JayRmichigan
Newbie
Hey guys,
So I've been into photography for a while now. I originally started playing around with rangefinders because I thought they were cool, and then I sort of got into SLRs and learned a ton, but lately I've been thinking I should go digital. I never really considered buying a DSLR because they're expensive, but now that I can actually afford one I'm thinking it makes sense, partly because there's no more film to worry about, but mostly for the instant gratification.
The problem is, I have no idea which one to buy ... Do any of you have any experience with DSLRs, and if so what would you recommend? Are Canon and Nikon really THAT much better than say a Pentax or an Olympus? And what advantages does a prosumer camera like a D90 have over a consumer camera like a D60?
Thanks guys!
So I've been into photography for a while now. I originally started playing around with rangefinders because I thought they were cool, and then I sort of got into SLRs and learned a ton, but lately I've been thinking I should go digital. I never really considered buying a DSLR because they're expensive, but now that I can actually afford one I'm thinking it makes sense, partly because there's no more film to worry about, but mostly for the instant gratification.
The problem is, I have no idea which one to buy ... Do any of you have any experience with DSLRs, and if so what would you recommend? Are Canon and Nikon really THAT much better than say a Pentax or an Olympus? And what advantages does a prosumer camera like a D90 have over a consumer camera like a D60?
Thanks guys!
ruby.monkey
Veteran
The only useful advice I can give is: set your budget and desired feature set, and then go to a camera shop and play with every camera that matches until you find the one that best fits your hands and brain. There are no bad ones nowadays.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
My choice from what I've read and heard would be the Nikon D700 ... this camera could replace my M8 in heartbeat. I would just have to learn to cope with the extra bulk of the DSLR but looking at the quality of the high ISO files from the Nikon it's a fair trade off IMO!
Most of my shooting is done with a film SLR at the moment so it seems a logical transition!
Most of my shooting is done with a film SLR at the moment so it seems a logical transition!
kxl
Social Documentary
I'm an unabashed Nikonista.
My first DSLR was a D70 - just to see what the fuss was all about.
My second (and current) is a D200 - because it'll meter with AIS lenses.
My newest (just ordered) is a D700 - fantastic low light capabilities and full frame.
If it fits your budget and you go with brand "N" the D700 is an easy choice.
My first DSLR was a D70 - just to see what the fuss was all about.
My second (and current) is a D200 - because it'll meter with AIS lenses.
My newest (just ordered) is a D700 - fantastic low light capabilities and full frame.
If it fits your budget and you go with brand "N" the D700 is an easy choice.
W
wlewisiii
Guest
What he said. Cheapest way to high IQ digital that will last awhile.
I'd suggest the 28/1.8, 50/1.4 & 85/1.8.
Of course, all this is simply what I'D buy if I could but hey...
:angel:
William
peter_n
Veteran
I'm also an old Nikon hand although I love rangefinders and only use a dSLR for color - family snaps and suchlike. I think ruby.monkey has it right, you should go to a store and try out a bunch of them once you figure out what you want to shoot and how. The full frame cameras are wonderful but very expensive. If you're into sports or predominantly a telephoto user the cropped sensor cameras still make sense. Check out the reviews at places like dpreview.com, learn about the features offered, and try to match those with your own requirements. What you'll probably get here is what people use themselves and their choices aren't necessarily right for you. Having said that 
I chose a cropped sensor body and a (35mm equiv.) 25-82mm zoom lens with auto-everything and only use JPGs straight from the camera. That probably won't work for you though...
I chose a cropped sensor body and a (35mm equiv.) 25-82mm zoom lens with auto-everything and only use JPGs straight from the camera. That probably won't work for you though...
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I've considered that option myself ... how does the 5D stack up against the D700 size and weight wise?
gavinlg
Veteran
Keith the 5d is decently smaller and a little lighter than the d700. The d700 is quite big for a non-grip camera, but is built pretty well. (not without it's problems though - mode dial plastics cracking etc)
The 5d is not built as well but they've proven to be a really reliable camera. They're the king for value in the dslr world.
The 5d is not built as well but they've proven to be a really reliable camera. They're the king for value in the dslr world.
dufffader
Leicanaut/Nikonaut...
I'd second that. I've been a Nikon user since my first SLR a decade ago. Never got around liking Canons as I can't get used to the location of the buttons (I'm sure its the same moving the other way around). Got to play with a Pentax K-something yesterday and was impressed with the camera. If I were to start new today on DSLRs, I'd have a look at all the brands and get what I'm most comfortable with.
ZeissFan
Veteran
The Pentax K10D is a very well made camera: Sturdy, somewhat large and easy to use. Photo quality is very good. Plus, you have the advantage of using a huge number of K, KA, KAF and M42 (with adapter) lenses.
If cost is no object, go full frame with Nikon or Canon. If shooting in low light is a necessity, then I'd opt for one of the newer Canon or Nikon cameras.
Otherwise, I have no problem recommending the K10D (or the K20D).
If cost is no object, go full frame with Nikon or Canon. If shooting in low light is a necessity, then I'd opt for one of the newer Canon or Nikon cameras.
Otherwise, I have no problem recommending the K10D (or the K20D).
mfunnell
Shaken, so blurred
and...
Well, that's what I did (mostly because a good deal fell into my lap). Size and weight wise, I believe the 5D and D700 are close enough that it makes no real-world difference (YMMV, of course). The D700 is no doubt better at high ISO settings, but it is also much more expensive than a 2nd-hand 5DmkI.
I bought a 50mm/f1.2 lens to go with mine - which adds considerably to the bulk and weight (and expense) compared to, say, the 50mm/f1.4 but nonetheless seems a perfect match to the camera, for me. Aside from that I'm sticking with lenses it shares with it's APS-C sibling (used mostly for wildlife) and vaguely considering options should I regain employment some time soon...
An example from the 5D/50mm that I rather like:
...Mike
peterm1
Veteran
My personal preference is to use Nikon, partly because Nikon MF lenses can be used and in many cases these are extremely high in quality. Canon changed their mount when they adopted AF so the same is not possible. Both companies make wonderful equipment so apart from this its possibly just down to individual preference much like which car you prefer to drive. Best bet as always is to buy the best you can afford. Otherwise it always seems to end up costing more as you get sick of something that is sub par and end up selling it to get something better. In my mind the best prosumer camera on the market is probably the D700 as its full frame with all this offers. If that's too rich try the D300 or even the D200 if you can pick up one with only a few miles on the clock. These all meter properly with MF lenses too. (While all Nikon cameras can mount MF lenses not all will meter with them.)
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Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Sorry to keep hijacking the thread but can someone tell me approximately what a used 5D and a fast 50 along with possibly a 28 or 35 may be worth?
Quinn Porter
Established
Believe it or not, the D700 is closer in weight to Canon's 1 series than it is to the 5D.
As mentioned by others, a used 5D is today's best value in a high quality DSLR.
Darkhorse
pointed and shot
How about a used Canon 40D?
I could never get the hang of Nikon DSLRs
I could never get the hang of Nikon DSLRs
Quinn Porter
Established
It depends on condition of course, but the last time I looked, a 5D was about US$1,300 and a 50mm f/1.4 would be about US$250.
mfunnell
Shaken, so blurred
Here in Oz, a 2nd-hand 5DmkI can probably be had for south of $2K (Oz currency, aka "South Pacific Peso") - mine was well south of that, but was also a lucky deal. New grey-ish market prices for a 50/f1.4 are around $560, a 35/f2 at $500 (not a bad lens, really) and a 28/f1.8 at $700 (worth it over the f2.8, though I'd be more tempted by the 24/f2.8 at $600). [All still in Aussie dollars.]
If you keep under the $1000 limit, you're possibly better off getting the lenses from B&H or Adorama (stock up on film or paper at the same time), and I assume 2nd-hand price relativities apply.
...Mike
pvdhaar
Peter
Assuming you've got no legacy lenses of any of these, there's no reason to rule out any of the brands you mentioned. Sure, each of these brands has specialty lenses that the others don't have, but if you would have needed any of these, you would already have easily made the choice.
The main issue is whether a camera feels good to work with, and that's a matter of taste. Set a budget, handle a couple within that budget and look through their finders. See which one you like best.. And don't rule out the cheaper models off hand. As with the D60 vs. D90, the prosumer models typically have somewhat better finders, more sophisticated autofocus, and more advanced remote-flash control. But this goes at the expense of more weight and bigger size, which for some people prove an obstacle to work comfortably with them.
elshaneo
Panographer
I have the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and it's certainly the best camera I got although it's not my favourite camera ;-p
mcgrattan
Well-known
I have a Samsung GX10, which is essentially a Pentax K10D with a slightly different RAW processing engine.
The Pentax/Samsung dSLRS are extremely solidly built with very good weather seals. Mine is noticeably more robust than similarly priced cameras that friends have. They also have excellent viewfinders -- one of the best in crop-sensor dSLRS -- which is useful for manual focus, and they have decent image quality. One of the UK photo magazines did some tests just this week and they (the K20D and GX20) still stack up for iamge quality well against similar priced and much newer models from Nikon and Canon.
The downside, that everyone mentions, is that the autofocus really isn't as good as the Canon/Nikon offerings, so if you shoot a lot of high-speed sports action or wildlife, that might be a problem. The autofocus isn't awful, but it does hunt a little in low light or in low-contrast situations.
Also, I find it quite hard to find second-hand K-mount primes at reasonable prices. I have a nice fast 50, and fast-ish 28mm and 135mm lenses, but in the UK I can't find any portrait length primes that aren't quite expensive, for love or money.
There seem to be more Nikon-mount lenses at affordable prices, and the Canons are good for mounting a lot of different primes with adapters. I've owned an EOS film body in the past and found the availability of adapters for a range of different primes to be very useful.
Matt
The Pentax/Samsung dSLRS are extremely solidly built with very good weather seals. Mine is noticeably more robust than similarly priced cameras that friends have. They also have excellent viewfinders -- one of the best in crop-sensor dSLRS -- which is useful for manual focus, and they have decent image quality. One of the UK photo magazines did some tests just this week and they (the K20D and GX20) still stack up for iamge quality well against similar priced and much newer models from Nikon and Canon.
The downside, that everyone mentions, is that the autofocus really isn't as good as the Canon/Nikon offerings, so if you shoot a lot of high-speed sports action or wildlife, that might be a problem. The autofocus isn't awful, but it does hunt a little in low light or in low-contrast situations.
Also, I find it quite hard to find second-hand K-mount primes at reasonable prices. I have a nice fast 50, and fast-ish 28mm and 135mm lenses, but in the UK I can't find any portrait length primes that aren't quite expensive, for love or money.
There seem to be more Nikon-mount lenses at affordable prices, and the Canons are good for mounting a lot of different primes with adapters. I've owned an EOS film body in the past and found the availability of adapters for a range of different primes to be very useful.
Matt