Which Digital SLR

[MickG]

Looking to buy a digital SLR and chasing some advice/opinions on what to look for etc. I used to have a Pentax K1000 SLR - great film camera and fully manual.....loved it and it took great shots. I then went for a compact Pentax Optio Digital camera and hated it.....took ages to focus and take the shot bby which time the opportunity has gone.
Essentially I am chasing a good quality Digital SLR and lense that will do what my K1000 did and that is; point, focus, shoot. I really do not need things like motor drives, massive zoom lenses etc but i would like a camera that I can adjust the settings manually if i choose to.
Can anyone suggest what sort of $ I might need to consider to get a decent digital SLR camera and perhaps some other things to consider.

Thanks in advance and please ask me any questions as the technology has moved very fast since my K1000 and the above is pretty vague i know.

Aye, Mick

[Phoenix]

$1000 should get you a decent digital SLR.

I've got a Canon 400D and it is fanastic. Apparently Dick smith online shope has had them for a very good price recently as well. Otherwise try discount digital photographics, they were the best price that I found.

[waynep]

Any of the major brands Canon, Pentax, Nikon are all pretty good.
If you have old lenses for the old Pentax 35mm they can be used on the digital - just need to check which is brand/mount is compatible. Any camera shop will be able to advise.

But have a look at the compact digitals too - we have a Canon A710 and think it's great.

[EchiDna]

I'd kill for a good K1000 :) great basic camera...

big can-o-worms to open there Mick...

fast shutter release (to capture the moment) is a downside of digital - to reduce this time, you have to be prepared to pay for it... more $$$, shorter response time.

www.stevesdigicams.com (http://www.stevesdigicams.com)
is a good bet to let you compare makes/models but if you want any resale value, you have to buy either Canon or Nikon. All brands are running on 6 monthly new model release these days, so you can expect whatever you buy to be yesterday's news about as fast as your credit card number can be punched into the sales docket.

IMHO, the real difference is in lenses - if you buy full frame lenses (not 'for digital') then you have a very good chance that the lenses you buy today will last for a minimum of 5-8 years of new camera models (e.g. canon lenses from the 1980's still fit current cameras). so when you upgrade/wear out/drop and destroy your current camera, the lenses will still fit and work properly. To save some cash, you can buy good secondhand lenses of higher spec than the new digital lenses for less money and be safe in the knowledge that they will be fine for years to come. However that said, image stabilisation (canon)/vibration reduction(nikon) is definitely worth the extra money.

If you are into low light/portraiture work then I'd recommend a very fast (small F number) lens like a 50mm 1.2 or 1.4 - also good for landscape work and very sharp for the money. If you are a zoom lens kinda guy, then there are lots of options from original maker to the higher end stuff from independant lens makers like tamron, sigma etc...

I'm a canon user and a bit biased that way, still got 7-8 lenses from 10 years ago when I was shooting film with an EOS 1n, currently using the same lenses on an EOS 40d... well, I do when I can be bothered to take it out of the dry cabinet...

[MickG]

Thanks guys, very helpful advice indeed. Being an impatient bugger, I am just back from my nearest camera shop where I had a long chat with the sales guy (very helpful) and ended up walking out with a Nikon D40X. It was on offer and came with an AFS 18-55mm ED Lens & a 55-200 ED VR Image stabiliser lens plus bag plus $100 of extras:D So now have the camera, 2 lenses, bag, 1GB SD card, Polarizing filter and 2 UV protector lens caps (1 for each lense) all for $1299. A bit more then I was looking to spend but with the flexibility in lenses I am happy.

Just charging the thing now and will play with it later. Anyone have any experience with the Nikon D40X?

[Grizzly_Adams]

Not me, but congrats on your purchase. I hear they are a very respectable camera and I'd love to get my hands on some of the goodies they've thrown in for you :)

[D3Jon]

I'm a Canon digital SLR user and would recommend them, but as mentioned above, any of the major brands are great. If you stick with Canon or Nikon though, you are more likely to be able to pick up second hand lenses and other accessories more easily.

Nowadays, in my opinion, the one feature to look out for on a digital SLR is some sort of anti-dust or dust reduction system. Dust geting on the sensor inside a digital SLR's is a pain. The sensor on a digital SLR is charged so it attracts dust particles onto it - The dust typically gets into the camera body when you change lenses. A compact digi-camera like your Optio doesn't usually suffer from this as the body is sealed and a good old fashioned film camera didn't suffer from this as you got a fresh "sensor" every time you wound the film on a frame!! :D

The dust on the sensor makes itself apparent as grey 'specs' on your images (obviously always in the same place). You can test a camera by taking a picture of a clear sky with a small apperature setting (by small I mean like F16 or something). As you will probably know, a small apperature setting brings fore and aft items more into focus, so the dust will be more apparent. Then review the picture on a computer monitor, you wouldn't see a problem by looking at the tiny screen on the camera body.

I've had to clean the sensor on my camera a couple of times now, and it's not for the faint hearted involving special cleaning swabs & chemicals, etc.

Dust mainly gets into my camera after changing lenses outside, which is inevitable when you are a keen motosport photographer like myself. The best tip when changing lenses is to keep the camera body pointing down and change as quickly as possible!

Regarding a recommended camera, I guess this depends on your budget and how much you plan on using it. At the moment I would personally go for the Canon 400D, or if your budget allows, I'd definalty go for the 40D with magnesium alloy body, DigicIII processorweather proof seals & dust reduction system.

Here's a link to a review site with details of many camera's (prices are US$):

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos40d/

See here for some Aus Prices:

https://www.camerasdirect.com.au/

These guys seem to offer good prices on camera's though:

http://www.d-d-photographics.com/index.htm

Hope this helps,

Jon

[D3Jon]

Hah, I'd gone for a coffee whilst typing that last response, now I see I'm too late! Never mind, the info about dust might be of interest to others!

Good luck with your new purchase, a mate of mine has one and he loves it!

All the best,

Jon

[WhiteD3]

I had a canon AE1 SLR for years. Last year sold it on Ebay and bought on Ebay a new Konica Minolta 8MP SLR. Fantastic camera, brilliant photos and save a grand buying direct from HK.

[rrturboD]

Good purchase.
My son is taking photography pretty seriously (www.rohanthomson.com). I had a Nikon film SLR, so he bought a Nikon Digital body, uses my lenses! Buys lens, flash etc on EBay from DigitalRev ex Hong Kong. Has had no issues with this firm, prompt, reliable etc. Stick to Aussie source for your camera body for warranty support etc.
Now to see some great photos!

[scrambler]

Like everyone else I was too late getting to this ...

I would highly recommend for anything less than semi-pro use what I bought as the cheapest digital SLR I could find :

http://www.camerahouse.com.au/products/ProductPreview.aspx?productID=1570&productName=K100D%20-%206.1%20Megapixels

6.1 MP is fine unless you want poster prints, has shake reduction, full manual mode, etc, etc ...

AND FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR EXISTING LENSES

The only digital SLR which will use ANY lens from the film range of the same manufacturer.

PS: I did the camera stores over and no-one had Pentax. I bought mine at Big W of all places. The Camera stores wanted to sell whatever they had in stock, whether that had the features I wanted or not (e.g. I wanted a "user interface" similar to a Canon film SLR)
Downsides on newer designs: weighs more, "only" 6.1 MP

Pluses for anyone: price esp for features
Pluses for you: lens compatibility.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

I have a nikon d80 and are happy with it. I've always had nikon slr's and I couldn't handle the little snappy cameras. Too frustrating.

At anyrate it's the guy behind the camera that makes the shot. I don't think the brand has much effect at all :)

[Bushie]

I've got a Pentax K10D, and very happy.

How much do you want for your old Pentax lenses??

You wont be able to use them on the Nikon but they'll work with my K10D ;);)


Martyn

[MickG]

I've got a Pentax K10D, and very happy.

How much do you want for your old Pentax lenses??

You wont be able to use them on the Nikon but they'll work with my K10D ;);)


Martyn

Chasing anything in particular Martyn? I have a sigma, pentax and vivitar lense plus a cable release, flash and filter.

[Hymie]

Olympus E300 and E500 feature a great dust reduction system which is a must have in SLR Digitals.

[5teve]

yeah im too late too... but im just considering one... and have looked extensively at the K10D due to its inbuilt shake reduction / dust reduction.. availability of second hand lenses and the fact its also classes as weather resistant!

Thanks

Steve

[hiline]

i have a finepix s9500 works well for me :D

super Macro mode.........

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/11/19.jpg

http://www.letsgodigital.org/html/review/fujifilm/finepix/fuji_s9500_s9000_EN1.html

review here

[dmdigital]

You all missed the point!

Any new DSLR you buy should be a Nikon!

Bold statement, but it's perfectly logical and has nothing to do with one camera being better than any other.

Nikon makes a D3, Land Rover makes a D3 :D

So that way you can start posting about your new D3 and no one will notice.

[hiline]

You all missed the point!

Any new DSLR you buy should be a Nikon!

Bold statement, but it's perfectly logical and has nothing to do with one camera being better than any other.

Nikon makes a D3, Land Rover makes a D3 :D

So that way you can start posting about your new D3 and no one will notice.

good point mate :D

[timaus13]

I hope u find this tip helpfull.
Buy a couple of 512mb sd cards to allow u to save pics to more than one sd card.
If u get a dodgy sd card u will not lose all pics.
Also look at purchasing a second batt?
One other item I would recommend would be a HP Photsmart printer very small but takes sd and other cards as well as prints 6x 4 prints.
cheers.
PS being digital u can shoot heaps and be picky about what u keep?
;)

[Chucaro]

Hi, Nikon is a very good camera, and you can get very good used lens at very reasonable price.
If you like to have one of the best lens out there for peanuts look for the Nikkor 50 mm 1.8 or the 1.4. The 1.8 cost less than $ 200 and the quality is equivalent to a $ 1000 + lens. the 1.4 about $360. Excellent lens for low light.

When you upgrade go for a Nikon D200 is awesome, I know I have one. Body only $ 1.700 a bargain
Cheer