Need suggestions for a DSLR and lens under $700

K

Kyle

Guest
I haven't bothered looking into digital cameras for three years so I have no idea what's what anymore, but I'm looking at purchasing a DSLR and a lens or two in June. This isn't GAS, I've decided to take a digital photography class this summer so I can finally learn Photoshop properly and see how I really feel about digital. My budget is around $700 and should include lens (a cheap 50/1.8 is fine by me, no zooms needed). I'd prefer used so that I could sell it at the end of the class for little to no loss if I decide digital truly isn't for me.

I had a Rebel XT (not XTi) briefly but hated it because it was so small. I'm thinking of maybe getting a 20D because I liked it's size and controls but I'm not sure if it fits my budget. I'm not limiting myself to Canon, that is just what I used back in the day.

I realize that I can ask 10 people this and get 20 different answers, but I just want to see what my options are. I don't have much time to research stuff like this with my new job and school so I'd rather get some of the footwork out of the way.

Thanks everyone!
 
Kyle, you'll probably get a few answers here, but it's mostly a film based crowd. I'd suggest you try the "sister" site DSLR Exchange , obviously lots of DSLR people and expertise there.
 
If you want to go the Canon route, a used 10D will cost about $200 to $400 on eBay, a used 20D will be about $400 to $500. The 10D won't take EF-S lenses, but at least I like it viewfinder better and it's cheaper.

The 50/1.8 is a good lens, but I'm not sure how useful it is as a general lens, because the field of view will be quite tele-ish on a 1.6x crop sensor. If you go with the Canon route, I would suggest a 35/f2 instead, which will deliver the field of view of a normal lens and can be had for $250 new on Amazon. If you get the body for $300 or less, however, I'd get the 28/f1.8, which is a very good lens with decent manual focusing and a fast and silent AF for $400 (Amazon as well), and you end up with about 45mm field of view which is quite useful.

Together with a used x0D body you are inside your budget and get a very nice and usable combination.

Philipp
 
I'd suggest a Pentax K100D. I didn't like the feel of the Rebel XT either. The K100D is a little more substantial. Since the K200D and K20D have been released, K100D's can be had for about $275-300 for the body. An AF 50mm F1.4 is about $200 (new) and the AF 35mm f/2 is a little more. A manual focus prime will be even less.

Hot Water Music!
 
Last edited:
There's also the Samsung branded versions of the Pentax dSLRs which, i the UK at least, tend to be cheaper.

A year ago, I paid 1100 USD equivalent for my GX-10 and two lenses. They can be had for significantly less now.
 
As rxmd suggested, if you decide on a Canon (e.g., 20D/30D), go with the 35/2. The AF motor is a bit buzzy, but you get used to it. It is a cheap lens that yields very nice results, and is close to a normal lens taking the crop factor into account.
 
At the end of April you will be able to purchase the Olympus E-420 with the 25mm f/2.8 pancake lens together for that price or lower.
 
The low end Canons may produce excellent images but they feel so plasticky it's like holding a toy camera. Look at the Pentax offering as suggested abover, or the Nikon D50 (used) or D40. Reconsider the zoom, I came from the film world where I rarely used zooms but it really is far more fexible in the dslr world where the speed of the lens is not such an issue due to good high-iso performance. Or get an 35mm f2 or 28mm 2.8 if you really cant stand the idea of zoom.
 
The silly crop factor will ruin your field of view with a 50. The "kit" lenses, usually 28 or 18 to something, aren't too shabby. Check the For Sale ads at The Texas Photo Forum. Lots & lots of entry level stuff there. What about one of the higher end P&S digitals?
 
addl. possible benefits

addl. possible benefits

The K100d, and possibly other models, maybe even other brands, had the luxury of using relatively larger sensors than on later models with more MP on the same physical size crop sensor.

Some feel that this provides better low-light/high iso performance than later versions with more MP, but same size sensor.

This was most certainly the case with the Fuji f30/f31d, as Fuji reps have even admitted.

It is very rare to see digital cameras appreciate or even stay the same for a few months, but these discontinued Fujis are selling at 2x of their original retail prices.

It's possible that cameras with the same size microsensors do not appear again until say a FF D3 or 5D, etc., although it is likely that somewhere in between there is some noise reduction scheme that will satisfy the masses.


cjm said:
I'd suggest a Pentax K100D. I didn't like the feel of the Rebel XT either. The K100D is a little more substantial. Since the K200D and K20D have been released, K100D's can be had for about $275-300 for the body. An AF 50mm F1.4 is about $200 (new) and the AF 35mm f/2 is a little more. A manual focus prime will be even less.

Hot Water Music!
Click to expand...
 
cjm said:
I'd suggest a Pentax K100D. I didn't like the feel of the Rebel XT either. The K100D is a little more substantial. Since the K200D and K20D have been released, K100D's can be had for about $275-300 for the body. An AF 50mm F1.4 is about $200 (new) and the AF 35mm f/2 is a little more. A manual focus prime will be even less.

Hot Water Music!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice.

You a fan of HWM? I flew from California to Orlando to catch their first reunion show this year.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice. I haven't made up my mind yet but I have some ideas what to look for now when I'm ready. I especially like the idea of a used 20d and a 28/1.8 lens but I'm considering a few options.
 
Given your stated purpose, I'd go and handle all the DSLRs you can and zero in on the ones that feel good in your hands. Almost any are going to be able to do the job for you long as they pass muster for your physical standards.

While I am a Nikon shooter that started out in DSLRs with a D40, given that you hated the Canon Rebel XT because it was small, I'd recommend steering clear of the entry level Nikons because they're quite compact.

I do recommend you hold the course for a DSLR and not veer into high end P&S digitals though. If you're trying to get a genuine experience of what digital is capable of, you're going to be cheating yourself with a P&S. Image quality aside, shutter lag alone will drive you crazy if you're used to shooting film.
 
I second the idea of a Nikon D50. The image quality is stellar, and it's an intuitive camera to use. You can pick them up for around $400 now w/ batteries, charger, software and possibly a 1 Gig memory card for that price. The 50 1.8 is a sharp lens, but yes it will suddenly become a 75 on the D50. If you don't need the speed, believe it or not, the 28 200 G ED is a very sharp lens, and it is tiny and light. Around $200. If you need the speed, the old 35 70 2.8 is sharper than most primes and you would have the 50 (or around that) on the wide end. About $250 to $350. The downside is it is heavy because it is all metal and glass. I know you don't want a zoom, but these two lenses will give you a lot more capability and excellent image quality. The 28 200 is not much bigger than a prime lens and much lighter. All these items will hold their value when you sell them later. Good luck.
 
I also recommend the Canon 20D, I use it professionally and it has never failed. Remember that the 50mm lens becomes an 80mm lens because of the 1.6x crop factor.
 
The Canon 20D is a bit too old by now, so choose carefully if you decide to buy one. I second the D50/40 suggestion, cheap Canon lens, while perform well, feels like crap, Nikon feels much more sturdy, plus cheap manual lens are all over the place.

Or that E420 and the pancake lens, that is sweet
 
I'd also recommend Pentax, though I think Nikons are also really nice. My totally subjective opinion is that Pentax offers the most features for your money but that Nikons have the edge on the user interface front, and also low-light AF. I'm a Pentax shooter myself (with the now 'old' *ist DL) but I've used my Dad's Nikon D70 a bit and it's a great camera.

Another point to bear in mind is backwards compatibility. As far as I know Pentax has the best of all the DSLRs at the cheaper end. Nikon's is good if you go for a D200 or better, but that's out of your price range.

Matthew
 
FWIW the Canon XT/XTi/XSi are all hugely more comfortable in the hand with the addition of the vertical grip. I love mine set up this way, detest it without the grip. Makes an immense difference.
 
older dslrs are quite tempting, having gone down in price so much. beauties like the pentax k10d and olympus e-1 come to mind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom