We had a baby in December so now my wife thinks we need a fancy new camera to capture every waking moment of her life. What I'm after is the Z06 of DSLRs, something that has decent performance but is still a bargain. I would really love to stay under $500, not sure if DSLRs are something that can be bought used with any confidence. The camera doesn't need to be super fancy, just nice enough and have the possibility of swapping lenses in the future. Video isn't necessary because I can use my iPhone for that. It would be nice if I could use the screen as a view finder in addition to viewing pictures on it. Efforts to get me to step up in price will be fruitless as my cheapness overrides my desire for high quality photos. Endless thanks for your suggestions.
So far I have one suggestion from a friend to go with a Nikon. I'm guessing the D3000 would be the only one in my price range.
I recently bought a used Fuji S5 (a Nikon D200 with a very special sensor made by Fuji) für 400€. The first owner bought it for 2000€ new in 2008. Used cameras may be risky, but you save A LOT of money. Edit 2: Whatever you decide, there is virtually no difference between Canon and Nikon. Some like Canons more, some Nikons. You won't go wrong with either brand. Edit: (oh, and I now have my Nikon D40 for sale, if you're interested )
Having owned a ton of each, I think on the low end you get more bang for the buck with Canon. But please don't get a DSLR just cuz you had a kid. That's the biggest rookie parent mistake of them all. Then you'll be at zoo or the park and you're spending half your time watching the kid and the other half worried about a $1000 body and lens combo that is fragile and very susceptible to dust problems. (not to mention rain) As a former pro photographer and now a dad of 3 kids under 9, that's no way to go through life son. Run -don't walk- to go buy an Olympus Tough. They are drop proof to like 6 feet on concrete and can go underwater to like 20 feet for an hour. (new models might have even better specs) You'll spend a fraction of the cost and you'll get pictures you'd NEVER get with a DSLR. http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26tag%3Dmozilla-20%26index%3Dblended%26link_code%3Dqs%26field-keywords%3Dolympus%2520tough%26sourceid%3DMozilla-search&tag=tgdo-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957 I have pictures of all three of my kids the first time they went underwater by themselves -taken- from underwater. How many parents can say that? I have pix from the Gulf of Mexico, two difference oceans and more pools than I can count. Are the pictures as good as the DSLR? No, they are better, because the DSLR is back in the hotel room where it is safe and the Tough is hanging around my neck 24/7. (literally, I bring both and the big camera stays in the hotel half the time) The "best" camera isn't the one with the best sensor or the best lens. The "best" camera is the one you have with you when you need it. Trust me on this one.
How is the shutter delay with the Olympus Tough? I think that is one of the biggest things my wife doesn't like about her current point and shoot, gotta capture those moments ASAP. If the shutter delay is not an issue, I honestly would rather go with something like the tough because I think it's ridiculous to carry around a DSLR if you aren't a pro photographer. EDIT: Would you mind posting some pictures you have taken with the Tough? Thanks
http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_255917_-1?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=g12%20PowerShot&utm_campaign=PowerShot $499.00 actually the Nikon equiv is now $350.00
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&N=4291315846+4288586279&Q=&Ntt=P7000&A=endecaSearch
There is some shutter delay that you do not get in a DSLR but (if you'll pardon my making an analogy) that's sorta like the old debate between manual and autofocus lenses. Back in the day the argument was that an AF lens might focus on the wrong thing and you miss the pic. And that is true. But a manual focus was so slow you lost 10X more pix. When people realized this, that debate died. I lose all sorts of pix with every camera I have. (even my big ones) The key is using the camera that will lose the least. -- Which btw is the whole point of my Tough recommendation. As for some samples, I have the predecessor of the Tough, the 710 SW. It has been discontinued for like 3 years. You're better looking at pix from the actual camera you're considering. I'm not going to tell you it can keep up photographically with a DSLR. I can almost always tell what camera took our pictures by looking at them. (although not always) But even to a guy who has been a serious photographer for years, (and my wife is an award winning artist) we're ok with the quality for our own kids. -- If you want bullet proof pix of the kid, twice a year take him to a real photographer and get professional pix made. For documenting every moment of your life with the new kid, use the camera that is compatible with your life. Or that's how I sees it.
I just talked to the wife and for now she insists on a DSLR because of the shutter speed. We'll see if that changes at all in the next month. Happy wife, happy life I guess.
Dave, I suggest to go with Canon. I'm a Canon fan, I've had nothing but problems with Nikon cameras, but that's just my opinion and my experience. YMMV. Look into the Canon XTi, T1i (although there is a T3i out now, but far from your budget). Or look at the Canon G11, pretty cool little camera. EDIT: I see the G12 was suggested earlier.
Just checked out the XTi, looks like a decent enough camera for a good price. Am I safe buying one used from Amazon assuming the seller has good feedback? I've really only bought books and other cheap things from amazon. Never any electronics.
I'll let someone else chime in on that. I'm not too sure, you usually are safe, but can't be EXTRA safe. The Nikon rival for the XTi is the D40x
I'll let someone else chime in on that. I'm not too sure, you usually are safe, but can't be EXTRA safe. The Nikon rival for the XTi is the D40x. Oh, and another thing....I'm not sure you can use the screen as a view finder. I believe you have to look through the viewfinder. After you take the picture though, it will show up on the screen.
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/panasonic-lumix-dmc-gf2 I bought this cam a few weeks ago....Better lens but the whole DSLR Thing is about to Vaporize...as the 4/3 CSC kit flourishes... Mark my words, mirrorless will prevail..sooner or later.. http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=313819
I was thinking of getting a Nikon D3000 or D5000 as my first DSLR... any thoughts? I heard good reviews.
I used to have a D3000 before upgrading to a D90. I learned photography (and of course I'm still learning everyday) on the D3000. I felt it was a perfect beginner camera.
I find most shutter delay in compacts to be caused by focus not being finished and less than adequate lighting available to do focus, most compacts do slow down when light is low...with this cam I am using a fast lens ..1.4....so I have experienced little if no shut delay.. cant speak fo a 3.5 or 5.6 ap. lens. not an issue with this set up though.. Think about it...as the 4/3 improves with time...the Dslr will become a relic... so I am a little pissed that I am out dated , or will be soon.. I hear that Novoflex makes an adapter for full size Nikon to 4/3 and Micro 4/3, I may try to convert.. In the past 5 years I have spent $10,000 on my full size Nikon and all the lenses that cover the spectrum.... And now this CSC comes along... I predict it will do to the photo industry wht the CD did to the cassette tape..not saying it is ready now, just on its way.
Not to be rude but.. HA! We heard the same thing about APS. How'd that would out? His body will be a relic in a few years for sure... the glass will live on.
I Hope you are right, But... Carbon Fibre bodies and lens casings are next, Lets revisit this thread in 12/24/36....months Light weight and convenience will prevail.. The needs of the masses will far outweigh the wants of the few
Oly E-PL2 with the new kit lens is the other major m4/3rds player. It has a touch better IQ & ISO performance than the GF2 while having in body IS. The Pen also has the much better EVF that you can use if you don't want to use the LCD screen for composing. The GF2 has better video implementation if that is important. Panasonic and Olympus make a great range of lenses for these cameras that can be used on either. I have the panny 20mm f1.7 on my E-P1 and have been very, very happy with this combo and it's performance. The Oly Pen cameras are also going to have better IQ than the d3000/xti and be a match with better jpeg output than the d5000/t1i cameras. Oly is known for their OOC images that need little if any PP. The m4/3rds do give a bit away to a dslr for fast AF tracking. That's the only real advantage the full size dslr has over m4/3rds at this point and with the cameras you are talking about presently. As long as you are not shooting sports this camera system is a solid option. There are people that have sold their FF d700's/asp-c rigs, etc. to take advantage of this format of camera and what it can do. I'd find a best buy and handle them and compare. I'll agree that mirrorless seems the way the future is going. I've got a dslr & my Pen and enjoy them both for taking pictures of our daughter/travel/photography/etc... It's a capable system that is evolving and growing and pointing towards a smaller, capable future.
And that's where you're 180 degrees out of phase. It is the wants of the many. Look at this very thread. She doesn't NEED a DSLR. I made a compelling argument that she will get better pix from a point and shoot. She WANTS a DSLR. Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see 4/3 win... it is a cool format and I'd like to use it. But if you really think in 12 months the whole world will suddenly see the light and give up their sinning ways of a 50+ year old format... well, you're dreaming. Sorry man.
If you want a nice DSLR, but don;t want to spend the dough, buy something used. I have purchased two DSLRs from fellow Fchat members. First I bought a Nikon D70, a camera which I absolutely loved, and then recently, a D80. Shiny Side Up! Bill
