Which budget Ditigal SLR? Pentax, Nikon or Canon

EvilMonkey

Fraid not (my minolta was stolen a good while back and it was about 10 years old then. If you post the question on the minolta forum at https://www.dpreview.com I'm sure you'll get a definative answer.

On the whole choice thing, I know exactly what you feel like as I was there a couple of years ago. For me the choice was a Nikon D100, the Canon D60 of the Fuji S2 (I think) back when they cost £2000 for the body alone. I had no glass so it was 100% open. My mates had Canon, so I was slanted that way as I thought we could share equipment if need be.

The fuji was out 1st as it was much bigger than the Nikon or Canon. But these other 2 just weighed up the same. Canon had slightly better this, Nikon slightly better that. There were reports that nikon underexposed and canon over. The list I drew up!

In the end it came down to 2 things that tickled me and fit the way I use my camera. Grid lines in the view finder a 1/3 & the ability to use an old fashioned screw in shutter release. (I'm bad with horizons and I LOVE low light photography...)

This was the Nikon. I guess what I'm trying to say is I spent £2K on a camera on the tiniest of a basis. Because other than that they were both SO good. I think you'll find you may go the same way.

Pick one up. Go with your gut. Enjoy using it...

(I should make that my signature!)

E.M.

Rave

pin, the lens should work, the flash won't I'm pretty sure; Minolta changed the design of the flash hotshoe with the xi series of cameras that followed the 7000i. TBH if it's just that one lens you have it won't cost a great deal to replace it with an equivalent lens if you decide to go with a different system- so really the field is open and you should go with whatever camera you like the feel of most and find most intuitive to use.

EvilMonkey

Sorry, one last piece of advice (and I'll keep it short).

Once you've picked and bought. NEVER LOOK BACK. Don't look at reviews, don't see a new cam in 6 months and think "!!!!!!!" Enjoy what you bought and appreciate the 6 months of photos you've gotten with that one which you wouldn't if you'd waited....

pin

Rave that's what I thought Re lens after doing some research. Re flash, it will work, but only on full flash mode.

Evil: don't worry about the never look back thing, the Minolta has lasted my padre and me over 20 years and its still a great piece of kit. However for various reasons I would like to move onto digi SLR. I looked at selling the Minolta, but I would only get £30 - 60 on Ebay, which I think is way too little for such a piece of kit. I'm thinking about holding onto it and bringing it out once in a while for nostalgic reasons!!

Again thanks for all the advice, however I am still torn over which camera to buy!! When I get time later I will write a little summary of what I think about the various cameras and wouldn't mind your comments.

GaryS

I purchased a Canon 10D and 2 X Sigma zoom lenses 18 months ago for just over £1100 and have been very impressed with the whole setup. Canon now have a 20D and a 350D so the 10d s can be found a bit cheaper by people upgrading.
The Canon 300D is a bit plasticy for me, the 10d is built like a tank !
Have a play with all of the cameras in a shop like Dixons, choose one you like and buy it cheaper elsewhere.

pin

Well just been to Dixons to have a play around with the cameras.

The Canon 350D looks nice and is feature packed, however the major gripe is that it is WAY too small. I don't have huge hands, but the camera was too too small. I couldn't get my little finger on the camera, it didn't feel nice.

I tried out the Canon 300D, Nikon 50 and the Nikon 70. They didn't have the Nikon 70s or the Pentax. The other three felt nice to hold. the Canon looked "cheap" but I know it has good features. The Nikon 50 felt nice and was light. The Nikon 70 had a good feel to it (pretty heavy).

I would like to try out the Pentax but according to the specs it's height is also shorter than the Canon, so that could be a problem.

I know the Canon 300D is going pretty cheap now, but have decided I will probably consider a Nikon. Both the D50 and D70s are new. However the D70 is also still around, which one, which one!!!

Should I opt for the lighter and newer D50 or the older D70? I think the D70s is a bit out of my price range.

Again over to you guys (sorry)....

pin

OK so I've just been to Jessops to have another play with the cameras. D70 is too expensive. However to a chance to play with the Pentax.

Canon 350D still has the most features, but just doesn't feel right.

The Pentax looks very nice and looks well built. Although it is small it fitted nicely on my hand. The DS is being discountied in favour of the DL, but so far I have not seen it being discounted at all.

Felt the Nikon D50 was a bit heavier than the Pentax but still nice. I do like the Pentax, but the Nikon is newer. Ah, choices, choices!!! This is annoying.

EvilMonkey

So dump the ones that "just don't feel right" no need to justify it, just cross it off your list.

Ao we're left with 2 x pentax (DS and DL) and 2 x nikon(D50 and D70) is that right? Has the minolta been crossed off too?

Maybe nows the time to start making that list of what you like \ dislike about each. Be petty, be niggly, focus in on even the smallest little detail.

Its VERY hard for us to make the RIGHT decision for you. We don't know you, and we don't know the way you like to take pics.

I could make the decision for you, but it would be based on ME not you. (Nikon D50 btw, cheap and knee jerk reaction is it has a better range of 2nd hand lenses would be available as nikon is generally a bigger brand)

So may be list it out, publish your list here and we might be able to provide some input from there.

NB there is no BEST camera (otherwise everyone would by that one) its just best for you. Also remember that the second \ third best will be so close to best you'd still be as happy...

E.M. (or oriental Wise monkey.....)

Rave

EvilMonkey wrote:

I could make the decision for you, but it would be based on ME not you. (Nikon D50 btw, cheap and knee jerk reaction is it has a better range of 2nd hand lenses would be available as nikon is generally a bigger brand)

In terms of sales figures Canon stomp on everyone else in the SLR market and have done for a LONG time; for at least ten years they've outsold Nikon by more than 2:1 AFAIK. TBH pin I was hoping you'd lean towards Canon because I like them, but like EvilMonkey I was trying to bite my tongue:p.

You can get a battery grip for the Canon which bolts on to the bottom of the camera and doesn't cost a great deal (<£100 IIRC); I think it allows you to fit two batteries for double the runtime, but most importantly it makes it long enough to grip properly with your whole hand and gives you an extra shutter button for shooting portrait pictures (which I really like). Ask to try that, it may well make the difference for you.

Edit: and since this website is about moneysaving after all, buy it from Jessops, but get them to price match- they'll match most websites down to the point where they break even, and if that's £20 more than the online price I'd say it's worth it for the ease of buying on the highstreet.

pin

Ahhhhh (attempt to scream in frustration) This is getting very confusing!!!

Rave, I know the Canon is probably more feature packed, but it just is too small and I'm afraid it just doesn't feel right. The grip will add to the price as well. If I had the money to buy a 20D I wouldn't hesitate, but I don't much to my shame. It will also make the whole camera a bit bulky.

Think is I travel a fair amount, so would want to take the camera with me. The camera grip for the Canon would bulk it up (and make it heavier).

I'm going to narrow my choices down to the Nikon D50 (D70 is a bit too expensive still) and the Pentax DS (DL is actually cheaper than the DS, but slightly more stripped down feature wise).

In terms of features is there a way of doing a direct comparison between the Nikon and the Pentax?

Once again thanks for all the help.