Which is better??

[ukcatfan]

Kevin, I take it you are a Nikon user?

Nope, I am a Pentax K100D user. If funds had not been an issue, I would probably be a 30D owner, but I am pretty happy with my camera.

Kevin

 

[deletedpenguin]

Ya, I've heard good things about Pentax.

 

[Master Mason]

OK......so I just noticed something. I was looking at bestbuy and I saw that the Canon Rebel XT is within my price range, and it comes with the 18-55mm lens. Also, I noticed that according to them, it DOES have IS. And the sensor size is 22.2mm x 14.8mm. So I think this might put it in the running now with the other two. Just what I needed....ANOTHER option!!

The XT has IS, but it is in the lenses that you would attach to the camera, which can be very expensive.

the sony and Pentaxes have the IS in body, which means that every lens can be used with IS.

Here is my take on IS, it is nice, but certainly not a requirement, you know pictures were being taken for 100+ years with out it, and some pretty amazing stuff I might add. This is strictly my opinion only.

I think the thing to do, if you have decided on a dSLR is to find the ones that fit your budget

Petax 100D and 110D I think
sony
Canon XT
Nikon D50 and D40 (I would knock of the D40 for other reasons personally)

then go and hold each one, then go home and decide just how important IS is to you based on how each one felt and how much it cost you.... If IS is a deal breaker get the sony or pentax, if it isn't then your open to the canon and/or nikon....

here is where Mark would remind you to think about if you ever want to upgrade to a professional camera, you have that path currently only with canon or nikon.

Bottom line, to me is get the one you like and don't worry a bit about what others think, it's your camera and the only one that needs to be pleased with the choice is you (and perhaps the wife)

 

[RBennett]

So Pentax IS a good brand? I'm sorry, I'm just still new at this. Growing up, whenever I heard anything about electronics it was Sony this and that and for cameras it was Canon this and that. Then my brother bought a Sony P&S that he really liked, so for cameras it was now Canon and Sony. But I never heard much about Pentax. So in general, what order would you put the brands, or is that even a fair comparison? I know they each have their own pros and cons.

 

[ukcatfan]

OK......so I just noticed something. I was looking at bestbuy and I saw that the Canon Rebel XT is within my price range, and it comes with the 18-55mm lens. Also, I noticed that according to them, it DOES have IS. And the sensor size is 22.2mm x 14.8mm. So I think this might put it in the running now with the other two. Just what I needed....ANOTHER option!!

It does not have IS in the body. Canon is the number one "in body" IS basher around. That is shocking from such a big company like BB to have a mistake like that. The IS for Canon is in the lens and that means that a lens with it is usually at least a few hundred more than a non-IS model. There are always debates as to which is better and so on, but both systems are effective for gaining at least a 2-3 stops. The lens based is a little better, but the in body system makes it available to every single lens for only around $100 one time (the price difference between the non-IS K110D and the IS K100D).

I went out thinking that the XT was the camera for me, but after handling it next to the Nikon D50, Canon 30D, and Pentax *istDL I no longer liked it. All of the DSLRs are very capable cameras. I cannot stress enough how important it is to go out and handle them in person and take test shots before making a decision. If I had not, I would have a Rebel XT and not be all that happy with it. It just did not feel right in my hands. The *istDL is the old model that the K110D and K100D replaced. Check Circuit City and local camera shops for the Pentax models. You will not likely find them at BB, CompUSA, WM, or Target.

Kevin

 

[ukcatfan]

So Pentax IS a good brand? I'm sorry, I'm just still new at this. Growing up, whenever I heard anything about electronics it was Sony this and that and for cameras it was Canon this and that. Then my brother bought a Sony P&S that he really liked, so for cameras it was now Canon and Sony. But I never heard much about Pentax. So in general, what order would you put the brands, or is that even a fair comparison? I know they each have their own pros and cons.

Pentax used to be a huge player back in the film days. Their K1000 was I believe the most popular camera ever. It was the standard camera used for photography classes. They sort of dragged their feet a little when the market turned digital and Canon and Nikon took over. Minolta was even slower and ended up selling off to Sony.

The nice thing with Pentax is that there are literally millions of old lenses around that still work with the new models. Some of the older are manual focus and possibly even manual aperture, but still work. I have two used lenses that come from back in the film days that I like.

Kevin

 

[Master Mason]

So Pentax IS a good brand? I'm sorry, I'm just still new at this. Growing up, whenever I heard anything about electronics it was Sony this and that and for cameras it was Canon this and that. Then my brother bought a Sony P&S that he really liked, so for cameras it was now Canon and Sony. But I never heard much about Pentax. So in general, what order would you put the brands, or is that even a fair comparison? I know they each have their own pros and cons.

yes pentax is a good brand. I bought an XT, but at the time the only pentax was the *ist, if I were to be purchasing today, from scratch, I would have to give strong concideration to the pentaxes, I can't say for sure what I would do, but they would certainly be near the top of the list.

 

[ukcatfan]

So Pentax IS a good brand? I'm sorry, I'm just still new at this. Growing up, whenever I heard anything about electronics it was Sony this and that and for cameras it was Canon this and that. Then my brother bought a Sony P&S that he really liked, so for cameras it was now Canon and Sony. But I never heard much about Pentax. So in general, what order would you put the brands, or is that even a fair comparison? I know they each have their own pros and cons.

Sorry, but let me muddy the waters a little more in an effort to eventually help. What do you plan on doing with the camera? landscapes, portraits, sports, kids, auction images, etc. That can play an important part in what brand and/or model is best.

Kevin

 

[photo_chick]

OK......so I just noticed something. I was looking at bestbuy and I saw that the Canon Rebel XT is within my price range, and it comes with the 18-55mm lens. Also, I noticed that according to them, it DOES have IS. And the sensor size is 22.2mm x 14.8mm. So I think this might put it in the running now with the other two. Just what I needed....ANOTHER option!!

While I have the XT and love it.... It does not have IS in the body like others have said. If IS is an important feature to you don't get the Rebel, get the Pentax. I do agree with the school of thought that photography has been around a long time without IS though. Personally I don't have any IS lenses and no plans to get any in the near future. But that is me, some people swear by their IS.

My personal feelings are to stay away form Best Buy as well. Their service after the sale is terrible and they have a nasty habit of repacking returns and selling them as new.

 

[RBennett]

Sorry, but let me muddy the waters a little more in an effort to eventually help. What do you plan on doing with the camera? landscapes, portraits, sports, kids, auction images, etc. That can play an important part in what brand and/or model is best.

Kevin

Sorry, I guess that WOULD help wouldn't it? Here are my main purposes: vacations, family get-togethers, and special events (ie kid's concerts, martial arts, dance recitals.) And of course....DISNEY!!

 

[RBennett]

While I have the XT and love it.... It does not have IS in the body like others have said. If IS is an important feature to you don't get the Rebel, get the Pentax. I do agree with the school of thought that photography has been around a long time without IS though. Personally I don't have any IS lenses and no plans to get any in the near future. But that is me, some people swear by their IS.

My personal feelings are to stay away form Best Buy as well. Their service after the sale is terrible and they have a nasty habit of repacking returns and selling them as new.

VERY good to know!!! Thanks everyone again for ALL of the great input!! Keep it coming! I know everyone keeps stressing that I need to go to the store and feel it in hand, but this was to mainly point me in the right directions. It's pretty overwhelming when you walk into a store and there are 50 cameras looking at you saying, "pick me! pick me!!"

 

[ktulu]

I got my XTi from Best Buy, it was fine, obvious it was not opened, unpacked and returned. If you're concerned, check it out in the store. It's quite obvious when something is opened, unpacked and then re-packed

I used a circuit city ad, and got my XTi, 18-55mm, and 75-300mm for $921 plus tax, usually the XTi and 18-55mm is $899 Plus I got the reward zone points AND I put it on my Disney Visa. I'm looking to replace the 75-300 with the 70-300 IS in the future, but it's not a horrible lens to have.

 

[ukcatfan]

Sorry, I guess that WOULD help wouldn't it? Here are my main purposes: vacations, family get-togethers, and special events (ie kid's concerts, martial arts, dance recitals.) And of course....DISNEY!!

I need to point out that even though my camera has IS, that was not a big selling point for me. I decided on Pentax and figured what the heck, why not go ahead and spend the extra $75-100 to get it. The IS is good for telephoto and low light shots of stationary subjects. It will not do anything for other situations. Really the only telephoto I do at WDW is at AK. The IS will help there, but otherwise I will likely stay with the 18-55mm kit lens most of the time.

I does not sound like there is too much action shooting going on for you, so if I were you, I would go for the K100D with both lenses and that $150 rebate. It is a very nice deal. If IS is not that important, then go with the cheaper K110D and possibly save that money towards a future lens. If you were going to be doing a lot of action like football, soccer, basketball, racing, etc. then I might start to steer you away from Pentax as it has a max of five rapid shots in burst mode, which is helpful for fast action. The burst mode is still pretty fast, it just slows down after about two seconds, where a Canon or Nikon might go a couple of seconds longer before slowing down.

Kevin

 

[ukcatfan]

VERY good to know!!! Thanks everyone again for ALL of the great input!! Keep it coming! I know everyone keeps stressing that I need to go to the store and feel it in hand, but this was to mainly point me in the right directions. It's pretty overwhelming when you walk into a store and there are 50 cameras looking at you saying, "pick me! pick me!!"

I got my XTi from Best Buy, it was fine, obvious it was not opened, unpacked and returned. If you're concerned, check it out in the store. It's quite obvious when something is opened, unpacked and then re-packed

I used a circuit city ad, and got my XTi, 18-55mm, and 75-300mm for $921 plus tax, usually the XTi and 18-55mm is $899 Plus I got the reward zone points AND I put it on my Disney Visa. I'm looking to replace the 75-300 with the 70-300 IS in the future, but it's not a horrible lens to have.

There is no need to avoid places like BB, CC, and the like as long as there is a good deal. That usually is not the case. I have made multiple purchases from Buydig/Beach Camera (sister companies) and have been very happy. Generally if you see a price lower than them, you should be very sceptical as there are many more scam artists than honest retailers in the online photography world. Adorama and B&H are probably the best around, but they are usually a few dollars more once shipping is included. Buydig/Beach Camera often run free shipping.

Kevin

 

[ktulu]

My 50mm came from Amazon, and my 28-135mm came from BH, I like to spread my money around

 

[ukcatfan]

One last piece of advice. No matter what brand/model you end up with, go out and pick up a copy of Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure from a bookstore or online. http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003 It will really help you get the most out of the money you spend on the camera.

Kevin

 

[RBennett]

You guys are AWESOME! I think I've decided on the Pentax, so long as when I go to the store to look at it, it feels comfortable to me. So I have another question, while I'm on the topic of "newbie" questions; what is the advantage/purpose of higher ISO settings? From what I can tell, it tends to add more noise to a picture than it does anything else.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

You guys are AWESOME! I think I've decided on the Pentax, so long as when I go to the store to look at it, it feels comfortable to me. So I have another question, while I'm on the topic of "newbie" questions; what is the advantage/purpose of higher ISO settings? From what I can tell, it tends to add more noise to a picture than it does anything else.

The higher the ISO, the more sensitive to light. The more sensitive to light, the faster the shutter speed can be.

Without the ability to use higher ISO speeds, the only way to get a good night shot is with a slow shutter speed (can be in the range of seconds, not fractions of a second) and a tripod; any little shake of the camera will cause the image to be blurry and any bright spots (like lights) will appear to have tails....

Yes, higher ISO always means more noise ... but, just how much noise is largely dependent upon the camera. Just look at the comparisons on that other site in those reviews I've been posting for you ... some cameras have much noisier high ISOs than others.

 

[ukcatfan]

You guys are AWESOME! I think I've decided on the Pentax, so long as when I go to the store to look at it, it feels comfortable to me. So I have another question, while I'm on the topic of "newbie" questions; what is the advantage/purpose of higher ISO settings? From what I can tell, it tends to add more noise to a picture than it does anything else.

Usable high ISO is one of the biggest selling points of a DSLR. The ISO 1600 of a DSLR is often better than the ISO 400 of a p&s camera. It is used for low light or anytime that it is difficult to get enough light to the sensor, like long telephoto shots. Without using it, the necessary shutter speed is often too long to capture the shot without a tripod or the shot will end up blurred due to the subject moving while taking the shot. It also allows for a larger DOF by allowing a smaller aperture (hole that lets light in). That is not something most p&s owners have to worry about. Controlling DOF is a very powerful tool that any DSLR owner should learn.

Kevin

 

[deletedpenguin]

One last piece of advice. No matter what brand/model you end up with, go out and pick up a copy of Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure from a bookstore or online. http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003 It will really help you get the most out of the money you spend on the camera.

Kevin

AMEN to that. It's a great book.