new SLR user

[jimmy]

I'm going to try a SLR for the first time, always been point and shoot guy. It will be Oly 500, or minolta 5D
Print up to 8x10 no bigger mostly 4x6
I'm not great at understanding all the settings, need "user-friendy"
lot of indoor with flash
would like some "reach" but not the most important thing
like vivid color
and love sharp detail
I use glasses, so viewer is a big deal to me

I have read too much, "IS Vs no dust" and so on, now i'm really confused
I need a pro, HELP me please

thanks:confused:

[ktixx]

Why not canon or nikon? Dust is really not a big issue as it can be easily cleaned and canon makes a wide variety of IS lenses. With canon and Nikon being the top consumer/professional brands on the market is there any reason you wouldn't consider one of them?
Ken

[jimmy]

I held the rebel xt and didn't like the way it felt, and I like the large LCD in the 2 I want.

[wxcloud9xw]

In terms of photo quality the Minolta and Olympus are at the lower end under Canon and Nikon. Something else to mention is the the Canon produces less noise at higher ISOs than the others. Nikon a close 2nd. the Olympus is kind of bad at high ISOs in the reviews I've seen.

[ktixx]

well if you are on a tight budget I guess you really can't beat those other two DSLR's They will definitely be better than a point and shoot. I would also take a look at a D50 if you are unhappy with the XT's body. I would suggets a 20D, however it is almost double what the minolta and olympus bodies are. If I had to choose either no dust or IS with all lenses I would choose the IS, I know it is pretty simple to clean a DSLR with the Copperhill Method.
Good Luck
Ken

[Rex914]

I normally don't do this, but what you're describing doesn't really "need" a DSLR. You seem to demand versatility, a long lens, and sharp, saturated photos. Could you specify more exactly why you want a DSLR? What does your current camera lack that you'd gain in a DSLR?

People by DSLR's for their speed, composing through the VF, low light and action performance, versatility, post-processing, among many many things. What are you planning to do? Why not go for a SLR-like ultrazoom (FZ30, Fuji S9000) instead since you say that "reach" is important to you? More likely than not, you'll have an easier time getting the fixed lens camera to give you sharp, saturated photos out of the camera. Plus the LCD is easier on the eyes until you get a camera with a terrific viewfinder (D200).

[coldrain]

The Olympus E-500 actually has VERY GOOD image quality upto ISO 400, it is better than the Nikons in that respect and the same as the EOS 20D. The canons are not thatttt good with low noise, especially color nose is not better than for instance a Nikon D50.

Dust on a sensor is not a big deal, especially when you take care when changing lenses. The IS sensor of the KM 5D can be a big plus to lower light photography of relativily steady subjects.

What the KM 5D loses in picture quality to the E-500 and EOS 350D/XT it makes up for with the IS feature.

Both cameras you have chosen are very good, but realize that the lens options compared to Canon and Nikon are a bit more limitted. If you find the lenses you want anyway, that is not a problem.

[OMSchwep]

Jimmy, rex914 may be right in that a bridge (fixed lens) model may be a better choice. However, if you still want to go the way of a DSLR, a few obviously subjective remarks from this old Olympus fan.
- The Oly E-500 two-zoom kit is sold with much better lenses than its competitors. No discussion. Read the tests. These people are the world's foremost microscope builders and their knowledge of optics shows. It is also unusually well finished and built for its price level (Olympus just do not cut corners to build a 'cheap' model SLR, it's contrary to their DNA). This camera fits the hand perfectly and is a joy to use. Yes, the viewscreen could have been larger, but they do sell an eyecup with a magnifier for those who like a larger picture (I feel it is large enough and I wear varifocal glasses).
- Look at this link to know more about the dust problem: http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/cleaning.html. And realize that most professional reviewers consider the anti-dust system one of the great pros of the Olympus E-series.
- As far as noise above 400 ISO goes, again tests show that this gets to be a visible problem from 800 ISO up. Compared to any compact digicam, of course, it's still a godsend, no matter what brand of dSLR you use. How often did people push film to 1600 ISO in the old days, and what was the resulting image quality (except in black and white using magic Ilford XP-1 film)?
- With an 8MP dSLR you'll have a serious piece of kit that will shoot pictures you won't have to be ashamed of in the year 2010. Or later. And you may learn to love its possibilities and become a true photo enthousiast. At which point the real investments start - in lots of GB-class memory cards, external harddrives, RAW conversion software, image editing software, photo quality printers and expensive paper, and so on. Your loved ones will find that either you walk around hiding behind a fat lens, or sit for hours at your pc calibrating its screen with some weird contraption, tuning photos with PhotoShop and gobbling ink to print the results. At least you won't be hiding among the chemical fumes in a darkroom like in the old days... ;)

[jimmy]

thaks for you replay, one question what is a rex 914? thanks jimmy

[coldrain]

thaks for you replay, one question what is a rex 914? thanks jimmy
A rex914 is a user of this forum. And a porsche 914 is a strange little sportscar from the 70's with a 4 cilinder vw engine.

[tim11]

thaks for you replay, one question what is a rex 914? thanks jimmy
It's kind of confusing trying to decipher those codes huh... we have here E-500, KM 5D, E-500, EOS 350D/XT, Ilford XP-1, Oly 500, 5D, SLR, DNA, DSLR, EOS 20D, D50. And a rex914???
This makes my day. lolz :)