Digital Camera Buyers' Guide - Year of the SLR
by Wesley Fink on November 23, 2007 6:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
Prosumer Picks
Photo Hobbyists usually have an investment in a particular lens line and that influences their buying decision. It also seems emotions run high among photography hobbyists, so we wouldn't dare make a hard recommendation in the prosumer area or we'd be ducking rocks. However, it is hard to ignore the Sony A700 with the incredible AF speed, shooting speed, body-integral image stabilization that works with all lenses, and the same 12.2MP CMOS sensor as the coming Nikon D300 - a camera that will cost around $1800. There is also the gorgeous hi-res 3" screen. The D700 is a fantastic camera body.
The problem with Sony right now, however, is that the existing inventory of Minolta lenses is dwindling and prices are increasing for good used Minolta lenses. Sony hasn't introduced enough new Sony and Carl Zeiss lenses to fill the void - or at the very least Sony hasn't shipped the ones they've previously discussed. The ones they have shipped are also very expensive compared to any competing system. Perhaps the A700 is the push Sony needs to do something positive about a better and more available selection of lenses, which is the reason to own an SLR in the first place.
Nikon and Canon have the lens area covered in spades, but the Canon 40D, while a very capable camera, breaks little new ground. It is very fast in focusing but the sensor is the same resolution as the entry Canon XTi and the AF module appears similar to the 30D. The only real improvement is a faster new Digic III processor. You do get auto sensor cleaning carried over from the XTi, a 3" screen that is unfortunately low-res compared to the Sony and Nikon, a very fast 6.5FPS shooting speed, and Live View, copied from Olympus.
The Nikon D300 has that gorgeous 3" screen like the Sony and the fast, low-noise 12.2MP sensor further improved by Nikon electronics expertise. The only real feature you get on the Nikon that's missing from the Sony A700 is Live View. Nikon also introduces their first auto sensor cleaning system. Veterans will tell you that the most important feature you get is the Nikon lens family.
The Olympus E-3 breaks new ground for Olympus. If you consider it a full pro model with the full dust and splash sealing, it is a bargain at around $1699. It also is a long overdue update for the outdated Olympus AF modules in past Olympus DSLR cameras. Olympus has improved the AF with each new model line but 3-point AF just wasn't competitive. The new Olympus system is competitive and very fast and it will likely find its way into cheaper future Olympus cameras.
While we weren't really watching Olympus has put together a really impressive lens line up for 4/3 cameras, with many very fast f2.8 and f2.0 zoom lenses, an 8mm fisheye, fast super wide zooms, some of the longest telephoto lenses available in any system, and a group of very good performing and cheap kit lenses. Leica and Sigma have also added a few 4/3 mount gems. If it isn't already too late, those looking at the current Olympus 4/3 system are likely to be very pleasantly surprised.
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xoham - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
In my view, Canon is great. I would prefer that they integrated the image stabilization into the camera body like their competitors but I am otherwise very happy with my Canon.Consider this site for, perhaps, better digital camera reviews:
dpreview . com
I think this website is important enough to see that I created an account here just to tell you about it.
xoham - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
In my view, Canon is great. I would prefer that they integrated the image stabilization into the camera body like their competitors but I am otherwise very happy with my Canon.Consider this site for, perhaps, better digital camera reviews:
http://www.dpreview.com/">http://www.dpreview.com/
I think this website is important enough to see that I created an account here just to tell you about it.
xoham - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
In my view, Canon is great. I would prefer that they integrated the image stabilization into the camera body like their competitors but I am otherwise very happy with my Canon.Consider this site for, perhaps, better digital camera reviews:
http://www.dpreview.com/">http://www.dpreview.com/
I think this website is important enough to see that I created an account here just to tell you about it.
xoham - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
In my view, Canon is great. I would prefer that they integrated the image stabilization into the camera body like their competitors but I am otherwise very happy with my Canon.Consider this site for, perhaps, better digital camera reviews:
http://www.dpreview.com/">http://www.dpreview.com/
I think this website is important enough to see that I created an account here just to tell you about it.
xoham - Monday, January 7, 2008 - link
In my view, Canon is great. I would prefer that they integrated the image stabilization into the camera body like their competitors but I am otherwise very happy with my Canon.Consider this site for, perhaps, better digital camera reviews:
http://www.dpreview.com/">http://www.dpreview.com/
I think this website is important enough to see that I created an account here just to tell you about it.
ChibiKitty - Tuesday, December 4, 2007 - link
Up until I read these comments I had no idea what Pentax was or what they produce. I've been looking to replace my water logged camera for a while now (it wet at the beach). I'll have to look into Pentax some more.....rodspade - Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - link
For those of us who aren't already camera mavens, it would have been nice to have the term "SLR" explained.melgross - Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - link
Single Lens Reflex.It means that you are looking through the taking lens, rather than through a viewfinder that is separate.
It uses a mirror in front of the film, or sensor, that flips up right before the picture is taken, and then right back down again. The mirror usually also reflects the light to the meter, which is usually in the area of the prism, on top of the camera (the bump you see on top).
The prism also enables the reflected light from the mirror to be projected out the back, and top of the camera, where the viewfinder is.
some cheaper digital cameras also allow viewing through the lens, but use no mirror, and show the image on a small, magnified, display inside the viewfinder. This is called "live view".
While such a camera is a single through the lens viewing camera, it's not a reflex, because it doesn't use a prism, which is where the term reflex comes from.
Some new D-SLR's now have live viewing as well, but under limited conditions, not as a general purpose function.
I hope that helped. If it's still not clear, ask more questions.
Morro - Monday, November 26, 2007 - link
As far as I remember according to dpreview Sony A100 has terrible noise at ISO 800 and higher. It is quite a original choice to pick a camera with 400 ISO max. for low light.drwho9437 - Monday, November 26, 2007 - link
Seriously, this isn't even remotely a good write up of the field. Pentax excluded as many have mentioned, Sony suggested for its paper features. If you are blown away by what is on the data sheet this is the review for you, otherwise read something half real at dpreview.Stick to computers anandtech (not that anyone but Anand and Johan do a good job at that here either), or hire someone good.