looking for a SLR Digital camera follow up

[jaxnjil]

have had a canon sure shot and now using a nicon cool pix 7900.

would like to get better scenery pictures at the lake. have been and seen some places in the last few years that i might not see again and would like to get better quality pics to save. dont want to dig out old pentax K 1000. want to do the same only with the convenience of something digital.

any thing you can offer to school me, and guide jill and i to making a good purchase will be appreciated


not really up on pic cells and focus length ect.
kinda know hat they are but not what is good and bad

 

[doral270]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

I have a Nikon D60 SLR and love it. I have a close friend who is a entry level professional photographer who turned me on to them. He uses a higher end Nikon D300, which takes increadible pictures but it will cost you. My D60 takes nearly as nice of pictures at a fraction of the price. I believe we purchased the camera with an extra lens for around $700 one year ago. The Nikon D3000 (current model comparable to D60) now sells for approximately the same price and has a few additional options. My vote is Nikon and I would be happy to send you some pictures I have taken with it. Good luck!

 

[doral270]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Other pictures using Nikon D60

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

interesting to note the D3000.
thats te one we are looking at on amazon

 

[piper_chuck]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

+1 on Nikon. I've had a D40 for a few years now and it's been great. When I was researching I found that the additional lens quality of the SLRs more than made up for slightly less pixels that come on some of the point and shoot camera. After years of suffering through shutter lag it was so nice to go back to instant pics with the SLR.

According to the latest from Consumer Reports, one of many sites I use for research, the Nikon D90 is at the top of the list for what they call "Basic" digital SLRs. Their other check rated choices are Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Nikon D5000, Pentax K200D, and Canon EOS Rebel XSI. The D3000 was a bit further down the list, but still scored pretty well. It's price is also much more bearable.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

piper will check consumer report.
thanks for the idea

 

[MRS]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Go to the NikonUSA and check them out from the D60 on up you cannot go wrong it just depends on what you want to do. And how much you want to spend plus if you want to use a big flash instead of the flip up make sure what ever you get has a hot shoe on it. Good Luck in your hunt....

 

[rogerwa]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

We just bought a digital SLR for our daughter for xmas. I was looking at the Nikon D3000 because at the entry level, there is not much diff between the Nikon D3000 and the Canon. You will find the Canon $50-$100 more though because I think their name gives them a markup. I found the Nikon on sale this season for $499 and the Canon for $569.

I ended up buying the Canon though becasue I went into the camera store (national Camera Exchange) and they had signs everywhere to ask about open box specials. I did and found they had a Canon returned because it had a slight scratch ( I could not see it) on the lcd screen. They took $70 off for that. The Canon is what my daughter wanted so thats what I went with..

I would encourage you to go to a camera store and shop there as the prices should be competitive with the Best Buys and you will get better information and they will sometimes throw in a class or extras with it.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

I bought a Pentax K-x (got in on a deal on newegg for 630 total, included 18-55mm and 55-250mm lens plus some camera bag)

Please do not buy any DSLR on any other place than Amazon/Newegg.com

there are ALWAYS deals for cameras online at crazy prices.

Here's some pics I took with the K-x today.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Nikon-Canon, Ford-Chevrolet, Mercury-Evinrude, look for the features you need and then compare. Here's a website, although it's a Canon site, it was a great help to me since I knew nothing about DSLR's.

http://web.canon.jp/imaging/enjoydslr/part1/1B.html

 

[jdsgrog]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Not sure what you are looking for but any entry level dslr would work well. When you compare all the dslr's at entry level (sub $1000), they all are comparable (sensor size, optics, image stabilization, etc.). Don't get caught up by pixel size. Pixel size is really irrelevant unless you plan to make larger photos (beyond 8x10s). a 6.1 megapixel camera is plenty and will make acceptable 9x12 photos. But today's slr's are well past 6.1 megapixels. The two primary things you look for in the digital slr's are the image sensor size and optics. In this, all the major brands are pretty comparable. Just know that NO entry level dslr's are "full frame" cameras (full 35mm image sensor). The full frame dslr's start around $2000.

 

[Scooch_2]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

My Wife and I have a Canon T1I and really love it. We have the kit lens that came with the kit lens (18-55MM) and we purchased a 55-250mm lens as well.

We tried a Nikon and did not care for the pictures it took. The Nikon can be a bit softer and the Canon's are a bit sharper before you adjusting your shooting settings. I do completely agree it is a Ford vs Chevy type discussion, and it does come down to your personal taste.

A great place to research various models is http://www.dpreview.com/

Here are a few reviews you may want to read

Nikon D3000 - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond3000/
Nikon D5000 - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond5000/
Canon XSi (EOS 450D outside the US) - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos450d/
Canon T1i (EOS 500D outside the US) - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos500d/

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

well this is the one jill likes but nothing ordered yet.


Nikon D60 10.2 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera Body

Vanguard MP-6 Monopod Floor Standing Monopod

Full Size tripod

Merkury DVC-18 Large Digital Camera / Video Bag is light weight and compact design.

Digicom Video Hard Case Pro Series DC-C81

4GB SD Memory Card

High Speed Secure DigitalCard Reader

Lens Care and Maintenance Kit

Universal Digital Camera Screen Protector

Deluxe Lens Pouch For SLR Lenses

Introduction to Your Digital SLR on DVD

Cap Keeper

Nikon 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 AF Zoom Nikkor Lens

Nikon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D Nikkor Lens

$610

 

[mscher]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

I have had a Nikon 5700 (awesome camera) and now use a D40, and excellent camera which also take great shots.

It is able to be operated with total manual exposure for maximun control or totally simple automatic mode, for new users or when one is in a hurry. The D40 can be purchased with a kit lens for $450.

One thing I do not like about it, it that it does not have a "preview mode", where you can see the subject through the LCD screen before shooting. You must always use the viewfinder. Some newer models have this very useful feature.

Some DSLRs have now added video capture, which enhances their usefulness, IMO.

IMO, the top end models are not really worth the extra money. Most good photos are due to the eye on the back side of the camera.

 

[Scooch_2]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

The D60 was replaced by the D3000. The price for all of that stuff you listed seems a low, but its possible that is is a close out deal since the D60 was discontinued. Also, the lenses you listed don't seem to be the VR lenses (vibration reduction). The VR feature is very useful to help you take good shots when you are not on the tripod.

If you like the D60, I would look closely at the D3000 instead.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

thats the down side to the lenses. they do not have the vr feature. they would cost over twice per each for this feature

one of the things we liked about the d 60 was the lack of, for a better term, features. it seems simpler but will still do the job.

 

[Triton II]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

I've used Canons for a long time now - first was the AE-1P. Five years ago I bought a D300 and its still takes beautiful photographs. The nice thing about Canons is the lenses are interchangeable and (here in Australia anyway) they have the best servicing centres compared to Nikon and Olympus.

 

[JaSla74]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

While your researching check out the Olympus E510 or 520. Both come with two lenses & are rated pretty well. I bought the E500 a few years back & have been pleased.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

you really need some kind of VR....without your pictures will be tough to get clear without using a tripod...

The K-x has "vr" built into the body....

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

Re: looking for a SLR Digital camera

you really need some kind of VR....without your pictures will be tough to get clear without using a tripod...

As a general rule of thumb if your shutter speed exceeds your focal length you can get by without a tripod or vibration reduction.

For example; if you are using a lens that has a focal length of 100mm then you need to use a shutter speed that is 1/100th of a second or faster with out a tripod . So the shorter the focal length the slower the shutter speed that you can use with satisfactory results. A flash will also help to freeze motion.

Personally I chose to use Nikon because I can still use my old lenses. We have a D80 and we are very happy with it but I would agree with the previous comment about not being able to preview the shot on the screen. That would be a nice feature.