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What kind of camera would you suggest for me?
At this point, I'm looking at nikon digital slr camera [Canon as Canon Rebel XTi, for example]. I'm want outside opinions on the type of camera you should buy. I previously had a Minolta Maxxum5, but I want to "update" to digital. I love taking pictures of landscape and scenery [my family travels to the mountains of Tennessee Smokey often], including farm buildings old, mountains, waterfalls, etc. I also take many pictures in the live music shows, where lighting can be very poor and not much action. Basically, I'm looking for a camera a great all around. Now, I am not the richest person in the world either. I'm looking for a camera body [only] a cost of $ 600 or less. If you also could guide me in the right direction as to the camera lens, that would be great. Many thanks.
If you have a couple of Minolta mount type lens should look at the Sony Alpha 100 (A100) digital SLR, as this is the type of lens that the camera takes. The body is only available at B & H Photo for $ 599. I'm not a big fan of this camera, but it is one of 10 digital SLR in the consumer market at this time. If you want to get away from your lenses Minolta or Sony wants to avoid, first, the Nikon D40 and Canon Rebel XT are in your price range. They are the number 2 and now 3 SLR consumer sales. http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/4341/top-selling-digital-slrs-for-may.html I Abijah to the Nikon way of doing things and I usualyl recommend the D40, but you mentioned the Rebel XTi, so I'm going to talk about the XT as it is in your price range. Post you have some experience, you should go to a camera store and play both the D40 and XT and see what you think. The way you feel in your hands will be the deciding factor. I have a comparison of values that I will include here, but ……. ~~~~~~~~ Nikon D40 vs Canon EOS 350D (Rebel XT) This is not exactly what you asked, but perhaps it is helpful in making your decision. I have never used a Canon EOS 350D, so I really can not compare the cameras, but I am for the D40 because it has a spotmeter and not the 350D. Although the D40 seems small, it is almost the exact same size as the 350D. Http: / / www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_eos350d 2Cnikon_d40% & show = all http://www.dpreview. com/reviews/nikond40/page17.asp tells us that the Canon 350D meter calibration is off by about one third of a stop. Actually, this would not cause any problem except to suggest that "something" to me about the quality as the Nikon and Pentax have died. Scroll down the page image comparison. The D40 is sharper and clearly shows less noise at all ISO settings. Http: / / www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/page18.asp shows that both handles shadows equally, but the clips on the D40 stands for approximately 1 / 3 of a stop. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/page21.asp shows side by side in studio images. 8 MP Canon 350D at least put the camera on an equal footing with the Nikon D40 in image quality, but you have to note that the Rebel XT is shot at ISO 100 and the Nikon shot the lowest value of ISO 200. I think Canon's images may seem a little better, but we know from the page before that under equal lighting levels, the Canon will begin to break before the Nikon. The critic says: "While it is possible to select areas the image you give some credence to EOS 350D 34% advantage to the number of pixels it is clear that the average observer would not notice these differences and it would require a production too large for any of them to be visible. "Look at this … http://dpreview-img.fotki.com/gallery/canoneos350d_samples1/originals/img_4068- dpp.jpg premiums is taken by the Canon 350D with a length of 17 mm focal length at f/6.3, 1/80th of one, with ISO 400 RAW seconds. http://dpreview-img.fotki.com/gallery/nikond40_samples/originals/dsc_1206.jpg taken with the Nikon D40 with a length of 18 mm focal length f / 4,5 a, 1/80th of one, ISO 400 using jpeg seconds. The focal point for the photo of Canon is a bit more deeper than it is for Nikon, but even 8MP RAW and have and use a smaller aperture, I think the image of Canon breaks more than the Nikon. You can hardly distinguish features of the face of the gentleman in the background. Is this the camera or the superiority of the Nikon 17-55 lens, so many of us here praise?? Well, I've made my position clear. I like the Nikon D40 better than the Canon EOS 350D, so here's my overall review of the D40. The Nikon D40 is a great little camera, very easy to use and very reasonable price. It has a few "consumer friendly" totally automatic modes that make it very easy to use, yet offers total photographic control when you are ready to take charge. You get into the family of Nikon, which is a great place to be. If you buy accessories and lenses, you will be able to use everything on any Nikon that you can upgrade to later. As for the "Nikon Picturetown" promotion, which gave 200 D40 in Georgetown, SC. http://www.stunningnikon.com/picturetown/ Here are some comments, in case you have not read yet. Be sure to keep in mind that there are several pages long and some of the comments also have some sample images that can be watched. http://www.popphoto http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/ http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/nikon_d40.html. http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/d40-recommendations.htm com/cameras/3756/camera-test-nikon-d40.html I hate to see people slam the camera because it can not autofocus with older Nikon lenses. It is true that there is a problem "mild" with older Nikon lenses not autofocusing on the D40, but if you do not own a bag full of larger goals, it will not be a problem. It is hardly a problem anyway. If you check www.nikonusa.com for "AF-S" lenses, which are 100% compatible with the D40, is 23 lenses, including 7 "VR" Vibration Reduction () lenses and one true macro lens with "virtual reality". There are other 25-plus lenses in the current catalog that provide all the functions except autofocus as well as many (possibly dozens) "out of print" lenses that will work equally well. Furthermore, although these lens will not focus automatic, most of them still give focus confirmation. From the D40 manual: "If the lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 of faster, the viewfinder focus indicator can be used to confirm whether the portion of the material in the selected focus area is in focus. After placing the item in the area active focus, half-pressing the shutter release button and turn the lens focus ring until the focus indicator on the screen. "(See by http://www.members.aol.com/swf08302/nikonafs.txt a list of AF-S.) The D40 only has 3 autofocus zones arranged horizontally at the center, 9 morning and 3 o'clock positions. This could be considered a limitation, but realistically, most people find this perfectly adequate, especially if you is moving from a point and shoot with only the downtown area. You can get the D40 with the 18-55 kit lens at B & H Photo available through Yahoo! Buying or 1-800-622-4987) for $ 525 (June 2007). Add a Lexar Platinum (60X speed) card for $ 25 or 2 GB for $ 35. Or – get the D40 with 18-135 lens and 1 GB Lexar card for $ 750. We also have used D40 from $ 475. And yet … Clearly these are both very good cameras. What it comes down to is one to feel better. Go to a camera store and pick them up and see. ~~~~~~~~
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