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01/27/2006 12:32:14 AM · #1 |
I'm about to graduate from my Olympus point and shoot to a DSLR and before I go out and buy I would like opinions and suggestions on features I should look for and things I should be weary of. This is a whole new world for me. At the moment I'm leaning towards the Olympus. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Alecia |
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01/27/2006 12:46:07 AM · #2 |
Considerations:
You are buying into a system more than a 'camera'. The body, any body, will be obsolete in a year or 2, replaced with a biigger better model.
SO perhaps look at lenses, flashes, support, costs and availability and selection for these things. Any friends locally use a particular brand of camera? You can try out their 'stuff' or perhaps borrow when needed. Quite handy.
I can only speak for myself - when I bought the only players were Nikon or Canon (or maybe a used Fuji S2, but basically nikon). I chose canon for cost and selection reasons. Having had a year to work with it and study other images, I am happy with my choice. Nikons seem noisier than canon's cameras.
Konica Minolta has left the camera biz, selling it off to Sony. So expect Sony branded dSLRs later this year. Is this a good or bad choice? Who be sure.
Oly cams seem to be quite nice. I have not 'studied' their images so I cannot speak on the quality of them (color, contrast, noise, etc). I would suspect lens choice is rather limited, but perhaps it is enough for your needs. With the 'majors' you have a wide selection of used lenses so there is some serious savings there if you want to look at used equipment.
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01/27/2006 03:01:16 AM · #3 |
I very much recommend a 20D. I am a Canon girl all the way. It's not so much for the bodies themselves because like Chris says, they become obsolete rather quick, but for the lenses. I really do love Canon and if I had to start all over again I'd buy Canon too. I know someone from here (Kavey) bought a Nikon camera and then a Canon 20D and now sold the Nikon. I am not saying that Nikon is bad, I am just telling you what my choice is.
June
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01/27/2006 04:30:58 AM · #4 |
Kiwiness went Nikon, 'nuff said. :)
No. Go to a store, try the cameras and some lenses from different brands. What feels good, what works best for you? Choose that brand. It's just a tool. There's more to a camera than noise profiles.
I chose Nikon because it felt good after Fuji and I like their lenses. Had a Canon 20D in my hands last weekend and couldn't even find the 'on' switch.
Message edited by author 2006-01-27 04:31:17.
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01/27/2006 05:03:11 AM · #5 |
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01/27/2006 06:46:39 AM · #6 |
:) It was DPDave's. He told me.
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01/27/2006 06:53:43 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by Azrifel:
:) It was DPDave's. He told me. |
They aren't that complicated...even a Dutchman got it figured out! LOL
On a serious note, Alecia, the thing to do is handle as many different models as you can. You can spend a lot of money on the best gear, and still not enjoy it, or use it effectively, if it's not a comfortable fit. Also, if it's not comfortable, or it seems like to much work, most folks will lose interest in it as a hobby. Find a system that fits your hands well, and you feel you can learn your way around easily.
Above all, good luck and good shooting.
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01/27/2006 09:36:44 AM · #8 |
Why Canon?
//www.dpreview.com/news/0601/06011902canonef.asp
30 million EOS lenses (made since 1987! Less than 20 years)
Indicative of the accelerating popularity of SLR photography, 10 million EF lenses have been produced in the last five years.
More than 70% of registered professional photographers at the Athens Olympics shot on EOS .
There are more than 50 current model EF lenses, with focal lengths ranging from 14mm to 600mm and a range of specialist macro, tilt/shift, fisheye and Image Stabilizer models. (plus tokina, tamron , sigma lenses for canon)
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01/27/2006 09:49:14 AM · #9 |
I went with Canon and I regret nothing.
When I go walking about, where numbers of photographers are gathered, I see moslty Canon bodies/lenses. A serious number of Pros use Canon gear for their everyday money making shots, just look at the periphery of sporting events, Democratic and Republican National Convention shots, most of what you will see are White 'L' lenses and Canon bodies. (With and without 'L' lenses.)
As some photographers say, in the '35mm' Format (digital or analog) Canon and Nikon are considered the Mercedes of cameras, with many other popular brands being the standard American car. |
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01/27/2006 09:54:06 AM · #10 |
When everyone jumps from a cliff, do you automatically jump after them?
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01/27/2006 10:00:03 AM · #11 |
A friend of mine recently purchased a nikon. He went into a camera store and tested how each fit into his hands. He also took into consideration price. His choice, after considering price was Canon350D or Nikon D50. The 350D was too small for his hands.
Go try them out. Figure out what is comfortable. Too small, too big, too heavy, too light are much more important than how many people shoot with what. Both camera lines have their positives and negatives... |
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01/27/2006 10:21:31 AM · #12 |
When you move up to a DSLR the most important things are how the camera feels, your budget and lenses available to you. Once you decide on your budget you need to go feel the cameras and figure out which feels right to you. Is it the right size? Are the controls where you want them to be? Though not identical, the similarly priced cameras don't vary all that much internally from brand to brand. Sure the specs are all a little different, but none of them are bad. Get a camera that you would be comfortable holding and operating for long periods of time. Another thing to consider is what people you know are shooting with. If you have friends that shoot Canon, Nikon, Olympus, whatever, they will be able to help you learn your camera faster. They may also have lenses you can borrow (both to test lens types that you may want to buy for yourself in the future, and just as things you can borrow on occasion to expand your selection). In addition to liking the feel of Nikons, my boyfriend shoots Nikon (film) so my lens selection is double what it would have been had I gone with any other brand.
Message edited by author 2006-01-27 10:22:27. |
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01/27/2006 10:53:03 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by Azrifel:
When everyone jumps from a cliff, do you automatically jump after them? |
Just because many photographers agree that Nikon has noisier images, it doesn't mean their users should go around adding noise to forums. That is all I will say about that.
It is true, by all accounts that I have read/seen, that the majority or Professional photographers that cover events, such as sports and other major events, happen to be shooting with Canon gear. I do highly doubt that Canon just hands out all of that gear for free, just to get their name out there.
Based upon that and the reviews of equipment that I have read, Canon was by far the best option, for me, at the time I picked up my first DSLR. |
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01/27/2006 11:00:14 AM · #14 |
| Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I was expecting a few more plugs for Olympus though. Back to the drawing board!!!!! |
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01/27/2006 11:02:48 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by pearlseyes:
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I was expecting a few more plugs for Olympus though. Back to the drawing board!!!!! |
One thing you might be able to do is take a look at the list of Olympus DSLRs on this site and start PM'ing the owners of those cameras for their opinions on them. Not everyone reads the forums as rabidly(?) as some people do, others (myself included) have also been known to take extended "vacations" from reading/posting on the forums. |
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01/27/2006 11:18:37 AM · #16 |
Alright I will chime in:)
I personally picked the Olympus because I liked the feel, most the stuff I shoot is under 400 iso. I also Liked the big 2.5inch screen, and the way the lens had a solid locked in feel. As far as lens selection, its growing all the time, the 4/3rds system is still a relitively new design, just for digital. Another fact that swayed me is I had an Olympus 1.3mp camera since 1998, this thing has been dropped, beat up, and spent most if its life in an auto shop. Still works like the day I got it:) |
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01/27/2006 11:32:43 AM · #17 |
I looked at a LOT of cameras before picking mine.
Read up on everything for many months, drove sales people crazy, held each of the cameras and studied them.
I didn't like the feel of the Canon 350.
The Nikon's didn't do it for me either.
I liked the Olympus colors and believe in the 4/3 system, and I guess I've never been good at following a crowd.
I had decided on the Olympus E-500 til I held the 300. It felt right.
In the end, each camera has good points and bad points. There is no perfect one so you have to rely on your gut instinct.
They all take great pictures when you use them right.
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01/27/2006 11:36:29 AM · #18 |
Another fact that swayed me is I had an Olympus 1.3mp camera since 1998, this thing has been dropped, beat up, and spent most if its life in an auto shop. Still works like the day I got it:)
Yeah I love my little Oly point and shoot. It's been one hell of a camera for what it is. I've been receiving a lot of peer pressure from friends to go Nikon or Canon but I find myself more drawn to the Oly as I investigate. I've also had the E-500 in my hands and it felt very good. Ah geez.....I'm terrible at making decisions |
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01/27/2006 11:42:23 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by pearlseyes:
Another fact that swayed me is I had an Olympus 1.3mp camera since 1998, this thing has been dropped, beat up, and spent most if its life in an auto shop. Still works like the day I got it:)
Yeah I love my little Oly point and shoot. It's been one hell of a camera for what it is. I've been receiving a lot of peer pressure from friends to go Nikon or Canon but I find myself more drawn to the Oly as I investigate. I've also had the E-500 in my hands and it felt very good. Ah geez.....I'm terrible at making decisions |
You don't need to join the Canon or Nikon clubs to be cool or anything.
If you like Olympus and like their product. Then that's what you should pick up. You shouldn't pick up something that you will be feeling 'odd' about, especially if there is something you already feel 'good' about. |
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01/27/2006 11:46:53 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by pearlseyes:
I've been receiving a lot of peer pressure from friends to go Nikon or Canon but I find myself more drawn to the Oly as I investigate. I've also had the E-500 in my hands and it felt very good. Ah geez.....I'm terrible at making decisions |
Hey now.... who would be pressuring you to go Canon, huh?!? :-)
Well, you can't borrow any Olympus gear from me cuz I just don't have any. Oh, the pressure. :-)
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01/27/2006 11:49:44 AM · #21 |
I was also between the Canon20D and the Nikon D70 and I went for the Nikon- I prefer the structure...but as everyone else said, it's the lenses and accessories that really make or break a camera.
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01/27/2006 12:12:07 PM · #22 |
I should have got a canon so you guys would like me. Just Kidding!
Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Konica Minolta YOU still have to capture the image the camera is just a tool.
For me its all about the glass.
(Edit for grammer)
Message edited by author 2006-01-27 12:12:42. |
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01/27/2006 12:31:37 PM · #23 |
Long term, do you have any dreams or aspirations to go pro?
If you one day want to be a world traveling photojournailist, a National Geographic African coorespondent, a wedding photographer or NFL camera jocky, then pick Canon or Nikon.
if you foresee this just being a hobby type of thing with the occassional portrait or wedding, baseball game or safari then any brand will probably be just fine.
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01/27/2006 01:11:34 PM · #24 |
Not much to add, I'd go Nikon or Canon as they have the largest lens selection and pro track records.
But the real reason I'm posting is to place my Seahawks Above Chris' Steelers!
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01/27/2006 01:19:05 PM · #25 |
If you go Olympus, buy the body only and then pick up this lens instead; Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC Lens for Olympus Digital SLR Cameras. It's pretty close to the same range as the 2 kit lenses combined. With the 2 kit lenses you get 14-150mm.
I have not been impressed with the kit lenses for the Evolt and am trying to sell them so that I can get the better lens. |
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