Need a New Camera for Xmas.....To DSLR or to not DSLR ?

[Mixman]

I need a new camera, my Casio EX750 just died.

Budget : Under $600

Size : Any Size

Features: Large LCD, relative ease of use and great image quality

How many megapixels will suffice for you? As many as needed for good IQ

* What optical zoom will you need? At least 6X Optical

* How important is “image quality” to you? (Rate using a scale of 1-10) 9

Do you care for manual controls? Don't mind them

General Usage

* What will you generally use the camera for?
I will use the camera for mostly indoor family photos. I will also use it for vacations and some outdoor shots.


I have sort of narrowed down my search to either the Sony DSC-H5 or I may move up to a DSLR and get the Pentax K100D. I am not sure if I need the features of a DSLR, but I do like the fact that they are better than point and shoot camera's at low light. My Casio was lousy at low light and the flash seems to be too much on some pics.
What I will miss with an SLR is a movie mode, not that I use it much but I figure this may come in handy. Is there a way around this with the SLR's, such as using the burst mode ?

Which camera would be best for me ?

[Mixman]

anyone ? I am looking to order today. Thanks.

[FlexiPack]

DLSR's are definitely better when it comes to low light but if you plan on using mainly auto functions make sure you get an SLR that works well on the auto functions. I've not seen terribly good auto results from the K100 compared to say the Nikon D40 which is designed with beginners in mind. In one review I've seen the D40 equalled it's big more expensive brother the D80 for low light performance.

This review might be helpful to youhttp://www.digitalreview.ca/Content/Nikon-D40-versus-D50-versus-Pentax-K110D-K100D.shtml

If you decide an SLR may be overkill for what you need have you considered buying a prosumer that uses the same memory card as your old casio? Would save a few pennies at least.

[Mixman]

Thanks for the info. I looked into the D40 but since it doesn't have IS and the wifes hand isn't the steadyist, I ruled it out.

Are the Pentax or the Nikon DSLR's that much better than the Sony DSC-H5 when it comes to image quality ?

[DonSchap]

Take a look at the SONY A100 dSLR (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7900998&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat99300050011&id=1149206371711) ... it has in-body IS and uses the older Minolta lensing, which is very available, affordable and dynamite stuff.

[Mixman]

Take a look at the SONY A100 dSLR (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7900998&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat99300050011&id=1149206371711) ... it has in-body IS and uses the older Minolta lensing, which is very available, affordable and dynamite stuff.


At that price point shouldn't I just consider the Canon Rebel XTi ?

[DonSchap]

If you want to spend money putting Image Stability in every lens (add $300+ to each one), then yes ... run right out and get an XTi. Life is good ... you've got income to burn ... make it so.

[John_Reed]

I was just checking the "measured" efficacy of the Sony A100 and the Pentax K10D's anti-shake systems, as they've tried to come up with an objective test of sorts over on the dpreview forum. You can see from this page:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydslra100/page14.asp

It looks like the A100 is good for roughly 2 f-stops of improvement, not uniformly, but about that. On the other hand, the K10D doesn't fare as well, maybe 1 f-stop of improvement, from this page:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk10d/page12.asp

He says of the Panasonic FZ50, in its review,
The MEGA O.I.S image stabilization system used on the FZ50 (and all other recent Panasonic models) works very well indeed (in the absence of a cast-iron test I remain convinced it is the most effective such system on offer today). The ability to shoot at long focal lengths without worrying too much about shutter speeds and camera shake is remarkably liberating, and does go quite some way to making amends for the poor high ISO capabilities.
So it seems that if you want the best in anti-shake, the fixed-lens cameras have it "together" better than their DSLR counterparts, and also that relying on anti-shake as a panacea for the tripod for DSLRs may be a little wishful thinking.

[JPRATT]

I just picked up the k100d. It has in body SR. You can get them online from beachcamera.com for like 561 with kit lens. And after $50 rebate, it will be like 511 bucks. Ah here ya go, merry xmas... :D
http://butterflyphoto.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=K100D
http://butterflyphoto.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=PEN50-200ED

http://beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=PKK100D1855

[John_Reed]

I just picked up the k100d. It has in body SR. You can get them online from beachcamera.com for like 561 with kit lens. And after $50 rebate, it will be like 511 bucks. Ah here ya go, merry xmas... :D
http://butterflyphoto.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=K100D
http://butterflyphoto.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=PEN50-200ED

http://beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=PKK100D1855

According to this shake test result page (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk100d/page12.asp) on dpreview, the K100's anti-shake system doesn't really give a lot of benefit?

[JPRATT]

According to this shake test result page (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk100d/page12.asp) on dpreview, the K100's anti-shake system doesn't really give a lot of benefit?

To be honest with you, I don't think any anti-shake systems on the camera or lenses is going to be as good a true tripod. i can't remeber if the k100d is one or 2 f stops of improvment. here ya go. Info here on the shake reduction.
http://www.pentaxslr.com/files/scms_docs//PENTAX_SR_Description_091506.pdf

[John_Reed]

To be honest with you, I don't think any anti-shake systems on the camera or lenses is going to be as good a true tripod. i can't remeber if the k100d is one or 2 f stops of improvment. here ya go. Info here on the shake reduction.
http://www.pentaxslr.com/files/scms_docs//PENTAX_SR_Description_091506.pdf
I wasn't trying to replace the tripod; it happens though, that I get good enough shake reduction with my Panny cameras (FZ30, TZ1, FX50), that I never carry a tripod. The reason I brought up the dpreview testing of the Pentaxes was the tests I cited at dpreview, where it seemed that Pentax from your link was showing better results than the dpreview "quasi-scientific" testing was showing.

[DonSchap]

Getting anti-shake as an option is a far cry from not having it at all. The SONY need not use the anti-shake at all (such as when attached to a tripod). The on/off switch is conveniently located on the lower right rear on the back of the body.

The ALPHA's 10MP sensor provides a reasonable catch for the lighting coming in the lens. I have been suitably impressed with what the SONY turns out, on a routine basis. Reaching too far for making use of the IS-option is where you can see problems. It takes a talent to make proper use of the tool and it occasionally does allow for some sloppy effort, too.

I use BOTH the EOS 20D and the ALPHA for my studio and on-the-run photographic efforts. Each one has its strengths and its weaknesses. Having both is a powerful 1 - 2 combination. Having glass for both ... even better ... heavier ... complex ... and more often than not, expensive. LOL

Let's just say that with an IS option, you can do things with a less powerful lens that you normally cannot. That's kind of cool. It may be only two f-stops ... but that's two f-stops more than the EOS can do with "normal" glass. It just depends on how you think it through.

There are times when using a tripod is just flat impractical or impossible. Will IS save the day? Who knows ... until you...

GET THE SHOT!

[Mixman]

Ok.... I got the K100D kit. I liked the Sony, but an extra $200 for a starter like me was a lot.n So far, so good. The pics I am taking seem to be pretty good, then again I am use to a Casio EX750.

The lens on the kit is alright, but what good wide angle zoom lens can I get for under $200 , for the Pentax ? I saw a Sigma 24-135mm lens on ebay for $149 is that a better lens ?

[Honest Gaza]

If you want to spend money putting Image Stability in every lens (add $300+ to each one), then yes ... run right out and get an XTi. Life is good ... you've got income to burn ... make it so.

Don...you cut me up :) :) :)

[DonSchap]

I do not shoot through SIGMA glass, so I cannot accurately comment, so I won't.

TAmROn made a couple of 28-200mm and 28-300mms that had Pentax mounts. They seemed to be reasonably priced and did a good job. Check ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/Tamron-28-300mm-XR-Lens-Pentax-Digital-ist-D-Ds-DL-NEW_W0QQitemZ160063407108QQihZ006QQcategoryZ48558Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) (<- Click here) for a deal.

[Vich]

Ok.... I got the K100D kit. I liked the Sony, but an extra $200 for a starter like me was a lot.n So far, so good. The pics I am taking seem to be pretty good, then again I am use to a Casio EX750.

The lens on the kit is alright, but what good wide angle zoom lens can I get for under $200 , for the Pentax ? I saw a Sigma 24-135mm lens on ebay for $149 is that a better lens ?

Congradulations! Post some photos!

[Mixman]

I do not shoot through SIGMA glass, so I cannot accurately comment, so I won't.

TAmROn made a couple of 28-200mm and 28-300mms that had Pentax mounts. They seemed to be reasonably priced and did a good job. Check ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/Tamron-28-300mm-XR-Lens-Pentax-Digital-ist-D-Ds-DL-NEW_W0QQitemZ160063407108QQihZ006QQcategoryZ48558Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) (<- Click here) for a deal.

Would that be better than this http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4039208 Pentax ?