Digital SLRs - What's the big deal?

moonrakerz

vyseyboy wrote: »

That is so very true. The big numbers are often just a marketing device, I've found.

The big numbers do have a place in top end professional photography, but as you say most of the time the salesmen just use them as a marketing ploy.

Unfortunately you get stupid statements like this, on the "dummies" website:- "More pixels mean better-looking images" - absolute rubbish !

This is quite useful:

http://6mpixel.org/en/

John_3:16

Just got a sony a200 having fun playing with it. £270

foreversomeday

The best digital cameras in my opinion on the market at the moment are the fuji finepix with the large zooms, I got one for under £150 at Christmas (They have come down now) and it's amazing - I mostly use it as a point and shoot, but if I am feeling creative it also has manual modes and with a bit of studying the manual (and remembering my photography training from college, when we used manual SLRs, or you could get a book about photography from the library) I have managed to get some great experimental shots as well.

The best part is my laptop has a card reader slot in it so I haven't even had to install the software or spend hours hunting for the cable. :j

Fifer

moonrakerz wrote: »

The big numbers do have a place in top end professional photography, but as you say most of the time the salesmen just use them as a marketing ploy.

Unfortunately you get stupid statements like this, on the "dummies" website:- "More pixels mean better-looking images" - absolute rubbish !

This is quite useful:

http://6mpixel.org/en/

Very interesting and and sensible discussion moonrakerz (although as they say "Digital SLRs with many pixels are okay").

Interesting that two of the cameras I've been looking at are mentioned (positively) on this thread - the Nikon D40 and the Sony A200. I'm inclined towards the Nikon (always liked their stuff, 'proper' camera company and I've never been a big fan of the Sony brand) but the Sony is the newer model and gets very good reviews. Oh, decisions ...

moonrakerz

Fifer wrote: »

Very interesting and and sensible discussion moonrakerz (although as they say "Digital SLRs with many pixels are okay").

Interesting that two of the cameras I've been looking at are mentioned (positively) on this thread - the Nikon D40 and the Sony A200. I'm inclined towards the Nikon (always liked their stuff, 'proper' camera company and I've never been a big fan of the Sony brand) but the Sony is the newer model and gets very good reviews. Oh, decisions ...

I'm biased - I've got a D40 ! Wonderful camera - and Nikon are doing a £30 cash back at the moment.

Nick_sub

There's some very sensible and interesting discussion on this thread.

I got a D40 yesterday (so also biased), very impressed with it so far.

Fifer - as you say the Sony A200 has more in the way of features but I read so many reviews of the D40 before I bought it and not one person said they regreted it or were dissapointed. Every professional review I read was gleaming too.

I made a post on hotdealsuk earlier today for the deal I got. I'm pretty sure it's the cheapest in the country at the moment:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/201452/nikon-d40-plus-18-55mm-lens-kit-242

The Nikon comes with a 2 year guarantee too, not to be sniffed at as i hear DSLR repairs are expensive. I'm not sure what the Sont comes with, but worth checking it out.

isofa

Fifer wrote: »

Very interesting and and sensible discussion moonrakerz (although as they say "Digital SLRs with many pixels are okay").

Interesting that two of the cameras I've been looking at are mentioned (positively) on this thread - the Nikon D40 and the Sony A200. I'm inclined towards the Nikon (always liked their stuff, 'proper' camera company and I've never been a big fan of the Sony brand) but the Sony is the newer model and gets very good reviews. Oh, decisions ...

I'm totally biased with Canon, been buying and using Canon cameras for many years Canon and Nikon are very similar, you either like (or choose) one or the other, and then you stick to it. You can't go wrong with either in my opinion. I had 3 lenses from my film based Canon-SLR when I switch to digital, so it was a sensible choice to continue with the brand, and it's never let me down.

However, back to the plot! With Nikon vs Sony, although I like the Sony and it does give great results, I think you'll be better off, long term (especially if you plan to buy lots of lenses etc) with the Nikon. Have a look at the opinions in the photographic press such as Practical Photography and the other magazines. Also have a look at the Independent Photography Forum.