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01/21/2004 11:35:32 AM · #1 |
Price is a factor here, but mostly, we decided on the Sony DCS F707 because it had a decent optical zoom and a super macro feature (I can get within 2 cm, I think). Plus the almost 5 mp was attractive. It also has the control I want: aperture/shutter priorities, manual and automatic controls.
We are now considering the upgrade to the F828, or perhaps the Cannon Rebel that is quite the rage.
Why do you have your camera?
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01/21/2004 11:40:14 AM · #2 |
I went for the F717 because of its very useful swivel body and excellent features below. Nightframing is quite handy gimmick too. Does the F828 swivel too?
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01/21/2004 11:41:41 AM · #3 |
I have mine cos I had £1000 to blow, and the Rebel + Lens + 512 memory was £999.97 :)
Also, I really wanted to try a DSLR because I heard the focus was so much faster, the image quality was higher, and I was desperate for a lot of zoom (which is the reason I got a 75-300mm lens instead of the kit lens).
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01/21/2004 11:44:10 AM · #4 |
Because it was all I could afford at the time, and I liked the feel/feature list of the Canon.
And I liked the pictures that I saw on here that were taken with it. |
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01/21/2004 11:44:29 AM · #5 |
From what I've seen and the general prices, the Sony 828 and the Rebel only have the base price in common.
one is a real rangefinder quality digi-cam, the other is a real entry level DSLR. They address pretty different feature sets and requirements, and have pretty large differences in image quality.
//www.luminous-landscape.com has a long, rambling discussion on this for example.
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01/21/2004 11:46:26 AM · #6 |
I upgraded from the Sony DSC-S75 to the Rebel. Some of the reasons I chose to upgrade:
Interchangeable lenses
Fast Focusing lenses
Image sensor much better
6.3 Megapixels
The additional Program Modes
More aperture/shutter options (with the Sony slowest shutter I can get is 8 sec.), etc.
I'm sure I'll think of more reasons later on.
I didn't occur to me how much I would love having the interchangeable lenses... I don't know if I could go back now. On the flipside, I have a ton of money in lenses on my wish list now. :-)
Edit: Left out a word
Message edited by author 2004-01-21 11:47:25. |
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01/21/2004 11:51:32 AM · #7 |
| I just bought my DSC-F717 and I came from a Fuji Finepix 2600Z 2mp, well, the F717 has tons of attractive features and great manual control but the main point for me. Nightshot and Nightframe are cool features tought, well, its the most versatile camera of the moment, the F828 need some improvements and I didnt want to wait.. ;) |
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01/21/2004 11:51:58 AM · #8 |
I won my D100 - but happy with it.
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01/21/2004 11:55:59 AM · #9 |
For what it's worth, I think the Sony 828 is probably the top of the line non SLR camera. It has definite advantages over the 300d, but a few disadvantages as well. I think the out-of-camera image quality on the 828 is going to be much better. The swivel body and high quality lens on the 828 is a definite advantage. The disadvantage is lens flexibility. The 300d will give you more options in this area (at a premium). I played with the 828 at Best Buy the other night and was most impressed with it. I LOVE the fact that Sony did away with the electronic zoom and went to a manual twist zoom. The body and construction of the 828 did not feel as 'beefy' as the 7x7 series did though. I think the metal body has been replaced with plastic.
Now.. Why I have the 10d....
(I moved from the 707 to the 10D)
I already had film SLR experience so the learning curve with the 10d was practically non-existant. I wanted the lens flexibility. I also wanted a rugged construction that I felt I could depend on. I'm still leary of the architecture of the 300d. The main reason I wanted the SLR was for lens flexibility, and I do change lenses a lot. I'm concerned that, over time, the 300d will not hold up to a lot of lens changing because of the plastic structure of the body. This, however, is just speculation. There is no data to support it. It is modeled from the Canon Rebel line, which is their low end consumer SLR film camera. The average user of these cameras does not change lenses often. They are used for general purpose photography. The 10d is built on a magnesium alloy metal chassis. It's a heavier camera because of this and I think it will withstand any amount of lens changing that I want to do.
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01/21/2004 11:58:12 AM · #10 |
I got my Olympus C5050 10 months ago. I was debating between a Sony F717 and the Oly. The Sony was still a couple hundred bucks more at that time. I didn't like how the Sony felt. It's definitely a 2-handed cam all the time. The warranty with the Sony wasn't that good either. I had an Olympus C3000 and all the junk I bought for it would fit on the C5050, plus it was a couple hundred bucks cheaper. I bought it and found out that it was way way way more camera than the C3000. I have been very very happy with it.
Bob
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01/21/2004 12:03:58 PM · #11 |
I upgraded from the Fuji S602Z to the Rebel mainly for the image quality of the DSLR C-MOS processor. There were other reasons though:
- 6.3 (real) MP
- virtually no shutter lag
- close to endless possibility of lens range ( all up to the $$$)
- feel of a REAL camera, shutter feel
- very good in low light
I LOVE this camera, and would not trade it for anything (except maybe a 10D or 1Ds)
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01/21/2004 12:15:14 PM · #12 |
When I bought my F707 almost two years ago it was one of the top of line 5 MP digicams. My other option was Minolta Dimage 7, but that one did burn batteries.
I choose the Sony because of :
* zoom from 38 to 190 mm
* maximum aperture F2 to F2.4
* 5 MP
* full control on exposure, white balance etc.
* swivel body
* solid build
* very long battery life
* good low light focus
* through the lens view on EVF/LCD
* special design/looks which is also very practical (nose next to camera not squashed against it )
When I would have to choose now I would consider F828, 300d or 10D.
If the current noise and purple fringing on the F828 are improved, then that would be top contender. Absolutely lots of value for money.
* all features above plus :
* manual zoom
* wide angle from 28 mm
* live histogram
* flash hot shoe.
I like the noise free image quality from 300D and 10D, but don't like lots of lenses, plus I would miss :
* live preview and histogram
* swivel body
The smaller maximum aperture (in affordable lenses) could be compensated by higher usable ISO.
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01/21/2004 12:31:52 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by jonpink:
I won my D100 - but happy with it. |
You decided you'd suffer it then, did you :) Nice prize to win...
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01/21/2004 12:33:12 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
For what it's worth, I think the Sony 828 is probably the top of the line non SLR camera. It has definite advantages over the 300d, but a few disadvantages as well. I think the out-of-camera image quality on the 828 is going to be much better. |
All the samples I've seen are quite the opposite of that - the 828 image quality is typical for a good prosumer cam, but nothing like the quality of the imaging chip in the 10D/300D
There are other advantages that the 828 has over the 300D, but image quality certainly isn't one of them. On the 300D lens mount issue, at least they took the same route as in the Rebel Ti and put in a metal lens mount. The body isn't going to take much in the way of hard knocks but the mount shouldn't wear away like the cheaper rebel mounts have.
Message edited by author 2004-01-21 12:34:50.
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01/21/2004 12:36:42 PM · #15 |
the body of the 300d is plastic - but the chasis is metal.
the lense mount area is also metal, and i dont really see how its going to wear out...
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
The main reason I wanted the SLR was for lens flexibility, and I do change lenses a lot. I'm concerned that, over time, the 300d will not hold up to a lot of lens changing because of the plastic structure of the body. This, however, is just speculation. |
i chose the 300d because i missed using my film SLR, and film processing and what not just gets expensive. i wanted a camera as versitile as my film camera - but have a limited budget. i used the kit lense for 3 months, and added a canon 75-300mm lense last week. at this point i have the same range on the 300d as on my canon AL1 film slr ( minus a 2x convertor and flash ), and am quite happy with the camera in general ( although there a couple things i wish were different. ) and the image quality is pretty good. i thought a long time about saving for the 10d - but couldnt fathom $1500 for a body with no lense. i will use the 300d until it either doesnt work anymore, or the higher end dSLR come down in price or go up in quality.
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01/21/2004 12:42:39 PM · #16 |
I looked at several cameras before I got my DiMAGE. It was like love at first FEEL. I went into a local camera store and asked to see it. The second the camera was in my hands I knew that was the one for me. It was lightweight and it fit my hand nicely.
As silly as it may sound it really is important if you are going to be using the camera a lot without a tripod.
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01/21/2004 12:49:50 PM · #17 |
money and features were the main issue for me.
I had a limited amount to spend. I had hoped to get a DSLR, but couldn't afford it so the G3 was the best (at that time) that I could get for what I had to spend.
The other factor was size. I needed something a little larger in order to work the controls.
With arthritis it is difficult to use really tiny things. So it had to be big enough for these stiff old fingers to work. |
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01/21/2004 12:51:09 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by OneSweetSin:
I looked at several cameras before I got my DiMAGE. It was like love at first FEEL. I went into a local camera store and asked to see it. The second the camera was in my hands I knew that was the one for me. It was lightweight and it fit my hand nicely.
As silly as it may sound it really is important if you are going to be using the camera a lot without a tripod. |
Absolutely - it is well worth picking up the camera before you buy it. I almost bought a nikon coolpix995 a few years ago until I held it in my hands. Same with the DiMAGE actually - it felt horrible to me and the G2 I bought was much more like what I personally wanted.
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01/21/2004 12:58:21 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by OneSweetSin:
I looked at several cameras before I got my DiMAGE. It was like love at first FEEL. I went into a local camera store and asked to see it. The second the camera was in my hands I knew that was the one for me. It was lightweight and it fit my hand nicely.
As silly as it may sound it really is important if you are going to be using the camera a lot without a tripod. |
Absolutely - it is well worth picking up the camera before you buy it. I almost bought a nikon coolpix995 a few years ago until I held it in my hands. Same with the DiMAGE actually - it felt horrible to me and the G2 I bought was much more like what I personally wanted. |
I know what you mean about the DiMAGE. You either like the feel of it or you don't. In my case the hand grip was such a perfect fit for my short fingers.
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01/21/2004 01:10:09 PM · #20 |
I'm new here, this is my first forum post, so bear with me please.
Over the last 3 months I did a lot of study on the web and went to about a half dozen camera stores to ask questions. I decided that the cost of a DSLR and interchangable lenses was more than I wanted to invest right now so went for the best non-SLR digital I could find, my Minolta DiMage A1. I have a lot to learn about it, and digital photography in general, so that's why I decided to sign up here. After 2 weeks I am very pleased with my choice. It is kind of small but feels heavy enough to impress you as a serious camera. It seems to have all the features I'll need for a long time as I try to learn how to use them all. |
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01/21/2004 01:11:36 PM · #21 |
Some have mentioned the swivel body of the 707, and that was a real plus too. I use it for almost every shot, and if you're shooting from extreme angles, or even from normal angles, that little twist is SOOOOO nice!
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01/21/2004 01:18:31 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by dsidwell:
Some have mentioned the swivel body of the 707, and that was a real plus too. I use it for almost every shot, and if you're shooting from extreme angles, or even from normal angles, that little twist is SOOOOO nice! |
That's something I miss from my G2 - the LCD made unusual framing a whole lot easier. I carry a trash bag with me to get the same results with the D60 (so I can lie on the ground...)
Message edited by author 2004-01-21 13:18:41.
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01/21/2004 01:31:50 PM · #23 |
| My friend has a coolpix 890 and takes beatiful pictures with it. I wanted one a little smaller so went with the Nikon coopix 500. I have lenses to add(telephoto and,wide angle which need converters. Various filters also fit the converters like ND's,cross hatch,uv,and polarizer. The monitor swifels and the body is metal and I am enjoying it very much. If I live long enough I may pop for another one with a 10x zoom with at least the 5 pixels I have now. |
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01/21/2004 01:43:58 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
...The body and construction of the 828 did not feel as 'beefy' as the 7x7 series did though. I think the metal body has been replaced with plastic... |
The F828 is made of a heavy gauge metal, heavier than the F717. It appears to have a light plastic coating on top of the metal though.
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01/21/2004 01:48:25 PM · #25 |
My journey into a 10D began with wanting to get back into photography after more than 15 years and my tools from that period were SLR's. I choose to shoot with an old Canon Rebel and a Canon AE1 for a little while until the cost of processing film for a photoshoot got to be too expensive (add the cost of a model, location, film, prints, etc). We went and picked up the best digital we could afford at the time (or maybe the most best I could talk my wife into) and came home with a Sony DSC-S85 which was a point-n-shoot 4.1mp with all the controls that I'd need. I shot thousands of photos in a year and she saw how I was involved with this addiction so that about 15 months later I went back to the store and came home with the Canon 10D because it got me back into SLR's, gave me the physical feeling it was a "real" camera instead of feeling like a toy in my hands and it inspired me to want to take pictures even more. Now that's pretty esoteric when you consider some of the legitimate physical features this camera has alongside others like the Sony DSC-F7x7 or -828 (or others) but for me the selling point was that I just wanted to shoot with this camera in my hands. I suddenly have a nostalgic feeling like when I was walking around with a manual SLR and discovering things for the first time. Sure its signal-to-noise ratio seems to be as good as or better than any other camera that even approaches it for resolution, speed or capacity but its the mental thing that sold me on this camera. I felt like I'd recaptured an old feeling that I used to have and I love going out to shoot. Now at least my wife understands when I want to point a camera at her because she's seen some of those timeless expressions that I might just happen to catch whereas with the shutter lag on the S85 (which I still love) we just never got those special looks from the baby or friends or animals.
I can easily say that my attitude about several things has changed because I just got something I wanted to get for a passion even tho its questionable that I ever pushed the envelope with the old Sony S85.
Message edited by author 2004-01-21 13:49:42.
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