Currently I've got a big zoom digital that was top-of-the-line two years ago (Panasonic TZ5) and really has yet to be improved upon much.

I've done a lot of messing around with borrowed DSLRs though, primarily a Nikon D40, a Canon XSi, and a Canon T1i. I know I definitely need to get an SLR, but I've never thought it would be a good idea to bring a borrowed SLR into a UE setting, so I don't have any experience with them from that angle.

I'm currently thinking either a Nikon D300 or a Canon T2i; thoughts, anyone?

^
a t2i body and some nice glass.

or if you don't care about video

a xsi body and nicer glass.

Posted by ElExplorador So, opinions: $280 CDN for a 300D + kit lens and bag, worth it? I think so, comes with all the standard stuff and a starter memory card. For a first DSLR I'm pretty much just going on value. That said, I also found a rebel XT w/bag with the same 18-55 kit lens (though the XT comes with the IS lens) for $350... but maybe I should take the 70 bucks difference and put it towards a better lens in the future instead?

I'd go for the latter...you're beginning in the DSLR world, and probably don't have much of an idea of what lenses you want to upgrade to based on your shooting preferences and style. If the XT does indeed have the IS version of the 18-55 (ask again to be sure) I'd go for that for now. The 18-55 IS is pretty good for a beginner lens over the older 18-55 non-IS lens.

Depending on where one is in the camera gear spectrum, $70 can be a small drop in the bucket in terms of lens prices

Any opinions on the pentax K-7?

I just looked into getting some new equipment and the canon t2i is looking like the best bang for the buck. 900 for 18mp body, 8gig sd card, 18-55 lens, camera bag, it shoots full hd video which looks great. Anyone have any experience with it?

I have one and I love it. Little small but an external battery grip solves that. Takes great HD footage too.

A very nice camera, indeed. A good friend of mine has one and I've used it a few times. The screen on that thing is amazing, and it takes awesome photos. The rebel body is very small, which is hard to get used to if you've been using a larger-bodied camera, but it's very lightweight which is nice. Definitely a great deal for a great camera.

yea i compared it to the canon 7d and 5d, it really small in comparison, but they basically have all the same exact chips inside them just different bodies, minus the fact the 5d is 21mp or something like that. I like the fact that the t2i is way cheaper then the 7d but have the same parts ha ha ha.

I'm not sure about the difference between the 7D and the t2i, but from what I've seen the 7D's film footage is better looking. But the t2i is nothing to shake a stick at. I played with one in the store. After having a 50D for a year, the t2i's rebel body is shockingly tiny to me.

It's a great camera though and I have seen amazing stuff from it.

I'd definitely pick one up if i had extra cash for a second camera.

yeah i'm a poor ass mofo so I didn't have much of a choice... As soon as I get some $$ saved up its 5D Mark II for me

Posted by lord fudgy yea i compared it to the canon 7d and 5d, it really small in comparison, but they basically have all the same exact chips inside them just different bodies, minus the fact the 5d is 21mp or something like that. I like the fact that the t2i is way cheaper then the 7d but have the same parts ha ha ha.

The 7D is essentially the same camera as the T2i on the inside, the main difference is the body of the 7D is much larger and has different controls. There are other slight differences in the video shooting modes and things like that, but the IQ would be the same between both cameras.

The 5D is a totally different ballgame, it uses a full-frame sensor as opposed to a 1.6x crop sensor that the 7D, T2i, etc. has. The huge difference in price reflects the difference in quality, the 5D blows any of the other bodies out of the water.

If you are dropping almost $1k anyways, why not just go for a used 5D and get the full frame?

Posted by willskith If you are dropping almost $1k anyways, why not just go for a used 5D and get the full frame?

Yeah. BUT even a used 5D Mark 1 goes for $500 more than a new T2i.
Let alone the Mark 2 which goes used for $1500 more.

Posted by willskith If you are dropping almost $1k anyways, why not just go for a used 5D and get the full frame?

I would argue that the newer bodies have a lot more to offer in terms of features. The 5D Mk1 is a dinosaur nowadays, has the old DIGIC II processor, and only shoots at 3fps. All you're paying for is the full-frame, and to some people it may be worth it, but I'd prefer to have a newer processor, faster fps, better screen, better controls, and the ability to shoot video is HUGE to me. That's just me though. The 5D MKII is worth saving for in my opinion, but pretty soon we'll be seeing a 5D MKIII, so who knows.

If the T2i is what my cousin David has, then I was shocked by how light it was when compared to my Nikon D80, even with the t2i's kit lens attached, and the D80 is not exactly a heavy camera.

Posted by lord fudgy yea i compared it to the canon 7d and 5d, it really small in comparison, but they basically have all the same exact chips inside them just different bodies, minus the fact the 5d is 21mp or something like that. I like the fact that the t2i is way cheaper then the 7d but have the same parts ha ha ha.

The T2i and 7d do share some parts but they aren't the same internally or externally (obviously)

The 7D has 2 DIGIC 4 processors while T2i has 1

The 7D shoots 8 frames per sec. compared to the 3.7 of the T2i

The 7D is also rated for 150,000 shutter cycles.

Also the 7d can shoot 126 jpeg and 15 raw files continuously compared 34 jpeg/6 raw for the T2i

The 7D can control other flashes via wireless communication from its built in flash.

Also the 7D is weather sealed where the T2i is not.

The T2i has 12 custom functions with 36 settings compared to the 7D with 27 functions and 70 settings.


I'm not saying the T2i is a bad camera in fact its quite good from everything I've seen of it. It just not the same as a 7D which offers a lot more controls oriented towards a semipro/pro photographer.

The T2i would probably make a great camera for UE being small, light and good in low light. That said you'll have to put some pretty good glass in front of that 18mp sensor to get the most from it. The Kit lens is nothing to write home about, it does ok at best. If you put an L lens or a prime lens on it and you will realize that in a hurry.

If your just getting your first DSLR the T2i would be a great place to start but the body is just the beginning and a very small portion of the price in photography. Just my .02

Were any of those opinions about the Pentax K-7 or were they all about the canon?

Posted by budda Were any of those opinions about the Pentax K-7 or were they all about the canon?

I think everyone was talking about the canons.

I don't know as much about Pentax stuff but in most of the review's I've read it get pretty good ratings for features and such although it is noisier than canon and nikon stuff at higher ISO settings. It very comparable to others in its class at the lower ISO's though. I'm sure the new weather sealed lenses would be a plus in some UE environments and the body is also sealed too from what I understand.

I guess I would have a hard time straying away from Canon or Nikon with their huge range of lenses and accessories, not to mention a huge amount of third party support too. Do you already have a pentax dslr or lenses that would fit the K-7?

Here's a pretty good in-depth review of the camera, they usually throw in comparisons of other brands with similar specifications in the noise, RAW and JPEG departments.

http://www.dprevie.../reviews/pentaxk7/

Yeah I have i think 8 K mount lenses. All manual focus, manual aperture, but lenses all the same. I've been using an old Pentax LX and a K1000 and really like the brand.

A lot of people are comparing the Pentax K-7 with the Nikon D300/s. It's almost, but not quite, as good as the Nikon (a bit more noise).