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Entry-level DSLR

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Originally posted by: Woofmeister
Thanks for all the help folks. Looks like I'm going Nikon D60 with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses. Amazing how I started at $500 and ended up at almost $800.

Oh well, just doing my bit to aid the struggling economy. :roll:
Click to expand...
any particular reason you skipped on the d40x?
 
I have to question the long-range wisdom of buying a body that requires AF-S or AF-I lenses for autofocus, but of course if you're only planning to stay within a certain range of lenses then it's not a problem 🙂 And of course, one can always change bodies later.

any particular reason you skipped on the d40x?
Click to expand...


According to DPreview, the differences between the D60 and D40x:

EXPEED processing
Image sensor cleaning system with Airflow control system
Automatically rotating user interface (for using camera vertically orientated)
Stop motion movie function
New stabilized kit lens (AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR)
Eye sensor
Electronic 'rangefinder' for manual focus
Active D-Lighting with dedicated button
In-camera Raw processing
New JPEG retouch effects (Cross Star and Color Intensifier)

so maybe more attractive features?
 
I just jumped to SLR today. I bought a Sony A300, bag w/ battery, 4gb CF card, and UV filter at Circuit City 12 months no interst no payments for $930. I decided on the A300 over the A200 b/c I know my wife would use the Live View. It is a surprise anniversary gift for her and me for next week. Now that my son is pretty heavily involved in soccer we are wanting to take better quality pics of him and are ditching the point and shoot for a heavy hitter. Also in consideration for me was the XSi, and the D60. The in body IS and live view on a 2nd sensor with the sony is what sold me. Not to mention I got all the above for the price of just the XSi alone. But Circuti City has a good deal going with the 12 months no interst no payment deal b/c we were going to buy a camera for xmas, but I jumped the gun to have a good camera for summer vacation 🙂
 
Originally posted by: randomlinh
Originally posted by: Woofmeister
Thanks for all the help folks. Looks like I'm going Nikon D60 with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses. Amazing how I started at $500 and ended up at almost $800.

Oh well, just doing my bit to aid the struggling economy. :roll:
Click to expand...
any particular reason you skipped on the d40x?
Click to expand...

probably because it's discontinued, and replaced by the D60?

that's a good starting combo. I had the same lenses (non-VR) with my D50 at the outset.
 
Originally posted by: astrosfan315
I just jumped to SLR today. I bought a Sony A300, bag w/ battery, 4gb CF card, and UV filter at Circuit City 12 months no interst no payments for $930. I decided on the A300 over the A200 b/c I know my wife would use the Live View. It is a surprise anniversary gift for her and me for next week. Now that my son is pretty heavily involved in soccer we are wanting to take better quality pics of him and are ditching the point and shoot for a heavy hitter. Also in consideration for me was the XSi, and the D60. The in body IS and live view on a 2nd sensor with the sony is what sold me. Not to mention I got all the above for the price of just the XSi alone. But Circuti City has a good deal going with the 12 months no interst no payment deal b/c we were going to buy a camera for xmas, but I jumped the gun to have a good camera for summer vacation 🙂
Click to expand...

Nice choice. What lenses?
 
Originally posted by: Woofmeister
Originally posted by: astrosfan315
I just jumped to SLR today. I bought a Sony A300, bag w/ battery, 4gb CF card, and UV filter at Circuit City 12 months no interst no payments for $930. I decided on the A300 over the A200 b/c I know my wife would use the Live View. It is a surprise anniversary gift for her and me for next week. Now that my son is pretty heavily involved in soccer we are wanting to take better quality pics of him and are ditching the point and shoot for a heavy hitter. Also in consideration for me was the XSi, and the D60. The in body IS and live view on a 2nd sensor with the sony is what sold me. Not to mention I got all the above for the price of just the XSi alone. But Circuti City has a good deal going with the 12 months no interst no payment deal b/c we were going to buy a camera for xmas, but I jumped the gun to have a good camera for summer vacation 🙂
Click to expand...

Nice choice. What lenses?
Click to expand...


Just the kit lens. I already spent enough money jumping into the SLR market for now 🙂

DT 18-70mm f3.5-5.6
 
Originally posted by: Woofmeister
Amazing how I started at $500 and ended up at almost $800.

Oh well, just doing my bit to aid the struggling economy. :roll:
Click to expand...

We call this NAS (Nikon Acquisition Syndrome), get used to it, 🙂.

Congrats on your new camera, I'd suggest you check out nikonians.org, very useful site filled with nice people that want to help. Much like AT here.
 
Hold the phone! I picked up the D60 at the store and hated the way it felt in my hand. I much preferred the feel of the Olympus and Sony DSLRs. So, these are the choices:

Sony DSLR-A200 + 18-70mm Zoom Lens + 75-300mm Zoom Lens for $729.95 or
Olympus EVOLT E-510 Digital Camera w/ 14-42mm & 40-150mm Lens Kit for $599.89

The Democratic Primary is over but it's not too late to vote in Woofmeister's Entry-Level DSLR Challenge.

Edit--Poll Added
 
If the store had the A200 dual lens kit, I would've got that instead of the A300. But I know my wife is going to enjoy the live view. From having handled both of those models yesterday from comfort alone, I prefered the Sony over the E-510. I read reviews on both and then went to the store and the Sony was more comfy and I liked the layout of the buttons on it. I must say however that the E-510's view finder reminded me more of my old Canon A-1 35mm then the sony's viewfinder. Tough choice for you!
 
Originally posted by: cputeq
I have to question the long-range wisdom of buying a body that requires AF-S or AF-I lenses for autofocus, but of course if you're only planning to stay within a certain range of lenses then it's not a problem 🙂 And of course, one can always change bodies later.

any particular reason you skipped on the d40x?
Click to expand...


According to DPreview, the differences between the D60 and D40x:
...
so maybe more attractive features?
Click to expand...
I'd argue the lens is the only plus, which you could get elsewhere. But I was just curious if there was something more specific. My colleague just went the D40x route over the d60 to save the dough toward lenses. (and to soydios, it's still available to buy 🙂)

Not that it's a bad choice, but given the OP was in some budget constraints, the D40x is very capable.
 
What happened to the 420? If you're gonna get the 510 might as well go 520 since there are significant IQ upgrades from what I've read.
 
420 is too small. I just don't like the way it feels. Haven't seen any deals on 520s yet. Maybe I'll look around.
 
None of the above?

Probably Sony out of those two options, but I'd grab a used D80 before either one of those. Saw a few for under $550 last week. Saw some D70s and D50s for $350. Talking about body only; pair any of those bodies with a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and you'll be set for a while.
 
circuit city has in their ad this week the a300 that i just bought 2 days ago $100 off and throw in the 55-200mm lens for $699..which was the price i paid for the a300. So i'm off to buy this new combo and return the unopened a300 for a $699 receipt and keep the 55-200mm lens. So far while on vacation in Florida it is taking some really nice pics :



 
Originally posted by: andylawcc
if size and weight (think about the future lenses) is decisive factor, go Olympus.

to illustrate my point. Left is the Canon 30D, right is the Olympus 410.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25554646@N06/2556807515/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25554646@N06/2556807509/
not really apple to apple, but the Sony IIRC it is a hefty beast.
but I too agree with you, that the Sony feel right on my hand despite it's size.
Click to expand...

i saw pics of a nikon D3 next to a pentax DL, now that was a funny comparison
 
took mine back to circuit city today, they reran the deal and i now have an extra lens 55-200mm lens at no additional cost 🙂 and the camera is taking great pics here at the beach in Florida while on vacation
 
I would also suggest the Pentax K200D ($580 AR) 🙂

However, the real deal this week is the Pentax K110D kit, on sale at Meijer for $399 OTD (includes the Pentax 18-55, one of the best kit lenses). The K110D is the same camera than the K100D without image stabilization. Image quality, well, check the reviews..... 😉
So, if you live in a state that has a Meijer, grab the K110D.


Alex
 
Between the Sony and the Oly, I'd go with the Sony. I'm not a big fan of the 4/3 system, and Oly lenses demand quite a price premium from what I understand (that's by reputation, not experience). Sony isn't a bargain brand, but I think their future is brighter than Olympus at this point. You can also find many cheap Minolta lenses for the Sony, dating back to 1985, though they're getting more expensive as the number of users increases.
 
canon just announced the new Canon XS (aka 1000D). apparently its a step below the XSi, at a lower price point. dont know when it will be available since this info is only a day or 2 old...you might want to look into it.
 
Originally posted by: technophile82
canon just announced the new Canon XS (aka 1000D). apparently its a step below the XSi, at a lower price point. dont know when it will be available since this info is only a day or 2 old...you might want to look into it.
Click to expand...

It's a tad cheaper, but the only advantages that I see are a slightly higher flash x-sync speed (1/200 vs. 1/160), better JPG performance at higher ISO, and Canon's LiveView. The A200 has the advantage in LCD size (2.7 vs. 2.5), MUCH better battery life (750 vs. 500 -- that 500 assumes no LiveView incidentally), a brighter viewfinder*, a better shutter rate (Canon drops to 1.5 fps in RAW), ISO 3200 support, spot metering, autodimming LCD, and 2 extra focus points, which admittedly is hardly a big deal.

I suppose if LiveView is important, within Canon's limitations, or if you really need high ISO and don't want to bother with RAW files, then the 1000D is a better idea. On paper, the A200 has better specifications though.


*The Canon's mirror is 93.75% of the Sony's (1.6x/1.5x respectively in 35mm terms) so the actual magnification of the Canon, in 1.5x terms, is 0.76 versus 0.83 for the A200. That's my understanding of the FOV crop effect on viewfinder magnification anyway.
 
viewfinder size is easy. (size != brightness, btw. pentamirrors aren't as bright as pentaprisms, but unless you've got one up to one eye and the other up to the other, i don't know if anyone could tell)

sony sensor size: 23.6 x 15.8 mm
area = 372.88
viewfinder coverage: 95%
372.88 * .95 = 354.236
magnification: .88
354.236 * .88 * .88 = 274.320 sq mm viewfinder area (nearly the size of the 40D's at 289)(hmmm dpreview has the wrong sensor size for the 40D)

for the Rebel XS the viewfinder = 204.79 (which is bigger than the A300/A350 at 193.98)
 
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