Tell me about your SLR camera

[deva]

Anyone have the Nikon D3000 or D5000 or the Canon Revel XS or XSi? My digital camera died and I'm looking at getting an SLR. I don't need anything too fancy.

If you do have an SLR do you ever use it for video? If so, how is the quality? The one nice thing about my old digital camera was that it had a "movie" mode that I could flip over to. It was convenient to capture impromptu movies. You need to get a more expensive SLR to get the video feature and I'm trying to decide if it is worth it.

Thanks.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Moving to the Photography Board. They'll be able to help you with suggestions on camera and video equipment.

 

[SandrA9810]

You don't want anything fancy but you want a d300??

I've used an older model of the cannon rebel. It's fast at shooting, but nikon can sometimes beat it in other qualities. But if you get a Nikon, read the manual on how to use it. I think it's more complicated than the rebel settings (well at least setting them).

http://s559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/SandrA9810/Halloween Party/

besides the last photo with Mickey, all the others were taken with a Cannon Rebel. I have about 400 photos that need to be uploaded, that I took all in one night with that camera. Those are just some of my favorites.

 

[ukcatfan]

Anyone have the Nikon D3000 or D5000 or the Canon Revel XS or XSi?

You don't want anything fancy but you want a d300??

OP is looking at the D3000, which is much different than a D300.

I would not upgrade to a higher DSLR just for video. If that is really important to you, it might be cheaper to get a p&s with video to go along with the DSLR. There may be one affordable DSLR with HD video off the top of my head, the new Pentax K-x. It hits shelves in about a week for $649, $749 with a 50-200mm added, or $849 with a 50-300mm added. Another interesting thing about it is that it comes in black, white, red, or navy. I am considering this one as an upgrade to my Pentax K100D which is now three years old.

 

[bob100]

Anyone have the Nikon D3000 or D5000 or the Canon Revel XS or XSi? My digital camera died and I'm looking at getting an SLR. I don't need anything too fancy.

If you do have an SLR do you ever use it for video? If so, how is the quality? The one nice thing about my old digital camera was that it had a "movie" mode that I could flip over to. It was convenient to capture impromptu movies. You need to get a more expensive SLR to get the video feature and I'm trying to decide if it is worth it.

Thanks.

I have the Canon XSi (450D) - very good DSLR but it doesn't have video, Look at the newer Canon models with video like the T1i (500D). I like the video features in the newer models so I think it would be worth it if I was buying new.

 

[boBQuincy]

I have a Canon Xsi. It does not have video although the next model up (T1i) is similar and has video. I would rather carry a tiny video camera such as a Flip.
All of the cameras you listed are entry level models, all are capable of great photographs. All of the photos on our website within the past year (with the exception of Midsummer Night's Dream) were taken with the Rebel Xsi.

Go to a store and hold the various models, one of them should feel right to you.

 

[annnewjerz]

I agree that I probably wouldn't spend the extra money just to get video on my dslr. I have the D90 and while I have video as an option, I've only tried it out once and didn't find it worth my time. For a small clip or short video of your kids, vacation, whatever---I'd probably just use something like the FLIP that boB suggested, or carry my old p&s that has video capabilities.

 

[Frantasmic]

I have an XSi and love it. It gets the job done and was economical.

If you just want impromptu videos, the TSi or the Nikon's you mentioned should work as well. I'd wait until the new Pentax comes out and then try several of them out yourself to see which one feels best for your style.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I got the Nikon D5000 about 6 weeks ago. I've been impressed with it so far. The video is pretty good at 720p using the kit lens. I'm trying to get a video uploaded to photobucket without it getting compressed too much. I think it looks pretty good.....better than my cheaper SD Video Camera.

 

[scoot241]

My XSi is a great camera. It doesn't have video, but honestly I probably wouldn't use it very often if it did. The one thing I wish it had was higher ISO, but that only even came into play at WDW on the dark rides.

Any of the cameras you mentioned are going to be good choices. Have you actually handled any of the cameras? You may find that you really don't like the way a certain camera feels in your hands.

All the shots in my Flickr except for two or three were taken with the XSi, so feel free to take a look around (link below) to get an idea of the photos it takes.

 

[DisneyGrampa]

I got the Nikon D5000 about 6 weeks ago. I've been impressed with it so far. The video is pretty good at 720p using the kit lens. I'm trying to get a video uploaded to photobucket without it getting compressed too much. I think it looks pretty good.....better than my cheaper SD Video Camera.

I got my D5000 mid-August and took it to Disney in early September. I used the video a couple of times, with good results, but that's not why I chose it. I wanted a camera that had good high ISO performance. The D5000 uses the same sensor as the D90, and both have good reviews of their high ISO performance. I didn't weant to pay the higher price for the D90, so that's how I wound-up with the D5000.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I got my D5000 mid-August and took it to Disney in early September. I used the video a couple of times, with good results, but that's not why I chose it. I wanted a camera that had good high ISO performance. The D5000 uses the same sensor as the D90, and both have good reviews of their high ISO performance. I didn't weant to pay the higher price for the D90, so that's how I wound-up with the D5000.

I did the same thing. I was thinking about the D90 for a while and liked everything about it that I read online. I went to Best Buy and they had the D5000 next to the D90 for comparison. It's smaller and lighter and it just felt better to me personally. A few weeks later I had the D5000

 

[sallysue66]

I just bought the D3000 last week. It does not have video. Like PP's I'm going to use my old p&s for that. I'm new to slr's but I like the camera. On advise from the experts on this board I spent months researching and playing with the cameras at Best Buy. The Nikon seemed better suited for me and I think I got a pretty good deal at $477 (on sale, 10% off moving coupon from the change of address packet at the post office and $20 off coupon from the entertainment book). I didn't want to spend much more than that on a camera, it would cut into my Disney/Other Vacation funds!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Here's a bad example of the video feature on the D5000. These were just from messing around the other day on a break from bike riding. These aren't a quality production just a hint at what it looks like......


http://www.youtube.com/user/natenlogansdad

I think youtube compresses the video a little, it looks a little better on my laptop than on the net. Be nice, we were having fun.

 

[deva]

Thanks everyone for your input. Have not been to the store yet. My old camera died Sunday (my son's birthday party of all days) and we left for WDW Tuesday. Thank goodness for grandma and her camera!

I plan on heading to Costco or Best Buy once we are home to see how they "feel". Will still need to consider the video option....

Here's a bad example of the video feature on the D5000. These were just from messing around the other day on a break from bike riding. These aren't a quality production just a hint at what it looks like......


http://www.youtube.com/user/natenlogansdad

I think youtube compresses the video a little, it looks a little better on my laptop than on the net. Be nice, we were having fun.

AWWWW, they're cute!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Just a heads up, I was in Best Buy yesterday and just happened to swing by the camera dept. I played around with the D3000 for a few and saw another feature to consider. The ISO only goes up to 1600 on the D3000 but the D5000 goes to 3200.

 

[DisneyGrampa]

Just a heads up, I was in Best Buy yesterday and just happened to swing by the camera dept. I played around with the D3000 for a few and saw another feature to consider. The ISO only goes up to 1600 on the D3000 but the D5000 goes to 3200.

That's because they don't use the same sensor. Not only do you have to consider whether a camera offers a high ISO, but also the performance (Noise) at that high ISO.

 

[KarenAylwood]

My XSi is a great camera. It doesn't have video, but honestly I probably wouldn't use it very often if it did. The one thing I wish it had was higher ISO, but that only even came into play at WDW on the dark rides.

Any of the cameras you mentioned are going to be good choices. Have you actually handled any of the cameras? You may find that you really don't like the way a certain camera feels in your hands.

All the shots in my Flickr except for two or three were taken with the XSi, so feel free to take a look around (link below) to get an idea of the photos it takes.

I pretty much agree with this. I have the XSi, love it but only wished it had higher ISO for dark rides at WDW. Other than that I don't use the ISO at 1600. It's a great camera for a beginner dSLR. I wouldn't use the video if I had it. Like Ann said- I'd buy a small video camera before I'd pay more for a camera that had it.

 

[ukcatfan]

The new Pentax K-x goes to ISO 12,800 for $650 retail. It will probably go down to around $600 on the street fairly soon.