Moving to DSLR - recommendations and ideas

[cirks]

Well, you lot have generated enough motivation in me to get back in to doing some photography other than just 'point and shoot'. So, time to move into the modern age and get myself a DSLR. That means first, disposing of my old film SLRs etc if I can get a 'sensible' price for them. I've read the comments in the post -
[url]Does anyone use film anymore|http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=214117&f=109&h=0&hw=sell+ebay[/url] so, the next step is deciding what to buy.

I eventually switched to digital when I bought an IXUS400 which I have been very happy with. It's small and great for doing the snaps of the kids etc. One problem with my SLRs is that I got fed up with lugging them around. If I could get one DSLR with a good multi-purpose zoom that doesn't weigh a ton then I would be happy.

I'm still reading reviews but one option I have is to base part of my buying decision on whether I can use some of my existing lenses etc with the new DSLR body.

So, given that I have the following, what would your advice be?

1) Pentax Super-A with number of lenses : eg std 50mm, 20mm W/A, 35-70, 100-300, 2x conv, 2.5fps drive, good flash

2) Minolta SP Xi - with 35-70, 70-210 auto-focus

If I choose to use existing lenses then this probably points to me going for something like the
1) Pentax *ist if I want to have the biggest range of lenses (of course manual focus)
2) Minolta 5D in the case of the AF lenses.

I suppose I would like the following in my new 'kit'.
DSLR
Wide Angle (not ultra but approx 18-24)
Zooms covering equivalent of 35 - 300ish
Macro capability (could be same lense as the W/A?)
Flash

I've noticed that lenses seem to be considerably more expensive for DSLRs than I remember them being for std SLRs. What is the main reason for this?

One other consideration is that I'm slightly short sighted. As it is not possible to compensate the LCD display for this (like you can with view-finder attachments) I assume it would make most sense to get an auto focus camera.

Recommendations on a postcard please.... ;)

[Bee_Jay]

cirks said:

One other consideration is that I'm slightly short sighted. As it is not possible to compensate the LCD display for this (like you can with view-finder attachments) I assume it would make most sense to get an auto focus camera.

You would use the viewfinder compensation anyway (as well as autofocus), as you can't use the LCD to compose your shot on DSLRs due to the mirror and shutter being in the way of the sensor...

[GetCarter]

Few things.

Good call!

Can't comment on Pentax/Minolta

Remember that on a DSLR body a 12mm lens will 'become' an 18mm - thus your wide angle of 18 is going to look like a 27mm

All of my Nikon DSLRs have had the facility (just as on SLRs) to adjust focus through the viewfinder. Again, can't comment on Pentax/Minolta.

Steve

[cirks]

GetCarter said:

can't comment on Pentax/Minolta. Steve

happy to accept recommendations for Nikons too !

Bee_Jay said:

as you can't use the LCD to compose your shot on DSLRs due to the mirror and shutter being in the way of the sensor...

Good point! I was still thinking about the digital compact mode!!

[Tuna]

OK..

Your old lenses (probably) won't be autofocus any more on a DSLR - compatibility issues. They will also have a multiplier, so as has been pointed out, your wide angle 17mm will be closer to 27mm.

If you want a 'complete setup' that gives higher quality images, but don't like the hassle of lugging around a SLR, a DSLR might not be the answer. On the whole DSLRs are bigger and require more accessories than old SLRs.

You could consider something like the Fuji 7000 or 9000 - these have exceptional sensors, provide a good zoom range and macro down to 1cm. Unlike DSLRs they also do video. They're referred to as 'bridge' cameras - for people who have outgrown point and shoot, but don't want the hassle of a full DSLR. They provide SLR-like control over aperture and eposure, but don't give the hassle of managing a set of lenses and lugging around a lot of kit.

[GetCarter]

cirks said:

[quote=GetCarter] can't comment on Pentax/Minolta. Steve

happy to accept recommendations for Nikons too !

[quote]

That's easy then buy a D50 or D70 or D2H or D2X. I promise you won't regret it!

www.nikonians.com/ and follow the links to reviews!

[simpo two]

As someone has said, you might have compatibility issues putting old lenses on a new DSLR - AF, metering etc. I think that by trying to hang on to yoru old lenses you are compromising your new set-up right from the start. For a start, they're not AF: a DSLR without AF is like a racehorse on stilts. You've said one multi-purpose lens will be sufficient, so it's not a big deal.

For now, Simpo says:

1) Sell everything now.

2) Start again with a clean sheet.

Simple

[cirks]

simpo two said:

2) Start again with a clean sheet. Simple

Thanks.
On my clean sheet, what should I put? I'm guessing I'm going to be best going for something like a 6MP around £500-£600 ish? What would you suggest in the way of camera and lens?

simpo two said:

For a start, they're not AF: a DSLR without AF is like a racehorse on stilts.

the Minolta's that I have are AF although I can't say whether they would be compatible or not with the Minolta DLSRs etc.

simpo two said:

You've said one multi-purpose lens will be sufficient, so it's not a big deal.

Might have been due to my waffle in the original post but that's not quite what I meant to say! I'd like to avoid carrying too many lenses but unless there is something that can do a proper wide angle (eg 20-24mm in 35mm SLR 'speak') AND a decent zoom range (eg 35-210+) then I probably would need 2 lenses?

[simpo two]

cirks said:

On my clean sheet, what should I put? I'm guessing I'm going to be best going for something like a 6MP around £500-£600 ish? What would you suggest in the way of camera and lens?

In addition to the two you already mentioned:
Nikon D50 with 18-55mm lens
Canon 350D with whatever lens it comes with (17-55?)
Nikon D70 (if you can find one as it's been replaced by the D70s) with 18-70mm lens

cirks said:

I'd like to avoid carrying too many lenses but unless there is something that can do a proper wide angle (eg 20-24mm in 35mm SLR 'speak') AND a decent zoom range (eg 35-210+) then I probably would need 2 lenses?

You would. Nikon kit lenses go to 17mm which is equivalent to 27mm on a 35mm SLR. If you want wider than that, you'll need a seperate wide angle lens and they're not cheap (to match 20mm you'd need a 13mm lens so you're in the 12-24mm bracket = £300+)

90% of my needs are met by 18-70mm and 70-300mm lenses. You can add to that as you see fit/can afford. If you're a wide angle freak, how about a 12-24mm and 24-120mm? 120mm will seem like 180mm+.

[GetCarter]

You'll be looking for this then:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nikon-D50-Digital-SLR-18-55mm-Lens-KIT-Brand-NEW-8L_W0QQitemZ7553469786QQcategoryZ30020QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

HMG will sting you for a bit of tax (£70 ish??) but you'll still have cash for a Nikkor 70-300 ED (just)

[cirks]

GetCarter said:

You'll be looking for this then: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nikon-D50-Digital-SLR-18-55mm-Lens-KIT-Brand-NEW-8L_W0QQitemZ7553469786QQcategoryZ30020QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem HMG will sting you for a bit of tax (£70 ish??) but you'll still have cash for a Nikkor 70-300 ED (just)

is that a recommendation for the seller or just an example of the product you are recommending?

[GetCarter]

Not used this seller before (Have used another from HK- who was first class)... the recommendation is the kit!)

...I'll go see if the other HK seller is doing similar.... back soon

[GetCarter]

Here we go

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Nikon-D50-6-1MP-Body-Kit-w-18-55mm-Lens-NEW_W0QQitemZ7553263719QQcategoryZ30020QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I (and at least two others from here) have used these guys. All of us have been completely happy with the service.

If in any doubt, post a new thread... "HK - who have you used and would recommend" and they will show up in a day or so

Steve

>> Edited by GetCarter on Monday 17th October 16:03

[simpo two]

I think he should paw them in a shop before ordering blind though

On this budget I don't think the ED version, assuming he wants a 70-300, is best value.

[GetCarter]

simpo two said:

I think he should paw them in a shop before ordering blind though On this budget I don't think the ED version, assuming he wants a 70-300, is best value.

Fair comment on the ED (great lens though) - and I've seen that prices in the UK are blimmin' cheap these days. HK will sink if they drop any more.

[cirks]

Thanks.
Interesting to do a price comparison though. £390 from HK cf. £470 from Amazon. However, add £45p&p plus insurance plus even a reduced VAT/duty then no real difference....

added to note that I wrote the above before seeing the comment from you regarding UK prices

Definately going to handle a few in shops before committing. Always worth going in knowledgeable or at least with idea on what others think about cameras from a experience rather than a 'sales' point of view

>> Edited by cirks on Monday 17th October 16:35

[Master Yoghurt]

cirks said:

Well, you lot have generated enough motivation in me to get back in to doing some photography other than just 'point and shoot'. What would your advice be? Recommendations on a postcard please....

There was a Nikon Digital FAQ that was stickied but due to complaints from "The Dark Sdie" it is no longer available.

Time for Bed

[406]

Oy Yoghurt - STOP IT

[simpo two]

cirks said:

£390 from HK cf. £470 from Amazon. However, add £45p&p plus insurance plus even a reduced VAT/duty then no real difference....

Note also that if you have any problems with it in year one, Amazon will be much easier to deal with than HK. I don't mind buying lenses from HK etc but for bodies, which are much more complex, I'm not sure.

cirks said:

Always worth going in knowledgeable or at least with idea on what others think about cameras from a experience rather than a 'sales' point of view

The usual trouble with asking 'What's the best camera?' is that everybody usually recommends their own (logically enough), then the Dark Side shout their mouths off about ISO 100 and the Cluddites rise up and bludgeon them into the ground....

You see what you've done? Just as we had a ceasefire too...

[KarlosFandango]

Going back to your original choices, don't dismiss the Minolta D5. I'm no expert like some of these guys, but I'm very impressed with it after having it for week. I was also a bit worried about lugging a huge camera around and didn't want to get to the stage where I couldn't be bothered to take it because of the hassle. My shortlist of the 350d and D5 are some of the smaller models and that ended up being a deciding factor.

I think the D5 is apparently compatible with any Dynax lens. The viefinder has a little adjuster thingy and it has anti shake built into the camera. This was one of the reasons I went for it. I moved from point and shoot to dSLR so I had no issues with keeping to brands because of lenses.

As mentioned, it might be a good idea to go and have a play with your shortlist. I started my search about three months ago and had decided on the 350d. But, after seeing the D5 I went up to a local Jessops and tried them side by side. It ended up just being a case of feeling more comfortable with the Minolta.

Whatever you choose will be a great piece of kit. Get whatever you feel comfortable and happy with.