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01/10/2005 07:55:51 AM · #1 |
I know everyone will recommend I get a DSLR, so let me clear this up straight away - I would love to, but my future income is pretty much dedicated to travel expenses so I don't have the money for decent lenses - I'd pretty much be stuck with the kit - and even then, that would likely break my budget :).
Okay so with that out of the way, I'm trying to decide between getting a lower level prosumer cam - specifically the canon G6 or a more upscale prosumer - likely the canon proshot 1 or the olympus c-8080 (the nikon 8800 and sony 828 are waaaaay more expensive than either of those). So I was just looking for some opinions as to whether people think the more upscale prosumer's are worth the extra two or three hundred aussie dollars over the G6 - bearing in mind once again, that money is actually an issue :).
Message edited by author 2005-01-10 07:56:09. |
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01/10/2005 08:05:12 AM · #2 |
I had my heart set on a Minolta A2 (review) before getting my D70.
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01/10/2005 08:11:20 AM · #3 |
I got my 300D with a 50mm 1.8 prime and a 28-135 IS for 1500 bucks with loads and loads of extra stuff on www.bhphoto.com
I think that gives you a top notch range and good image quality. Then the canon used market is pretty large so you can allways get a wide lens like the sigma 15-30 for decent prices to add to that.
This is the way I went becouse I have limited cash. I love my camera with my whole heart and I didnt spend far to much on it either :) |
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01/10/2005 08:11:53 AM · #4 |
My dad has the Oly 8080. It's a great camera. Go to a store and play around with all the models you are considering. Pay attention to not just what that camera can do, but alos how it does it. Are the functions you want to use easily accessible, or buried under a dozen submenus? How does it feel in your hand? Usually, one model or the other will stand out.
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01/10/2005 08:35:20 AM · #5 |
I have the Pro1...some because of the Canon name which is what I have always owned from the late 70s....and partially due to the L-series lense and features of the Canon. if you study the techno stuff alot...which I don't...you will see some other differences between the top ones. With the recent firmware upgrade to the Canon and the dust problem resolved if it ever was really a problem and not a few isolated instances....I personally think the Canon is the top of the heap.
I also liked the Minolta A2. If you are really happy with Olympus then you might as well give the 8080 a serious look.... I have seen some fabulous pictures taken with all of the big names in this 8mp Prosumer level.....so while the hardware is important...the eye of the photographer is most important...and for the rest of them there is always Photoshop it appears...haha.
Here is someone that used Pro1 before he just recently got his Canon 20D.
Outstanding Pro1 Photographer who just recently got a 20D. Most are Pro1 pictures.
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01/10/2005 09:16:51 AM · #6 |
You should check out null,
they have a couple different packages. And also they have a payment option called bill me later, in case you can't affor to dish out that much money all at once, I think with a camera package, flash, and off shoe camera cord and my payments are just over 50 a month. So check it out it's worth a try. |
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01/10/2005 09:36:02 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by radiman:
You should check out null,
they have a couple different packages. And also they have a payment option called bill me later, in case you can't affor to dish out that much money all at once, I think with a camera package, flash, and off shoe camera cord and my payments are just over 50 a month. So check it out it's worth a try. |
I would strongly suggest not buying a digital camera on time. In two years time just about anything you buy now will be obsolete, you really don’t want to still be making payments on a camera that is a generation or two old.
I looked at their bill me later plan, they charge 17% interest, that is a lot of interest to be paying.
BTW null is Ritz |
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01/10/2005 09:55:36 AM · #8 |
| Yeah I realize it is a little much, but I am pretty young and my credit isn't the best, so it was the best I could do. That kind of money is kind of hard to come by. But as far as being outdated. If the camera puts out great pictures now, why wouldn't it in two years? |
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01/10/2005 10:14:25 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by radiman:
Yeah I realize it is a little much, but I am pretty young and my credit isn't the best, so it was the best I could do. That kind of money is kind of hard to come by. But as far as being outdated. If the camera puts out great pictures now, why wouldn't it in two years? |
It may put out great pictures in two years but there will be any number of areas of improvement that will make it seem old an out of date. Perhaps the next generation will have build in image stabilization, or be able to run up to ISO 64,000, it is hard to know what will be out in two years. But just looking at the past it is hard to find a camera from two years ago that you would be totally happy with today. The cameras two years from now will be much more capable then the cameras we are using now. |
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01/10/2005 10:26:32 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by radiman:
You should check out null,
they have a couple different packages. And also they have a payment option called bill me later, in case you can't affor to dish out that much money all at once, I think with a camera package, flash, and off shoe camera cord and my payments are just over 50 a month. So check it out it's worth a try. |
The only time you should consider using one of those "Bill me Later" type things is if you already have the money to make the purchase outright.
At that point, you take their plan and then you take that money you have and put it into a 6 month or 9 month Certificate of Deposit or Money Market Account at your banking institution.
Then, when you are coming up close to the end of the term for the purchase, you take out all that money and pay off the purchase. You suffer no ill effects of interest instantly compounded from the date of original purchase and end up slightly ahead with the money you made from the short term investment.
Make your money work for you, not for someone else.
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01/10/2005 10:28:21 AM · #11 |
| And more than likely, much more expensive. I guess it would be great to upgrade every two years. I don't buy a new car every two years just because a new one, with a DVD player or new traction control, comes out. When under a limited budget, one has to work with the money and resources that are available. |
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01/10/2005 10:31:35 AM · #12 |
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01/10/2005 11:15:50 AM · #13 |
I've been using the Nikon system for almost twenty years, so for me with so much equipment invested it was a no brainier go Nikon. But if I had to start from scratch it wouldn't be my first choice. Here are my top choices & a short reason why.
1. Olympus - 4/3 sensors keeps equipment small & light. Company is commitment to macro. The Aspect ratio closer to industry standards. negs- focus by wire.
2. Fuji S3 - Nikon based. Greatest dynamic range of any Digital SLR. Negs- none really battery issues & I wish it was based on the F100 instead of the N80.
3. Nikon – Some of the best glass in the business (more import for film, but is the only lens system in the world that keeps color consistency throughout its lens line.). Loyalty to long-term users by keeping the same lens mount. Negs - (maybe I don’t think so) Nikon is a very conservative company. They will not be the first to introduce some latest wiz bang technology, but when they introduce a model it rock solid and well thought out with only really needed feature. For example the last “posted” news on Nikon’s website was in September.
4. Minolta – Built-in VR and a great lens line including the incredible 500 f8 AF . The company is now supercharged with Konica onboard.
5. Pentax - Small lightweight high-quality inexpensive cameras based on the K mount. Great inexpensive lens line including the 16-45mm f/4.0. Negs – lenses aren’t the best in manual focus mode. No compact flash support.
6. Sigma - Foveon image senor is the most technologically advanced sensor of any digital SLRs. Sensor has a bright future. Lens line provides one of the best bangs for the buck in photography. Negs- Foveon sensor requires propriety software. Large file sizes to achieve equal resolutions to other sensors.
7. Epson RD – Although not a SLR digital lessens the advantage of SLR previewing. M- mount provides the camera with arguably the best lenses made. RF excels in low light photography and is much quieter (no mirror to move) than SLRs. Negs- Stupid retro feature? Fake film advance lever. $$ both camera & lenses.
8. Canon - extensive lens line including the great L glass and even greater TS lenses. Low cost entry to system. Negs – inconstancy between in the camera line. Cheaper items seem really cheap & plasticity.
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01/10/2005 05:34:42 PM · #14 |
Thanks a lot for all the responses - places like dpreview are useful - but it's always nice to have some more personal opinions. Seems I've still got some thinking to do :).
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