recommendations/thoughts on current DSLR's

[stevf]

I know my way around cameras and due to circumstances haven't been into photography for a while. Been doing research lately on what is available now and not sure what I want yet.

What are the current thoughts/recommendations on the current cameras. I have had canons before, an A1 and then an A3(i think that was it - was about 10 years ago) but currently have no equipment so not tied to canon.

have a budget up to 1500 or so but would prefer to stay below a bit.

the olympus 410 and 510 look interesting to me for the money

the nikon 80d looks real nice

so does the canon 40d

havent read as much on the pentax line but looks nice

same with sony but never cared as much for minolta back then

I may also want to add a film body later so that may flavor my decisions - any thought s there?

Thanks

 

[rudder]

All are similar quality. You need to decide what you want to shoot, find out which body has the best lenses for your needs and go with that system. Ultimately the cost of your lenses will be way more than the body.

 

[corkyg]

You have a well founded approach. All of the cameras you cite have good and not so good points. Read the reviews on each, and then go to a store where they exist and handle each one. See which feels best to you and which has the controls that best fit your past experience. Touch and feel is iomportant. Cameras ergonomics should suit you.

You will get good recommendations on all of the ones you cite from those who have alrweady chosen them.

Adding a film body simply means you are adopting a set of lenses. That is the big swinger in the decision process, because odds are, you will add to that arsenal of lenses and pretty soon they represent a bigger investment than the camera body. The Canon and Nikon family of lenses can both support Canon and Nikon film bodies equally well.

 

[Heidfirst]

they are all pretty good really & have their own blends of features - it's up to you which meets your needs best in terms of features, handling & available glass etc. for the budget.

The 410 has been replaced & no doubt the 510 will be shortly but of course that means that you can probably get a good deal (this is true of all systems - buy the latest or save a bit & buy the last gen).
If you want to add a film body unless you are prepared to double up on glass that rules out 4/3.

The D80 is a nice body, again due for replacement but if it does what you need it to ...

40D is reasonably current (probably about half way through production life)

Pentax are in the middle of going from K100D/K10D to K200D/K20D.

Sony A700 is comparable to the 40D & they've just replaced the A100 with the A200/A300/A350.

 

[stevf]

thanks all - my next step is to go play with them