Which DSLR

[country-mom-of-4]

OK, all - I'm getting ready to take the plunge and buy a DSLR because I'm so sick and tired of missing out on great action shots at my sons' ballgames and missed a bunch because of anxious children at WDW because of my SLOW point and shoot canon!!
Can anyone recommend a fairly easy to use camera? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY HELP!!!!

 

[Steve's Girl]

Oh my, you just opened a can of worms! We all have our favorites. The best thing to do is go to a camera shop and try various models and find the one in your price range that is easiest for you to use.

 

[handicap18]

Start with the "entry level" ones, Nikon D50, Canon XTi and Pentax K100D. They are all going to give great results (when used properly of course) and are pretty similar in features (and pretty close in price), though each has its own pro's and con's. Including (and one of the most important) being different sizes, so each will feel differently in your hands. There are other's that are more expensive which will offer more features, but at least this gives you a place to start.

Good luck.

 

[ukcatfan]

Start with the "entry level" ones, Nikon D50, Canon XTi and Pentax K100D. They are all going to give great results (when used properly of course) and are pretty similar in features (and pretty close in price), though each has its own pro's and con's. Including (and one of the most important) being different sizes, so each will feel differently in your hands. There are other's that are more expensive which will offer more features, but at least this gives you a place to start.

Good luck.

That was very well put. The handling and price ar going to be your biggest decision makers at this level. They will all give excelent results. The Canon is the smallest if I remember correctly and the Nikon is the largest but I believe almost the same as the Pentax. I have the K100D and I love it. One think going for the Pentax is that it has IS (image stabilization) built in to the body, so it works on any lens. It probably does not work as well as the IS of the C or N ones that have it built into the lens, but price of those is much higher and it is only for that lens.

Good luck and feel free to ask questions.

Kevin

 

[gruZ]

One thing to consider is looking at different P&S models - I will admit to not being as familiar with them as with the DSLR's, but if your main goal is to avoid the "shutter lag," there might be a newer P&S for you (does anyone have any info on newer P&S that might not have the lag?) At least check it out.

If your goal is to go "deeper" into what the various DSLR options offer (lens selection, aperture / shutter / manual priority, etc.), then a DSLR is a better choice.

The above advice is very good - go to a camera store, ask questions, and play around with the various models. Better yet, if you have a friend with a model you are intereseted in, see if you can spend some extended time with it outside of a retail environment.

Good luck!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

OK, all - I'm getting ready to take the plunge and buy a DSLR because I'm so sick and tired of missing out on great action shots at my sons' ballgames and missed a bunch because of anxious children at WDW because of my SLOW point and shoot canon!!
Can anyone recommend a fairly easy to use camera? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY HELP!!!!

You can't get a better camera for getting action shots at ballgames than the Canon 1DMarkIIN. It has lightning quick autofocus, 45 different autofocus points, and shoots more than 8 shots a second. Couple it with a 70-200 f/2.8 lens and you've got a great sports rig. The downside is that it's hideously expensive ($3,600 for that camera, $1,700 for that lens), very heavy, and has a steep learning curve.

As has already been said, you are probably much better off getting one of the entry level bodies from Canon, Nikon, or Pentax. For sports, you'll want a telephoto lens.

Unless he plays all day games, you will probably want a lens with a wide aperture (low f-stop number). The problem with that is that those lenses are expensive, especially the zooms.

 

[foto202]

I say go for the Canon XTi or a 30D. I have been shooting Canon since 1994. There is a great community of Canon users and you can find great deals on used stuff and they hold their value pretty well so resale is easy (on the right stuff).

A great lens that is "fast" would be an 85 1.8 from Canon. Usually around 350 and is a good focal lenght for most sports and is fast enough that you can use it indoors w/o a flash at the right ISO.

 

[handicap18]

I say go for the Canon XTi or a 30D. I have been shooting Canon since 1994. There is a great community of Canon users and you can find great deals on used stuff and they hold their value pretty well so resale is easy (on the right stuff).

A great lens that is "fast" would be an 85 1.8 from Canon. Usually around 350 and is a good focal lenght for most sports and is fast enough that you can use it indoors w/o a flash at the right ISO.

For everthing wrote here that says Canon XTi or a 30D change to Nikon D50 or a D80. And any other place thats says Canon, replace it with Nikon. I've been shooting Nikon since 1989,, ppppppphhhhhhhhhhttttttttt

 

[Master Mason]

For everthing wrote here that says Canon XTi or a 30D change to Nikon D50 or a D80. And any other place thats says Canon, replace it with Nikon. I've been shooting Nikon since 1989,, ppppppphhhhhhhhhhttttttttt

since Groucho is busy..

Change where ever you see Canon or Nikon to Pentax K110 or K10.....

There now everyone has been represented...

 

[handicap18]

since Groucho is busy..

Change where ever you see Canon or Nikon to Pentax K110 or K10.....

There now everyone has been represented...

NICE!!

 

[ukcatfan]

since Groucho is busy..

Change where ever you see Canon or Nikon to Pentax K110 or K10.....

There now everyone has been represented...

Wait a minute, didn't we have someone hanging around here that shoots Olympus about a month ago?

 

[donaldduck1967]

Wait a minute, didn't we have someone hanging around here that shoots Olympus about a month ago?

Yes the Olympus E-500. Great Camera and the best kit lens available. And according to reviews ranks right up there with the rest of them.

 

[foto202]

It's all about the Canon white lenses and the red stripe.

 

[DVC Jen]

Don't listen to a word those "non canon" people say.

I am an entry level DSLR user and just got a Canon XTi. I love it. I am still learning on it - but boy have I learned a lot in the past month. It is a great camera - pretty easy to learn. One of the reason I love it so much is the lighter weight of it. I have small hands and it is very comfortable for me to hold. It also isn't going to be this horrendous dead weight hanging from me when I am at WDW.

Just a warning though - like posted on another tread - once you step into the DSLR world - there is this strange affliction that overcomes you. You start "needing" things you never thought you would before... and it can become quite pricey.

And about those huge white lenses with those amazing red stripes... have you EVER seen ANYTHING quite so beautiful before?

DH and I worked communications at the Dallas Cotton Bowl Parade on New Years Eve. We were in the VIP area and there were a lot of pro photographers set up right in front of me. Looking at the cameras they had and the lenses - I felt such envy! But I also knew it was so far out of my league - for now.

Oh - one other thing I noticed. The vast majority of them - had CANONS! LOLOL

 

[MarkBarbieri]

In trying to decide between Nikon, Canon or Pentax, here is the basic guideline:

If you long for the olden days (when Nikon was considered cool), you buy Nikon. If you like underdogs and hard luck cases, you buy a Pentax. If you just want the best possible camera, you buy Canon. It's really pretty simple.

The fact that I own Canon equipment and Canon stock has absolutely no affect on my statement. Those are just the objective facts.

 

[Master Mason]

Its more simple than that Mark. Since I bought a canon and I am always right... (well except maybe about my ex wife, but I digress) everyone should buy a canon.

 

[handicap18]

Its more simple than that Mark. Since I bought a canon and I am always right... (well except maybe about my ex wife, but I digress) everyone should buy a canon.

Thats funny. I thought I was the one that was always right. So since I bought a Nikon then you Canon people are know nothings.

 

[jann1033]

sorry, they're all wrong, hold out for the first casio dslr to be released sometime around 2016...if it's like the casio p&s, all the people will be silver and green and you can make lots of money selling the pics to tabloids as photos of aliens

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Why not rise above the petty debates of the commoners and just start with a

? Seriously, if aren't willing to drop $32,000 to see if you are interested in photography, you probably aren't.

 

[foto202]

B&H gets all of my money.