[dropdedfwed]

hey Sazzy,

one thing to be aware of with digital SLRs is the "consumer" ones (say canon 350D and 20D) have a digital sensor 2/3 the size of 35mm film. this means when/if u use one of canons many EF lenses (pretty much all canon lenses since 90s) you will magnify the 35mm equivalent power by 1.5 (200mm lens gives u 300mm power etc) which is great for telefoto, but a bum for wide angle shots.

in saying this, canon does make EF-S lenses designed for this "problem", so u can use an EF-S 18-55mm lens which will give the same power as a 28-90mm lens on a film camera. this lens comes standard with the camera if u buy as "kit".

but it also means any "good" lens that u may find second hand will/may give u too much power.


the 5D does away with this problem by having a full sized sensor... and a huge price tag.

if you're only getting into things, i dont think u can need, or can justify, anything other than the 350D. for it's price, it's probably the best thing there is (sorry nikon, i am biased ). the 20D is essentially it's tougher brother...

with any of these canon DSLRs, your image quality is essentially relative to the quality of your lens... the kit lenses are "cheap"... but still u get much better pics than a compact digital

fwed

[mrcheese321]

everyone here seems to be from the Nikon/Cannon party. Anyone have any thoughts on the Minoltas?

I'm actually looking to get back into photography and I used to have a Minolta Maxxum 5. I loved it a lot because it had some great features and took killer pictures. I sold that camera a couple of months ago when I was thinking of getting a digital, but I never got around to actually purchasing one. Should I switch companies or does Minolta make a good D-SLR?

c

[dropdedfwed]

Originally Posted by mrcheese321

everyone here seems to be from the Nikon/Cannon party. Anyone have any thoughts on the Minoltas?

I'm actually looking to get back into photography and I used to have a Minolta Maxxum 5. I loved it a lot because it had some great features and took killer pictures. I sold that camera a couple of months ago when I was thinking of getting a digital, but I never got around to actually purchasing one. Should I switch companies or does Minolta make a good D-SLR?

c

yo cheesy,

konica minolta make atleast the 7D and 5D. i htink the 5D sells for about the same as the canon 350D. it 6.1MP. the 7D is only a tad more expensive. not sure how good they are. the 7D has "anitshake" tech in it.. for what that is worth to u...

Sazzy, just a thought - if you're after good holiday pics etc, mb u dont really want to lug a DSLR around - they are a lot heavier than their film counterparts, and they are bulky. mb if u want pics better than a compact pocket digicam u should consider cameras like the sony cybershot DCS-H1, or the fuji finepix S9500 or similar. they have high MP count, as well as lenses that are much better/bigger than some of the smaller cameras. they are obviously not going to be anywhere near as good as a DSLR, but they are a good middle of the road choice, and a fair bit cheaper.

i find the biggest advantage of DSLR over standard digital cameras is that i have 100% control over WHEN the shutter goes off - none of this people looking away, missing the moment shots. only downside is no LCD "preview", only post-view (you need to use the view-finder to see the image b4 u shoot, but after u shoot u can see the image on the LCD). the upside of this is i am more stable in holding a DSLR, cos i am holding it firmly against my face, not holding it out at half armslength peering into a screen

Also, Sazzy, re prices... going on the prices quoted in the UK "Digital Photographer" magazine, HK is MUCH cheaper. Travelling thru Europe and UK early this year, i was not overwhelmed by anything cheap, and i was eagerly looking at 350D and 20D prices... but for now i am just waiting to see if the 5D gets below the 20k mark... hope upon hope...

[martyn]

I bought my 350D from Wing Shing Photo Supplies in Mongkok - they were friendly and very helpful.


I think one of the cons of the dSLR cameras are that it cannot take videos - then again it's a camera, not a camcorder.. Well for Canon that is the case, anyone know about Nikon or the other SLR manufacturers?

[mrcheese321]

I'm surprised that the minolta 5d is so cheap. I was expecting it to be more expensive. But I guess when you compare it to the 7d it can't be much more than it is now.

I guess I will have to go to a store and actually play with all of the cameras and decide which one to get...

Thanks for the help though. I'll probably get either the 7d or 20d. I think that I have enough photography experience to handle one of those. I would love to get 5d, but I think that would be too much camera for someone like me.

C

[martyn]

Originally Posted by mrcheese321

Thanks for the help though. I'll probably get either the 7d or 20d. I think that I have enough photography experience to handle one of those. I would love to get 5d, but I think that would be too much camera for someone like me.

C

Get the 20D and then buy something like this: http://www.pbase.com/vthian/image/33066908

[Sand]

Are you sure you need a SLR. What about the bridge cameras (a cross between compact and SLR)?
There are some pretty good models around at the moment and no need to carry/change lenses.

[mrcheese321]

me of sazzy?

I don't really need one, but I really want one

I like the flexibility of being able to change lenses. I also like that you can put on filters and enhancers.

c

[martyn]

Originally Posted by mrcheese321

me of sazzy?

I don't really need one, but I really want one

I like the flexibility of being able to change lenses. I also like that you can put on filters and enhancers.

c

I dont really need my 350D but it does the job.

flexibility of being able to change lenses? That's not flexibility! Not changing a lens would be flexibility
*wondering when Canon release a 10 - 500mm f/2.8 IS USM*

[PhilE]

I agree with Sand about the bridge cameras - and Martyn - I know you're joking about the Canon 10 - 500mm, but we just got back from a safari in Africa with my brother in law. He's new to digital photography and the family bought him a Panasonic FZ-5 here in HK for about 300 GBP all in (with SD cards, case, batteries etc).

This has a 35-420mm equivalent (12x) zoom lens between f/2.8 and f/3.3. It also has the Panasonic equivalent of IS and a pretty quiet zoom mechanism. Whilst the pictures weren't as sharp and exhibited more CA than my old Canon 300D, its an extremely impressive camera and would satisfy many amateur photographers who want flexibility to take landscapes and close-ups as well as having other features such as light-weight, low-bulk, reasonable video mode etc. You can even get some 3rd party lens adaptors - though not in the same league as an SLR. Finally, it has modes from 'novice' to much fuller aperture and exposure control (though no manual focus).

Even if you pay 6400 HKD for the 350D with its kit lens and then add the new, very well received, 70-300 IS lens for 5500 HKD (the 2 lenses giving you most of the 29mm - 480mm range) and some cards, case and batteries you're talking over 1000 GBP.

There are other very well reviewed 'super zoom' cameras from Canon, Minolta and Sony too. These are great cameras to learn on - and then hand on to a friend or family member if you decide you want to (and can afford to) move into D-SLR territory.

My brother-in-law was delighted with his present - though again, if he'd had the cash, I'm sure he'd have been tempted to go with a D-SLR like many of us have been here!