What camera?

[rlw]

I have a Canon D300 which I bought a few years ago and it takes perfectly adequate pictures. However, it replaced a Contax RTS2 and I have never really got to grips with the controls being all over the place and the need to hold in this button or that lever to make things happen. Is there a model in the Canon range that is anything like an old fashioned SLR to use. I would love aperture setting on the lens (no chance there) and a little dial on top to change shutter speeds (ho ho) and a viewfinder with a metering system telling me that I am spot on or about to overexpose (on purpose) by 2 1/2 stops as I am facing the un. Any thoughts?

[Simpo Two]

rlw said:

I have a Canon D300

Bet you don't!

But you pose an interesting question - an idiot-proof DSLR.

Hmm.

I think the best you can do is set it to Auto and fire away, but then you've thrown out much of the reason for having one.

I think you'll just have to get some hiking boots and rope and set off up the learning hill

[GetCarter]

rlw said:

Is there a model in the Canon range that is anything like an old fashioned SLR to use?

You'll need a Digital SLR then. (Same as an SLR but... well you get the idea)

[artov60]

I have taken delivery of a Canon 450d today. Lot to learn but so far looks like it is idiot proof. Used to take a lot of pictures with film cameras but not for the last 20 years. Can't wait to get going again.

[SamHH]

I guess that with the number of functions on modern SLR cameras it wouldn't be possible to have a knob or button for every single function. To address your specific points though, Canon SLRs do have a dial on top that controls the shutter speed (although the number is displayed in the viewfinder and on the LCD) and they also have a metering display in the viewfinder that shows what exposure it thinks your settings will result in.

Edited by SamHH on Tuesday 3rd February 21:59

[GetCarter]

SamHH said:

I guess that with the number of functions on modern SLR cameras it wouldn't be possible to have a knob or button for every single function.

Edited by SamHH on Tuesday 3rd February 21:59

Just out of interest, there are many more knobs and buttons on my Nikon DSLR than there were on my Nikon SLR. But then it is much bigger, so has the space.

[rlw]

OK - I have a 300D which is more than adequate but I do not find the controls intuitive in the way of, say, the RTS2 or any Nikon from the seventies and eighties and what I was interested in was if anyone had a view on which camera comes closest in use to the older style of SLR pre digital.

I should add that I was a professional up until 1981 and only maintained a slight interest thereafter in what was going on technologically as I found the beaten up old Contax more than adequate until bits started falling off. I went digital for convenience reasons, not ease of use, but I feel that given a different camera (which actually annoyed me less) I would use it far more.

[rlw]

SamHH said:

I guess that with the number of functions on modern SLR cameras it wouldn't be possible to have a knob or button for every single function. To address your specific points though, Canon SLRs do have a dial on top that controls the shutter speed (although the number is displayed in the viewfinder and on the LCD) and they also have a metering display in the viewfinder that shows what exposure it thinks your settings will result in.

Edited by SamHH on Tuesday 3rd February 21:59

My point exactly - I dont want to know what it thinks but I do want it to tell me what I am doing and I can then judge if I am right or wrong.

[Simpo Two]

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply you were a beginner, merely looking for a camera that is 'easy to use' - ie in your case, like your old film SLR. I fear the answer is 'no' - because digital is simply so different from film when it comes to what you can do. You left the technical 'cutting edge' in 1981 and things have changed in 28 years.

Then again, what about a Leica? I know little about them but the R9 might keep you busy for a while:

http://www.overgaard.dk/leica_digital_back_R.html

[SamHH]

rlw said:

My point exactly - I dont want to know what it thinks but I do want it to tell me what I am doing and I can then judge if I am right or wrong.

I'm not sure what the difference is. There is a little display in the viewfinder that tells you have many stops under or over exposed it thinks the photo is going to be with the current settings. It doesn't change the settings though and you can completely ignore it if you want.

I think the cameras nearer the bottom of the range (like the 300D) will have more of the settings hidden away in menus rather than controlled by buttons and knobs, so if you're not bothered about having the ultimate performance, maybe an older 'professional' camera like a Canon 1D series or a Nikon D1 or D2 would be better. However, they still tend to be controlled by a combination of buttons, knobs and LCD displays, rather than having a single dedicated control for every setting. I think Leica make a digital rangefinder camera that might be a bit closer to that, although I imagine it costs a fair bit. Otherwise, an older film SLR is probably the only way.