10.2-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for large, photo-quality prints
Body only; lens must be purchased separately
2.5-inch LCD display; power-up time of approximately 0.2 seconds
RAW and JPEG capture; burst mode allows for capture of three frames per second for up to 100 pictures
Image optimization functions and in-camera image retouching
Average
Customer Rating :
Editorial Review :
D3)NIKON D80 D-SLR BODY ONLY
Customer Review :
Nikon D80 Review
The seller was very reasonable and shipped out the camera the day it was purchased. It was in a secure box and everything that was in the description was in there. The Nikon D80 is a great camera, especially with the 18-135mm lenses. If your building up your way to a D200 or D300, this is a great camera learn with.
Rating :
Nikon D80
Everything was there the way they stated but there wasn't an SD card and there wasn't a lens cap. It would have been nice to say what WAS missing with the camera. The camera works beautifully and I hav taken some good pictures with it.
Rating :
My favorite camera ever.
My first digital camera was the original Canon Rebel. When I needed to make larger prints, I assumed that I would get the newer Canon Rebel. That is, until I saw it and handled it and found it so small, so hard to grip firmly, so ridiculous-looking when you use a long lens.
But there, alongside it, was the Nikon D-80. Since I hadn't felt sure enough about the Rebel to invest in lenses, flashes, or other brand-specific accessories, I figured I could afford to jump ship. So I got my first Nikon.
The D-80 is said to be comfortable for people with big hands and fat fingers. I have short fingers, long nails, and fairly small hands. Yet, when I hold this camera (in either portrait or landscape orientation) I feel I've got a good steady grip, regardless of which lens I have on.
The camera has DX format, which means that it has a multiplier of 1.5 when you purchase a lens. This means that, if you buy a lens labeled 50mm, it acts like a 75mm lens. If you actually want 50mm, you need something between 33mm & 34mm. This mental arithmetic is important, not because you arbitrarily insist on a particular number. It is because this changes the size you use would traditionally select depending on your intended subject (landscape? closeup? portrait?) You have to remember that the aperture specs listed on the lens aren't what you've got. Wide-angle lenses become less wide; telephoto lenses become longer (your 70-200 mm is suddenly 105mm to 300mm). This is true of the D-80 and almost all other prosumer cameras, so it's not a point specifically against it, it just takes adjusting.
It is a camera that can do all your thinking, just like a point-and-shoot, if you put it on auto mode. Or it will allow you to make your own decisions in fully manual. I usually use it either on Program Mode (which is an adjustable semi-auto) or Aperture Priority Mode. There are several other modes available, the typical macro, shutter priority, etc. The camera can be trusted to choose the right exposure in a surprisingly high percentage of the time. And, if you shoot RAW, this only increases your percentage.
The menu and settings are varied and logically arranged. The controls are, for the most part, easy to reach and remember. The only exception is the AE-L/AF-L button, which is awkwardly-placed and requires changing your grip.
The focusing system is fast and responsive, as is the shutter response.
There is a wide selection of lenses and accessories to support the expansion of the basic camera. I have felt confident enough to commit to continue using Nikon equipment and have invested in a variety of lenses as well as flash and other accessories. I've made a conscious decision to not purchase DX-only lenses because, should I ever be able to get a full-frame Nikon, I won't get full benefit from it. An FX lens can be used on a full-frame camera at full size, (a 50mm lens = 50mm) and the entire sensor is used. If you get a DX lens, and use it in a full-frame camera (which you can do), you lose a wide swath of the perimeter of your sensor and your subject area is greatly reduced, actually canceling out your benefit from full frame.
For the time being, I'm delighted with my D-80, I haven't come across a requirement that it can't meet. If I ever need to make larger prints (than approx. 24"x36") I'll get whatever Nikon full-frame camera with more megapixels is on the market at that time and pass on (or share) my investment in lenses with that other camera. But I think that my D-80 will always remain my favorite and I will always think of it as the camera , didn't teach me, but allowed me to really learn and enjoy photography.
Rating :
Nikon D-80
Awesome features, great quality photographs, very long battery life. I can't ask for more.
Rating :
With so many features, this could be the final DSLR you buy.
I purchased the D80 with a 18mm-135mm zoom in early 2009. As a former 35mm professional shooter I was blown away with the features this camera offers for the money. I may decide to upgrade in the future but there is no rush because this camera is very satisfying for the casual shooting I now do. I bought it as an entry level DSLR but I can see now that it would satisfy most buyers as their final upgrade.
Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD (Includes manufacturer's supplied accessories) with 18-55mm VR Lens
Wide Angle Macro and 2x Telephoto Zoom Lenses and 3 Piece Filter Kit
2 Replacement Extended Life Battries + Rapid Home and Car Charger
8GB SDHC Memory Card with Card Reader
Soft carrying Case and Full Size Tripod
Average
Customer Rating :
Editorial Review :
This Kit Includes:
1- Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD (Includes manufacturer's supplied accessories) 1- Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Nikkor Lens 1- 8GB SDHC Memory Card 1- USB SD/HC Memory Card Reader 2- Rechargeable Lithium Ion Replacement Extended Life Batteries 1- Rapid Home and Car Charger 1- 3 Piece Filter Kit Includes: UV, Circular Polarizer and Flourescent Filter 1- Flash 1- Soft carrying case 1- Wide Angle Macro Lens w/Pouch and Caps 1- 2x Telephoto Zoom Lens w/Pouch and Caps 1- Full Size Tripod w/Carry Bag 1- Pack of LCD Screen Protectors 1- Lens/LCD Cleaning Kit 1- Mini Table Top Tripod
More about this camera: Nikon D5000 digital SLR incorporates numerous pro-quality imaging technologies normally found in pricier Nikon DSLRs in a smaller, less-expensive Nikon DX-format camera body. Key among these features are the same 12.9 megapixel CMOS sensor found in the Nikon D90, High-Definition video capture (with sound), a 2.7" variable-angle LCD, Live View for composing stills or video from most any point-of-view, an 11-point autofocus system with Focus Tracking, and 3D Color Matrix II metering.
Supplied Manufacturer Accessories in addition to mentioned above: EN-EL9a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, MH-23 Battery Charger, DK-5 Eyepiece Shield, DK-24 Rubber Eyecup, UC-E6 USB Cable, EG-CP14 A/V Cable, AN-DC3 Camera Strap, BS-1 Hot-Shoe Cover, Body Cap, Software Suite CD-ROM (incl. ViewNX), 1 Year USA Limited Warranty.
Customer Review :
Camera is great, however..
The camera I got with this package is absolutely great, however all the accessories and extras were not. I would be weary to purchase a package like this, from this company at least. You would be better of just buying the camera, and then get anything else to go with it separately. Don't make the same mistake I made. I will say that the customer service was outstanding. I told them I was unhappy with the quality of the accessories, and they sent me additional items to make me happy.
Rating :
Great package at a great price!!!
Purchased this package at an incredibly low price. No other seller can beat that. Not to mention the outstanding customer service Sunset Electronics has. Items arrived exactly on the day promised. Truly a great package at a great price. I recommend this package (of course, Nikon is one of the top-performing brands of DSLR) to everybody.
I am a long-time amateur photographer. I gave up on digital SLRs for the simple reason that I always ended up only carrying them and their accessories on big occasions or holidays. Result was, I had a camera, but few pictures.
Next I bought a good pocket cameras, e.g. Panasonic etc and most recently the Ricoh GX200 which the E-P2 is replacing. These were nice. Picture-taking resumed but slow response compared to DSLRs and overall quality of the finished product always left a slight feeling of disappointment. With imaging chips of the size they use, this is only to be expected (just as compact cassettes by definition could not deliver decent audio).
Enter the E-P2 with its much larger sensor. I have had my E-P2 with 17mm pancake lens for a week now and simply love it. Responsive as an SLR, chunky but hardly larger than the Ricoh, it works like a dream in auto and more manual modes. (And who needs a zoom with this kind of resolution? - Just crop the bit you want from the immense pictures it takes).
In brief, and avoiding tech talk, this is a quality piece of kit. Looks like quality. Feels like quality. Works like quality. It's an SLR in a pocket camera body. (And - with apologies to the reviewer above - I love the quiet chunky sound and feel of the shutter.)
I think I've found 'my' camera at last - at the end of long, dollar-strewn trail!.
Rating :
nice camera, but can be better
It is a very nice camera, but i would only talk about what i do not like it about since there are already many good comments on E-P1.
1. the back dial wheel is very hard to use unless you disable the up/down/left/right function. 2. is part of the camera body made of plastic? 3. shutter is a little bit noisy. 4. focusing is kind of slow. 5. last thing, i do not know how to carry the camera. I hope i can find a Zing pouch which can hold it.
I did not buy E-P1 since i want a black camera body, and i had thought the EVF would be a must for my Leica M lenses. But when i got E-P2 i realized that EVF does not make it faster to use a manual lens compared to back LCD. And the plastic EVF is so big (and brittle maybe), this made the camera body not good looking and not good handling because your nose touches LCD all the time when using EVF.
So if your budget is kind of tight, i would recommend E-P1 given the $340.00 ($450.00 price difference for the zoom lens kit!!!) price difference.
Rating :
Many things to like and dislike at the same time!
Olympus `PEN' E-P2 is Olympus second micro four third system camera which is an improved version of Olympus PEN E-P1 12.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 17mm f/2.8 Lens and Viewfinder (Silver). Both cameras has very similar body design and features. The main different is E-P2 has optional electronic viewfinder and external microphone while E-P1 does not. Because they are very similar, Many part of this review is applicable to E-P1 as well.
Olympus E-P2 main specs (shared with E-P1)
* 12MP Live Mos sensor 4/3 sensor * HD 720p video at 30 fps with stereo sound recording * Built In Image Stabilization * Dust removal mechanism (SSWF) * Eight Art filters for creative processing and fun (E-P1 has six) * 3 frames per second continuous shooting. * No built-in flash nor AF assist light
Below are new features that added to Olympus E-P2
* Manual focus and aperture control in video mode * AF tracking (focus lock for moving objects) * Magnified Focus Assist * Tiltable hi-res electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage and 1.15X magnification * Optional microphone adapter for better sound
BODY & CONTROL
Olympus E-P2 weights 385 g with memory card and battery. The dimension is 4.74in (W) x 2.75in. (H) x 1.37 in (D) / 120.5 mm (W) x 70mm (H) x 35mm (D) (excluding protrusions). It is significantly smaller than regular DSLR camera. Camera body is around 120g lighter than beginner DSLR camera. It feels solid and dense. If you are coming from compact camera, you will feel this camera a bit heavy. It is around 2-3 times heavier than advanced compact camera. If you are coming from DSLR camera especially from Olympus DSLR camera, you will love the reduction in size. However, this camera is not light. For comparison, E-420 weights 370g and E-620 weights 475g body only.
That being said, E-P1/2 is not a pocket-able camera (it will fits only in large jacket/coat pocket). You might find yourself carrying it around more than you carry a DSLR camera, but this camera can't compete with compact camera in portability.
Olympus E-P2 construction quality and design are worthy of praise. The outer shell are 85% metal. Plastic are still there for buttons and round dial. Design wise, it is very classy, retro style. I especially like the leather texture grip. However, some people might prefer more industrial design like Leica X1 or Panasonic GF1. It depends on each individual taste.
Olympus E-P2 has one thumb dial, one round dial, and four-way controller and two customizable function buttons. To change major setting such as ISO, AF mode, WB are very easy because there are dedicated buttons embedded in four-way controller. You can also access quick menu by pressing OK button. Unfortunately, the quick menu is unlike super control panel that I find in Olympus DSLR cameras. It is more similar to compact camera function menu.
Like E-P1, Olympus E-P2 does not have built-in flash. This is quite a blunder by Olympus because built-in flash is very useful for various scene, where you want to use flash to fill-in shadow or use it to light up an extremely dark room.
Ergonomically, it is very pleasing. The curves are in the right place. The protruding leather grip is really nice. Buttons and dials are placed within reach of your right hand thumb.
LCD SCREEN & ELECTRONIC VIEWFINDER
Olympus E-P2 has 3 LCD screen with 230k dots. It is basic compared to many other DSLR and compact camera which has 460k or 910k. However, it is good enough for basic review and composition. It is also quite clear for manual focusing.
The electronic viewfinder is very bright and big. It has more than 1 million dots. Manual focusing is very clear and easy, thanks to 10x full screen magnification. In low light condition, the viewfinder become grainy and it is harder to focus. Compared to viewing optical viewfinder, my eyes get tired faster when viewing EVF for a long time. In practice, you need to choose whether you want to use the rear LCD panel or viewfinder to compose a picture. You can't activate both.
Another criticism of the EVF is the built quality, it is has plastic shell which does not complement E-P2 metal body. It is also big and not very attractive. However, the EVF is stick to the hot shoe steadily. So you don't have to worry about the EVF slipping away from camera body.The EVF as compositional tool is not ideal, but it is good and practical enough to use regularly.
IMAGE QUALITY
Image quality I get from the camera and 17mm f/2.8 pancake is not very stellar. It is hard to get tack sharp image in pixel size although I have use small aperture like f/8 or f/16. For web sharing, it is perfectly fine. Many says that the 14-42mm (I don't have this lens for this review) is better than the 17mm f/2.8 which is disappointing because prime lenses are usually sharper.
Image in high ISO quality is quality is similar to Olympus DSLR in general. It is generally very good up to ISO 800. However noise is also noticeable in low ISO setting such as 400 especially in shadow area. Noise reduction will help to smooth out the noise at the expense of detail and sharpness. I don't recommend to use in camera noise reduction at all. ISO 6400 is available, but it there are too much noise and the image loss its fidelity.
OTHER FEATURES
One great feature Olympus E-P2 has is built-in stabilization. This is money saver and very practical to use. Unlike Canon, Nikon and Panasonic DSLR cameras, You can use image stabilization for any lens you mount with it. This is awesome for prime lenses. Although it has limitation such as you can't freeze subject with IS, but it is awesome for low light still photography.
When you record movie, there is also digital / electronic IS that help to keep the movie steady. You also can control aperture in movie recording mode. These are great in practice. The implementation of movie recording is better than some DSLR cameras with movie mode in the market.
In addition, there are a few minor things that I don't like about E-P2:
* Menu interface is a bit confusing because many abbreviation and some even only use a symbol to represent a menu item. * Shutter sound is quieter than typical DSLR, but it is noticeable louder compare to compact cameras.
AUTO FOCUS & GENERAL PERFORMANCE
When Olympus E-P1 was launched, many people expect its auto focus speed will be as good as Panasonic m43 cameras. But it fell short. Unfortunately, E-P2's AF is the same as E-P1. In practice, AF performance is about the same as compact camera. It takes around 1 second to focus in good light. In low light situation such as inside restaurant, it takes 2-3 seconds. On the other hand, AF speed in Panasonic m43 cameras are very close to DSLR camera, around .33 sec.
In addition, changing auto focus point is a hassle. You need to go to quick menu and then change the points. There are auto AF and 11 AF areas that you can select. Fortunately, manual focus is easy to use and very practical because of automatic magnification when you try to focus with MF mode.
Other than AF performance, E-P2 general performance is very good. Start up and shut down is approx. 1 second. Shutter lag is almost none. Continuous shooting is similar to many beginner DSLR camera in the market, 3 frames per second.
ART FILTERS
Art filters create different effect or mood in the picture or video. It could really enhanced the picture / video if you choose it appropriately. For example, soft focus is great for beauty shot, diorama is good for landscape etc. Art filters are not photo processing after you take picture. The effect is immediate. You don't get access to original file and control on how it is being processed. I think Art filters are quite fun, but it is not a deal breaker because you can always achieve those effects by processing the image in your image editing software.
COMPETITORS
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 12.1MP Micro Four-Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with LUMIX G 20mm f/1.7 Aspherical Lens is definitely the main competitor of Olympus E-P2. GF1's AF performance is better than E-P1/2 but it does not have built-in image stabilization. Panasonic has better prime lens in their bundle, while Olympus E-P2 has better optional electronic viewfinder. GF1 also has built-in flash which E-P2 lacks. It is tough to choose, but I am leaning towards E-P2 but with Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 lens.
Panasonic DMC-GH1 12.1MP Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Camera with 1080p HD Video is also a four thirds system camera, but it is a lot bigger because it has protruding grip and built-in viewfinder which make this camera similar to beginner DSLR camera. Like GF1, it has better auto focus performance. The cool thing is this camera is bundled with versatile and quiet 14-140mm zoom lens.
Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens is not a micro four thirds camera, so it is not as compact as E-P2. But it has a similar price range. D90 is better in low light because it has bigger sensor, and faster auto focus especially when tracking moving subject. However, Nikon D90's video feature is very basic and hard to use.
Leica X1 12.2MP APS-C CMOS Digital Camera is a compact camera that has DSLR quality sensor and fixed 35mm lens. Leica X1 is significantly more expensive than Olympus E-P2. The main advantage of X1 lies in the construction quality, lens, image sensor and prestige.
CONCLUSION
Olympus E-P2 is a handsome camera with many things to like and dislike at the same time. I like the design, built-in image stabilization, but I hate the fact that the AF speed is not improved from E-P1 and low quality 17mm prime lens. Currently E-P2 is $300 more expensive than E-P1. If you are used to compose picture with LCD screen rather than electronic viewfinder, you can save money by getting E-P1. Compared to Panasonic GF1, I am leaning towards E-P2 because of the built-in stabilization and overall design. However, I am surprised that Olympus 17 mm pancake lens does not deliver quality image. Therefore, I recommend you to get Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 lens instead. With that combination, it will be a great tool even in the most difficult light condition.
Subjective Rating - Relative to beginner DSLR cameras released in 2009
Image Quality : 3/5 (with 17mm) 4/5 in general Features : 5/5 Performance : 4/5 Body and Handling : 4/5 Value for Money : 3/5
Please visit my blog (you can find the address in my profile) for iso comparison, art filters and samples images.
Rating :
Beautiful but Expensive
This camera is awesome. The quality of the photos is just amazing from something so small and so stylish. I really like the whole idea behind micro four thirds. The video is also quite amazing. Overall the camera is fairly straight forward to use, it's fast and responsive (in the normal modes) and it's just really cool looking and a joy to bring around.
The things that made me return it however are hard to ignore. Firstly, the Electronic View Finder doesn't look great, and if you're at all serious about the experience of taking photos, this will ruin it for you. I would rather they didn't force this accessory on you and dock the price $150. However, the reason they force you to buy it leads me to complaint number two, the screen on the back also isn't that great. It's pretty hard to use outside if it's bright, and since there is no real viewfinder, this is the focal point of the picture taking experience.
My only other gripe is that the sound of the autofocus will be heard in your videos. It was so loud I had to switch to manual focus, but since the screen isn't that great, it's hard to tell when something is truly in focus, or kinda in focus which and make or break some videos.
Anyway, the camera otherwise is top notch. It's light, cool looking, there are lots of lenses to choose from now, it makes incredible images to compete with any DSLR and the video is good (provided you don't use auto focus and don't rely on the image stabilization either). That aside this would be the perfect travel companion on any trip, especially if you care about image quality, even though it's not the best in terms of the photo taking experience. I'd be tempted to get the newer model they released that's a little smaller and less expensive which I'd assume offers similar quality.
High resolution 12.4 megapixel CMOS image sensor features sensor-shift Shake Reduction for stabilized image
Large 2.7 inch LCD features Live View with contrast, phase difference, and Face Detection autofocus (up to 16 faces).
Capture widescreen HD video in full 720p resolution (1280x720) at 24 FPS cinematic framerate, using any PENTAX 35mm lens.
Highly compact DSLR body design allows for 1 handed operation and comfort when travelling.
Powerful automatic modes, including PENTAX Auto Picture and scene modes, ensure the perfect shot in any situation
Average
Customer Rating : Not
yet rated
Editorial Review :
Choose a camera that redefines the entry-level digital SLR category. The PENTAX K-x offers high-end features including Live View, HD video and photographic performance that challenges higher class models. Since there’s no rule that SLR cameras must come in one color, try the K-x in a choice of white or black, as well as special, limited edition red and navy. With a one-handed shooting design that is extremely compact, lightweight, and easy-to-use, the very affordable K-x is perfect for users stepping up from a point and shoot digital camera to their first digital SLR.
10.2-megapixel SLR captures enough detail for photo-quality enlargements or creative cropping
Body only; lens must be purchased separately
2.5-inch LCD display; power-up time of approximately 0.15 seconds
Five frame-per-second continuous shooting with a time lag of approximately 50 milliseconds
Stores images on CF cards or Microdrive; powered by EN-EL3a or EN-EL3 rechargeable lithium-ion battery (includes EN-EL3a battery and charger)
Average
Customer Rating :
Editorial Review :
To satisfy the requirements of passionate and demanding photographers - Nikon Introduces their highly anticipated Nikon D200 digital camera. The Nikon D200 is a high performance digital SLR camera combining brand-new technologies with advanced features inherited from Nikon's venerable D2X professional digital SLR camera. The Nikon D200 digital camera was engineered to incorporate more must-have features than any other camera in its class, enabling photographers to capture images in a way once reserved only for professionals.
10.2 megapixel DX Format CCD image sensor
Industry-leading image processing for exceptional color performance
Large viewfinder with 0.94x magnification:
Durable, Magnesium alloy (Mg) body
5fps high-speed continuous shooting
Fast SLR response where it counts
11-area Multi-CAM AF System with 7 Area Wide AF
Large 2.5-inch LCD monitor with wide angle viewing to 170 degrees
New EN-EL3e Rechargeable battery with Fuel gauge function
Wireless Transmitter WT-3
The Nikon D200 promises an extremely satisfying shooting experience, with a winning combination of quality, performance, construction and advanced system features. Employing a newly developed 10.2 effective megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor, the D200 captures images with remarkable resolution and clarity. Its sophisticated 1005-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II system ensures ideal exposures while an advanced Nikon image processing engine renders images with superb clarity and smooth color gradations. The D200 reacts with lightning speed, powering-up in a mere 0.15 seconds, and firing in an imperceptible 50 millisecond shutter release lag time. It can shoot five frames per second with a drastically shortened viewfinder blackout time of just 105 milliseconds between shots. Its large, bright viewfinder offers 0.94x magnification for comfortable and precise composition while a new 2.5 inch LCD
Customer Review :
Great purchase!
I have used this camera a lot. I am a retired photojournalist and had to give back all my company equiptment when I left. This really filled my needs.
Rating :
great camera.
I WANT TO BUY THE D 300 BUT THE PRICE WAS TO MUCH FOR MI AND I BOUGTH THE D90 FROM DELL I RETURNED AFTER I SAW THE PRICE AND REVIEW OF THE D 200.I BOUGHT THE D 200 AND THE TAMRON 18-50 2.8 LENS AND I LOVE. ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW.
Rating :
Cold Weather - Bring it on!
I have owned my D200 now for just over 3 years and there are not enough good things I can say about it. I can go over every positive detail this camera features, but I am not going to do that since so many others have. I have taken well over 10,000 shots with it and it is still going strong and not once have I had an issue with it. The only time I get a bad shot is due to user error - which does happen sometimes. I have made prints up to 30"x40" and they look beautiful and sharp. That is partly due to the quality of Nikkor lenses which are just as high performance, refined and durable as the D200.
One thing I will say is that I live in Minnesota and it tends to get cold up here...I usually don't consider it `cold' until it hits -20 or below and we have many of those days each winter. At one time I did own a Canon, only because it was cheaper (go ahead and kick me for it, I did). Well, they are cheaper and cheaply made - plastic lens mounts on some of their cameras and many of their lenses...come on! Anyway, on not even cold days, 30 degrees or so, the camera would freeze up and that was with warm batteries. So it is not a battery issue but the actual camera body that would freeze up. Canons have so much plastic in them, it makes them lightweight, but not durable and definitely not for cold weather situations, in my opinion and experience they are junk compared to Nikons standards of refinement, durability and quality.
I am so happy with performance and durability of my D200 on any day or night and it does work well even on those `cold' days at -20 degrees or less. It's water resistant, so works well in rain and heavy fog (other times my Canon would fail on me). And durable; this thing is built like a tank and if anyone ever tries to take it from me, I'll just beat them over the head with it, than take a picture to prove it!
This is a beautiful piece of equipment and I will never go back to using cheap Canons or any other brand name for that matter. One of my personal mottos is, "You're not a pro, unless you use a Nikon".
Rating :
Great time to buy this camera
Watch for prices on this camera to drop as the Nikon D300 has been released. Although the D300 is the 'next' generation, most of its new features will not be necessary for most photographers unless you want to use the 'video' feature. I have two Nikons and in addition to the many features already mentioned, it feels quite comfortable in the hand: not too big or small, and just the right weight when you get accustomed to it, which, takes perhaps 3 or 4 days if you've been accustomed to a lighter model. But soon, it will feel like the perfect fit--unless you have some very unusual hand configuration.
Rating :
Great camera!
I finally made the transition from a Nikon N65 film SLR to the Nikon D200 DSLR 1 year ago before a trip to Hong Kong and China. Beautiful pictures! I still haven't figured out all of settings, but I have gone on many a trips with this beauty and amazed people with the composition and high quality of the pictures I bring back. I loved the fact that my existing Nikor lenses I used for my old film camera worked with this camera as well. The main reason I chose to switch to digital and get the D200 was to be able to photograph spectacular sites around China and blow them up for the walls of our "asian-themed" guest room. It's a project I haven't completed yet, but I can't wait. One of the great things of this camera is the ability to create large scale prints from your digital images, so I hear. If you don't expect to print anything larger than 8 x 10, you probably don't need this much camera...
Question : What is the best digital SLR camera on the market at the moment in this price range?
I'm planning to spend between £450-£600 on a digital SLR camera sometime soon and I was wondering what the best one out there is at the moment.Preferably I'd like opinions from people who have actually had experience with cameras in general...I'd be interested to hear about noise handling in particular.
Answer:
There is no camera that is better than another in the price range. If you stick with brand names that you are familiar with, they will all be equally good. I would suggest that you look at Pentax, Olympus, Sony, Canon and Nikon and then look for the best "kit" of package deal on the unit you choose. I think you can find an excellent camera for that price and walk off with enough cash to do something else with it.
Question : Which is the best digital SLR camera and lens combination available within 500$?
I have used point and shoot cameras for 2 years and would love to graduate to digital SLR cameras.I would prefer a camera which is not too new in the market.
Answer:
I happen to like the E series digital SLR's from Olympus. At ten megapixel's, the camera's lens is astoundingly sharp and the whole enchilada will cost you well within your budget. Check some of the sites like B&H Photo. Be wary of kits that offer you a bunch of stuff you don't need. There's also a package deal with two zooms for the E-510. Great feeling camera in the hand as well.
Question : What digital slr camera should I buy for magazine photography? I am not a professional photographer?
My partner and I have set up a local community magazine, we have been using a point and shoot digital camera, but feel that we now need to upgrade to a slr. We have no professional training in photography, so have limited knowlege on the subject. I have searched the internet for different reviews, but just seem to drown in information. Please can someone offer advice, please!!!!!
Answer:
any entry point DSLR will be good enough. Something like the Nikon D40 or the Canon Digital Rebel XT/350D is perfect for a starter like you. They're pretty affordable (compared to other DSLRs that is) and it works just like any other DSLR so if you upgrade your camera to another DSLR in the future you won't find yourself in a hard time adapting yourself to a new camera.The hardest thing to pick is not the camera - it's the lens - some lenses are specialized and there's one made for specific task, and it won't work well if you use it for another task. But at this point - if all you do is taking picture of people, I think the kit lens that comes with the two camera I mentioned above is good enough. Finally I highly recommend a photography class for you - a DSLR is a pretty complex piece of equipment (well there's an auto mode but you won't be utilizing a DSLR's potential if you're using auto and at that point you'd better off with a point and shoot anyway) and you will appreciate what you have to learn in the photography class.Well, I hope this helps.
Question : What digital SLR camera is a good buy? inexpensive and good quality?
I want to get a digital SLR camera to play with photography. My point and shoot digital camera doesn't give me depth of field, pictures look flat. What digital SLR camera is not that expensive but gives you good quality of photos?
Answer:
Any Digital SLR will run you 700+.I suggest starting with a film SLR.Find one on ebay for under $100.Shoots great and you learn a lot more than the automatic digital help that many digital SLRs have.Then once you feel that photography is actually something worth investing in, then research and find one right for you!
Question : What is the cheapest way to get a digital SLR camera?
And don't say steal it!I am a student photographer, and I used a standard canon digital camera, but I wan't something with more optical zoom that can be digital. I already have a canon film slr that my mom used to have, and frankly it is quite old and a hassle to carry around. I decided it might be best if I went ahead and invested in an slr, but i know those are extremely pricey! So, do you know where the best deals are for slr cameras, both on and offline?Or, if not, do you know what the best slr STYLED digital cameras are that are out there?Thank you so much!
Answer:
Depending on how serious you are into photography and what type of photography you are doing. I would personally recommend a second hand or refurbished digital SLR for starters. I bought mine second hand and paid only 1/4th of the original price.I own Canon EOS 10D,you can see some of my photography on my website.Then for the lens, the only problem with second hand is to be very very careful. You'll need to check and make sure that the glass has no marks and there is no dust inside, otherwise buy a new lens. Oh as you said you have a canon film slr, if it has autofocus lenses, you can use them with the digital slr so buy a body only and use existing lenses.Also note that, because the digital slr doesn't have sensor same size as 35mm, so whichever lens you use, you have to multiply it by 1.6 so for example 17mm lens will be converted to approx 27mm on digital slr.Hope this helps.P.S. : To start a photography as a student, none of the compact digital or bridge cameras will help, u'll need digital slr (depending on how serious you are as i said). Otherwise yes there are some digital bridge cameras which provides you with almost all features of an SLR but too slow and quality is not same. A canon bridge camera for example is Canon PowerShot G series or Canon PowerShot S2IS.
Question : What Digital SLR camera should I buy to get started with photography?
Hi, I'm 15 years old and have recently been saving up a lot of money. I have been looking in to buying a Digital SLR camera and taking a course in photography. I was just wondering what camera you would recommend I should buy with my £500 budget bearing in mind I need to purchase lenses and extra storage devices...
Answer:
Depending on whether you feel comfortable chasing down used equipment or not, it is possible to get a pretty comprehensive selection of kit.Used prices for a Canon 30D are around £250-300, which is a decent bargain for what you get. It's not going to take your hand and lead your through how to take photographs like the most modern entry level SLRs, but it's purposeful, fast, and dependable. This camera is quite well suited with the Canon EF-S 17-85mm lens for most normal purposes, this should bring your cost up to around £400. The next thing to get is probably the Canon 50mm f1.8 'Nifty Fifty', and a reasonably strong tripod.I would imagine that 4GB of storage is enough, but you do need a fast card, probably 30 MB/s or faster would be needed. I would also go for 2x 2GB, formatted in the FAT16 file system to squeeze some more speed out of it, and also allows you some flexibility if one fails or gets confiscated for some reason.
Question : What is a good digital SLR camera to buy for an amateur photographer?
I want to upgrade to a digital camera and I was wondering what would be a good one to go with for an amateur photographer. I like the Cannon Rebel line of cameras but I was wondering what a more affordable option might be. What are your thoughts on the Pentax K100d. I learned on a Pentax K1000 and I read that most of the older lenses will fit the Pentax digital SLR cameras.
Answer:
I believe the K100D and K100D Super have been discontinued. Newer models are the K10D and K20D. Pentax is still using the venerable K-mount it introduced in 1975 so any older K-mount manual focus lens can be used with the newest DSLR cameras. There will be limited functionality (manual focus, stop-down metering) but they will enjoy the benefits of image stabilization since Pentax placed it in the camera body. If you have several K-mount lenses in good condition then buy the Pentax DSLR.Since Sony bought the DSLR line from Konica-Minolta in 2006, the Sony Alpha (A) series cameras use the Minolta A-mount introduced with the Minolta Maxxum AF 35mm film camera of 1985. So any Maxxum AF lens will be right at home on the Sony A200 or A350 or A700. Sony also incorporates image stabilization in the camera body.
Question : Do all digital SLR cameras allow you to blur the background of a photo? What about shutter delay?
I know w/film SLR cameras you can blur the background; can you do the same w/all digital SLR cameras?Also do all digital SLR cameras allow you to take photos w/out a delay in the shutter?THANKS IN ADVANCE!
Answer:
Blur the background.. you're talking about depth of field? Yes, you should be able to do that with any digital slr; keep in mind though, if you are using autofocus, the camera is going to try to determine itself what you are trying to focus on. Switch to manual focusing and you can focus strictly on foreground objects, which should become blurred. The farther back they are, the more intense the blur. Different lenses will also affect this.As for the no delay in shutter speed, what do you mean exactly? That when you press the shutter button, the camera takes the picture instantaneously without having to think first? You just need to make sure the camera doesn't have any thinking to do before taking the picture - hold the shutter button in halfway to allow it to autofocus, then press fully when ready, OR switch to manual mode.
Question : Digital SLR?
I'm going to be looking for a digital SLR soon. Price is not a concern (within reason of coarse).What are some good recommendations? I would prefer to stay away from Nikon (I really don't like them), and I learn more towards Canon.As of now I have a Canon Powershot S3 IS. If I buy lenses for it, will I also be able to use them on a new Canon SLR?
Answer:
It's perfectly all right if you don't like Nikon - I think Nikon made a pretty good camera but I think since you have already in the Canon camp, might as well as stick in it. Well, you probably won't be able to port your existing camera's accessories to your DSLR when you finally get one, but the user interface will be very much similar from the S3 IS to the DSLR so I'm pretty sure you'll adapt pretty easily.Don't worry about add ons/accessories. There are actually more accessories for Canon than there is for Nikon. Not by far of course because they are both pretty popular.The S3 IS is not an SLR and if you buy an add on for the S3 IS, you won't be able to use them into any Canon SLR. Now the camera itself. I have the Canon XTi and I liked it pretty much. It does everything I want it to do, and it produces good images. The only thing I hated about it is that itty bitty tiny grip that made an otherwise good camera felt like a toy.I'm in the process of saving up on getting the new 40D - after I replace my kit lens that is - and since I have tried it on a camera shop before, I know that the 40D is a pretty awesome camera.Although a little bit outdated (and replaced by the 40D), the 30D is still a very good camera and you also want to look into it.My advice, go to a real camera store and try things for yourself. Just say the clerk that you want to try the camera first before buying. I'm sure he'll understand.
Question : What digital slr camera is best for amateur photographers?
I really want a digital slr camera, but I don't want to spend a fortune, I've been looking at used ones, and refurbished but they're all so expensive! I've been manly looking at getting a canon EOS rebel xs. Is that a decent camera? I currently have a canon regular digital camera and I love it.
Answer:
With DSLR's your buying into a system and Canon is far and away the most expensive, closely followed by Nikon.Pentax, Olympus and Sony have many more features. They may be more expensive initially, but a soon as you start adding lenses, flashguns etc. they work out much cheaper for the same or Higher quality. You finish with a much more useful system for less money.Things to look for are a bright viewfinder, good build quality, adjustments of everyday things such as EV value, focus point, metering mode etc. without having to go into a menu. These are basic to using your camera for anything other than 'point and shoot'.Pentax and Sony offer image stabilisation in camera, so every lens you fit is image stabilised without a price premium. Pentax in particular have a massive range of older high quality lenses available for very little, all will be image stabilised.A second hand Pentax DS, which is now 5 years old, would be available at a lower price than a Nikon D40 or Canon Rebel, and is much more of a camera than either of them, it has a genuine pentaprism in the viewfinder which means a brighter image, much better build quality, the same Sony sensor that was used on the Nikon D80. The only downside is the lack of image stabilisation. Like all Pentax DSLR's it can operate as a 'focus trap' which no other make of DSLR can do.Chris
