Discussion
I have been looking around at several of the Canon & Nikon DSLR cameras on the market and have been really disappointed by the lack of any quality 'feel' to the various kit lenses and upwards that are on offer.
They all seem to do the job but even at approx. £700,( a 17/55 f2.8 zoom) that plasticky, imprecise, kid's toy feel is still present.
Do any of the current manufacturers produce a camera system that feels like it's hewn from the solid or is limited lifespan and weight the order of the day?
They all seem to do the job but even at approx. £700,( a 17/55 f2.8 zoom) that plasticky, imprecise, kid's toy feel is still present.
Do any of the current manufacturers produce a camera system that feels like it's hewn from the solid or is limited lifespan and weight the order of the day?
s4avant said:
I have been looking around at several of the Canon & Nikon DSLR cameras on the market and have been really disappointed by the lack of any quality 'feel' to the various kit lenses and upwards that are on offer.
They all seem to do the job but even at approx. £700,( a 17/55 f2.8 zoom) that plasticky, imprecise, kid's toy feel is still present.
Do any of the current manufacturers produce a camera system that feels like it's hewn from the solid or is limited lifespan and weight the order of the day?
Are you referring to the Nikon 17/55mm f2.8 because that definitely doesn't feel like a kids toy, it's a big metal lump of a thing.They all seem to do the job but even at approx. £700,( a 17/55 f2.8 zoom) that plasticky, imprecise, kid's toy feel is still present.
Do any of the current manufacturers produce a camera system that feels like it's hewn from the solid or is limited lifespan and weight the order of the day?
The cheap kit lenses do feel a bit cheap but they seem to hold up well as do the cheaper end bodies (D3XXX/5XXX) etc.. Once you hit the Nikon 7000 and above then they start to feel more substantial.
I've got an old D50 and D90 which are still going strong, just depends on how you look after them.
Remember that excess weight is generally considered a downside with camera gear. It's fine if you're a pro because lugging about bulky kit is part of the job. It's less fine if you're on holiday. It's not poor quality though; a £700 lens from a decent brand should be tough enough to last for many years of reasonable enthusiast usage. However if you want 'heavy' then the pro stuff feels very solid indeed, but a brand new kit will cost you £4k.
Edited by nickbee on Friday 26th July 16:04
s4avant said:
I have been looking around at several of the Canon & Nikon DSLR cameras on the market and have been really disappointed by the lack of any quality 'feel' to the various kit lenses and upwards that are on offer.
They all seem to do the job but even at approx. £700,( a 17/55 f2.8 zoom) that plasticky, imprecise, kid's toy feel is still present.
Do any of the current manufacturers produce a camera system that feels like it's hewn from the solid or is limited lifespan and weight the order of the day?
Lenses are pretty much the same today as they were with 35mm kits. As in cheaper end kit lenses are generally more plastic feeling and lighter weight.They all seem to do the job but even at approx. £700,( a 17/55 f2.8 zoom) that plasticky, imprecise, kid's toy feel is still present.
Do any of the current manufacturers produce a camera system that feels like it's hewn from the solid or is limited lifespan and weight the order of the day?
s4avant said:
Do any of the current manufacturers produce a camera system that feels like it's hewn from the solid or is limited lifespan and weight the order of the day?
Yes, you're just looking in the wrong price sector. Any of the 'pro' bodies and lenses should be solid enough and heavy enough for you 
NB: You may have the Nikon 17-55 f2.8 confused with the 18-55 kit lens. Those 'minor' details account for an extra kilo and about £900!
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