Want to buy an SLR camera for my dad, but I know nothing of them

[tfinch2]

If you are concerned with $$, look at the older E-300 2 lens kit. This auction comes with an extra battery and a fast 2 gig memory card.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Olympus-Evolt-E-300...98QQcategoryZ43457QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I've never used the 14-45mm kit lens, but the 40-150mm image quality is excellent.

http://i.pbase.com/o4/08/648408/1/57485678.colorbird.jpg
http://i.pbase.com/o4/08/648408/1/57465969.surf3.jpg

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
canon S3IS.. cheaper than anything else.

He wants a Digital SLR, not a point and shoot.

 

[srp49ers]

Ive had my D50 for about two weeks now. I was debating between the nikon and the rebel XT, but went with nikon because it felt better.
takes great pictures, has a great line-up of lens and a solid body, what more can you ask for?

 

[xgsound]

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
canon S3IS.. cheaper than anything else.

You and I think alike. This camera fits into the "Super Zoom" catagory that is several steps below a SLR and several steps above a point and shoot. The catagory can work as a point and shoot, but has large optical zoom with some of the SLR features; some even have threaded lens.

For me, this would be great and probably take 6 months to learn how to use all the features. If the OP wants a real SLR (I don't think I could even learn how to use one) , this will never do.


Jim

 

[rudder]

Other have suggested getting a used 300D. Still an awesome camera and you will spend at least half if not more than a rebel XT. You would hardly notice the difference between a 300D and 350D's pics. SOme of the main differences are startup time, buffer, fps capability. BUt minimal differences for the price.

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: tfinch2

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
Does your Dad have ANY existing lenses from his old SLR camera? If he does, he might be able to reuse them if you get him a digital SLR of the same make.

For example, if he happened to have a old Pentax SLR camera, he'd be able to use the old lenses from that. It doesn't matter if they're 20 or even 30 years old... they'll work.

With the right adapters, just about any old lens will work on any digital SLR make.

Not really. Canon FD lens won't work with EOS cameras as the distance between the mount and the mirror is shorter on the FD camera than the EOS camera, so FD lenses are unable to be focused at infinity for EOS cameras.

Nikon AIS lens cannot be used in aperture priority mode in just about all of the Nikon DSLRs, except the professional bodies.

Pentax, however, has full compatibility with every lens they made, except the old 1960s M42 mount, which is fully supported with a simple $10 adapter.

Anyways, I personally think the Pentax *ist DL is the best value at only $479 for the body with the 18-55mm kit lens. I'd say it's on the same level as the D50, bearing the same sensor. The Pentax has some strong points, notably being the viewfinder, excellent old manual focus lenses available for next to nothing, DoF preview. Nikon D50 has it's own advantages, fast AF, much improved in low light, a wide range of professional zooms in which Pentax lacks, but is exorbantly expensive.

So you will need to decide which your dad would like more. If he was accustomed to his old mechanical SLR with metal manual focus lenses, then I'd think he'd appreciate the Pentax more. If he wants something easy and convenient to use, then the D50's autofocus is probably better suited.