Which DSLR?

[kissmyrs]

Ok whats ideal for a beginner?

Olympus seems the best value, its the only one that has Live view. Reviews also say its very good, but should i bother spending the extra £70 over the Sony?

Anyone experience any of the cameras below?

Sony A200 with 4GB Card
18-70mm lens
£280

Canon 400d with 4GB Card
18-55mm lens
£320

Nikon D60 with 4GB Card
18-55mm lens
£350

Olympus E510 with 8GB Card
14-42mm lens
40-150mm lens
£355

 

[dunganick]

Sony,

Has the stabilisation built into the body.

Sigma produce sony.minolta fit lenses.

It has live view i think, not that its really much use on any slr.

Sony products have impressed me greatly, i use a sony a700 as my second camera when shooting motorsport.

 

[kissmyrs]

The Olympus also has the stabilisation built in!

See i've already bought the A200, hasnt arrived yet, but looking at the other deals, im considering returning it! haha

 

[wozzaa]

To be honest I would go for the Canon / Nikon mainly due in part to availability of lenses and the prices of them.

They are the 2 most common systems and thus are much better catered to. You are buying into a system remember. So you have to take into account availability of lenses and what they are like price etc. Live view isn't really needed on an SLR to be honest.

 

[dunganick]

The Olympus also has the stabilisation built in!

See i've already bought the A200, hasnt arrived yet, but looking at the other deals, im considering returning it! haha

I wouldnt

Out of the cameras in your list i think you will find it the best.

The range of sony/minolta fit lenses on the market is increasing fast, not to mention the range of used minolta lenses on ebay for not too much.

Having owned the 400d i liked it, but would probably have bought a sony given the chance again.

 

[Sym0n]

I'd agree with wozzaa and opt for the Canon or Nikon. Far enough the Sony accessory list is growing but I'd be thinking of future proofing your investment. At least you know that Canon and Nikon are going to continue to increase their DSLR line up and that most of the accessories are going to be compatible.

But I can't say I know that much about Nikon gear. So the one thing I'd check out about the D60, like the D40, is that you can use other lens apart from the AF-S, or is it AF-I, line. Otherwise you'll get stung for more money buying lens and less choice, which I personally think is a snide as f**k trick by Nikon to play on it's customers especially on the entry level range.

 

[182-racing-blue]

Buy a camera from a manufacturer that doesnt make Tv's and Car stereos.

I have a 400d, my Uncle and Aunty are professional photographers and they use the 400d as a back up camera. Ive recently increased my lens amount to 7 and they didnt cost me an arm and a leg to shop around. Because a lot of people use canon/nikon fit lenses then the second hand availability is greater and I'm sure you will agree that if you are a keen amateur photography then you will look after your kit so the second hand market is a great way to pick up some bargains. Right I'm off to cook the missus breakfast.

 

[theduck]

WHATEVER YOU DO RETURN THE SONY!

As 182-racing-blue says buy a camera from a manufacturer that is a specialist in cameras!

Personally, I own Olympus and love it, I have used both Nikon and Canon and liked the Nikon equipment but the Canon stuff felt cheap and nasty.

 

[Billy]

I have used both Nikon and Canon and liked the Nikon equipment but the Canon stuff felt cheap and nasty.

I have tried both as above and felt the same about the 2 and went down the Nikon path

 

[dunganick]

like minolta?

funny i seem to recall something about sony now owning parts of minolta DSLR?

Having talked to the chap in charge of sony uk dslr product development (yes i do want his job) they are a well sorted company. Before you go slagging them off too much A) check how many other camera firms use sony/minolta inovations and parts. Nikon cameras certainly use a few. B) check who cuts some of sonys lenses, carl zeiess?, sounds like a company who makes lenses using hammers and broken bottles. c) own one.

Im not trying to be a jerk, but ive used all the cameras on the list, some at length, others only occasionally. I have also owned 1 of them, and owned 2 others from the same brands. As mentioned my second camera is a sony, first being a canon, im by no means a professional, but i can tell a lemon apart from a decent camera, the sony is no lemon.

Lense availability is imho a poor argument against it. Very few people buy used high end lenses, and when it comes to new lenses there are massive ranges from reverse engineering brands like sigma. Sony also have a very healthy range. If you want cheap lenses again sigma/sony cater for this area, not to mention used Digital minolta fit lenses.

And whilst nikon may have greater availability overall, their stupid system with the AF means on entry level models you have to buy nikon lenses or the small range of other compatible lenses. Now thats a limitation in my mind.

 

[Sym0n]

Very few people buy used high end lenses

Never heard of ebay or TalkPhotography or POTN then? PMSL

A hell of a lot of people will gladly take a 2nd hand L lens for cheap if they crop up. Obviously if it's scratched to death or full of mould they will probably decline the offer but a good condition well maintained lens...they'd be mad not to. Or a snob. Or perhaps a Cliosport average earning £60k per annum user :rasp:.

 

[dunganick]

Alot of yanks will, but the saving in this country really isnt worth it, we are all too tight and less keen to sell them. The number of people i know using used high end glass is very low. I actually struggle to think of anyone i know using used glass. Between maybe 20 togs i can think of 2 lenses.

Personally i wouldnt consider saving say 20% and having no warranty or not knowing how its been treated.

 

[theduck]

Using Carl Zeiss as a positive reason to buy a camera these days isnt going to wash either. f**king camera phones have Carl Zeiss lenses these days!! Talk about devaluing a brand!

 

[Keydogg]

Alot of yanks will, but the saving in this country really isnt worth it, we are all too tight and less keen to sell them. The number of people i know using used high end glass is very low. I actually struggle to think of anyone i know using used glass. Between maybe 20 togs i can think of 2 lenses.

Personally i wouldnt consider saving say 20% and having no warranty or not knowing how its been treated.

I just bought a Canon 70-200mm 2.8L IS USM and a Canon 24-70mm 2.8L USM for a total of £1250. That alone is enough to persuade anyone to by a canon or nikon because there are bargains like that to be made!

 

[dunganick]

clearly never used any high end carl zeiss optical products?

Yes they make lenses for camera phones, naturally im sure these are the same ones used in sony cameras.

 

[kissmyrs]

After reading lots of reviews, ive ordered a Olympus E510!

I know it uses the 4/3 set up, but really i dont think i'll be buying any extra lens. Its comes with 14-42mm and 40-150mm which should be enough for me.

Out of all the entry level DLSR's, its had the best reviews. Think i got it for a bargain price too, sure it'll be fine for all my basic camera needs.

Its feature packed compared to the other cameras and for £335, there is nothing else that comes close!

 

[unofficialPete]

Olympus - 4/3'rds system, hope you don't want to shoot Ultra Wide or want really shallow depth of field.

Sony - Woah how much is the 70-200 f/2.8 and the 100mm Macro lenses? & for a good chuckle how much is the price difference on the 300 f/2.8 vs Nikon/Canons equivalents with better IS&VR! I may never own a 300 2.8 but the price difference on the first two is huge as well. Unless you have deep pockets may as well buy a Sigma body as you'll end up buying Sigma lenses.

Alot of yanks will, but the saving in this country really isnt worth it, we are all too tight and less keen to sell them. The number of people i know using used high end glass is very low. I actually struggle to think of anyone i know using used glass. Between maybe 20 togs i can think of 2 lenses.

Personally i wouldnt consider saving say 20% and having no warranty or not knowing how its been treated.

I just bought a Canon 70-200mm 2.8L IS USM and a Canon 24-70mm 2.8L USM for a total of £1250. That alone is enough to persuade anyone to by a canon or nikon because there are bargains like that to be made!

Bargain!!

After reading lots of reviews, ive ordered a Olympus E510!

I know it uses the 4/3 set up, but really i dont think i'll be buying any extra lens. Its comes with 14-42mm and 40-150mm which should be enough for me.

Out of all the entry level DLSR's, its had the best reviews. Think i got it for a bargain price too, sure it'll be fine for all my basic camera needs.

Its feature packed compared to the other cameras and for £335, there is nothing else that comes close!

That is a bargain, on a plus side if you do ever get serious you won't be taking a big hit on changing systems.

 

[theduck]

Olympus can do ultra wide and really shallow depth of field! I should know I have the kit that does it! Sigma 30mm f1.4 is available in 4/3 fitment which is about as shallow a depth of field as you would would want. Olympus also do various ultrawides right up to the 7-14mm

 

[theduck]

clearly never used any high end carl zeiss optical products?

Yes they make lenses for camera phones, naturally im sure these are the same ones used in sony cameras.

Own some thanks

Oh and the Carl Zeiss lenses for Sony ARE NOT the high end carl zeiss products!

 

[Andi-B]

I've used Carl Zeiss lenses on a 35mm SLR and they ain't ANYTHING like the crappy ones you get on the mobiles

Best advice is, play with all 4 of them in a shop and feel them for grip/playability/use and see what you think. All cameras vary from person to person in terms of handling, weight etc. But as said they also vary on price, after-care support and additional equipment. But don't let the last one put you off as equipment grows day to day on all.

In the DSLR world Cannon and Nikon do have the edge on equipment as they are two of the most used manufactured around, but at the end of, it's up to you on personal choice/budget etc. what you buy.

 

[theduck]

Andi I wasnt saying that the proper, high end carl zeiss lenses are anything like the ones on camera phones, my point was that jsut because its branded carl zeiss no longer means that its a quality piece of kit.

 

[dunganick]

Andi I wasnt saying that the proper, high end carl zeiss lenses are anything like the ones on camera phones, my point was that jsut because its branded carl zeiss no longer means that its a quality piece of kit.

Equally just because olympus, canon, nikon make high end glass is not to say its used in all their applications.


To the original topic starter, i hope you like the olympus, sony or not it sounds like a good deal.
Best of luck with it, make sure to post some samples.

 

[Andi-B]

I've used Carl Zeiss lenses on a 35mm SLR and they ain't ANYTHING like the crappy ones you get on the mobiles

Andi I wasnt saying that the proper, high end carl zeiss lenses are anything like the ones on camera phones, my point was that jsut because its branded carl zeiss no longer means that its a quality piece of kit.

I know .. wasn't aimed at you directly, was just a general remark

 

[theduck]

Andi I wasnt saying that the proper, high end carl zeiss lenses are anything like the ones on camera phones, my point was that jsut because its branded carl zeiss no longer means that its a quality piece of kit.

Equally just because olympus, canon, nikon make high end glass is not to say its used in all their applications.


To the original topic starter, i hope you like the olympus, sony or not it sounds like a good deal.
Best of luck with it, make sure to post some samples.

I haven't made statement that implies all Olympus glass is manufactured to the same standards as there top glass though have I?

What I will say is though that Olympus do not make any cheap/poor quality glass. The other manufacturers do. See Nikon/Canon kit lenses

 

[unofficialPete]

Olympus can do ultra wide and really shallow depth of field! I should know I have the kit that does it! Sigma 30mm f1.4 is available in 4/3 fitment which is about as shallow a depth of field as you would would want. Olympus also do various ultrawides right up to the 7-14mm

Whilst still possible a smaller sensor = more DoF. Approx 25% more vs a 1.6cropper. A very boring read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Thirds_System

& Have you seen the price of the 7-14mm? Although I see there is a 9-18mm on pre-order at a slightly less wallet busting £499.00

To the OP, enjoy taking photos on your new gear but please avoid becoming a gear head like myself :clown:

Not to completely write off Olympus, the new Micro 4/3 system does excite me a little, might make a good P&S or street shooter with a nice pancake lens...
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0808/08080501microfourthirds.asp