Still deciding!!!!

extremenovice

extremenovice

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Steve
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Hmmmm, decisions......decisions.......

I recently started a thread about choosing my first dslr, the replies were great but I'm still unsure as to which way to go!!!! :bang: lol

I was originally drawn to the D90 but then got some good advice about lens prices which swung me a bit towards the Canons!

Looking further into it, I love the flip round screen on the Canon 600d and the 60d which would come in really handy when taking self-take shots whilst out fishing.

Looking at the specs, they seem quite similar (to a numb one like myself)!

Are they as similar as they look or are there any noteable differences?

Is there anything else out there with a flip round screen thats worth a look?

:help: please :thumbs:
 
Panasonic GH1 and 2 have flip out screens, as do the Olympus E3 and E5. They've been around for a lot longer than Canon have been using them.
 
Cheers for the reply :) I'll have a look at those too.

Am I right in saying that the GH1 and 2 aren't slr's in the true sense of the word? What compromise does that propose?
 
Another one you might want to consider, the Nikon D5000 has a flip out screen. I love mine, but I'm looking to upgrade purely becasue I prefer the way the higher end models handle - I'm more than happy with the image quality. :)
 
extremenovice said:
Cheers for the reply :) I'll have a look at those too.

Am I right in saying that the GH1 and 2 aren't slr's in the true sense of the word? What compromise does that propose?
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ecniv said:
Could be wrong, but I think they (GH1/2) are 2x crop 4/3rds cameras... Means the film equivalent of a 50mm lens is 100mm film.

um... no I'm talking c**p... DP Review - GH2

No idea, just panasonics dslr? Although... its is a 4/3rds...
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ecniv - don't beat yourself up, you're more or less right!!

Extremenovice

The GH1/2 are mirrorless micro 4/3rds cameras. They don't have an optical viewfinder - the have an electronic one (ie your looking at an LCD monitor)

The lenses are interchangeable just like a DSLR and iirc the bodies tend to be smaller and lighter than a true DSLR.

Horses for courses really, it all depends what you want to shoot and how the camera feels. Also on micro (and 'regular') 4/3rds the focal length of lenses is doubled due to the crop factor of the sensor (which is smaller in size than an aps-c sensor you find in canon crop bodies!)

Have a think about what you want to shoot, and just as important get yourself down to a camera shop and actually pick them up and see how they feel in your hand!

Regards

Neil
 
extremenovice said:
Looking at the specs, they seem quite similar (to a numb one like myself)!

Are they as similar as they look or are there any noteable differences?
Click to expand...

The 60D is bigger/heavier (the grip is a bit chunkier so might be better if you have large hands). It has a faster maximum shutter speed (1/8000 vs 1/4000 on the 600D). The 60D has a pentaprism viewfinder which is bigger and brighter than the pentamirror viewfinder on the 600D. Flash sync is higher on the 60D at 1/250s (1/200 on the 600D).

The AF system on the 60D is a bit better as all 9 points are cross type (only the centre one is cross type on the 600D). I think the metering sensor on the 60D is slightly different as well (iFCL type).

Other than these, they are very similar cameras. The sensor is virtually identical, so are the movie capabilities and the flip out screen.

Cheers
 
lawrenceots said:
Another one you might want to consider, the Nikon D5000 has a flip out screen. I love mine, but I'm looking to upgrade purely becasue I prefer the way the higher end models handle - I'm more than happy with the image quality. :)
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Yup, The D5000 has a D90 sensor so images should be similar. Just the control side of things that differs greatly.
 
Honestly, go and have a play at a camera store, see which one feels right to you and has the options you like. You could spend the rest of the year umming and arring about it taking in to consideration all of the little things one brand has over the other.

Yes, normally you buy in to a brand with your first dlsr, and while most stick to the brand, others do swap between them. Just find one you like the feel of :)
 
Wow, some cracking replies there, thank you all :) Soooo much to consider!!!

gad-westy/lawrenceots, Does the flip screen on the D5000 rotate fully round to face forward? (for self take trophy shots)

RedTele, I'll be honest, I've had my fingers well and truely burned in the past buying 2nd hand :'( and I kind of made myself a pact that I would never buy 2nd hand anything again :( so for my own confidence, a 2nd hand buy is out of the running.

Roadkill, I'll be mainly looking at general family portrait, scenery and fishing shots, with a little wildlife thrown in. Can I expect the same kind of results/flexibility from a mirrorless micro 4/3rds camera such as the GH2 that I can from a 'proper' slr?

Thanks again folks for all of your help. :cool:
 
Harvey_nikon said:
Honestly, go and have a play at a camera store, see which one feels right to you and has the options you like. You could spend the rest of the year umming and arring about it taking in to consideration all of the little things one brand has over the other.

Yes, normally you buy in to a brand with your first dlsr, and while most stick to the brand, others do swap between them. Just find one you like the feel of :)
Click to expand...



Hi mate, I've had a good play around and feel of various Nikon, Canon and Sony models.......and thats where my problems started :D:D:D I (honestly) feel comfortable with them all! lol

I think the flip screen is going to be my major deciding factor, even though it greatly limits my choice.

My head is now telling me (I think) to just focus on the 60d, 600d or the gh2 (if I can expect the same results from a 4/3rds camera)
 
extremenovice said:
Wow, some cracking replies there, thank you all :) Soooo much to consider!!!

Roadkill, I'll be mainly looking at general family portrait, scenery and fishing shots, with a little wildlife thrown in. Can I expect the same kind of results/flexibility from a mirrorless micro 4/3rds camera such as the GH2 that I can from a 'proper' slr?

Thanks again folks for all of your help. :cool:
Click to expand...

As a general camera from what I've read a micro four thirds does offer a great deal of flexibility - coupled with the fact that bodies such as the Olympus PEN are small and pocketable.

However, like everything with cameras, its all about compromise.

I'd just like to add that I have not used a micro four thirds camera myself - I am basing this on what I've read and discussions on other forums.

One thing I have found many people saying is certianly the Olympus PEN type cameras aren't as good as a DSLR for low light stuff and sports photography - also at the moment I think you'll struggle to find a long fast lens in mirco four thirds mount - best I can find from Panasonic is 100-300mm f4.0-5.6 - which will give you 200-600mm eq for 35mm but isnt particularly fast so you'll need good light.

Results wise, I have seen some cracking pictures from the PEN and G-series - but like everything its more down to the photographer than the kit. You could bung me a 5DmkII and I still wont be able to take pitcures as good as an experience pro with a GH2 (well not yet but I am learning!!)

Personally I used to have a E510 (which is 4/3rds, not micro 4/3rds) but I could have used my lenses on a Olympus Pen body with an adaptor. However, personally I dont like the EVF (electronic View-finder) and like to shoot fast moving objects - birds, wildlife etc which I personally dont think micro four thirds is up to yet.

Regards

Neil
 
extremenovice said:
. Can I expect the same kind of results/flexibility from a mirrorless micro 4/3rds camera such as the GH2 that I can from a 'proper' slr?
Click to expand...

All DXO testting indicates that the GH1 can perform to Canon 7D standards, only very very slightly behind which is incredible given the size of the sensor. You will need to shoot Raw to get this benefit thiugh, Panasonic can't make a decent JPEG to save their life.

As for flexibility, As long as you're not trying to shoot Fighter jets in flight, you'll find it more than capable. I'd actually be fairly confident a GH2 and 100-300mm could manage a fighter jet, but I haven't tried (as I own neither).

I've got plenty of samples floating round on here in various corners of the forum, as well as on my blog in my signature. :thumbs: (I'd particularly reccomend unting out the North Wales meet thread as we all took similar images from a range of cameras so makes a reasonable real world comparison)
 
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Well the D5000 has the hinge on the bottom of the camera, so it doesn't go out to the side like the panasonic G1. You can take a self portrait with the LCD, but it's under neath the camera, you get me? ;)

Sent from my iPhone 4 using TP Forums
 
From DPreview's long awaited GH2 review:

"The GH2 might not be a revolutionary development (in all essential points it is very closely related to its predecessor, the GH1) but we’re confident in saying that it is the best mirrorless system camera that we’ve ever tested, bar none. With the GH2 Panasonic has finally demonstrated that it is able to compete with the APS-C format competition when it comes both to resolution and critical image quality. Although the GH2′s Micro Four Thirds sensor is smaller than those found in cameras like the Canon EOS 60D and Nikon D7000, it runs them both pretty close. Up to ISO 3200 in fact, we’d stick our necks out and say that the GH2 can hold its own against any of the current crop of APS-C format cameras on the market, which is high praise indeed."

Basically what I've been saying all along. When they come down in price a bit I may consider an upgrade.
 
Well, after much deliberation I (think) I've made my mind up to go with a 60D :thinking:

Now for the question of.........which kit lens to go for as a starter????

a) EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

b) EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
or
c) EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS


What do you reckon, bearing in mind its main purpose will be general family, scenery and fishing shots, with a little wildlife thrown in to boot :)

Thank you to all who have helped with your previous replies :)
 
Any possibility of getting the 15-85? It's rated better than any of those listed kit lenses.
 
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