Help choosing a new camera

[Dis-obrn]

If anyone has some input that would be great. I was thinking of upgrading my p&s camera to a better p&s canon s5is, but then decided to make the jump to a dslr. I've done some looking and am needing some input. Basically narrowed it down to either canon xti or pentax k100d. There is quite a price difference, but if I'm going to quickly outgrow the pentax than would it make more sense to invest in a better dslr? I also looked at the nikon d40x but not sure! Any advice or input is greatly appreciated.

 

[Steve's Girl]

Ohh.... Groucho! Call is for you!

 

[AndrewWG]

I personally prefer the Canon line for no reason other than that is what I have used my whole life. If I had to choose between the XTi and the K100D though, I think Groucho has convinced me that I would go with the K100D. Seems like a great camera for the money. You won't quickly outgrow it. I'm not sure what you mean by that. If you outgrow that, you will outgrow the XTi or the D40x just as quickly.

Of those 3 choices, I would rank them in this order:

1. K100D
2. XTi
3. D40x

In reality, the D40x wouldn't be on my list. I would go with a D80 if you want Nikon.


Andy

 

[Dis-obrn]

Thanks! By outgrowing the pentax I guess I was under the impression that it was a great "starter" camera in the dslr category and that with some experience I may eventually need to upgrade. So that is where all of you come in who have dslr experience because I am new and have a lot to learn. At the risk of being thrown off this board, who is Groucho?

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Each camera maker has different model lines at different price points. Pentax, Olympus, and Sony are relatively new to DSLRs and don't yet have very high-end professional models like Canon/Nikon. I know that Sony and Pentax are rumored to be working on such cameras. If you think that you will be upgrading to a $5,000 camera sometime in the future, that could be an important factor in your decision.

All the manufacturers have an entry level DSLR like the Rebel series and the K100D. They all also have mid-level DSLRs like the Canon 40D and the Pentax K10D. It's only at the very high end that the marketplace is, for the moment, still limited to Canon and Nikon.

I would have a very hard time ranking the entry level cameras from the different makers in any kind of order because they all have their own strengths and weaknesses. It's best to learn about those and see what is best suited for you. You may love the very small size of the Olympus, the built in stabilization of the Sony and Pentax, the ubiquity of Canon and Nikon gear and accessories. You may hate the feel or interface of one and love another. Try them and see what feels right to you.

As for Groucho, he is a regular poster that is a big fan of Pentax. He's been a passionate promoter of the brand here and has enlightened many people here to the advantages of Pentax.

In the interest of full disclosure, I shoot with Canon gear and own Canon stock (ticker symbol CAJ), but I have real-life friends that shoot Nikon and don't hold it against them (much) and friends of all religions, er, brand loyalties here on the Disboards.

 

[Groucho]

I'm Groucho.

I do shoot Pentax and am extremely happy with it, but I consider Mark a friend as well as other users of other systems - it's just hardware, it's the photographer that takes the photo! Most DSLRs produce very similar-quality photos, it's really up to the lens more than the body. You'd need to do some real pixel-peeping to see the difference in a photo taken with any extra-level or mid-level DSLR out there.

In terms of "starter" camera, I think the K100D actually offers more than the XTi. The XTi's advantages are that it has more megapixels (really not that important IMHO) and that it has a larger buffer, so it can take more shots in a row. (OK, it has dust reduction too, but a Rocket Blower is still going to be a good investment as none of the built-in systems are very effective.) The Pentax offers more controls (like spot metering), a top LCD, image stabilization with every lens, compatibility with every Pentax-mount lens ever made, etc, etc. It has 11-pt autofocus vs 9-pt in the Canon (probably little difference in real-world usage). Also important, the kit lens in the Pentax is pretty clearly superior to the Canon kit lens, in construction and optics. It also has a non-rotating front element, which is helpful when using a filter that you rotate manually (like a circular polarizer.)

This doesn't mean that the Canon is a bad camera at all (and capable of taking good photos with the kit lens), but I certainly wouldn't think that you're getting a less-functional camera for the price. Canon is a very famous name and many people will buy their stuff just because of the name on the front (as many people admit here), Pentax is a smaller company so they have to compete on features and price. This is a great situation for the consumer as it gives them the option to pick up a fantastic DSLR for an amazing price (just under $400 after rebate.) A Canon S5 is not much cheaper but isn't going to give you nearly the image quality (though it is smaller and takes movies.)

Good luck, I can almost guarantee that you'll be very happy no matter which one you choose!

 

[Dis-obrn]

Groucho, thanks for the input. Even before you replied I did some research and shopping and I am going to go with the k100d. I can not beat the price and am so excited to jump up to the dslr without investing 1000+ $$$. (I know eventually this will be an expensive hobby with lenses and etc.) Quick question, could you comment on the 50mm F/1.4 lense? Is this something I will use a lot? The $25 rebate applies to this lense and I thought maybe I should go ahead and order it along with the camera? Thanks

 

[Groucho]

The 50mm F1.4 is a fantastic lens, I used it for about 50% of my photos on my January WDW trip. It's pretty much the best 50mm lens out there (at least, the best under $1,000!) It's almost mandatory for Disney since there's so much need for low-light shooting.

For a while there, it was hard to find, but they seem to be plentiful now.