Need opinions please - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/27/2005 04:40:44 PM · #1

Well I am getting a dSLR for christmas. A very dear friend who has adopted me as her daughter lol is getting it for me. Her budget is no more than 900.

I went and looked at the D70, Canon Rebel, and a Konica Minolta. All 3 felt nice and all 3 were confusing since all I've worked with is my simple p&s.

So for a beginner who is just getting started but wants a nice camera, which of the 3 would be best? I plan on taking a class or two here in the next year and I really do want to take this somewhere other then just shooting for fun. I've heard good things about Canon and Nikon. I know there are others out there, but I was not able to find them closeby to take a look at them

Thanks for any help or reviews you can give me. I've also read up on the Canon and D70 in dpreview- I've spent WAY too many hours going through that website lol.

Oh also, to start out, what lenses do I need to be looking at?

I think that's all for now.

ScreamingToad

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

10/27/2005 04:52:13 PM · #2

I've never really played with the others, and I'm probably somewhat biased here, but I really like my Rebel. If you find the right deal, I've seen them as low as $650ish with the kit lens. Its a pretty intutive camera to get to know and it makes it pretty easy to take some nice pictures. But whatever you choose, good luck!

samanwar

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

10/27/2005 05:02:22 PM · #3

I'd second that, I had a Rebel before upgrading to the 20D and totally loved it, also it seems that the Canon lenses are better and offer more choices (Ooh did I say that? Nikon people please don't kill me) That's just my opinion anyway ..

samanwar

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/27/2005 05:03:20 PM · #4

Check this link for a very nice comparison:

//www.digitalreview.ca/cams/NikonD70versusRebelXT.shtml

yido

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

10/27/2005 05:05:15 PM · #5

Another option is the Nikon D50.
If you are a bit confused by all the options/features on the camera, the D50 is more user friendly and also uses a SD card (which I'm assuming your current camera uses, so you don't have to buy CF cards).

Remember, you can leave a camera in Auto or those scene modes as you learn the features, so I wouldn't let that get in the way.

As for your question, I'd prefer Nikon or Canon only because, they sell in higher volumnes and hence it's easier to find stuff like third market lenses and accessories for them. Having said all that I would prefer the Canon XT, women seem to like the way it fits in their hands (b/c it's a bit smaller), there are plenty of accessories easily available for it. It does have a little bit more MP's for cropping. It's image quality is excellent and I think a slight bit better than the others.

If you want to be nice, you can just have her buy the body only for $750 at buydig.com and buy a nice lens like Tamron 28-75 XR Di for about $350. by yourself.

10/28/2005 07:18:00 AM · #6

TY for the help!

10/28/2005 02:46:57 PM · #7

Okay I found this on expresscameras.com

//www.expresscameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=442720&start=1

which is still cheaper then what I found at circuit city. Should I go with this one instead? And is this a good company? Does anyone have any experience with this company?

Also they have it in silver and it's a lot cheaper. Why would the silver be cheaper?

Marc923

10/28/2005 02:57:57 PM · #8

Look at the E-500 Evolt too. With the 2 lens kit, it's around $900.

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

10/28/2005 03:06:07 PM · #9

There's too many to choose from! lol

I could not find the Evolt at the 3 places I went to so I was not able to try it out.

I did a side by side in dpreview and it seems to be a lot lighter then the others. WHich makes me wonder. Does that mean more plastic parts? And hubby says a heavier one is better if you are taking pics without a tripod.

I have no idea lol.

It's between the RebelXT and the D70 at this point after seeing the prices on the website I linked above. Everyone I'm talking to says those two. And I've held both. This is almost as bad as trying to figure out what school to send our daughter to next year LOL.

ShaneBlake

Nikon D7100

10/28/2005 03:38:26 PM · #10

i'd go with the d70, but then, i'm kinda biased.

whatever you do, don't skimp on the glass. buy good lenses to start, so you don't have to spend the $ to upgrade later. i pretty much wasted $150 on a zoom i never use anymore...

yido

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

10/28/2005 04:09:18 PM · #11

Originally posted by missinseattle:

Do not do anything with expresscamera, they also work under Broadway Photo, I think A&M, and one other name. They advertise very low price but unless you buy accessories at ridiculous prices, they won't sell you anything. Trust me, do not do anything with those guys. They are bait and switch con artists.

If you want reputable places, look at bhphotovideo.com, beachcamra.com. Goto places like bizrate or shopping.com and look at the reviews of the store before you order.

Apple iPhone

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Nikon

10/28/2005 04:11:33 PM · #12

I have teh xt, and bought my daughter teh KOmica-minolta 5D. If i had to byuy one again i'd buy the 5D in a hearbeat it has all teh features of the 7D but in menu form rather than dials onteh side of the camera. Its advantage is that it has antishake built in rather than havign to buy lens that have antishake in it .. as a starter camera its an excelletn choice

Originally posted by missinseattle:

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

10/28/2005 04:15:48 PM · #13

Originally posted by missinseattle:

I did a side by side in dpreview and it seems to be a lot lighter then the others. WHich makes me wonder. Does that mean more plastic parts? And hubby says a heavier one is better if you are taking pics without a tripod.

Shoot with an external flash and it should add some weight for stability.

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Nikon

10/28/2005 04:27:37 PM · #14

You all are so helpful.

Hubby just informed me that a friend of his has the D70. Hopefully he has time to come over next week and let me work with it a little bit- with his help since i have no clue lol. He does professional photography on the side- a lot of weddings and portraits. I've seen a little bit of his work and it's pretty amazing. He told hubby he uses his D70 for just about everything.

I'm so torn on what to get now lol.

Apple iPhone

10/28/2005 04:29:26 PM · #15

second thing to do is to go and hold each camera in your hand.... they all FEEL different and weight different... one might feel awkward over another ...choose what feels best

and as for weight... the 5D weights more because of the antishake mechanism inside it

Message edited by author 2005-10-28 16:30:01.

10/28/2005 07:58:22 PM · #16

Well I did got out and try out a few- Konica Minolta- don't remember which one it was, Nikon D70 and D50, and the Rebel. I liked the way the Rebel and the Nikon felt the best. Nikon is more in the budget and I've now talked to two professionals who use this camera. Bestbuy has it for 869.99 with a 80-70mm dx lens. The gal I talked to tonight said to get the 50mm lens- I guess many call it the nifty fifty.

saintaugust

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

10/28/2005 08:02:18 PM · #17

80-70 lens? lol

sweet!

a reverse zoom!

i'm not a big minolta fan. i sold cameras for over 10 years and the minoltas let me down alot. it's not cool to repeatedly have a product slammed down on the counter because it failed at a wedding or communion.

i would buy the nikon, even though i'm a big canon fan.. but something about that D50 drives me wild.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

10/28/2005 08:41:19 PM · #18

That's supposed be 18-70mm lol
My brain is out tonight. I spent 2 hours at a halloween party with about 70 small children running around. I'm fortunate I can even type at the moment lol- much less make the 20 minute drive home in the dark. 10 rounds of musical chairs should have killed me!

Ty for your input saintaugust.

I'll probably be getting the D70. I am so excited, Christmas can't get here fast enough. Although I'm sure I'll get the 3rd degree when I go home as to why we are still paying on plane tickets but I'm carrying around a camera that cost as much as the 3 tickets together when all is said and done lol.

I was hoping for the Rebel because I saw great deals in expresscameras.com as I posted earlier. Well I looked them up on epinions.com. Not going to touch expresscameras with a 10ft pole. VERY bad reviews.

vxpra

Pentax K100D

10/28/2005 08:43:42 PM · #19

Originally posted by saintaugust:

i'm not a big minolta fan. i sold cameras for over 10 years and the minoltas let me down alot. it's not cool to repeatedly have a product slammed down on the counter because it failed at a wedding or communion.

i would buy the nikon, even though i'm a big canon fan.. but something about that D50 drives me wild.

I agree. I know people that love their Minolta, but I wouldn't have one in the house after my own experience selling them. I've been shopping around and have to say I'm certainly leaning towards the D70, although I think I'll be holding off until next summer (money issue, don't really want to put it on a Credit Card- its cash only for me here on out). I do have to admit I also want to see what else is coming out, although I think in my price range isn't going to change much. I'd love to find a Pentax- given I have a huge assortment of lenses- but so far I'm not all that happy with what they have out. I think the image quality is great, but after playing with the cameras I just don't care for the feel or the control layout. Back to you- go for the D70.

Olympus 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Zuiko Digital Zoom

10/28/2005 08:47:54 PM · #20

OH believe me, if it weren't for this dear friend buying it, I would not even be looking at getting a new camera till after tax return season and even then I would be waiting till end of summer since we have to pay our daughter tuition and fees for next fall.

This camera is a gift from a friend who thinks I have potential lol. I think personally a lot of people have potential and I don't think I'm good enough to make a living at it, but I'm sure many have said that and DO make something of it. We shall see. My promise to her is that the first great pic I take of our daughtter, I will be blowing it up and framing it for her and her husband.

So another question,
What all do I need to get started? I'm not talking fancy, just what to get when i get my camera.

MPRPRO

Olympus E-5

10/28/2005 09:05:08 PM · #21

I have an Olympus e-1 it is far out of range for you however the e-300 is comming down since the e-500 is now comming out. The difference between the two is the view screen on the back of the 500 is bigger, otherwise they are almost the same. The 300 is more in your price range and is 8mp. Here is a link on Price Grabber.

Click Here.

I love my Olympus and have had a little learning cruve but all in all it takes great shots and I have gotten great support about little things with them. Don't get me wrong nothing has broken but advice I needed was given fast when I asked them for it.

BTW that link I gave you has both a 14 to 54 mm lens and a 40 to 55 mm zoom lens with it. I am sure you will love them.

yido

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX Aspherical DG DF RF for Canon

10/28/2005 09:50:05 PM · #22

are you getting the D70 or the newer D70s version?
That's a nice camera as well. Don't forget to save some dough for a big CF card. Next move for most is to get a telephoto zoom lens like a 70-300.

Good luck.

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

10/28/2005 09:58:30 PM · #23

I'm sure the Nikons and Canons are great camera's, but if I were to choose one camera today I'd get a Minolta 7d or 5d.

Just the fact that image stabilization is built in is just great, you can buy any cheap sigma or Tamron lens and still have it stabilized. For someone on a low budget for a seemingly long time, I'd really suggest that route for ya.

samanwar

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/28/2005 10:23:30 PM · #24

Avoid dealing with expresscameras.com by all means, they will just charge your credit card and send you an email to call them for verification, when you call they will push you into buying extended warranties and rediculious accessories, if you don't they will say that the item is out of stock and will keep your money for several months until you threaten to take legal actions and then will refund it back.

Reputable online resellers are:
Buydig.com (My favorite)
Beachcamera.com
Digitalfoto.com
Newegg.com
bhphotovideo.com

Or check Pricegrabber.com for reviews.