Another "what camera should I buy?" thread

bradleysmith

bradleysmith

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Bradley Smith
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I guess everyone's sick of the "Which DSLR should I buy?" questions but hopefully I'm providing enough information that it's a more meaningful question than usual.
I need some help here peeps. I want to get myself a DSLR and I've been looking for weeks and going round in circles. If I put some info in here maybe someone can help with suggestions?

I currently shoot using a Canon T90 with a 50mm and 28mm lens. I'm used to lugging a tripod around too.
I photograph anything and everything (not wildlife though and I have no inclination to buy a lens that would allow this either)
I have up to about £400 to spend on a DSLR and kit lens.

Must haves:
-----------
1. Ability to use older (cheaper! I object to paying £150 for a 50mm f/1.8) lenses (via adapters maybe?) to allow me to experiment a bit
2. Decent auto-focus - have missed a few shots recently due to my inability to manual focus fast enough
3. Mirror Lock up or equivilent? - I've experienced blur at 1/30th and 1/15th speeds in the past, even when on a tripod
4. DOF preview - I use this facility a lot
5. Decent(ish) kit lens - I don't want to have to spend an extra £300 for an adequate walkabout
6. Full manual options - I'll stick it on aperture priority 99% of the time but still...
New one
7. Ability to adjust the auto-focus - I had an Alpha 300 that back focused. I fixed this myself by adjusting the sensor position using the bolts but it was a pain!

Would like:
-----------
1. SDHC card support - I already have an 8GB card so this'd be handy
2. Good high ISO quality and or Image stabilisation - just because it sounds useful
3. Ability to use different focus screens (I imagine this is asking the impossible at my price point but you never know)

I don't care about:
-----------------
1. Video
2. Fancy effects in the camera

Many thanks for your time
 
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Canon 450d with kit lens the after a while grab a 55-250mm.
We use this kit for training and it ticks all the boxes.
All bought on fleabay from Digigood at xlnt prices.
 
Is it against the rules of the forum to suggest anything other than Canon/Nikon?

I have the Olympus e520 and I've been delighted with the clarity and sharpness of the Zuiko kit lenses and the extra macro lens that I bought....

They are currently going for stupidly low prices, which in no way reflect on the quality...

Janet
 
Thanks. I'd already been looking at the E-520, that seems like a good option.

With regard to the EOS though (which I hadn't considered), how would I use lenses other than EF or EFS mount? Can I put FD lenses on? Do I lose infinity focus?
Brad
 
Thanks for all the help.
EOS is out the window then as it looks incredibly restrictive and complicated with regard to mounting older lenses.
Sony - I can't find a Sony with mirror lock up or DOF preview. Have I missed a model though or are we talking about a second hand model that did have these features?

Cheers
Brad
 
phototuition said:
Canon 450d with kit lens the after a while grab a 55-250mm.
We use this kit for training and it ticks all the boxes.
All bought on fleabay from Digigood at xlnt prices.
Click to expand...

I'd recommend this combo too. On your budget you are a little limited.

The price for older lenses seems to be rising at the moment so why not buy new and have a warranty and IS ?
 
bradleysmith said:
Thanks for all the help.
EOS is out the window then as it looks incredibly restrictive and complicated with regard to mounting older lenses.
Sony - I can't find a Sony with mirror lock up or DOF preview. Have I missed a model though or are we talking about a second hand model that did have these features?

Cheers
Brad
Click to expand...


Your options are really the entry level models from Nikon, Canon or Sony. I doubt you'll get mirror lock-up on any of them and you certainly won't get a high-quality kit lens.

You'll either need to accept some compromises, buy secondhand, or significantly increase your budget.
 
Hmmm, a colleague has just directed me to the Pentax K-x. Appears to meet all my needs. I know about the lack of indication of focus point but I'd focus using the centre anyway. MLU, DOF Preview, pretty much all the old Pentax lenses can be used (at reasonable prices). I can put a split/prism focus screen in there. Best low ISO performance of any APS-C camera.

What am I missing here? It's ticking all the boxes for me. I'd never even considered Pentax as I assumed they'd simply failed to keep up with the big boys!

EDIT: As a bonus it does 720p video (the kids might like to play with this!) and 4.7fps and AA batteries and a dynamic HDR feature.

*googles to check prices*

EDIT: Popping into Currys shortly to buy my twin lens kit.
 
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Ok, thought I'd solved my problem by buying a Kx. However, it was faulty and had a known issue whereby you get double images due to a problem with the anti-shake system. Took it back and tried another one but that had the same problem AND the jog wheel was faulty. Serious Quality Control issues at Pentax IMO.
 
Hmm never seen that on a pentax before, and I've had them with the newer anti shake system.

it is the best as far as backwards compatibility with older lenses goes as it can use any pentax fit lens ever made.
 
Discussion is rife on the official Pentax forums. Those with the issue know it's an issue, those with perfectly functioning cameras are saying it's user error. All I know is I took a shot at 18mm at 1/125th with the anti-shake on and I had a blurry mess. I shouldn't even need anti-shake at that shutter speed. Such a shame. Now looking at a 500D...
 
Also looking at the Olympus E620 and E520 (as recommended by Janet). E620 doesn't allow a split-prism focus screen so 520 seems better choice right now. Canon 500D seems like I'm paying for the Canon name.
 
bradleysmith said:
I currently shoot using a Canon T90 with a 50mm and 28mm lens. ...
Must haves:
-----------
1. Ability to use older (cheaper! I object to paying £150 for a 50mm f/1.8) lenses (via adapters maybe?) to allow me to experiment a bit
2. Decent auto-focus - have missed a few shots recently due to my inability to manual focus fast enough
3. Mirror Lock up or equivilent? - I've experienced blur at 1/30th and 1/15th speeds in the past, even when on a tripod
4. DOF preview - I use this facility a lot
5. Decent(ish) kit lens - I don't want to have to spend an extra £300 for an adequate walkabout
6. Full manual options - I'll stick it on aperture priority 99% of the time but still...

Would like:
-----------
1. SDHC card support - I already have an 8GB card so this'd be handy
2. Good high ISO quality and or Image stabilisation - just because it sounds useful
3. Ability to use different focus screens (I imagine this is asking the impossible at my price point but you never know)

I don't care about:
-----------------
1. Video
2. Fancy effects in the camera
Click to expand...

Our Olympus e-600 ticks all your must-haves and with good kit lens cost £330.
Add the good 40-150 for £70ish.
Uses CF not SD : shame really.
So-so high ISO : disgraceful.
No Video.

BUT if you have a Canon autofocus 50mm & 28mm don't mess about : buy another Canon. sheesh. I would.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Your options are really the entry level models from Nikon, Canon or Sony. I doubt you'll get mirror lock-up on any of them and you certainly won't get a high-quality kit lens.
Click to expand...
Olympus e-600 has mirror-lock-up and a very good (image-quality-wise) kit lens. Sharp and low-distortion and no CA ! - standard 3.6-5.6 apertures though, sure.
Entry-level Sonys now have mirror-lock-up? I didn't see that. Better check. Some of them are going cheap too.
 
Thanks, I missed out on the cheap e-600s sadly :-( The 620 looks great but I think I'd rather have the option to put a split prism screen in there over and above the enhancements the 620 has over the 520. Still not sure.
The entry level Sonys don't have MLU, or DOF preview.
My canon lenses are both manual, not AF so I'm not tied to an existing system in any way.

Canon 450D... hmmm, I'll check that one out too.

EDIT: 450D appears to be more expensive than the 500D? £515 with kit lens?
EDIT 2: Just realised that by using Live View the need for a split-prism for manual focusing is diminished isn't it?
 
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bradleysmith said:
EDIT 2: Just realised that by using Live View the need for a split-prism for manual focusing is diminished isn't it?
Click to expand...
Probably. Depends how quick you want to be focusing. I'd expect live view to take longer than just looking down the viewfinder.

BTW, live view is super good at focusing automatically as it uses a different method of focusing compared to the autofocus system.

As to 450 being more expensive than 500, that's because it is older and the 500D is the volume camera right now. 500D has mirror lockup too I believe.
 
Thanks Andy, 500D is top of list at the moment now. Seems to be better in almost every department than the Oly 620. £520 from Argos. Hmmm
 
Same lol, I've been on camerapricebuster. Just doing a last bit of research on the new Nikon D3100 before deciding whether to collect the 500D.
EDIT: Just went and had a play with a Panasonic G2 and as a result have joined the micro 4/3rds brigade.
 
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