Which entry level DSLR for under $1000

[Emo]

Been sussing out a few cameras and want your opinions.

I'm looking for a Digital SLR with a basic lens to get me going.
I see there's a few about for under a Gorilla.....
Olympus E-40
http://www.dirtcheapcameras.com.au/s...idProduct=2042

Canaon EOS 400D http://www.dirtcheapcameras.com.au/s...?idProduct=837

Pentax K200D
http://www.dirtcheapcameras.com.au/store/product.asp?idProduct=2027

and numerous others
http://www.dirtcheapcameras.com.au/s...?idCategory=20

So which one? now remember people UNDER $1000 INCLUDING A LENS
Don't go telling me about your wizzbang jigger that is great and only costs $2000, I don't wanna know about it.

[Justin Boyle]

I'm gonna say Nikon. Just because I prefer them over canon. They have better built cameras IMHO and they also have nice lenses (also IMHO). Don't bother with anything other than nikon or canon. They are the best on the market and you don't pay a premium for that either.

To get the most out of any of the dslrs you need nice lenses. If possible source a second hand 18-70 lens for the nikon. These came standard with their d70 and are one sweet lens. I don't know what the equivalent canon lens is.

P.S. Dirt cheap cameras is by name only. Compare their prices to other online vendors and I would almost guarantee that you wont be going back to them.

HTH

Justin

[Justin Boyle]

Heres a bit of an idea of what I might look at if I were in the market.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NIKON-D60-DSL...QQcmdZViewItem

and that lens I mentioned

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Nikon-AF-S-18...QQcmdZViewItem


That comes to a grand total of $928.94 to your door. Use the rest of the money to buy a 2g memory card and maybe a small bag.

Justin

[fats212]

Steve, I went looking for cheaper DSLR's a little while ago. I looked long and hard, and IMO the Pentax's are hard to go past in that price range.

The older K10D (if you can find one) gets raved about in every review, and usually gets put up against much more expensive cameras in reviews. It should be about the same price as the K200D if not cheaper, but they will be old stock, and may not still be available.

The K200D is the update to the K100D (a step below the K10D) but has now got most of the features of the K10, including dust and weather seals and in-body image stabilization (no need to spend big bucks on stabilized lenses). The K200D does use AA's to, which is a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it.

The downside that I saw to the Pentax cameras was what to do when it comes time to upgrade. If you invest in a few nice lenses over the next few years and decide to upgrade the body, Pentax have limited options (right now), and you waste your lenses if you switch to another brand.

If you go with a Canon or Nikon, you have heaps of upgrade options, but the Nikon and Canon body's of comparable price dont hold a candle to the Pentax stuff (IMO).

Having said that, I really wanted to get into the Canon stuff so I went for a second hand 30D (same as Ruskis). Was definitely a good decision, and a great deal, but deals like the one I got might not come along everyday. The Canon also doesn't have weather seals, or in-body stabilisation, so if I want stabilisation (which I do) I need to shell out a little more for lenses.

Other than that, I suggest you bother every salesman in every shop on Elizabeth street for a while.

Hope that helps.

Anthony

[fats212]

Also, you need to be a little bit careful with the cheaper Nikon's. Some of them don't have a focus motor in the body, so if you want auto focus you need to use lenses with the focus motor built in ( and not all do).

A salesman in a store will sort you out on that front, but be careful if buying second hand or from Ebay.

[StuKlose]

Emo i have use slr's for the last 15 years as an avid ameteur photographer and changed to DSLR's 2 years ago (DSLR pics still don't stand upto good film photos). I agree that Nikon and Canon are it for many reasons but prefer canon over nikon (even though all 4 of my SLR's were nikon) because the cost of canon lenses are quite a bit cheaper than the equivelent nikon.

One of my current DSLR's ia a Canon 400D and i love it as it takes good pics (even with standard lense) but once you add 'L' series lenses it takes just as good pics as cameras three times the price. As far as the weather goes i have used this camera on the boat (splashed with salt spray), on the beach and worst of all around the infamous red dirt and it still works a treat. Like anything if you look after the camera it will last.

Just my experience and thoughts.

[Justin Boyle]

Emo We're all gonna have differing opinions here so it is going to be hard for you to use this advice to make a decision. At the end of the day any DSLR you buy will do an awesome job with a good lens attached to it. Do a bit of research and just buy one you wont look back and you will love it be it nikon canon olympus or pentax.

GL

Justin

[gtxrally]

NIKON NIKON NIKON NIKON NIKON.
Just ask Ruski, he will convert one day.
Give me a call later emo, I might have something for you.
Cheers Dale.

[Emo]

DALE.

PM sent.

[Bear]

Well, I have around me some pretty good photographers who all have their pictures published and we all shoot Canon bar one who uses Pentax. To be honest, the real issue is lense quality. Even if you just get 1 lense, get the best you can and you can build from there.

HTH.

[gtxrally]

Originally Posted by Emo

DALE.

PM sent.

EMO

PM Replied

[Emo]

Originally Posted by gtxrally

EMO

PM Replied

Thanks Dale.

[ruski]

Looks like everything's already been covered, but it also depends on what you want to shoot Steve...

If it's just people/fishing photos to start with, I would say, get the best body that you can afford, a 50mm prime lens, memory and a bag and you're pretty much set.

But if you want a zoom lens, then that starts to change things a little...

For the Canon guys. Lens Pricedrop in Australia (This is assuming you're not already buying from O/S ) - http://www.canon.com.au/products/vis...rd_lenses.html

[phil jagger]

Hi Emo,

While lens quality is a major factor when choosing a DSLR ,or any camera for that matter, the body also plays a big role. The size of the sensor is a major factor in digital photography. I use an Olympus and it uses the 4/3 system and it has a smaller sensor compared to Nikon and Canon and this results in below standard image quality in low light situations and the previlance of "noise" (white spots on the picture) in pictures taken in low light. Also DSLR sensors are known for collecting dust everytime you change lens. This dust then shows up on your pics. Most DSLR's have a dust reduction feature to combat this problem nowdays. So make sure you research the body you are going to buy just as much as the lens(es).

Phil

[phil jagger]

Also remember that most entry level DSLR's aren't full frame. By this it means that a 50mm lens isn't actually a 50mm lens. For Canon you need to times the focal length of the lens by 1.6 (I think) which will infact make your 50mm lens a 80mm lens (which is way too long for potrait type pics on a boat). With Olympus' 4/3 system...if this is what they still use...you have to times it by 2 so if you have a 50mm lens it will actually be 100mm.. For Nikon I believe it is 1.4 times the focal length. (better check these...just in case).
For most work on a boat a lens equilavent to 28mm would be a good starting point...this will allow you to take good shots of the angler kneeling with a fish....if you want to take a close shot you can zoom in (if the lens allows you too) or just move closer.

Hope this all helps.

Phil