Question for Camera Guys

[arf9999]

There are two cameras. Olympus E-400 digital SLR = 10mp and the Olympus C-505 digital = 6mp as I see it.

It's for my mother. She's been talking about taking up photography for a while. She doesn't know much and I know even less . Just saw this ad in the last hour or so.

I'd probably steer away from Olympus DSLR because of the 4/3 system (limited lens availability) For around the R6000 price point I'd consider one of the following:

Canon EOS 350D - (if you can find one, you may need to shop around. The newer model 400D is around R7500 locally)
Pentax K100D
Nikon D40 (Only limitation is that it doesn't support all Nikon lenses)
Sony A100 - just been discontinued, so you may find good prices on clearance (New version A200 is around R7000)

For good advice go to http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1002 but expect a slight bias towards Canon and Nikon as they have the biggest market share.

 

[bwana]

I'd probably steer away from Olympus DSLR because of the 4/3 system (limited lens availability) For around the R6000 price point I'd consider one of the following:

And noise? They've crammed all those mp into a much smaller area - surely there's going to be some trade off?

 

[Alan]

R6 000 is pretty much the max price range.

Interesting review.

http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/camera/review/128/page_6.html

 

[bwana]

R6 000 is pretty much the max price range.

Interesting review.

http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/camera/review/128/page_6.html

What's lens availability going to be like locally?

 

[arf9999]

And noise? They've crammed all those mp into a much smaller area - surely there's going to be some trade off?

My evaluation didn't even get to Image Quality... If I'm going to buy a DSLR I need to know that there is a reasonable selection of lenses available from the manufacturer and third parties. The 4 thirds guys have a really dismal range at the moment.

But yeah, by reducing the imaging sensor size and cramming in more pixels, we should expect more noise. edit ...actually at 10MP vs APS-C sensors it isn't so noticeable. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse510/page29.asp

 

[arf9999]

R6 000 is pretty much the max price range.

Interesting review.

http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/camera/review/128/page_6.html

For R6000 I'd buy the Nikon D40 or Canon 350D.

For Bwana: http://www.sacamera.co.za/product/228 - multiply by 2 to get 35mm equivalent.

 

[bwana]

For R6000 I'd buy the Nikon D40 or Canon 350D.

For Bwana: http://www.sacamera.co.za/product/228 - multiply by 2 to get 35mm equivalent.

It doesnt have to be just Olympus if its four thirds right?

 

[arf9999]

It doesnt have to be just Olympus if its four thirds right?

nope: Panasonic as well... and maybe Leica ??

Also Sigma according to this:
http://www.four-thirds.org/en/products/lense.html

 

[koffiejunkie]

My evaluation didn't even get to Image Quality...

Don't bother with IQ. Just about all DSLRs offer outstanding image quality. On the various photography forum there is more mudslinging going on between fans of the different brands than in your average Mac vs Windows vs Linux argument on slashdot. And guess what? If you look at all the pictures that people post, all the good ones and all the bad ones, there is very little to choose between the brands, especially if you're just "getting into" it.

If I'm going to buy a DSLR I need to know that there are a reasonable selection of lenses available from the manufacturer and third parties.

That's better Check out the reviews on photozone. You're obviously spoilt for choice on Canon and Nikon, but of course, those are only the lenses they have tested and probably more accurately reflects these manufacturer's willingness to provide test lenses and the site responding to market demand than lens availability.

Keep in mind that for some brands there is a wealth of second-hand legacy lenses available that works perfectly on the newer bodies.

 

[arf9999]

Don't bother with IQ. Just about all DSLRs offer outstanding image quality. On the various photography forum there is more mudslinging going on between fans of the different brands than in your average Mac vs Windows vs Linux argument on slashdot. And guess what? If you look at all the pictures that people post, all the good ones and all the bad ones, there is very little to choose between the brands, especially if you're just "getting into" it.

QFT. edit: if you see the point I made later, I said that there wasn't much in it between 4/3 and APS-C at the same pixel count.

That's better Check out the reviews on photozone. You're obviously spoilt for choice on Canon and Nikon, but of course, those are only the lenses they have tested and probably more accurately reflects these manufacturer's willingness to provide test lenses and the site responding to market demand than lens availability.

Keep in mind that for some brands there is a wealth of second-hand legacy lenses available that works perfectly on the newer bodies.

True... There are plenty of great second-hand lenses for Pentax and Minolta A-Mount (for Sony) available. Nikon used to offer this facility as well, but the newer low-end models no longer offer the depth of backward compatibility.

 

[bwana]

The way I approach it is as follows - you buy a camera but you invest in glass.

Right now I'm looking to buy lenses that will still be on my camera two (or more) upgrades from now and Canon gives me a warm fuzzy feeling in that regard.

 

[koffiejunkie]

QFT. edit: if you see the point I made later, I said that there wasn't much in it between 4/3 and APS-C at the same pixel count.

Aah right, I started typing my reply before you edited your post. Busy in between at work...