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Showing posts 26 - 50 of 88, (reverse)
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 02/27/2007 10:38:32 AM · #26
I picked the heaviest one I could find.

Least it feels like that, some days.

Actually I ended up going with Canon SLRs because I had a battery for my G2 that would work in a D60 and there wasn't much to choose between Nikon & Canon at the time I bought my SLR.

Then I went from a D60 to a 1dII because I had some lenses that would fit.

Message edited by author 2007-02-27 10:40:13.
 02/27/2007 10:40:24 AM · #27
Originally posted by canary:
What do people think about the Sony Alpha? I'm looking to go for a Canon EOS but am tempted by the Nikon models but there are alot of commercials for the Sony at the moment, any views?


Never used a Sony, spec looks good on paper for an entry level DSLR, but not very good reports about the noise levels at the higher ISOs.
However I dont think you can go wrong with the current crop of entry level Canons or Nikons.
 02/27/2007 10:42:57 AM · #28
Originally posted by MattO:

Now if I could just avoid the temptation to pre-order the 1DMKIII I would be alright!

MattO


You know you will succumb to its charms eventually.. why prolong your pain?
 02/27/2007 10:51:22 AM · #29
Originally posted by marksimms:

You know you will succumb to its charms eventually.. why prolong your pain?

Because the price drops exponentially for the first few months ? :)
 02/27/2007 10:58:08 AM · #30
Originally posted by canary:
What do people think about the Sony Alpha? I'm looking to go for a Canon EOS but am tempted by the Nikon models but there are alot of commercials for the Sony at the moment, any views?


Find the review for it on DPREVIEW.com.

The sony is the accumulation of all of Konica-Minolta's dSLR technology. I do believe Minolta lense will fit the Alpha 100.
 02/27/2007 11:03:44 AM · #31
Originally posted by canary:
What do people think about the Sony Alpha? I'm looking to go for a Canon EOS but am tempted by the Nikon models but there are alot of commercials for the Sony at the moment, any views?


One discussion about the Sony

MattO
 02/27/2007 11:05:43 AM · #32
I'll echo kirbic here, and say that Canon is my choice primarily because I'm sure that I will want to move to a FF body at some point. (aka 5D or whatever flavor of the moment is out there) My primary experience came from Canon film bodies -- FD AE-1s and then EF Elans, so I was very familiar with Canon and comfortable using them. I would have considered Nikon, but in addition to the FF issue I already had a handful of lenses that I liked that fit the Canon. Don't think you can go wrong either way. If I was looking to purchase now, I would also seriously consider the new Pentax SLRs.

I will be a slight voice of dissent and suggest that whichever system you ultimately purchase you think about buying a used body and investing the money you save on getting the best lenses you can afford. Unlike many of the enthusiasts on DPC, I'm a bit of a bottom-feeder when it comes to equipment. I've only recently made the jump to a digital SLR and it was through the purchase of a used 10d, which provides more camera than I need in almost all situations. I'm actually quite eager to see an upgrade to the 5D so that I can get a used 5D "cheap" on eBay when all the upgrade-crazed equipment hounds find that they are beginning to feel inadequate and simply must have the "latest and greatest". ;) Keh.com is also a great place to pick up used equipment, including very good deals on lenses.

Once you've made the choice, don't look back and don't obsess over the dissenters. Just take pictures. :)Good luck!

02/27/2007 11:20:28 AM · #33
I hung out on the dpreview forums. I checked which users where most satisfied with their purchase. Then I compared colours straight from the camera, both on screen and printed.
At last, I went for lens quality.
I bought Olympus E-1, my next choice was Fuji S-2, and then Canon 10D.
 02/27/2007 11:22:03 AM · #34
I've had Canon SLR since the mid 80's and had different equipment I could re-use, so for me the choice was easy...
 02/27/2007 11:56:36 AM · #35
I drove to Hyannis and checked out cameras in a big store there. Checked out the dSLR offerings from Olympus, Pentax, Fuji, Canon, and Nikon. I liked the 20D best of all these in terms of controls and feel. My local camera store, run by a very good photographer, is an authorized Canon dealer, so the choice was easy.

R.
 02/27/2007 12:04:43 PM · #36
I had a lot of Nikon AI lenses and a few F3's. When I looked at DSLR's in my price range, Nikon offered the D100 and Canon the 10D. I was leaning toward the Nikon, since I had a lot of glass. Unfortunately, I learned that those lenses were all but useless with the D100. The thing that swung me over to Canon was the fact that the design of the 10D was newer and it outperformed the D100 in low light. So, I went to the camera store and dropped the cash for a 10D and 4 lenses.
 02/27/2007 12:09:20 PM · #37
I looked hard at all the companies offerings before choosing. I was rooting for Nikon since I had an FE2 years ago when I shot film. However, it was the combination of two things for me that I chose Canon. One, I have hands the size of dinner plates (ok, not quite THAT big, but close) and the 20d just felt right. I added a battery grip to that a couple months later and it was even better. Two, since I already owned an A70 point and shoot I was already somewhat used to how the menu system worked which made the 20d seem more intuitive than Nikon, for me.

Any system I would have gone with was going to be more capeable than I was so it wasn't a question of features. The 20d will be more camera than I need for a long time.
 02/27/2007 12:11:32 PM · #38
Go to Ritz Camera. They'll help you out.

Oh and the protection plan they have there is AWESOME. It's a bit pricey, but if you can afford it BUY IT. It protects against everything. Literally. Except loss and fire.

Anyway. Ritz can help you out.
 02/27/2007 12:27:21 PM · #39
Mine was easy. Pentax's DSLRs work with every Pentax lens ever made. I had several nice pieces of Pentax glass leftover from my 35 mm days, so the choice was a no-brainer for me.
 02/27/2007 12:31:00 PM · #40
I mugged a DPC member, and they happened to have a Canon.
Sometimes you get what you get.
:P
02/27/2007 12:42:57 PM · #41
For me, I NEED weather sealing in a camera body. I couldn't afford a D200, and frankly wasn't sure that I could make the jump from point and shoot to semi-pro. The K10D was therefore the natural choice. The feature set found in the K10D, for me, blows away the competition (being the D80, A100, and 400D). I had some concerns about going with Pentax, but those have since disappeared. I think with the K10D and the new DA, DA*, and Limited lenses, Pentax have reestablished themselves as one of the major players in the DSLR world.

Unless you're going to be shooting sports professionally or need advanced flash support, Canon and Nikon really have nothing over Pentax anymore.

Oh, apparently the new DA* lenses and all but the cheapest DAs are designed for an APS-H sized sensor... and apparently, the K10D isn't Pentax's flagship DSLR either... I would expect that, knowing this, the playing field will be leveled even more within a year.

And for those asking about the A100: Sony/Minolta glass is even more absurdly priced than Canon and Nikon.
02/27/2007 12:46:45 PM · #42
Originally posted by option:
... And for those asking about the A100: Sony/Minolta glass is even more absurdly priced than Canon and Nikon.

That's why there are other manufacturers of lens out there like Sigma and Tamron. :P
 02/27/2007 12:47:05 PM · #43
My wife twisted my arm because she likes Nikon and comes from a Nikon family, while I was raised with a EOS Rebel, so I'm sort of a stranger in a strange land. Also, I wanted to hold out for the 20d, which was too expensive at the time :/

But Nikon is cool, I wanna D200 though, I'm tired of the D70's noise handling (or lack thereof)
 02/27/2007 12:49:43 PM · #44
Originally posted by canary:
What do people think about the Sony Alpha? I'm looking to go for a Canon EOS but am tempted by the Nikon models but there are alot of commercials for the Sony at the moment, any views?

It's basically a Konica-Minolta 7D with the Nikon 10.2MP sensor (but with different image- and noise-processing firmware). I'm sure Sony has added other features to make it sound like a sweet deal, but if it's anything like other Sony consumer electronics, I wouldn't count on its reliability.
 02/27/2007 12:59:26 PM · #45
Originally posted by JBHale:
Go to Ritz Camera. They'll help you out.


Just don't let them sell you any of those Quantary lenses.
 02/27/2007 01:01:31 PM · #46
I wanted a Leica, but couldn't afford one, so I looked at Nikons and Canons. I was leaning toward Nikon, because of the wonderful F1 and F2 bodies I had owned before, but went with Canon in the end, because
a) I developed a marginally greater confidence in the future of Canon systems the more I investigated and
b) because I wanted a big robust body (like the old Nikon Fs), nothing too styled or dainty.
I chose the Canon EOS 10D with a battery grip, and bought two of them, one for back-up. It turned out to be a good choice, even though I would have liked the addition of a spot meter, which eventually led to the 30D, which had one.
I like the 1.6 crop factor when combined with a long lens, but felt that a FF sensor would provide better normal and wide-angle options.

I chose the 1Ds Mk2 simply because it was the best there was within a system of lenses I had already committed to.

Now the 1Ds2 is big and heavy (which I love), but not exactly a street tool. So, if anyone has a Leica M8 with a little scratch or a dent on it, let me know... :-)

Message edited by author 2007-02-27 13:02:54.
 02/27/2007 01:03:54 PM · #47
I was sold on the Konica-Minolta "anti-shake" technology from having a KM Z3 (point & shoot). Made sense to me to have it on a DSLR also, which the KM 5D does. IMO this keeps the cost down when looking at lenses. To get "anti-shake/image stabilization" features on Canon or Nikon you have to purchase it with each lens, which can drive up the cost of each lens.

This technology (anti-shake/image stabilization) is now available on other brands as well. Pentax I know has it, not sure who else (besides the Sony Alpha, which is based on the KM 5D).

Anyway, I was pretty much sold on my choice. The final factor was seeing how it felt in my hands. Obviously, it felt good! :D
 02/27/2007 01:06:20 PM · #48
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by JBHale:
Go to Ritz Camera. They'll help you out.

Just don't let them sell you any of those Quantary lenses.

That's funny! :D I was in there the other day and noticed a guy buying a Nikon 70 and he had 2 Quantaray lenses lined up with it. Told my wife after leaving the store that I had a really hard time biting my tongue. Didn't think the Ritz guy would appreciate my input too much. :P
 02/27/2007 01:44:44 PM · #49
I went to the store for a cannon rebel when the tax money came in. They didn't have one but the sales girl showed us the Olympus Evolt. My husband was 'Lets get it! Looks cool!' It was either get it now or wait another year or two... so I got it! Im glad I did. However, If I had the rebel I would have more lenses by now to play with.
 02/27/2007 01:47:10 PM · #50
BTW, for me the deciding factor for the D70s over the 350D was the better kit lens, larger LCD screen, wireless flash, ability to superimpose a grid in the viewfinder, and several other minor features. Also, the lens system seemed better thought out, with zooms covering contiguous ranges (e.g., Nikon's 18-55 + 55-200 or 18-70 + 70-300 etc., versus Canon's 18-55 + 75-300). Besides all that I grew up with a Nikon SLR, and although I didn't have any of the equipment anymore I do admit to some brand loyalty.

Oh yeah, and there is the overplayed "the Nikon felt more substantial/better in my hands" but that really was a factor as well.
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