I'm going to North America for a year this summer and am looking for a good quality SLR to take, it will be used for biking and climbing so needs to be relativley robust, i've also got a good quality compact for dropping in my pocket. I'm looking to get one soon and then spend the next couple of month learning how to get the best out of it. Budget is about £500 max.
Can anyone make any recommendations, so far i've spotted the Cannon EOS 550d, Nikon D70 or D90.
Thanks,
Gareth
Either of those will be fine. My old 400D has survived an incredible battering and it just keeps going.
I actually threw it down a road at 15mph once.....
I'd add Sony a33 and a55 to the list (small, light and well spec'd).
I'd also look at micro 4/3rds, panasonic & olympus. And... have a look at the Sony Nex-3 and Nex-5 (Play.com have amazing deals on the Nex-3 at the moment). Any of those could well meet your dslr and pocket cameras needs in one camera. Actually if it was me I'd forget dslrs and look at the above instead.
Might be a bit better off with a secondhand D200?
More weatherproof than a D70/D90.
There was a D80 too BTW - good camera.
There are lots available.
There is no 'best', it really doesn't matter.
Get the one that feels nice to handle, has the features you want (ie movies, flip out screen, etc) and is in your price range. And more importantly, what's on special offer.
+1 for 5thElefant above.
I have an Olympus, I love the small size, I absolutely love the cheap but excellent quality lens selection, and I also quite like being different 🙂
However I don't like the lack of second hand kit and not being able to walk into any shop and pick up stuff for my camera.
Find out what cameras your friends have, so you can swap lens and stuff.
All my friends have canons, so it was a canon for me.
I'd go for either of the Nikon or Canon range. One thing is to buy only what camera you need in the UK and then look to add additional lenses etc. when you go to the USA as it will be cheaper to buy over there.
Similarly see if you can borrow a camera to try for the couple of months before you go to the USA and then buy the one you want over there.
Not so sure about this find out what your friends use advice
Won't be lending out my lenses to anyone and fairly sure most people feel the same
While you are at it have a look at Pentax, their entry level DSLR's are excellent value
Standard advice is to go into a shop and try a few out in your price range. I don't think you can really end up with a duff one tbh.
Depending on what you up to while you over there, it might be worth bearing batteries in mind. The pentax k-x, a very good (won awards etc) budget dslr uses 4xAA. Really handy if your camping etc and cant get to a plug socket.
Is that really an issue these days? My camera will do 1000 shots per battery, and I have two of them.
For portable can't go far wrong with 1 of :
-Olympus E-P1 body £199
-Olympus E-PL body £219
-Panasonic GF1 body £199
With a:
-20mm Panasonic F1.7 lens £265
How many lenses you planning to get what types? Do you already own some?
If it MUST be a proper SLR, Canon or Nikon, whichever fits the hand best and whichever controls seem more intuitive. Nikon then.
If you're just after a decent camera, Panasonic G2.
My G1 gets used way more than my Nikon D300 cos its smaller, lighter, not far off the D300 image quality, quick enough in most situations.
I had the same dilemma last month and opted for a Sony a33. Worth looking at.
Not just Nikon or Canon!
+1 for Pentax too. They do the cheapest weatherproof SLR.
I'm going biking through Africa and was looking at the sony nex range. I'm tempted to go ahead and purchase one. With the small lense it really is tiny. The only thing that's bothers me is the flash attachments.
Personally, whilst I love the small lenses I wouldn't want to do without zoom or wide angle.
If I were cycling through Africa I'd probably take a ruggedised compact tbh.
You can get zoom lenses, which I'd take. I want more then a compact though. We shall see, I'm still looking and have not set a budget yet.
Worth noting that some compacts have a zoom capability that would cost a lot more and weigh a hell of a lot more in DSLR versions.
Pentax K-x 18-55mm & 55-300mm Black
£429.00
Insane deal, when you consider the 55-300 is normally at least 235 £ alone.
Still an insane deal, for those interested
Hells bells.
I reckon there are far better discounts to be hand when not buying canikon.
What's that sensor size like compared to others?
APS-C (Sony sensor, same as the a500, so last-generation).
That is a seriously good deal.
Equally interesting deal... [url= http://www.digitaldepot.co.uk/digital-slrs/sony-digital-slr/sony-alpha-a500-18-55mm-55-200mm-twin-lens-kit.html ]a500 twin lens kit for £399[/url]. [url= http://www.radiantlite.com/2009/09/pentax-k-x-vs-competitors.html ]Comparitive review...[/url]
If you are heading to North America then check out the prices of cameras over there before splashing out on one over here - you might well save a bit of cash.
Post those other deals son ... 😈 😆
The E620 is a good deal yes.. but I think this deal is slightly better (if you don't own any gear at all) - just my opinion though
If you are a pixel peeper (and numbers bother you greatly, which perhaps they shouldn't too much) here are the details.. might struggle to beat those numbers for the money
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Camera-Sensor/All-tested-sensors/Pentax/Kx
yes the Kr is out but its not a hugely different.. both get glowing reviews
*hides before canikon onslaught arrives* 😆
I reckon the Oly lenses make it a better deal, personally. Is that Pentax image stabilised?
EDIT: yes, but not as well as some. Seems both cameras are pretty well equivalent according to dpreview.
Yes, pentax is stabilised.
May 15, 2010 – PRESS SUMMARY – PENTAX Imaging Company announced that the PENTAX K-x digital SLR camera, first launched in October 2009, received a Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) award for Best DSLR Entry Level in Europe 2010. The award attributes the camera’s well-balanced combination of advanced features and exceptional basic specifications in a compact, lightweight and maneuverable digital SLR body.TIPA is an independent, non-profit organization of the chief editors and technical editors of 29 leading photo and imaging magazines in 13 countries. It annually selects the most distinguished products in several different categories. This year, the PENTAX K-x received the highest rating in the Best DSLR Entry Level in Europe category.
http://currentphotographer.com/pentax-k-x-wins-tipa-award-for-best-entry-level-dslr/
Wins an award May 15th 2010 and a few months later is being knocked out free if you buy two lenses in the bargain bin. 😆 Gotta love progress.
heh 5th Elefant.. its a good deal..
Not everyone can afford to spend 1 grand.. or replace all the time. This is heavily reduced, because its not the [i]latest and greatest[/i].
Its [i]good enough though[/i] for most people.
Besides its not always about having the very/absolute "best" gear, this will be plenty for a lot of people and is capable of good results. Theres plenty of people on older and less technically capable cameras (on paper) than this who produce outstanding results - better than people who own gear that costs several times more. You only have to look around the net to see that.
heh 5th Elefant.. its a good deal..Not everyone can afford to spend 1 grand.. or replace all the time. This is heavily reduced, because its not the latest and greatest.
That is exactly what I was implying. 😀
Ah fair enough