Comments on: DSLR? http://blog.xcski.com/2008/06/25/dslr Everything I used to bore people on newsgroups and mailing lists with, now in one inconvenient place. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:46:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: David Parsons http://blog.xcski.com/2008/06/25/dslr#comment-95274 David Parsons Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:57:49 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/?p=1388#comment-95274 Canon and Nikon are fine, but they're not the only ducks in the pond. I'm awfully fond of my Pentax, and the newer Pentax bodies (the K20 in particular) are supposed to be really good, if awfully big compared to the *istDS I carry around everywhere. Olympus has some nice teeny SLRs (but the 50% crop factor sensor plays merry hell with wide-angle lenses) which are thin enough so you can buy lens adaptors and fit quite a few old film lenses onto them. And if you've got Minolta lenses, Sony bought Minolta's digital SLR line when Minolta bailed, so that mount isn't going to be going anywhere fast. Canon and Nikon are fine, but they’re not the only ducks in the pond. I’m awfully fond of my Pentax, and the newer Pentax bodies (the K20 in particular) are supposed to be really good, if awfully big compared to the *istDS I carry around everywhere. Olympus has some nice teeny SLRs (but the 50% crop factor sensor plays merry hell with wide-angle lenses) which are thin enough so you can buy lens adaptors and fit quite a few old film lenses onto them.

And if you’ve got Minolta lenses, Sony bought Minolta’s digital SLR line when Minolta bailed, so that mount isn’t going to be going anywhere fast.

]]> By: Andy http://blog.xcski.com/2008/06/25/dslr#comment-95111 Andy Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:54:25 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/?p=1388#comment-95111 For me, it came down to Canon because that's what my friends and my employer had. No, that's not just a matter of wanting to be one of the cool kids -- it meant that I had a far better array of lenses I could beg or borrow. Or even rent. I second the recommendation of dpreview.com. When I was camera shopping, they had what I thought was a great insight: you're not just buying a camera, but buying into a camera system. How many lenses are available, at what ease and price, including availability of used gear, is as important a consideration as the specifics of the camera body itself. On that basis, for both digital and 35mm, the SLR market is Canon and Nikon and everyone else. My general impression -- no opinion polling to back it up -- is that Canon is far more popular with folks starting from scratch, and Nikon more popular with old pros moving from film to digital. Nikon has been the dominant player for field photography for a long time, and a lot of folks have thousands or tens of thousands of dollars' worth of lenses. I've been thrilled with my Canon, but in my limited experience with Nikon, it's not even a little bit shabby. For me, it came down to Canon because that’s what my friends and my employer had. No, that’s not just a matter of wanting to be one of the cool kids — it meant that I had a far better array of lenses I could beg or borrow. Or even rent.

I second the recommendation of dpreview.com. When I was camera shopping, they had what I thought was a great insight: you’re not just buying a camera, but buying into a camera system. How many lenses are available, at what ease and price, including availability of used gear, is as important a consideration as the specifics of the camera body itself. On that basis, for both digital and 35mm, the SLR market is Canon and Nikon and everyone else.

My general impression — no opinion polling to back it up — is that Canon is far more popular with folks starting from scratch, and Nikon more popular with old pros moving from film to digital. Nikon has been the dominant player for field photography for a long time, and a lot of folks have thousands or tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of lenses. I’ve been thrilled with my Canon, but in my limited experience with Nikon, it’s not even a little bit shabby.

]]> By: Chris Acton http://blog.xcski.com/2008/06/25/dslr#comment-95104 Chris Acton Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:37:08 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/?p=1388#comment-95104 I just got the Canon XSi (450D). I like it a lot, and eventually made the decision to get that after looking at the lenses offered by Canon for macro photography. I would take a look at dpreview.com, they do a great job breaking down everything about a camera, so you can get a good feel for the ins and outs. I have heard good things about the new Nikon D60, and I know a lot of people here at FujiFilm that are very happy with the Nikon D80. Nikons tend to have a bigger camera body than the Canon Rebels, so that may be something to consider. I have relatively big hands and can manage the Canon XSi pretty well without any discomfort, but I did think the Nikon D80 was a little more comfortable in my hand. I just got the Canon XSi (450D). I like it a lot, and eventually made the decision to get that after looking at the lenses offered by Canon for macro photography. I would take a look at dpreview.com, they do a great job breaking down everything about a camera, so you can get a good feel for the ins and outs. I have heard good things about the new Nikon D60, and I know a lot of people here at FujiFilm that are very happy with the Nikon D80.

Nikons tend to have a bigger camera body than the Canon Rebels, so that may be something to consider. I have relatively big hands and can manage the Canon XSi pretty well without any discomfort, but I did think the Nikon D80 was a little more comfortable in my hand.

]]> By: Rob Guglielmetti http://blog.xcski.com/2008/06/25/dslr#comment-95087 Rob Guglielmetti Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:31:18 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/?p=1388#comment-95087 Funny, my Canon G7 has gone missing too. What the hell?! As far as DSLRs, I fell in love with the Nikon D80 when I got to play with my Sister's last fall. The image quality (and the desire for instant shutter response to capture doggie action) led me to buy a DSLR of my own. I read a lot of reviews and a lot of people said they would put the D40/D40x up against the D80 any day. I got a D40, but I'm not totally happy with it and plan to get a D80 when I can scape a few dollars together for one. We had a rebel at my old firm, and I liked it, but I really like the Nikon D80 a lot more. Good luck! Funny, my Canon G7 has gone missing too. What the hell?! As far as DSLRs, I fell in love with the Nikon D80 when I got to play with my Sister’s last fall. The image quality (and the desire for instant shutter response to capture doggie action) led me to buy a DSLR of my own. I read a lot of reviews and a lot of people said they would put the D40/D40x up against the D80 any day. I got a D40, but I’m not totally happy with it and plan to get a D80 when I can scape a few dollars together for one.

We had a rebel at my old firm, and I liked it, but I really like the Nikon D80 a lot more. Good luck!

]]> By: Seth http://blog.xcski.com/2008/06/25/dslr#comment-95084 Seth Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:47:43 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/?p=1388#comment-95084 If you don't need real SLR, look at the Fujifilm S8100. If you don’t need real SLR, look at the Fujifilm S8100.

]]> By: Tina Marie http://blog.xcski.com/2008/06/25/dslr#comment-95083 Tina Marie Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:54:59 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/?p=1388#comment-95083 <i>I know a lot of people think i’m weird about this, but if I go to a camera store to fondle their equipment and pick their brains, I feel morally obligated to buy from them. I don’t think it’s right to use their services and then turn around and order from B&H or Amazon.</i> What he said. I have a Panasonic Lumix DMC fZ50. It was the closest I could get to SLR without a bag of lenses. I would never take pictures if I had to carry around all the DSLR accessories, and what's the point of having a camera you don't use? Mine has: SLR form factor 12x optical zoom 8 megapixel It does have the fake SLR, but I rarely use it. When you depress the shutter half way, it will lock in either the focus or the exposure or both, depending on the settings. Mine never has problems focusing on close items if it can. So if it was in focus in the viewfinder, the picture will come out in focus, but I can't always get as close as I want to be. There's a macro adapter that fixes that, but that takes me back to "not carrying a bag of lenses". And it has good image stabilization. And my #1 reason for buying it: incredible colors. Better then anything I've ever owned before. Almost everything on my flickr page was taken with this camera: http://www.flickr.com/photos/skywhisperer/ My biggest issue with it is how long it takes for the shutter to actually open once you push the button. I've missed a lot of good shots because it just took too long. But I can't find anything better that without going to full SLR, and I just don't want that much hassle. I know a lot of people think i’m weird about this, but if I go to a camera store to fondle their equipment and pick their brains, I feel morally obligated to buy from them. I don’t think it’s right to use their services and then turn around and order from B&H or Amazon.

What he said.

I have a Panasonic Lumix DMC fZ50. It was the closest I could get to SLR without a bag of lenses. I would never take pictures if I had to carry around all the DSLR accessories, and what’s the point of having a camera you don’t use?

Mine has:

SLR form factor
12x optical zoom
8 megapixel
It does have the fake SLR, but I rarely use it.
When you depress the shutter half way, it will lock in either the focus or the exposure or both, depending on the settings.
Mine never has problems focusing on close items if it can. So if it was in focus in the viewfinder, the picture will come out in focus, but I can’t always get as close as I want to be. There’s a macro adapter that fixes that, but that takes me back to “not carrying a bag of lenses”.
And it has good image stabilization.
And my #1 reason for buying it: incredible colors. Better then anything I’ve ever owned before.

Almost everything on my flickr page was taken with this camera: http://www.flickr.com/photos/skywhisperer/

My biggest issue with it is how long it takes for the shutter to actually open once you push the button. I’ve missed a lot of good shots because it just took too long.

But I can’t find anything better that without going to full SLR, and I just don’t want that much hassle.

]]> By: Paul Tomblin http://blog.xcski.com/2008/06/25/dslr#comment-95082 Paul Tomblin Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:25:58 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/?p=1388#comment-95082 I know a lot of people think i'm weird about this, but if I go to a camera store to fondle their equipment and pick their brains, I feel morally obligated to buy from them. I don't think it's right to use their services and then turn around and order from B&H or Amazon. I know a lot of people think i’m weird about this, but if I go to a camera store to fondle their equipment and pick their brains, I feel morally obligated to buy from them. I don’t think it’s right to use their services and then turn around and order from B&H or Amazon.

]]> By: Kristopher Johnson http://blog.xcski.com/2008/06/25/dslr#comment-95081 Kristopher Johnson Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:20:23 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/?p=1388#comment-95081 I'll throw in another vote for the entry-level Nikon DSLRs, but there is nothing wrong with Canon. I'd recommend going to a store and hold the cameras in your hand to determine which one feels best to you. I’ll throw in another vote for the entry-level Nikon DSLRs, but there is nothing wrong with Canon. I’d recommend going to a store and hold the cameras in your hand to determine which one feels best to you.

]]> By: James http://blog.xcski.com/2008/06/25/dslr#comment-95080 James Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:56:24 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/?p=1388#comment-95080 Rebel XTi ... ah, that's the 400D in real terms. The 450D is better in every way than the 400D, and the 1000D is mostly the same as the 400D with a few minor drawbacks. NFI what the pricing is like. The kit 18-55mm EF-S lens is apparently pretty good, particularly the IS version. http://www.dpreview.com/previews/Canon_1000D/page2.asp Rebel XTi … ah, that’s the 400D in real terms. The 450D is better in every way than the 400D, and the 1000D is mostly the same as the 400D with a few minor drawbacks. NFI what the pricing is like. The kit 18-55mm EF-S lens is apparently pretty good, particularly the IS version. http://www.dpreview.com/previews/Canon_1000D/page2.asp

]]> By: David Gerard http://blog.xcski.com/2008/06/25/dslr#comment-95079 David Gerard Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:36:27 +0000 http://blog.xcski.com/?p=1388#comment-95079 The equivalent Nikon starter DSLR is reputedly not bad at all. Either will make you very happy. The equivalent Nikon starter DSLR is reputedly not bad at all. Either will make you very happy.

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