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cripita
11-20-2007, 01:22 PM
Hi you all..

This is my first post here, I’ve been reading this forum for about a week now, I’ve to confess, I got more confuse now after all the reading, when I found the features in a camera doesn’t fit my budget and vice versa, so I suppose need to compromise here, but what to let it go?

I decided to post hopping you can help me decide what features are less important here.

I’m a beginner in DSLR, but I used to use a 35mm before (15 years ago, not sure how this will help me now, now there is so many features that I want it all :( )
A little history…
When I change my 35mm for a Sony Digital camera and begging to shoot I get disappointed, because I could not get what I want from my pictures, everything was automated, not much manual controls not optical zooms, so I lose all interest in artistic shooting again and begging shooting family pictures all around. But when you love something is difficult to forget, every time I point and shoot I think what different picture will be if I can get a camera that allow me do this or that, and what many pictures I don’t take because is impossible to do it with de digital camera (old one).
Now is time for me to do something about it so let’s get right in to it.

Budget

* What budget have you allocated for buying this camera?

~ $700

Size

* Doesn’t matter at all.

Features

How many megapixels will suffice for you?

As many I can get

* What optical zoom will you need

As much I can get

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

10

Do you care for manual controls?

Not at all

General Usage

* What will you generally use the camera for?

Here my dilemma: almost everything. Landscapes, portraits, nature, action..

* Will you be making big prints of your photos or not?

Yes

Will you be shooting a lot of indoor photos or low light photos?

Indoor and otdoors

Will you be shooting sports and/or action photos?

Action photos

Miscellaneous

Are there particular brands you like or hate?

No

Are there particular models you already have in mind?

I love the Canon 40D and Nikon 300D but I can not afford it (I love the Live view I think will help me a lot) Other than that I think to much camera for me since I don’t have enough practice yet.

(If applicable) Do you need any of the following special features? (Wide Angle, Image Stabilization, Weatherproof, Hotshoe, Rotating LCD)

Image Stabilization, Live view and Weatherproof are feature that will be nice to have but somenthing like that have been imposible to fit in my budget..

Please help me ... I want be able to create artistic pictures all the way around important for me is a great quality, able to shoot in low light conditions, great zoom (be able to shoot animal from the distance), able to take action pictures too...Asking too much?

TheWengler
11-20-2007, 02:52 PM
Take a look at the Olympus E-510. B&H Photo has a $100 rebate which puts it under $700. For that you get live view, image stabilization and 2 lenses. Be warned though that the live view won't be the same as what you get on a P&S.

Other options are the Pentax K100D, Nikon D40 and the Canon XT or XTi. The K100D has in body image stabilization but a poor continuous shooting mode which might limit your action shots. The Canon and Nikon cameras have in lens image stabilization.

Make sure you read the reviews for the cameras to get a better idea of what the pros/cons are of each.

cripita
11-20-2007, 06:52 PM
I was looking at the Olympus, my concern: lens!
I would be able to use other than Zuiko lens with that camera?
Are the Zuiko lens good?
Any recomendations on the lens that I should buy?

seo
11-20-2007, 07:06 PM
Historically, Zuiko lenses have been some of the best. I do not know how the current ones are.

TheWengler
11-20-2007, 07:49 PM
I was looking at the Olympus, my concern: lens!
I would be able to use other than Zuiko lens with that camera?
Are the Zuiko lens good?
Any recomendations on the lens that I should buy?

Olympus offers some of the best kit lenses. I don't know anything about the other 4/3's offerings. Did you look into the other camera options?

cripita
11-20-2007, 08:12 PM
I'm still looking...now reading about the Nikon D40X

I read about poor AF in low ligh conditions in the Olympus E-510 :(
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/E510/E510A.HTM

Rooz
11-20-2007, 09:00 PM
there's nothing at all wrong with the oly if your new to photography. every review you read will lead you further and further into confusion cos no camera is perfect. they all have their pros and cons. you can agonise over this forever and not make a purchase.

i would consider the d40 rather than the d40x. use the additional money to get better glass. i'd also be considering the 400d over the 350d becasue of the much improved AF system.

cripita
11-24-2007, 12:03 AM
Other options are the Pentax K100D, Nikon D40 and the Canon XT or XTi. The K100D has in body image stabilization but a poor continuous shooting mode which might limit your action shots. The Canon and Nikon cameras have in lens image stabilization.

Is a Pentax K10D w/ 18-55mm lens kit a better option than the Olympus E510 w/ 2 lens kit?