as sure as you can be, first.
.........and it's really good fun, winding up the shop staff!!!:lol:
 
LmidgitD said:
Cons: Pentax-Look of it, 6 MP, not that well known (by me at least)
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The incredible thing is that Pentax have probably been responsible for more ground breaking changes in SLR cameras than any other manufacturer, and which the others have all gone on to adopting.

Ist Instant return mirror,

Ist Thru the lens metering.

1st Aperture priority SLR

1st Auto focus lenses.

Sadly they've never really attained pro status with their 35mm cameras (some of their medium format offerings are a different matter). They did try with their LX model but depite being an excellent camera, it was a bit quirky and never got adopted by the the pros. They have a pretty good back up system of lenses and accessories behind them too.

The few I've handled in recent years have all been a bit plasticky and disappointing , obviously made to a price. It must be tough to make any inroads into the market against the likes of Canon and Nikon.
 
Well guys, I'm really thinking about the Nikon D40. I'm going to stop at our local shop and play with all teh cameras one last time but for $500 including the kit lens it's looking hard to beat.

I spent all day at work (I work at a hotel job so I have a lot of free time) reading reviews, specs, and other cameras and though the Sony was starting to look appetizing I cant bring myself to own a Sony camera. Now I forgot about the looks (never a big issue really) and really focused on the functionality of the cameras and that's what brought me to my conclusion.

So in the end I'm going to probably purchase the Nikon but I'm still not sure. (Spent over 2 months thiking about this already!!! Haha)
 
Witch said:
You're more than welcome!

It's quite hard sometimes as a user of one brand to give unbiased (get a Canon get a Canon get a Canon) advice......the tempatation is always to shout "Buy a Canon" from the rooftops (get a Canon get a Canon get a Canon) but of course the same brand doesn't always suit everyone (except Canon of course) so the "try before you buy" is really the only way you can be pretty sure you're getting what suits you. The only other suggestion I can make is to take your budget figure into a camera store in cash, slap it on the counter and announce that you want to buy a **whatever** (get a Canon get a Canon get a Canon) with kit lens and that's how much you can spend......temptation to earn some hard cash MIGHT just get the better of them and you might get a deal!

Phew - that unbiased thing's tough....think I carried it off well though....!


;) :p :lol:

:canon:
Click to expand...
LOL I think im with you on this one:clap:
 
One other considreation is availablility and cost of accessories, lenses, flash unites etc. I know you said you'll be happy with the kit lens but in the long run you will probably want other lenses too.

When I had the same decision to make as you I looked more into lenses etc to make my choice, DLSR's are upadated roughtly every 18 months but lenses tend to have a longer life span. So I looked at lesnes first decidied which brand had the right type/price for me then chose a camera to fit them :)

This may be a backwards way of doing it but my thinking was that the lenses will be a long term investment and the bodies will probably get replaced every couple of years or so, so choosing a body purely on how it felt didn't rank to highly for me as I knew I would get accustomed to it anyway.

Just my 2p's worth.
 
LmidgitD said:
So in the end I'm going to probably purchase the Nikon but I'm still not sure. (Spent over 2 months thiking about this already!!! Haha)
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:D

Theirs just something about the Nikon isn't their.

When I bought mine, I decided the Nikon was built and designed towards one function...'capturing the moment... n' well'. Where as, the Cannon seems more designed just to take good photographs. ;)

If you do buy a Nikon, I strongly suggest you get the D70, nowt wrong with second hand, there like Hondas, truly reliable....although I don't by s/h either. ;)

This image is just less than 3 million pix, what’s left from a heavily cropped image, shot on my D70s….one good, out of hundreds of messed up ones.
Shot with a 70-200 mm zoom lens at 200mm. A little poor sharpening going on but other wise quite acceptable I think. I’ve printed a perfect copy filling about 70% of an A4…could probably go further, haven’t tried…if I was shooting with a cannon it would have made little difference to this finished image I feel… I had to get the shot first after all. :thinking:

wetrobinframe.jpg
 
Ignoring all the above and going what I think is best:

The Nikon D40

You are limited to AF-S lenses. It is quite small. Highly limited, funtionality wise.

Canon 350D (Rebel XT)

I have used this camera and it is tiny in my hands, I found it rather fiddly and annoying. You do have a wealth of high quality lenses to chooe from though.

Pentax K100? K10? K110?

All good cameras. I havnt got a singe bone to pick with Pentax. They were a little slow getting off the start line when it came to digital development but they have some lovely lenses available and there are three new * (star) KAF2 mount lenses coming out soon. ALL of them look fantastic. Persoanlly they deserve a better look. If I knew the K10D was going to be out this soon and these new lenses I would of made the move from my film cameras to Pentax quite easily (the Nikon D200 was too tempting in the long run)

Just my thoughts.

King.
 
Oh to hell with unbiased...

GET THE BEST GET A CANON!!!


:D
 
Anton Roland said:
Oh to hell with unbiased...

GET THE BEST GET A CANON!!!


:D
Click to expand...


Common sense coming through, what took so long :lol:

You may want to also look at the D50 if you are really strapped for cash, not a bad camera (yes "only" 6mp but some of the work I've seen from users of this camera are stunning.....I didn''t say that if anyone asks :suspect:
 
I'd be a bit dubious about the D40 too. For me one of the big advantages of the Nikon system is the ability to get hold of fantastic old lenses at fantastic prices second hand. You lose that with the D40 and are limited to AF-S lenses, which means that to get top quality, you're going to be shelling out lots of money.

E.g. a second-hand AF-N 180/2.8, probably one of the finest 35mm lenses that any manufacturer (including Zeiss and Leica) ever made, goes for a couple of hundred pounds for E+ used. If you want something with that sort of focal length and aperture and comparable quality in an AF-S lens, you're talking about things like the 80-200 at close to a thousand pounds (and arguably not really comparable image quality), the 70-200VR, at well over a thousand pounds or even the 200/2 at around three thousand pounds.

That's an extreme example, and obviously the 80-200 has a lot more going for it than the 180 in terms of a range of focal lengths (the 180 is light enough that you can carry it just in case though) but it illustrates the sort of options that you lose with the D40.
 
If it absolutely HAS to be a Nikon you should have a good look at the D80.

Preferably consider a 30D.

Both these bodies are excellent bang for your buck and should serve you well beyond their models being current.

In the meantime get some nice glass!!:thumbs:

Cheers
 
OK, I'm going to say it, the D30 is by far the best value for money. It's almost worth it just for the processor alone.

It's a beautifully made, well specified SLR. At the price you are wanting to pay, I honestly don't think you'll get better!
 
dougdarter said:
OK, I'm going to say it, the D30 is by far the best value for money. It's almost worth it just for the processor alone.

It's a beautifully made, well specified SLR. At the price you are wanting to pay, I honestly don't think you'll get better!
Click to expand...

I thought exactly that of my 20D. :D

Without opening any of the regular cans of worms I can't wait to see what PMA will bring...:thumbs:
 
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