slr digital

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Would the Minolta lenses she has now work on any digital SLR camera?

If not it's really a matter of personal preference. Canon and Nikon are both excellent choices and she couldn't go wrong with either one.

Sony has just released a DSLR that will accept Minolta lenses. That's the direction I would go.

ZV

Well, that depends on what type of lenses she has. If they are older manual focus lenses and they aren't worth much I would probably just buy all new gear.

^look up. They are AF lenses.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: meister
thanks everyone,

I'm going shopping and see whats out there. I suppose you can't go wrong, its probably preference as all brands have good to great products.

Mark

Take her with you and let her handle the cameras...that way she gets a feel for what they feel like and can help you both make an educated purchase.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: jEnus
I've been extremely happy with my Olympus E-500. You can get a E-500 Two Lense Kit (15-54mm, 50 - 150mm) for around 799, add on the $100 rebate and you've got a nice start for only $699.

Watch out. That's flamebait right there. (Oly dslr owner myself)

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: jEnus
I've been extremely happy with my Olympus E-500. You can get a E-500 Two Lense Kit (15-54mm, 50 - 150mm) for around 799, add on the $100 rebate and you've got a nice start for only $699.

Watch out. That's flamebait right there. (Oly dslr owner myself)

Bah, people around here are too stuck on themselves. If you are happy with what you have then who cares what you "should" buy/own.

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: meister
yes, the lenses she currently has with her minolta are autofocus, I think one lense is minolta the other is a zoom off brand I can't think of the name right now.

her 'type' of photography has been mainly nature and family stuff, ( kids ). she just likes it alot and wants to do more.

My habits are usually to overbuy. In my thinking then you have what you need plus some even if you don't use it. But I don't want to be stupid either and buy a 200 mph car when 85 is exceeding capabilities fine.

the sony alpha looked good beside the nikon and canon.

More thoughts?

Definately go with the Sony camera.

I tend to usually agree but after looking at the quality of the sample pics from the Sony, I'm not so sure. There is no way a 2006 DSLR should have that kind of noise at ISO 1600. Of course, it she is not interested in low/available light photography, then this would be a non-issue.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: meister
ZM-- I would agree with you that was the case in the past. However I let the subject die since last year until this week she started mentioning it and said she would like to make the change.

mark

Once she gets into digital I'm sure she'll wonder why she waited so long. It was that way when I bought my first dslr a couple years ago.

For P&S, sure, but SLR? The chromes I get back look great and I don't have to sit in front of phtoshop to adjust each picture. Film just seems a lot less processing hassle.

ZV

 

[meister]

ok-- 2 things.

she is interested in low light. sony didn't do that well?

also ZV-- why adjust each pic for processing. I'm imagining that most will not need any touchup and upload to a site and order your prints?

Mark

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: meister
ok-- 2 things.

she is interested in low light. sony didn't do that well?

The sony is a new camera and samples are on dpreview. The high ISO samples looked significantly noisier than a Canon 350XT.

also ZV-- why adjust each pic for processing. I'm imagining that most will not need any touchup and upload to a site and order your prints?
Mark

Technically, you need to adjust pictures from a DSLR. So long as the exposure is correct then, you should add some sharpening. Don't forget that the film lab corrects your film pictures for you, while digital is usually left up to the photographer.

 

[OdiN]

I wouldn't go with the Sony. Even if it is the same sensor as the D200, Nikon sensors have more noise at high ISO than the ones Canon use. It's also a brand new camera, and unproven. The controls don't look that good either.

I would go with a Canon 20D. Don't bother with that 18-55 kit lens. It's junk. I wouldn't get any lens without USM focusing. The way the kit lens focuses, you have to rotate the plastic end of the lens. It's extremely inaccurate. They have a kit that comes with the 17-85:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control...u=372827&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

If you ware wondering about image quality of the 17-85, I took this picture with it:

http://www.andrewstiff.com/galleries/deva/images/moonovermountains.jpg

If you don't plan on upgrading to a camera later that isn't compatible with the EF-S lenses, then the 17-85mm EF-S IS USM lens is a very good walkaround lens. If you want a nice sharp portrait lens without spending money on L-series glass, pickup a 50mm f/1.4 prime.

The XT, while not a bad camera, I also don't prefer the controls on. The controls on the 20D are so much better for setting manual settings if that's something you guys want to do.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: OdiN
I would go with a Canon 20D. Don't bother with that 18-55 kit lens. It's junk. I wouldn't get any lens without USM focusing. The way the kit lens focuses, you have to rotate the plastic end of the lens. It's extremely inaccurate.

The kit lens is Auto Focus as well. I have gotten a ton of really good shots with the kit lens.

A snake.
A Bird.
Another Snake. (high ISO)

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: edro

Originally posted by: OdiN
I would go with a Canon 20D. Don't bother with that 18-55 kit lens. It's junk. I wouldn't get any lens without USM focusing. The way the kit lens focuses, you have to rotate the plastic end of the lens. It's extremely inaccurate.

The kit lens is Auto Focus as well. I have gotten a ton of really good shots with the kit lens.

A snake.
A Bird.
Another Snake. (high ISO)

Well of course it's AF, but if you want to adjust it manually for critical focus you really can't. It's not bad for a snapshot lens.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: OdiN
If you don't plan on upgrading to a camera later that isn't compatible with the EF-S lenses, then the 17-85mm EF-S IS USM lens is a very good walkaround lens. If you want a nice sharp portrait lens without spending money on L-series glass, pickup a 50mm f/1.4 prime.

I totally agree. For ~$70, you get an awesome lens, despite it's toylike feel (plastic).

Here is a sample.
Another.
Another.
Another.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: edro

Originally posted by: OdiN
I would go with a Canon 20D. Don't bother with that 18-55 kit lens. It's junk. I wouldn't get any lens without USM focusing. The way the kit lens focuses, you have to rotate the plastic end of the lens. It's extremely inaccurate.

The kit lens is Auto Focus as well. I have gotten a ton of really good shots with the kit lens.

A snake.
A Bird.
Another Snake. (high ISO)

Well of course it's AF, but if you want to adjust it manually for critical focus you really can't. It's not bad for a snapshot lens.

Yeah, you're right. My eyes aren't good enough for critical focus though

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: edro

Originally posted by: OdiN
If you don't plan on upgrading to a camera later that isn't compatible with the EF-S lenses, then the 17-85mm EF-S IS USM lens is a very good walkaround lens. If you want a nice sharp portrait lens without spending money on L-series glass, pickup a 50mm f/1.4 prime.

I totally agree. For ~$70, you get an awesome lens, despite it's toylike feel (plastic).

Here is a sample.
Another.
Another.
Another.

No no, that's the f/1.8. I am speaking of the f/1.4 which is ~$300

The f/1.8 isn't a bad lens either. I prefer the f/1.4 myself though.

http://www.andrewstiff.com/test/kat6.jpg

That's a pic taken with the f/1.4

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: edro

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: edro

Originally posted by: OdiN
I would go with a Canon 20D. Don't bother with that 18-55 kit lens. It's junk. I wouldn't get any lens without USM focusing. The way the kit lens focuses, you have to rotate the plastic end of the lens. It's extremely inaccurate.

The kit lens is Auto Focus as well. I have gotten a ton of really good shots with the kit lens.

A snake.
A Bird.
Another Snake. (high ISO)

Well of course it's AF, but if you want to adjust it manually for critical focus you really can't. It's not bad for a snapshot lens.

Yeah, you're right. My eyes aren't good enough for critical focus though

Hopefully my eyesight stays as good as it is now.

 

[montanafan]

I was hesitant about going from a film SLR to a digital one as well, but now that I've made the change I wouldn't go back. I think she'll love it once she makes the adjustments and there are several to make. Shooting with a digital SLR is not exactly the same as with a film one, so she'll have some things to learn. Then there's the whole business of processing digital photos to learn. It isn't necessary to do a lot of processing, but if she really enjoys playing with the photos to get exactly the look she wants, you might consider setting aside some of that money for a program like Adobe Photoshop CS.

Depending on how into photography she is, the switch to digital could get very expensive. Probably most of the equipment she has now will not work with the new camera, so your're looking at the camera body, lenses, filters, and probably flash, memory cards, batteries and charger, and possibly processing software and photo printer. Like I said, she'll probably love digital, but make sure you do your research to see what you'll need to make the switch and what it'll cost you for everything.

 

[meister]

wow--great info and things to think about and digest.

you know whats funny is she really likes messing around with manual settings. Its something I cant' stand. However after the fact I like cleaning images and such and she just wants them developed.

Soo... for something like this I think she better have more input as she will be the end user. If I use it it will be for a point and shoot.

Mark

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: meister
wow--great info and things to think about and digest.

you know whats funny is she really likes messing around with manual settings. Its something I cant' stand. However after the fact I like cleaning images and such and she just wants them developed.

Soo... for something like this I think she better have more input as she will be the end user. If I use it it will be for a point and shoot.

Mark

If she really likes manual photography, then at least as Canon is concerned, you should consider the 20d or 30d based on the improved interface alone. It provides separate wheels for adjusting both the aperture and shutter speed on the fly and is an all around more intuitive interface. However, note that they are both significantly bigger cameras than the rebel.