Quote:
Originally Posted by terraskye
Thanks for the links 
At 1st I was pretty much set on a Canon Rebel T-something lol but after some advice was pretty much set on a Sony Alpha 33 something but now have my heart set on a Nikon D90.
The Sony does have more fps capability than the Nikon but I like the photos much better with the Nikon that I've seen on various flickr photo pools.
I decided against the Rebel as I was told they were more suited for those that have Macs and I'm way way PC |
happy to help. The thing is almost any DSLR is a good bit of gear these days. Remember this, you are buying into the system so look beyond the name on the body and into the overall system itself.
Something to ponder is the Pentax bodies are nice in that the K20D, K7 and new K5 are all weather sealed bodies...the K5 is nice but a bit on the spendy side and not without questions yet...it does use the same sensor as the A33/A55 from Sony as well as the Nikon D7000 (another nice new body that is sealed but not without it's own early model issues).
Decide what you like to shoot pictures of...good Nikon glass is expensive, but their flash system is superb...I don't get the equating of the Canon Rebel's to Mac vs. PC...hehehehe...but the Canon 60D has great video controls if you are thinking of shooting video. It also has a nice articulated LCD on the back.
I chose Pentax for the sealed bodies and sealed DA* glass as well as a couple decent WR (weather resistant) DA lenses...plus I grew up shooting primes (non-zoom lenses in case ya dunno...
) But the Pentax DA* SDM (their top of the line AF system) has enough problems with failure to be of concern so extended warranties are needed if you went that direction. but overall Pentax has a very good set of lenses to use...BUT, they have the worst AF system save for the new K5.
Canon and Nikon have the best AF systems...best for action that Canon has to offer is found in their 7D but it is not cheap at around $1300-$1500 for the body alone.
Sony has a new body due out real soon now, their A580 which looks pretty nice and might be worth it to your. but like Nikon their better zoom lenses are not inexpensive.
Moving to a DSLR today is a daunting task and if you really think you are going to make it a full-time hobby, spend a lot of time deciding what your goal is...while the D90 is a nice camera, it is also not all that well made and has a very plastic feel to it. It's really important to try and visit a major camera store near you to handle as many bodies as you can. I know Samy's is going to again carry Pentax (I keep mentioning them because they actually build an excellent consumer grade body in the K-x or K-r bodies but is fast AF is needed they will represent a challenge for say, shooting kids playing or such things). And as a rule ignore any sales person at whatever camera store you visit...they sell what they are told to sell.
But is you like the idea of small and compact but with interchangeable glass you won't get that with the Canikon's. But the A33/A55 from Sony are nice and compact but new as well...still as I started, they are all good cameras if you learn to use them and don't intend on using them in "green box" (full auto Point and shoot) mode look down the road and also don't be afraid to buy a generation or two out of date if the price is right. The value of a body drops but good glass won't drop as fast and in many cases can appreciate, like my full set of Pentax silver FA limited lenses and some very hard to find FA* glass...
No matter what have fun trying things out...and if you are looking at Nikon take a long look at the new D7000 as it is weather sealed, though there are not many less expensive weather sealed lenses from Nikon yet. But it is an excellent value among the newest bodies this year. Thing is it does have problems for a subset of people...it is also more expensive than the D90 but not that much more. The D300s is also an excellent body if you have the budget though it is due for a replacement soon which means a price drop.
Sigh...I have rambled on enough about cameras, I'll stop, promise. Do think about the fact you aren't buying a camera but a photographic system which matters if you stick with the hobby. And the ability to grow within the system that is important and different for everyone.
Oh WAIT I see you are in Canada...in that case DO LOOK INTO PENTAX. London Drug carries Pentax as does Henry's so you can maybe handle some of their different bodies and see how great their prime lenses are as well as their sealed zooms to mate with the K5 or even the older K20D or K7...just remember the whole extended warranty on and SDM lenses from Pentax though in Canada you get a 2-yr warranty on Pentax lenses. Soooo, I thought I would edit and add this, especially given the weather issues you might run into now and then.