Entry level D-SLR help.

[sykes]

Hi guys,

I am wanting to get an entry level D-SLR and am just a little confused on which to get. Let me start with a little history.

My first digital camera was a Nikon coolpix 4300. I thought this camera was great. It took good shots and was generally easy to use. The one down side was it was a little big to take for a night out.

A few years later I decided to get a new camera and got a Canon SD450 with a compact form factor. Once again it was easy to use but I have been very disappointed with the image quality, partially burly, unfocused pics and the inability even with tweaking the setting to take good action pics of my dogs when they are playing.

Which bring me to where I am now. I am thinking about getting a D-SLR not to fully replace the SD550 but more for when I want great shots and can bring the larger camera. So I am coming from the p&s world but would like to learn and have a camera that I can grow with. I have read many reviews for sites like this, DP review, Seve's Digicams and image resource and to be honest am a little confused. Let me run down the cameras I have researched with some plus and minutes.

Nikon d40x
pros.
easy menu system, menu system has a "help" feature, feels great in my hand, Nikon lenses are good but not the best, good amount of scene and semi manual modes.
Cons,
No dust reduction systems, No image stabilization, Not great with raw images, only 3 point focus.

Olympus E-510
pros
Image Stabilization, dust reduction systems, good form factor (not actually felt yet), good amount of scene and semi manual modes.
cons
lenses not as good as other companies, menu system a little confusing, only a three point focus.

Canon XTi
did not like the way it felt in my hand so its out.

Other camera that I have read about but only briefly.
Pentax K10D great camera all around, all the features I want BUT has no entry level auto modes like scene modes
Pentax K100D image quality is an issue, so I stoped reading about it
Sony Alpha 100 never been a big fan of sony anything so have not researched this camera.

are there any tips or advice you guys can give. I am coming from the point and shoot world but do want a camera I can grow into. My price point is around or sub $1000.

[Riley]

D40 has been very popular with new dSLR users, and is a very good learning tool.

510 has the biggest feature set of any, and actually the Oly kit lenses are about the best around. And the twin lens kit is very good value. 510 is easy enough to get going with, and complex enough to keep you interested.

this page holds some very short comparisons
http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/OlympusE510/verdict.shtml

[Rooz]

the nikon and oly kit lens are the top of the heap of all the entry level dslr's. the statement about nikon lens good but not the best is not actually true and a bit confusing becasue this will depend on what lens you are talking about. canon generally produce more pro level glass but these are VERY expensive. consumer level lens' are pretty equal across the range and in many cases 3rd party manufacturers like sigma, tamron, tokina offer more cost effective alternatives and sometimes even better IQ than C&N.

you need to describe your needs a bit more. especially what sort of photos you will be taking and what's important to you in a camera. what lens' you buy is crucial to the camera performance and also matching to what your photographic preferences are.

C&N both only use in-lens IS so if in body IS is important to you then the Oly by default going to be the best choice for your needs. (or the sony). the pentax k10d is out of your budget if you want a couple of lens'. its also much bigger and heavier than the d40x or the oly.

i suppose the other question is why the d40x over the d40 ? are you planning to print large size prints and need the MP ? personally if you were going the nikon route i would take the d40 over the d40x and invest the money in better glass.

here are a some choices:

nikon d40 w/ 18-55 kit lens + 55-200mmVR. = around $770 (i've also seen some dual lens kits with this exact lens selection cheaper and some cash back offers if these promos are still going around anywhere.). this gives you VR, (IS), at the tele end where you need it. you still have some cash left over which can buy you a good camera bag, a circ polariser etc

this is compared to the nikon d40x w/18-55 + 55-200VR = around $1000. so for the extra $230 the only difference over the d40 is more MP and an increase of 0.5fps in speed. is it worth it ? well if MP and massive print sizes are important to you then maybe, but otherwise i don't think so. i think the d40 offers more bang for buck over the "x".

if you really want to up the ante on IQ with this camera, are strictly looking at $1000 budget and you don;t need the extra range at the tel end then you can buy the camera body only and add the sigma 18-50mm EX DC Macro HSM. this lens gives you a constant f2.8 aperture across the focal length, is very sharp, great contrast and colour, new HSM motor for faster, quieter AF and allows for very close focussing which gives you a macro-style feature as part of the lens. This lens will be available within the next few weeks and is $500. so the d40 + this lens is going to be around the $1000 mark.

oly e510 dual lens kit 14-42 + 40-150mm = around $900
it has all the features you listed and is the best specced entry level dslr camera out there. it also gives you the longest range cos it has a 2x sensor crop over the nikon's 1.6x crop.

imo if you are looking to buy a system that you can invest in the future and carry over your lens' nikon may be the better choice. you can upgrade your body to very high level bodies in the future and carry all your lens' over. oly is a little more limited that way at the moment. however, if you just want to buy a dslr and are happy with the lens' and don;t necessarily want to really buy a heap more lens' or upgrade to higher specced pro bodies in future, the oly is a great choice.

[sykes]

Guys,

thanks so much for your replies... I just got back from the camera shop and have a bit of an update...

I found the Oly menu just too confusing and it really threw me off the camera. The Pentax was really nice but very very heavy. Which puts me back to the Nikon which I love the feel of, the menu system and the usability... I am making a few changes and not going with the D40x, but instead going with the D80 and just one lens to start with 18-55mm... I have looked at beachcamera and for $1160 I can get the D80, 18-55mm lens, 4gb Ultra II card and three filters UV, Polar and FLD, its a little over my budget but I think I can live with it.

I do have a short wish list, Nikon 70-300mm-VR lens, external flash and tripod... I'm sure this list will grow and grow but I think I have enough to get started with.

thanks again for all your help.

[SpecialK]

Pentax K100D image quality is an issue, so I stoped reading about it




I'd love to see an image quality issue from that camera. Most reviews are very positive.

[sykes]

I'd love to see an image quality issue from that camera. Most reviews are very positive.

Sorry, I may have been a little harsh in my interpretation of the reviews I read. None of the cameras in consideration are bad, in fact they all got glowing reviews so finding negatives was hard and they where usually a slight problem more than any sort of major issue...

[SpecialK]

Sorry, I may have been a little harsh in my interpretation of the reviews I read. None of the cameras in consideration are bad, in fact they all got glowing reviews so finding negatives was hard and they where usually a slight problem more than any sort of major issue...

Yep, very few crappy DSLR's out there. Have fun with your D80 - it should do everything you need.

Just for others then, the only "real" issue with the K100D is the tiny buffer that will limit how many shots in a burst you can take (5 jpg, 3 RAW). I don't shoot that way except on rare occasions, so it is not a problem for me. The other "issue" people complain about having to change the WB to tungsten in tungsten light. I shoot RAW so again, it doesn't affect me. For $400 with rebate, it may perfect for others as well.