 George |
Short list of entry level SLRs? I have really missed having an SLR since I chose the convenience and instant gratification of the digital revolution. I have decided to save for an entry level DSLR in the $500-$600 range. I would like to take some courses and don't want to limit myself if some paying gigs should come about. What is your short list of DSLRs that can meet the needs of a serious hobbyist/possible future pro? Also in consideration I have thought about these questions: How many megapixels are required before you get to a point where any more are just not worth it? Kinda like buying a car with more horsepower than you'll ever need. Would an 18-55 zoom and a 70-200 zoom be plenty of lenses to start with? What type of memory storage is best? I love the xd/sd type that I use with my p&s and don't see a reason to change. In the old days of 35mm my personal opinion was that Nikon and Cannon were the tops with Pentax a close second. I know this is a matter of personal choice but does it still hold true as a general consensus? On another topic: I have photoshop elements 2.0. Is there a reason to upgrade right now? I sampled Elements 4.0 and didn't see a lot of major differences.
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Tareq M. Alhamrani |
Canon 350D is a good camera in entry level SLR. If you can increase your budget then you can get 20D (New or Used), and if you can increase your budget more then get Canon 30D and don't look back
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robert G. Fately |
George, while I'm sure Tareq meant well, it is a mistake for you to take the advice of others when choosing a camera. There are not many DSLRs on the market in your price range - you need to go to a store and handle Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Olympus' models in that range. Specifications (even megapixel count) are not nearly as important as ergonomics - how the tool feels in your hands and how easily you can read the viewfinder information or even focus. There are differences in these areas that cannot be spotted in a review or specification. As for megapixel count - you can do really well with 6MP, 10MP being out of reach in the entry level today. Keep in mind that pros shooting digital 2+ years ago were using 6MP cameras. It's not that more than that is a complete waste, but for starters you should be fine. The two lenses you mention should handle most situations you encounter. As (if) you find yourself leaning towards close-up shooting or some other more specific area, you might want to get more specialized lenses. Most DSLRs use CompactFlash cards, though the Nikon D80 apparently takes SD cards. Frankly I don't think there's a technical reason to pick one over the other (certainly it's not a reason to disallow a particular camera you otherwise like). I've got Elements 4 on the Mac, having upgraded since 1. Frankly, it's been so long I don't know what the differences are any longer, though I get the feeling there were some really useful ones thrown in there.
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Mike Rubin |
Listen to Bob, I would just like to add that I have a Canon Digital Rebel (300D) with the 18-55mm "kit" lens and a 70-300mm zoom, along with a 50mm f1.8, this combination covers all my need although I have become disappointed with the speed and quality of the 18-55mm and will be replacing it with a 17-50mm f2.8 Tamron makes one which has received excellent reviews that compare the quality to the Canon brand, although the Tamron does not have IS as the Canon does, it can be found for less than $449. and the Canon is 2x the price. However the "Kit" lens is a decent lens for the price range it would be in if available separately.
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Troy |
You can pick up the canon digital rebel(300D) for about $450- $500 on ebay with the kit lens (18-55). same goes for the Nikon D50 with 18-55 lens. about $550.$600 from B&H new w/ 18-55 lens. Spend a few more dollars and get the 70-300 lens and you are in business.I personally have a Nikon D50,with an 18-70 and 70-300 lens.The d50 is a great camera.I wouldn't hesitate to buy a nikon D70 or the canon digital rebel,or rebel XT, in that approximate price range.Shop around fits "you" and of course your budget. hope that helps.
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Steve McCroskey |
I recently upgraded from a Minolta Maxxum 5 35mm camera,to a Nikon D70s! Instead of buying the "kit" lens included,which was priced at about $1000.00 I bought the camera body and a lens that I chose seperately!! There are several ways to acquire the equipment that you are searching for!!
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Adrian M. Benson |
Everyone has their favorites, but I think the truth is it's tough to make a wrong choice here. The best thing to do is fiddle with as many different models as you can and choose the one that feels best to you in terms of handling and control layout. That should be easy to do if you have camera store near you. I've been shooting Minolta and Nikon for years and if I were to recommend one in your price range well...I wouldn't :) I'd recommend saving up another $300 or so and getting Nikon's D80. There's probably no point (yet) at which you can't use more megapixels, but you can make decent enlargements from 6mp images (I do from my D70s) so don't worry too much. But the rule (at least my rule) on MP count is the same as it is for memory on a PC; Buy as many as you can afford. Storage media. Who cares? It's convenient to have all one card type, but don't let it be a deal breaker.
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