Looking for advice on next camera, looking at S3-is

[Major]

Hey guys!

I own a couple of digital cameras but looking for something with more advance features. I'd love to go with a dSLR but not in my budget right now. Currently I have the Cannon S80 and a Fuji E510 (retired to the kids). The Canon S2-is seems to be a very popular choice and with the S3 just around the corner I'm considering it. budget is in the $500 range. Looking for a good feature set, mainly to do nature and some portraits. My kids are active with sports and my S80 isn't quite up to the task so a good telephoto would be nice.

I'd like to get back into photography, I used to do alot of 35mm a decade or two ago :D

Any suggestions, comments on the S3 ?

[TampaJim]

The Pentax *ist DL is well under $500 - including a starter 18-55 lens. I would put your money there and grow when the funds avail themselves. Just my two cents!

[Major]

Thanks I'll take a close look at it.

I still have my Nikon N90s 35mm SLR, and 3 lens but I don't remember what they are anymore. I think I had a 28mm, 135mm, and a zoom. I'll get the bag down out of the closet tomorrow and see whats there.

Will the Nikkor lens I have work with the new Nikon dSLR without issues ??

If they will maybe Nikon would be best route for dSLR

[timmciglobal]

Depends what mount they are. If they are AF lenses they should without issue, if they are AI-s you would need a D200.

Tim

[coldrain]

The N90 is a relativily recent SLR, isn't it? Then your lenses are of the auto focus generation? Then they will work on a Nikon D50.
I would not consider an *istDL, they are not the best in image quality. A better choice would be the Nikon D50, also build quality wise (the Pentax's controls are very cheap to the feel).

But it of course will not be as compact and easy to take along as an S3 IS. And it will not have a panorama mode and a movie mode, and no preview and swivel screen. So, both options have their pro's and cons. I would prefer the S3 IS to the S2 IS btw, if the new sensor brings what it promisses (less noise, so possible use of higher ISOs than the S2).

[Major]

I really like what I've seen of the S3-IS, I think its more in line with what I need. Combined with the S80 I think I'd have a pretty good toolkit to work with.