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06/22/2006 11:04:28 AM · #1 |
After making the decision to buy a D-SLR, I've got it down to two models. Based on reviews and previous forum threads they're:
Nikon D50 and Konica-Minolta Dynax 5D.
Should I go for new or used (used would be an eBay purchase, theory being I could get more for my £££'s)
I think ultimately I'll go for the one that is the cheapest at the time, but bare in mind K-M camera are now controlle by Sony, would buying the 5D mean I'm getting a completely unsupported model? Will new and improved lens become available for it?
I really don't understand lens mounts, is it like Light bulbs? several manufacturers but only two or three types of fitting? Then lens availability shouldn't be a problem?
This is very confusing - my head ACTUALLY hurts.
HELP
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06/22/2006 11:11:22 AM · #2 |
Sony is supporting the KM cameras :) and becassue their new DSLR has the KM mount... you'll have a whole bunch of new lens available soon :)
Yes, each camera has its own mount. with a few like the Fuji DSLRs using the Nikon mount
Originally posted by iainmorrison111:
After making the decision to buy a D-SLR, I've got it down to two models. Based on reviews and previous forum threads they're:
Nikon D50 and Konica-Minolta Dynax 5D.
Should I go for new or used (used would be an eBay purchase, theory being I could get more for my £££'s)
I think ultimately I'll go for the one that is the cheapest at the time, but bare in mind K-M camera are now controlle by Sony, would buying the 5D mean I'm getting a completely unsupported model? Will new and improved lens become available for it?
I really don't understand lens mounts, is it like Light bulbs? several manufacturers but only two or three types of fitting? Then lens availability shouldn't be a problem?
This is very confusing - my head ACTUALLY hurts.
HELP |
Message edited by author 2006-06-22 11:12:12. |
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06/22/2006 11:20:23 AM · #3 |
I am happy with my D-50. I am thinking about upgrading to a D-200. First i need to upgrade to a wife who will let me buy it. haha......
Honestly though. The D-50 is a nice solid camera. I personally am not crazy about the kit lens in fact it hasnt been on my camera in over 3 months. The lens is ok takes decent pictures. But I am more into Macro and Wildlife So I usually have my 90mm macro or my 200-500 zoom attached.
Sorry I know nothing about the Konica Minolta.
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06/22/2006 11:20:55 AM · #4 |
Helli iain. You're probably going to get mixed reviews here but as a KM user I'm not too worried about the Sony takeover. In fact, I'm pretty excited about it.
I really don't understand lens mounts, is it like Light bulbs? several manufacturers but only two or three types of fitting? Then lens availability shouldn't be a problem?
Actually, there are several manufacturers but each brand has it's own mount (with a few exceptions). Minolta has the Alpha mount which Sony is keeping. Therefore, you'll have plenty of glass options (even Zeiss) if you decide to buy KM.
Remember, like the 7D, the 5D has Anti Shake built into the camera. Pretty nice feature.
I guess the best thing to do is go to your local shop and try different models. However, if you can't do that and are only wanting reviews, I can't say a bad thing about my KM.
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06/22/2006 11:25:20 AM · #5 |
Out of the 2 i would get the nikon. I have a d50 and have tried a freinds 5D.
Similar image quality but nikon handles better and looks nicer :)
Get a new one if you can as you have a warrenty.
I payed £376 at jessops with a discount (with 18-55 lens).
Best prices here.
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06/22/2006 11:46:11 AM · #6 |
Actually, it's a pretty simple decision in my books...
The price is VERY close...
The performance is quite similar (camera mechanicals).
The 5D reportedly has a slightly more stable internal build, and was originally a more expensive camera...
The 5D has the exact same sensor as the D50, so will take pretty much identical pictures if used correctly...
The primary difference in image quality is going to be firmware implementation and a couple of other minor differences...
Nikon apparently has stronger in-camera sharpening and possibly also noise reduction... Noise from the sensor is identical as it's the same sensor, so if you have Neat Image or something installed on your computer, it's better to go with the one that has less noise reduction or turn it off (I'm not sure if this can be done on the KM... not a huge deal though in the end as they are both very similar... the difference in noise handling is going to be very hard to differentiate... check dpreview for details if you want)...
As far as glass goes, quality for Nikon and KM mount lenses is pretty near identical too... With the possible exception that Sony just announced a whackload of new lenses, with a serious representation by Zeiss in the line-up... Pro level lenses that can hold their own against Nikon or Canon lenses with their proverbial eyes closed...
However, that brings us to the BIG difference...
The 5D has 2-3 stops of anti-shake in the camera...
Buy any lens you like and it has AS. Neither Canon nor Nikon has an equivalent 50mm f/1.8 lens with anti-shake... Much less for $130 USD... Much, much less a 50mm f/1.4 AS/IS/VR...
If that sounds pretty crazy, it is... That's hand-holding at 1/15 in light levels that would make the 30D blink.
Want a different focal length? How about a 105mm f/2.8 Tamron Macro... There's a few hundred quid you don't have to spend on the Nikkor VR version...
How about telephoto? Compare prices on the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 or the KM for that matter against the Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VR.
How about that new Tokina 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 that everyone's talking about that will push you up to an equivalent of 600mm of telephoto at f/5.6... with anti-shake... for $650 USD approx...
Sorry, where were we with the D50? Oh yeah, the Nikon looks cool............ |
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06/22/2006 04:15:43 PM · #7 |
Hehe you make a very good point :)
Lenses are much cheaper for 5D.
But the 5D is still ugly.
But not as ugly as my oly c-2020, lol.
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06/22/2006 11:37:25 PM · #8 |
FWIW, looks are in the eye of the beholder... When I said that the D50 looks cool, I was quoting your words...
My personal opinion on the D50 is that it's a plasticky peice of crap that feels cheap and junky. I much prefer the feel of the 350XT which is also cheap, but feels much more solid and dense in my hands... Even more so with the battery grip... I'm one of those weird guys who feels that if people can be happy with a P&S camera, they can be happy with a slightly smaller DSLR too...
Having said that, the KM 5D blows both of those cameras out of the water and feels and looks, much as it is, like a higher class of camera...
I didn't post that earlier because I didn't think it should matter to the OP what other people think about what their camera looks like... Cost effectiveness is a far greater issue than cosmetic popularity.
Another thing I forgot to mention was that you might also look around for a second hand 7D. I've seen some that were really cheap... Slightly slower operation, but a few advantages...
Message edited by author 2006-06-22 23:39:16. |
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06/23/2006 06:34:57 AM · #9 |
I think they're both quite capable cameras. I have a Dynax 5D and am quite happy with it.
The best thing is, if you can, pick up and try out both or near equivalents. The important thing is how it feels TO YOU - does it sit comfortably in your hands and in front of your eye? Do the controls feel intuitive or a bit of a pain in the neck?
I've always found Minolta's control layout to be more in tune with my thinking than Canon or Nikon's - but I have friends who prefer Canon or Nikon or Pentax for exactly the same reasons. I love my (film) Dynax 5's compactness, but a couple of my Minolta-using friends find it too light and plasticy or awkward in their hands, and prefer larger or heavier Minolta models. No right or wrong in any case, it's all valid personal preference.
All current Minolta / Konica-Minolta lenses will work with the 5D (and become anti-shake as mentioned), and will work with the Sony "alpha" SLRs when they're released. One would hope that the "alpha" lenses will work on the K-M 5D/7D too, but I haven't checked this. I believe the Nikon camera is compatible with all Nikon lenses including old manual-focus ones. Historically Nikon has had better optical quality in their lens than the other manufacturers, but I think the difference these days is not so big. I expect that the second-hand market for lenses is probably stronger for Nikon than for K-M, which might be a factor if you want to get lots of lenses (e.g. primes). I believe Minolta's flash technology is considered slightly more advanced than other brands, but only the difference between good and better, not good and bad.
I've found that the 5D anti-shake does work pretty well. It doesn't give you magically crisp shots at 1 second at f/22 :) but it does let you shoot handheld at around 2-3 stops better than you would without it, I've got some good results out of it.
Which body looks better? I have no idea, and I don't care - it's a camera, not a penis substitute. :)
None of us can categorically tell you that one (or the other) is best for you, but hopefully all the info you get helps. In the end, whichever choice you make, be happy with it :) because they'll both let you take decent photos, which is what it's all about.
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06/23/2006 08:01:54 AM · #10 |
Are you sure the D50 has the same sensor as the 5D? The 5D came out a long time after the D50, and has much better noise levels at high ISOs. Noise on the D50 is pretty bad from what I can gather, I don't think I could use one for my gig photography.
Choices like these though should never be made on the bodies themselves, but on what system you want to buy into. When you start collecting lenses, the camera body could end up being the cheapest part of your system. |
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06/23/2006 11:56:34 AM · #11 |
I think that I read somewhere that they were pretty much the same sensor... I think it's more in reference to the wafer itself... Oftentimes, the controller chips and image processing algorithms change from model to model, but the core hardware has little difference...
I believe that this is the case for the 5D/D50...
I thought they came out around the same time? I can't really remember... sorry...
They are definitely both Sony CCD's with the same number of pixels and the same area... Quite a number of cameras have very similar hardware at the sensor... Sensor technology tends to develop a little more slowly than that of the microprocessors... Or so it seems..
If anyone could provide some evidence otherwise, I'd read it, but I'd say that this unlikely to be wrong...
Someone once came up with some information that the D200 and the A100 have different sensors, but with some examination, it seems that this is not likely to be true for the wafer, but it does seem to be true for the connections and controller chips...
Personally, I probably wouldn't use a D50 for pro work either... MAYBE the D70s or the D200, but again, for every Nikon camera, there is a cheaper and better KM/Sony camera, so.... |
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06/23/2006 12:06:49 PM · #12 |
I have the D50, and a D70, and my KM A200, and I wish I had stuck with KM a bit longer while Sony was taking care of business.
I have mostly Sigma lenses, and they all come with the Alpha lens mount too.
Go with KM 5d now, or pre-order the Sony A100 if you want. You can get some great deals on the 5d on ebay though, then you could upgrade the body later.
The A100 adds a 10mp sensor, Anti-dust vibration and coatings, and high dynamic range (shadow contrast) processing.
considering that the 10mp Sony A100 body is $899, and the 10mp Nikon D200 body is $1700 to me the choice for upgrade path is simple. Both mounts now have Zeiss lenses available. (I called that too, but second-guessed myself)
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