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05/26/2004 11:49:25 PM · #1 |
After finally seeing the size of the Rebel today, I am beginning to think that my next camera will be either the Konica/Minolta A2, the Canon Pro 1, or the Nikon 8700.
The store I went to had only the Rebel and the Canon Pro 1. The size and weight of the Pro 1 was perfect. But comparing the photo samples on DPPreview and Steves side by side with the A2 and the Nikon, I am totally undecided. I like my G2, I am "used" to Canon RAW, and I do have the canon 4xx flash (whatever that number was--I don't use it too much).
But like my G2, the Canon Pro 1 seems to get way too much noise above ISO 50. That's something that really seemed attractive about the rebel. To me, even if I can use Neatimage, low noise is just as important as a quality lens in getting a good picture.
The Nikon beats the Pro 1 on higher ISO for noise. The Nikon surely gets noise, but much less than the Pro 1, and the shots at higher ISO look more useable. It also has a bit more reach with an 8x zoom. Both have my favorite feature, the fully articulated LCD.
The A2 is very tempting to me. For one thing, it has a normal stationary lens with 49 mm threads, beats having an extra attachment on the front. It has antishake technology for telephoto shots, and it has a very high resolution electronic viewfinder--apparently fine enough for focusing. It doesn't have a fully articulating LCD, though it moves partly, and it at least looks a little boxy. I've yet to hold one or the Nikon for comparison.
I sure wish Canon would have used a CMOS sensor in the Pro 1 like the one in the rebel--then I think I would go with it!
Enough of my lists. WHAT DO YOU THINK? Open to all opinions and especially interested in those that used any of these three cameras.
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05/26/2004 11:52:01 PM · #2 |
Konica/Minolta Dynax 7 dSLR coming soon.
What is I'm interesting is: "The Dynax 7 Digital is also equipped with the same technically sophisticated and highly effective CCD Shift-type Anti-Shake function, which has earned an excellent reputation in the DiMAGE A1 (SLR- type digital camera with built-in lens). As the Anti-Shake function is built into the camera body and not the lens, it is effective for the entire range of Minolta AF lenses."
Message edited by author 2004-05-26 23:54:07. |
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05/27/2004 12:50:05 AM · #3 |
I scoured the reviews for a month or more, One site had it A2, Pro1, Oly 8080, and then the 8700. Another had the Pro1 third, under the Oly. One site, the guy stated that it took 18 presses to get to supermacro mode...hmmm go the other direction it is 3 presses. Really you just have to go out and play with them.
What I found, and I'm no pro, the A2 is the pics were to Soft and Warm, the 8700 I didn't care for the feel and the pics not as crisp, and 8080 the feel and menuing wasn't the best for me. As for noise, all the 8MP prosumers start getting noisy at 200 and 400 ew...
I shoot at 50, 100 and 200 with the Pro1 and have had no issues with noise.
Ended up going with the Canon because the menuing is near indentical to my Powershot S50. No learning curve whatsoever, and the "L" Series lens produced some really good results.
I've had the Pro1 since the 5th of May. SuperMacro produces superb shots. The in Camera ND filter creates wonderfully soft images when you want(I've only shot florals and clouds with the ND filter on). Auto W/B is great, I seldom have to go to any of the programed W/B settings.
One thing to think about when considering one of these prosumer beasts over the dSLR type camera is, will you be shooting action (airplanes, birds and such)? If so these prosumers with EVFs are quite sluggish. You will see reviews where they talk about the pro1 and the freezing of the EVF, no mention of it on the other prosumers. I happened upon a guy on the net that took a small gun scope and made an adapter to fit the hotshoe on his Minolta A2 because he said Electronic View finder Lag was so bad so go figure.
It is definately present on the Pro1, it's like you have to lead your subject as you shot or use highspeed capture and fire off a bunch of shots one of em will get it (it's really not that bad but there was some learning to do). Baseball games and that kind of action are ok, its when you shot into the sky at birds and planes that is when AF and View Finder lag happen.
Zoom is different in that it is motorized as opposed to manual. Reviews will say that it zooms in steps stopping at certain points throughout the zoom. This is true but what they don't tell you is there is a convenient button under the right thumb that you press and it does a full zoom in and out w/o stopping.
Same zoom ring performs Manual Focus after pressing one button. I'm starting to use this quite a bit for different effects.
I have got a 58mm UV and Circular Polarizer to fit the included adapter. Just a heads up to those who may go this route: Put the UV in the adapter and leave it in, put your others into the UV. Don't put (especially) a filter like a circular polarizer where you spin the ring to adjust the filter first in the adapter. If you go the wrong direction it tends to tighten real tight in the adapter. I did this and thought I was buy a new filter adapter that sucker got tight.
Sorry TMI, I will shut up now but that I'd let ya know about a few things they don't talk about in the reviews.
BTW...I love this camera,
Edit: For spelling and dumbness...It was late when I posted last night.
If you use the 58mm filters make sure you get a 58mm lens cap or you will have nekkid filters hanging out.
Speaking about Lens caps the best accessory that I have bought for the pro1 is a 99 cent lens cap tether. Without it I would surely lose the included lens cover.
Message edited by author 2004-05-27 12:11:24. |
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05/27/2004 08:22:15 AM · #4 |
Thanks Andy and Welland.
Is there anyone here experienced with the A2 (or A1) or Nikon 8700 who can share some of their decision and post-decision experience? |
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05/27/2004 03:09:58 PM · #5 |
After reading the extremely detailed reviews at DPReview and Steves, I wanted to mention the review of the A2 (which talks about the other new nonDSLR cameras, and even compares them from a "winner" point of view in a linked article) that I just found at:
Review of Konica Minolta A2 at Luminous Landscape
This is a very good article with both objective and subjective concerns. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in considering a nonDSLR and is weighing them against a DSLR, or just even trying to decide which nonDSLR (like me!) |
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05/27/2004 05:50:11 PM · #6 |
| I read a lot of reviews. I went from a Canon Pro 90 (10x IS) to the Minolta A1. I had a hard time learning to use the A1 and was sure I had a defective model. Now I understand that the "soft and warm" character is a result of it not doing as much processing (such as sharpening) in camera. You can get used to the lag for your action shots, and 5 shot bursts at 2fps is pretty good for a non-DSLR. I didn't think much of it when reading reviews but after using it for a while I really prefer the manual zoom. As far as I can tell all the 8MPs use the same sensor built by Sony; and having the larger number of pixels in the same size unit as the 5MPs makes it inherently a little noisier. I bought a spare battery but have yet to need it. The software that comes with the Minolta is better than came with the Canon, including the RAW conversion. I am maybe half way to mastering it at best but am liking the A1 more and more as I go along. |
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