OK gurus, you have a chance to help a 'switcher' again.... No, no I already have Macs. Have since the mid 1980's. But it's time. It's time to switch from using our aged collection of Nikon F2 lenses and bodies and Canon AE1P / Rebel X lenses and bodies... to something digital.

Must:
SLR
< $1,000. Even cheaper would be nice. I'm cheap. Really cheap. My main Mac is a used G4 I paid $100 for...
Decent quality (able to crop a portrait and blow up to 8x10)
Decent shutter speed range
Built in flash (we have external flashes available, one for each film body. Reusable ? )
Able to use at least the Canon AF lenses from the Rebel (wide angle, telephoto/zoom). Sure, I'd like to use the gorgeous portrait and Macro lenses I have for the Nikon, but I am realistic.
Uses rechargable / available batteries (I hate buying $10 lithiums, you know ?)

Would be nice:
Able to do some limited burst shooting for rapid action
Reasonably durable (not 'rugged", but I'm spoiled from the F2- old Nikons are built like tanks...)

Thanks in advance, guys.

Nikon D80 is around 900 for the body alone, 1200 for the kit (w/lens).
It WILL allow you to use the old Nikon lenses you have, albeit in full manual mode.

The Nikon D40 is even less, I am not sure if it will use the old lenses though.

Edit: yup, the D40 will take older glass in full manual as well.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2007 09:29AM by papercup.

Well if using your Canon AF lenses is a requirement then you're going to be buying a Canon camera which would most likely be the Rebel XTi, aka 400D. Since you have lenses you might want to get the body only ($663 at B&H) since the kit lens is widely regarded as not good.

Me, I've always liked Pentax. I just bought a K10D which is fantastic but maybe a bit much for your needs and besides that it'll wipe out your budget. You can get the K100D for $438 (after rebate) with the quite decent kit lens (DA 18-55mm) here:

[www.buydig.com]

Review here: [www.dpreview.com]

One nice thing about the K100D is that it uses AA batteries. You can get rechargables but I recommend the Engergizer e2 which lasts a long long time. The K100D also has an in-body anti-shake feature.

The DA 50-200mm makes a good companion to the kit lens. I don't have one but people really seem to like it. And for $150 you can get the Tamron 70-300mm F4-5.6 Di. Not a pro grade lens for sure, but quite good and a lot of bang for the buck. Lots of other old Pentax AF lenses are available for pretty cheap on the used market too. A must-have in my opinion is the FA 50mm F1.4 which usually goes for around $200. It is a fantastic portrait lens on a DSLR. You did say you want to shoot portraits, yes?

Look here for reviews of Pentax lenses including the kit lens and the 50mm:

Here's a review of the lens: [www.photozone.de]

Good luck! DSLRs are fun!

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If you've got EF lens stick with Canon. The XT is $100 less than the XTi although the advantages of the XTi are worthwhile: autofocus upgraded, larger LCD, 10.1 megapixel over 8. I like canon because their digic II sensor is good for controlling noise. Hope they put their new digic III in their entry level cameras.

Canon XTi ..... all the way!

[forums.dpreview.com]

You will be very pleased with the Canon XTi. It far exceeded my expectations (and that does not happen often).

JPK

Seeing as you are in both camps you will have to consider how much you like autofocus. Make sure your eyes are still up for manual focusing because despite the larger viewfinders in today's DSLR they are no where near as big as the F2.

If you go the Canon route, the XTI is nice with 10mp and anti dust. The 30D is more robust in build and size. 5fs shooting speed and 8mp is plenty but it has no anti dust. I fully expect a 30D replacement this August with 10mp and anti-dust.

If you go the Nikon route you need to remember that your lenses will not show the full view of what they are capable of because the DX sized chip is smaller than 35mm film. It will make your lens show 1.5X of it's actual field of view. Sounds ok at first until you realize that your wide end suffers. Your 28mm sort of becomes what a 50mm would be on film with less depth of field isolation. While you can use the D80 and manual exposure, the D200 is the one that can actually meter. I had some old nikon lenses and combined with the 1.5x on my D200 and use of AF lenses sold my manual lenses.

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While you are here, I too want to go with a DSLR. I am looking at the Olympus E500 2 lens kit VS a Canon Rebel XT single lens. These are a little cheaper than latest models and would like to save a little. Portrait shots and some sports shots across the infield and the soccer field. (less than 200 feet) Sports are not diving or racing shots with very fast motion. Very large zoom and wide angle not that important and a 2-3 shot burst is fine. I would end up getting an external flash at some point. The Olympus's 800 and 1600 ISO performance is my worry. Will use CS3 to fine tune any important shots.
Thanks

Still looking at some great pictures from China

Quote
slbett
While you are here, I too want to go with a DSLR. I am looking at the Olympus E500 2 lens kit VS a Canon Rebel XT single lens. These are a little cheaper than latest models and would like to save a little. Portrait shots and some sports shots across the infield and the soccer field. (less than 200 feet) Sports are not diving or racing shots with very fast motion. Very large zoom and wide angle not that important and a 2-3 shot burst is fine. I would end up getting an external flash at some point. The Olympus's 800 and 1600 ISO performance is my worry. Will use CS3 to fine tune any important shots.
Thanks

Still looking at some great pictures from China

The two deal breakers for me on the E-500 are the tiny and not so bright viewfinder and the ISO 800-1600. Tests show it is pretty evident. Unless you really like sitting in front of a computer and applying noise reducer, I would get the XT.

The picture of basketball is 1600, no noise reduction [homepage.mac.com]

You will have more used and new lens options with the EOS system also if you upgrade in the future.

Just FYI, 20D refurb is $719 at Adorama.

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Thanks. That's what I thought. Recommend a Zoom lens to keep an eye out for? I don't know what to look for in a lens. Used one to save money is fine but I need to know which ones to look at. Thanks for your help to me and almost everyone that needs camera help here.

I love my Pentax. Would love one of the new models even more..

Quote
slbett
Thanks. That's what I thought. Recommend a Zoom lens to keep an eye out for? I don't know what to look for in a lens. Used one to save money is fine but I need to know which ones to look at. Thanks for your help to me and almost everyone that needs camera help here.

How much $ are you willing to part with?

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Very little, no maybe $200 or so. I would be using with a mono-pod leaning against a fence or braced against the fence for sport shots. A tripod on some indoor shots. The rest handheld as best as possible. Not a pro, just a father/grandfather trying to keep up wiith kids on the go. Point and shoot cameras aren't enough anymore. I know it is a vague question but I want to be a little informed before I shop/buy. Thanks for your time.