DSLR advice for a friend.

[Addy101]

Isn't the choice (at least in the Nikon system) larger for DX cameras? For example all the 18-X lenses will work on DX only, but (nearly) all lenses for FX cameras will also work on DX cameras.

You're right. I've used the Canon 24-85/3.5-4.5 and the Minolta 24-85/3.5-4.5 on crop cameras and they're great!

If your friend consideres second hand, the Sony A55 is small, has GPS, a swivel screen and good IQ. Get a 24-85 or 24-105 to go with it and it is a lovely small package.

 

[kshapero]

Going out on a limb. Pentax K-30 and an 18-55 lens. Body is Waterproof and lens if specified is also. versatile, cheap (I saw new for $600 w/lens).

 

[giellaleafapmu]

'Nike' ... I thought everyone knew that! 😀

Woops, it was Elliott of course, and here they are:

http://naturalrunningcenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/SportsllustratedBarefoot01-719926.jpg

(I think the equivalent in camera terms would be a pinhole!)

GLF

 

[lynnb]

Handling is just as important as IQ. Take her to a hands-on camera store, let her see for herself the difference between a FF viewfinder like 5D/D700, an APS-C VF, and a quality EVF like NEX or latest Oly. Let her handle the cameras and feel their size in her hands, their weight, and how the controls feel. Maybe she will prefer the handling of something like Fuji. Only she can tell.

If she is keen on a system camera, lens choice is a primary consideration - not just focal lengths, but also size and weight.

Another consideration is file size. If she intends to shoot RAW with a large MP sensor she may be up for computer upgrade and additional storage. If she intends printing no bigger than 11x14 or even 12x18in, the E-1 or 5D classic is all she needs - great IQ and smaller file sizes.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

The only small DSLR I'm aware is made my Canon. They also have small light kit lens.
The problem with any Canon crop DSLR and average lens seems to be in JPEG1 or RAW SOOC files. They are too dull and lifeless without PP in LR. Canon DPP software is not good.
To get good SOOC from Canon DLSR, IMHO, it must be Zeiss or Canon L lens. And these are nowhere near 1K budged.

In opposite, Fuji X series cameras seem to be more capable with SOOC pictures, including film emulation modes.
They are much more nicer cameras to hold compare to any DSLR. And many MF lens are supported.

 

[robert blu]

My wife uses a Nikon 5100 with the kit zoom (18-105 3,5/5,6) and the results for normal photos are very good. I just gave her the Nikon 35mm f1,8 (50 equiv) to practice portrait.
The problem, or better the difficulty with this camera is when you want to control it and not to work in automatic.
robert

 

[gavinlg]

id try and get a pentax k5 with the kit zoom.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

My wife uses a Nikon 5100 with the kit zoom (18-105 3,5/5,6) and the results for normal photos are very good.

I just bought one of the 5100s that are being sold off at roughly half price by Amazon. It's a jolly nice little camera.

 

[Fraser]

You're right. I've used the Canon 24-85/3.5-4.5 and the Minolta 24-85/3.5-4.5 on crop cameras and they're great!

If your friend consideres second hand, the Sony A55 is small, has GPS, a swivel screen and good IQ. Get a 24-85 or 24-105 to go with it and it is a lovely small package.

what i mean is with full frame and a 28-70 or 35-70 which for at least for the Canons can be bought for less than £50 which I feel is more useful than a 44-112 on a cropped frame.

 

[jbielikowski]

Really, using a P&S cameras is so much fun (unless its a Sony one and you stuck in menus) that I'd suggest to stick with them.

 

[giellaleafapmu]

The only small DSLR I'm aware is made my Canon. They also have small light kit lens.

Uh? Are the Canon small DSLR smaller than any other "prosumer" DSLR? I am not too familiar with the brand but all those which I have seen seems about equal to similar product from essentially any other brand. Or am I missing something?

GLF

 

[Addy101]

what i mean is with full frame and a 28-70 or 35-70 which for at least for the Canons can be bought for less than £50 which I feel is more useful than a 44-112 on a cropped frame.

I don't get your drift. A 24-85 on APS-C becomes a 36-127..... That is why I pointed in the direction of these lenses, they're very useful on APS-C imho. If you consider a 35-70 on FF, 36-127 equivalent is better 😀

 

[Addy101]

Uh? Are the Canon small DSLR smaller than any other "prosumer" DSLR? I am not too familiar with the brand but all those which I have seen seems about equal to similar product from essentially any other brand. Or am I missing something?

GLF

He was probably talking about the 100D which is the smallest DSLR, it is even smaller then the Sony A33/A55/A35/A37 cameras.

 

[Keith]

I'm quite liking the sound of the Pentax K-5 and a kit lens ... I can't remember what her dead SLR was but I think it may be a Pentax.

 

[Keith]

The other thing is she didn't choose to use a little pocket point and shoot by choice ... at the time it was all she could afford from memory. I think it's one of those Canon Elphs or something like that. I was always amazed at the colours that came of it for what it was. She spent a few weeks in Europe and came back with a couple of hundred of what I would definitely call 'keepers!'

 

[Bille]

I have a friend who is in the market for a new camera. She normally uses a little Canon pocket point and shoot digicam and produces images from it that are jaw droppingly (embarrasingly so in fact) good ...

If the images have been "jaw droppingly good" already, I´d recommend getting a replacement pocket Canon.

 

[Keith]

If the images have been "jaw droppingly good" already, I´d recommend getting a replacement pocket Canon.

I sometimes wonder if people actually read threads they comment on. I've emphasized several times that the film stuff she showed me is equally as good so obviously it's not about the camera. She doesn't actually want another pocket cam and would like to have more control of focal length and depth of field etc.

She'd probably be ideally suited to an X-pro with a couple of lenses but that's out of her league financially.

 

[furbs]

She'd probably be ideally suited to an X-pro with a couple of lenses but that's out of her league financially.

Why do you think her work would be ideally suited to an X-Pro1? I ask mostly because I haven't seen her work, and you have...

Once I let a friend use my D50 and she liked it enough to get one for herself. For me at least, "helping a friend" has only worked when I had something for them to handle. The feel of a camera in the hand can't be overemphasized when it comes to shopping around.

 

[Keith]

Why do you think her work would be ideally suited to an X-Pro1? I ask mostly because I haven't seen her work, and you have...

Once I let a friend use my D50 and she liked it enough to get one for herself. For me at least, "helping a friend" has only worked when I had something for them to handle. The feel of a camera in the hand can't be overemphasized when it comes to shopping around.

I've noticed that her skills appear to lie in colour and composition and I really like the colour from that Fuji sensor. If Sigma released a zoom lens version of the DPM I'd recommend that to her in a heartbeat because I think the foveon thing would suit her perfectly.

I can't use colour to save myself and when I see someone who uses it as well as she does I feel quite envious. 😀

 

[Michalm]

K5 🙂 but i'm not so enthusiastic about kit lens, second hand 16-45 lens or tamron 17-35 / 17-50 would be good match for the sensor or cheaper k30 body with the lens if funds are limited.