I was 'into' photography back in the 80's with my Pentax KM and all the lenses, filters, tripod, air release etc.,
I bought my first digital camara about 7 years ago which was an Olympus 3.1 MP jobbie which I still have somewhere - great little camera BTW!
I then ventured into bridge cameras with the Fuji Finepix S5800 which does the job for the price paid,
My latest camera is a Samsung WB 600 with 12MP + 15X optical zoom which I'm pleased with but ...
I think it's about time I went back to SLR to use in conjunction with the excellent Samsung compact, so ...
On the Freesat TV channels, Argos have a sales slot, and last nights special was the Nikon D3000 for £330 ~
www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5593189.htm
I realise that it doesn't have video or live view, but it seems (to me) to be an ideal entry level DSLR.
Any thoughts?
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I worked as a pro photographer in the 80's and have been in and out of the business all my life however the last SLR system I owned was a film camera and I have no comitment to a lens system so have been completely open minded in looking at DSLRs lately (but for a loyalty to Canon compacts).
I have decided on a Nikon (rather than a Canon etc), probably a D90 or D7000 and initially with the 16-85mm zoom (even better than the 18-55 and 18-105 kit options).
I did consider the D3100 (which is frankly excellent) and investing more in lenses, likewise the D5100 is superb though the D90 and D7000 have features that I would value.
The D3000 is also a fine camera though a D3100 at £70 or so more is perhaps better value.
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Thanks Cheddar, I'll 'look into' the D3100 then.
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Look at the sony range too. Nikon use sony sensors. Sony also have in built stabilisation so all lenses are automatically stabilised. The low end Nikons don't have in body AF motors either so it limits your lens choice too. Pentax also use the same sony sensors and have in body stabilisation. They can also take any pentax lens made ever.
The SLT sonys like the A35 have full AF in video which the others can't do at all.
cameraprice buster is a good site to find the best prices for them all.
The sony Nex series are also worth looking into as they are smaller bodied but with a full aps-c sensor. No mirror so can do quite a high fps. No in body stabilisation either though. The new Nikon mirrorless is also quite interesting.
Last edited by: teabelly on Sat 19 Nov 11 at 10:01
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>>Look at the sony range too<<
Yep, I'm looking.
>>cameraprice buster is a good site to find the best prices for them all<<
Nice one!
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Photography is all about the content, not the make of camera or the ultimate visual clarity of the picture. The content is all about the versatility and usability of the camera. To this end SLRs are too heavy and too lumbered with their changeable lens systems, there is nothing worse than carting extra lenses around and the range of the ones they offer are not good.
16- 85mm for example - Too wide at the lower end, 16mm provides too much perspective distortion, and 85 mm is not high enough.
I dumped SLR when I dumped my Pentax, umpteen lenses, and wet film, and I see no compelling reason to go back.
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Yep! - I hear what you are sayin Zed, and I haven't ordered it (yet) I've got until 3pm to say yay or nay,
I can't get on with these little LCD screens though, especially in bright sunlight (what a joke!)
I'd prefer TTL to EVF, but (as you say) "too lumbered with their changeable lens systems, there is nothing worse than carting extra lenses around and the range of the ones they offer are not good"
:)
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You do need a Viewfinder, either optical or EVF for sure, I could not live with a camera that only had a screen, even tho the newer versions have much easier to work with cantilever or moveable type screens.
I also dont like this move to touch screens, where you have to control function on the screen. DSLRs win here with thumbwheels you can use while still framing the shot.
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>> You do need a Viewfinder, either optical or EVF for sure, I could not live
>> with a camera that only had a screen, even tho the newer versions have much
>> easier to work with cantilever or moveable type screens.
My old Canon Powershot A640 has a moveable screen and optical viewfinder. I didn't think about the usefulness of the screen but it is great for self portrait shots, flipping it around so you can frame yourself properly and take the shot with the self timer. The camera is a bit bulky (takes four AA batteries) but good for it's age.
Sorry for drift Dog :)
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I'm looking at a Canon right at this mo as it happens, the G12 ~
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0042RUAPC/watersphotogr-21/ref=nosim
I'd better have a rest though ( doing my head in!) and put the pasty in the oven :)
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The G12 is a truly excelent compact.
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>> 16- 85mm for example - Too wide at the lower end, 16mm provides too much
>> perspective distortion, and 85 mm is not high enough.
>>
Depends on the size of the sensor, 16mm is very wide on a 35mm sized sensor though all of the above mentioned are what is known as APS-C thus 16mm is equal to 24mm on a 35mm camera and 85mm is equal to about 130mm. A good range.
More relevant though is the quality of the sensor, the quality of the optics and the image processing.
Yes an SLR is bulky and I will certainly not take it everywhere that I take my Ixus or G-Series though for true creativity and ultimate image quality ...
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I think you miss the point of a SLR. If you want a lightweight camera to carry around for opportunist type pictures, street photography and the like then you are right. Get something lighter. But then even in the days of film cameras you would have been better off with a rangefinder type camera.
However if you are seriously into branches of photography like macro, portrait, landscape, archictectural , or wildlife then an SLR with appropriate lenses is the way to go. An SLR is not a good general purpose camera. For specialist purposes it is unrivalled.
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Most of the snappers in my game use Nikons.
I think theirs are two or three grand, but it's still a good recommendation for the brand.
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I haven't missed the point of an SLR camera, merely that I think their days are numbered.
Anyway, my views on this are well know, so I will butt out.
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Interesting thread, Dog. My photographic history mirrors yours. First it was an East German SLR system as I couldn't afford better (Pentax) and latterly a Minolta X700 SLR plus all sorts of bits.
I sold the (35mm film) Minolta and got a Nikon D5000 plus lenses when they came out about 3 years ago (?). It's a very nice bit of kit but bulky and I got fed up lugging it all around with me as I needed a separate back-pack for it all.
I've since gone the other way completely and bought a Canon Ixus 220 which was pretty much the smallest quality camera around - price vs quality vs depth of my pocket permitting. Zoom isn't great but it's small. It goes with me everywhere and I just don't use the Nikon at all now.
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I don't think SLR are finished: there are probably many uses where the limitations of other systems outweigh the bulk downsides. Howver, I have 2 SLRs (1 film, 1 digital) and a compact Canon which are rarely used. What I need to do is research the mirrorless system cameras, to find one which allows direct input (exposure and focusing) without having to use play second fiddle to menus, buttons or other non-ergonomic methods. About the size of a Leica M, with a viewfinder not a useless screen:) Anyone know of such a beast?
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Right ... stand by your beds!
I've knocked the idea of a D-SLR on the head (for now) and am looking at:
(A) Canon Powershot G12
(B) Panasonic DMC G2
Both excellent cameras and neither one without their shortcomings of course, no hurry though, and I'll keep on reading about those and others, until they come to take me away :)
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>> Panasonic DMC G2
I have this camera and rate it highly. Photos not as good as by Sony DSLR but excellent. When I got mine it had only just come out so it was a lot more expensive than it is now.
Reason I got it was it did what the Sony did but far smaller/lighter. And it does 720p video. So a lot better to take on holiday than a DSLR and camcorder which is what I was doing. And you often missed something you wanted on video because you had the DSLR in hand not the camcorder.
Downside of the micro four thirds systems used is the lenses are more expensive and there's not so much choice. No Tamrons or Sigma lenses for example. Might want to consider a twin lens package.
Pop along to Jessops to try one. If you lived nearer you could take a look and have a play.
The touch screen is a gimmick IMO.
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"......pretty much the smallest quality camera around...it's small..... It goes with me everywhere...."
I've heard it said that the best camera is the one you've got with you when you need it.
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>>Downside of the micro four thirds systems used is the lenses are more expensive and there's not so much choice. No Tamrons or Sigma lenses for example<<
I'm a newbie where the MFT systems are concerned Rob, but this is from the Wikipedia article on the G2:
The MFT system design flange focal length distance allows for, through use of an adapter, the possibility to mount virtually any manufacturer's existing and legacy still camera interchangeable lens (as well as some video and cine lenses) to an MFT body, albeit using manual focus and manual aperture control. For example, many theoretically obsolete 35mm film camera lenses, as well as existing current lenses for APS-C and full frame DSLR's are now usable on MFT cameras. As an example, an older (i.e., used, obsolete and low priced), but still high quality, 50mm f/1.8 "standard" lens from a 35mm film camera can be used on a MFT camera body
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Yes you can get adapters but you then invariable lose out on auto focus. And there's no in body anti-shake either. And the lenses are big and heavy compared to a MFT one.
Note the equivalent Olympus MFT cameras do have in body anti-shake. So Olympus lenses do not. Panasonic lenses do.
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>>Note the equivalent Olympus MFT cameras do have in body anti-shake. So Olympus lenses do not. Panasonic lenses do.<<
Interesting, thanks!
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OK ... I've whittled it down to:
(A) Panasonic Lumix G2
(B) Beko fridge/freezer
I think I'll sleep on it :)
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Does the Beko come with a neck strap? If not go for the Lumix on grounds of portability.
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The temperature of the Beko's photos are a bit cold.
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>> The temperature of the Beko's photos are a bit cold.
Or maybe warm.......
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>> >> The temperature of the Beko's photos are a bit cold.
>>
>> Or maybe warm.......
>>
I heard they are flaming good....
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Only if it has car4play light bulbs in it.
Pat
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Oh, but it has, only an old forty watter though !
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Is it still available? Was superceded by the G3 this year:
www.dpreview.com/products/panasonic/slrs/panasonic_dmcg3
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>>Is it still available? Was superceded by the G3 this year<<
That's why I 'only' paid £350 4 it :)
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>> >>Is it still available? Was superceded by the G3 this year<<
>>
>> That's why I 'only' paid £350 4 it :)
Could have got the G3 for £399!
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>>Could have got the G3 for £399!<<
That's a big WOW, but like you with your F/Finepix, I didn't wanna pay more than £250 (or less)
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I still have a Olympus U Imju 1.It says on the front must be about twenty years now non digital.The digital camara I've got is a Sony Cybershot does the job for me .I'm only a amateur.
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My first digital camera was a 3.2 MP 3X Zoom with a 2.5" LCD 210,000 pixel display - brilliant little camera,
Bought about 7 years ago, I've still got it somewhere www.dcviews.com/_olympus/az1.htm
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I havea Canon DSLR but have been looking for a pocket camera.
I was amazed at the the light gathering abilities of my daughters camera.
A quick demo taking a shot of a painting at the end of a large hall at night under poor lighting convinced me I am in the market for one.
Her model is Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7
www.jessops.com/online.store/products/80203/show.html.
I guess I am not keeping up with developements.
Any other suggestions for similar / even higher spec pocket cameras?
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Here's a mini review of that camera henry www.dcviews.com/_sony/wx7.htm
Great images (pics) could do better in the zoom dept. though by todays standards.
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>>I've knocked the idea of a D-SLR on the head (for now) and am looking at:
(A) Canon Powershot G12
(B) Panasonic DMC G2
>>
I am close enough to the business to know what pros use as compacts to supplement high end DSLRs, yes some use Leicas, Olympus Pens etc though the Canon G11 and G12 are generally favoured, the new Nikon Nikon P7100 is also worth a look. The G11/G12 are superb in low light and really controllable.
Some of the Sony, Panasonic, Fuji etc compacts are worthy though it is hard to look past Canon or Nikon from sub £100 compact to £5000 DSLR.
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Thanks Cheddar, after much deliberation/consideration I went for the Lumix G2,
I did consider the P7100, especially with the 7.1x optical zoom lens,
but at the end of the day it's swings & roundabouts really, like with most things.
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If y'all don't hear from me for the next year or two it's because I've just taken delivery of my Lumix G2,
The operating instructions run to over 200 hundred pages, and it's starting to my head in, already!
I knew I should have spent the money on a new pair of walking boots :(
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Wanna buy a nice lens for it guv ?
Lumix H-H014 14mm 1:2.5/14 lens for sale
Lumix G 1:2.5/14 Asph wide angle pancake lens for sale, hasn't been used.
RRP about £350 but can be bought on Amazon £165 - £185
Suits Micro Four thirds camera's
New condition .... £95.00 posted to UK address
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Not cheap to buy new are they Sahib, I'll play with the stock lens for now but I'll be after the 45-200mm jobbie,
Great camera BTW, glad I chose the G2 over a D-SLR, might take 'capture a few images' with it, before the years out!
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Glad you like it - I like mine too but had it over a year now.
My DSLR produces better images but does not do video (got it in 2007/2008 I think). And this is therefore a better all round package. Also most DSLR have compromises for live-view and video (relating to focussing).
How you finding the electronic viewfinder? I think it's very good. Displays the same as the display. So you can preview the effect of shutter speed and f-stop in either... including blurring motion. I find that cool but really used it mind.
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>>How you finding the electronic viewfinder?<<
I haven't got that far yet ;} if it's as good as you say it is I'll be well pleased,
I like the rotating monitor, not had one of those before - I'll be able to shoot myself!
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Although mostly a gimmick in my opinion, the touch screen can be useful.
You can set the camera so you touch the screen to focus and take a snapshot. More likely to be used is you can touch to focus on a subject. Oh and the camera (like many others) will track the subject when it (or the camera) moves and keeps it in focus.
Something the G2 will do (and all SLRs/DSLRs) is proper depth of field - blurring backgrounds etc.
I still like the camera and I've had it since last summer. It was about £500 then.
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>> The operating instructions run to over 200 hundred pages, and it's starting to my head in, already!
You'll end up using it most of the time with intelligent auto turned on :-) It detect the scene type and all sorts.
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Reason I haven't fired the critter up yet is (1) I'm about to throw some Dulux orchid white rich matt on deep pink!! walls upstairs,
And (2) I don't usually bother with instruction manuals but this critter is almost as complex as the flight deck on one of the Ferrets Airbusses/bus's so I'll take my time and learn about using this fine camera and get back 'into' photography again as I don't play golf and I haven't got a boat, like ole nyx :)
Wouldn't mind a little boat though, to search out some of the creeks down the Fal.
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New DSLR camera - Hard Cheese
