Zetachi wrote:.

I've narrowed it down to these choices. I've held all but the 100Dbut did hold the 10D as that was the only one I could find..

Sony A100Pentax K100DOly E-510Rebel XTI.

No Nikon D40(x) on the list? .

I've had a Sony W5 for the past year or so and I'm sick of it. Toomuch read-eye too slow missed too many photos..

Then you may want to budget for an external flash as well..

Anyway I've had SLR film camera experience in the past. I had an old(ok ancient) Konica Auto S(still have it in fact)..

I'm looking to photograph mostly family, trips events and soon kidsspots..

I'm looking for the best value/performance ratio. I'll probably startwith the kit lens and add something in the 70-300 range with it.Plus the usual stuff to go along ie bag, CF/SD cards, etc..

Any advice and/or opinions greatly considered..

Oly I really am not familiar with. Sony, nice body, from what I've heard problems getting lenses etc. Rebel, good camera, dreadful ergonomics. Huge selection of lenses and flashes available though..

Pentax is a nice and somewhhat underestimated camera. And they do have a lovely and affordable 50-200 telezoom out.Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

Wijnands wrote:.

Oly I really am not familiar with. Sony, nice body, from what I'veheard problems getting lenses etc. Rebel, good camera, dreadfulergonomics. Huge selection of lenses and flashes available though..

Pentax is a nice and somewhhat underestimated camera. And they dohave a lovely and affordable 50-200 telezoom out..

No worries getting a mount lenses..lots of s/h ones on ebay also..

Its up to the op all are good...

The pentax is cheap and great value..colours are pretty strong for an SLR.

Canon is a good all rounder..solid system to buy into, kit lens is weak, build is ok.plastic feel, grip is uncomfortable to me..Sony is a great price, kit lens is good, weaker at high ISO though..Oly..dont know..not touched it..not into 4/3 myself..

As ever...a hands on is suggested, specs only tell you so much..

All are capable......

Image control:Zoom outZoom 100%Zoom inExpand AllOpen in new window.

Clint is on holiday! Soon to return! ..

Well, what did your hands think?.

The only thing I'd say that could override playing with the cameras is the relative availability of lenses, flashes and the rest in some systems. I don't know what the market is like in your region, but here in the UK it's often very difficult (read: impossible) to try out flashes and lenses for your camera unless it's from Canon or Nikon. Stores seem to stock the bare minimum Olympus, Pentax and Sony DSLR equipment and any third-party lenses stocked will have Canon or Nikon mounts as standard..

The same is not true online, but if you are the tactile sort that likes to play before paying, it's tough to break through the Canikon hegemony.You name it, I've broken it...

Xti faster AF especially in continuous AF tracking (same AF as 30D) need to use the better Canon lenses with the true USM motors..

Great selection of long, fast lenses but at a price .

E510- much better kit lenses (get the 2 lens kit and you're covered from a 35mm equivalent of 28-300)..

In body IS, does help with all lenses although IMO it's likely not as effective as Canon's lens based IS..

There are of course many other differences..

I have a 30D, but if it were me deciding between any of the 4 you mentioned I would go for the E510..

Gene..

Zetachi wrote:.

I've narrowed it down to these choices. I've held all but the 100Dbut did hold the 10D as that was the only one I could find..

Sony A100Pentax K100DOly E-510Rebel XTI.

I've had a Sony W5 for the past year or so and I'm sick of it. Toomuch read-eye too slow missed too many photos..

Anyway I've had SLR film camera experience in the past. I had an old(ok ancient) Konica Auto S(still have it in fact)..

I'm looking to photograph mostly family, trips events and soon kidsspots..

I'm looking for the best value/performance ratio. I'll probably startwith the kit lens and add something in the 70-300 range with it.Plus the usual stuff to go along ie bag, CF/SD cards, etc..

Any advice and/or opinions greatly considered..

Thanks.

Zetachi.

Hi.

They are all good....Personally I would not get the Sony but thats mainly because of I like to use high isos/low light (a new one should be just around the corner though...which may bring Sony back into the equation).

I use the K100d which is great for my needs, though being so cheap with great features it has it's drawbacks (as do all cameras). The thing is with the K100d you could get a really good lens like one of the Pentax limited primes for around the price of one of the other camera kits..

The Oly looks to be nice and if I was starting from scratch would at least give it a serious look. For me Canon is the way to go if you want to do photography for a living but then that means going up a model or 2..

Neil..

Of the 4 you have listed I would easily take them down to 2..

I would not consider the Sony or the Cannon. I would through out the Sony due to build quality and overall operations. There are too many neutral comments on the Sony. I have held it and played with it a little and did not like the feel or general operation. Frankly it felt cheap. I would not consider the Canon because the kit lenses from what I have heard are not very good.

It is the same price as the OLY which has great kit lenses as well as IS and Live View..

Now that leaves 2 cameras which cannot really be compared. The oly is a 10 MP and the K100 is 6. Exposure compensation on the OLY is much better and the OLY has Live View. However the K100 is also MUCH less expensive. Of the 2 if I had the budget I would go with the higer resolution camera. However if I was trying to save money and I wasn't looking to make prints much larger then an 8x10 then I'ld go with the K100..

Regardless of your choice (with the exception of the Sony IMO) all are excellent cameras and will produce excellent pics with a little practice..

MaddogOlympus E-500, Olympus E-510..

Zetachi wrote:.

I've narrowed it down to these choices. I've held all but the 100Dbut did hold the 10D as that was the only one I could find..

Sony A100Pentax K100DOly E-510Rebel XTI.

The E510 is the hot camera du jour among the four, but I think all four are reasonable choices. Each one has it's own set of pros/cons, and imho it is really up to you to figure out what is okay/not okay. Also the "system" could be a factor, depending on what type of things you are interested and what you might be interested in a few months down the road..

Comprehensive 2007 speculation and predictions: http://1001noisycameras.blogspot.com..

There must be some reason more people, and more pro photographers, own Canon cameras than any other brand. Having said that, I encourage you to avoid paying attention to all the fanboys on this forum and select the camera that (based on trying them out in a store) seems best for you. All of the models you are considering will take outstanding photos. Whatever you decide to do, you will be happy with your decision..

Jerry (a Canon owner FWIW)http://jchoate.zenfolio.com/..

Jchoate wrote:.

There must be some reason more people, and more pro photographers,own Canon cameras than any other brand. Having said that, Iencourage you to avoid paying attention to all the fanboys on thisforum and select the camera that (based on trying them out in astore) seems best for you. All of the models you are consideringwill take outstanding photos. Whatever you decide to do, you will behappy with your decision..

Jerry (a Canon owner FWIW)http://jchoate.zenfolio.com/.

But it has nothing to do with being better cameras at the consumer end..

More pros buy them because they are the only company that makes pro cameras for average pros (eg not Leicaphiles etc and other than Nikon, which is currently down but may get a boost very soon....Canon SHOULD have had a knockout punch with the 1dmkiii but seem to have shot themselves in the foot a little.....still could be the winner). Other brands do have Pros using them but they are generally not aimed at the average working pro..

Canon had pretty much the field to themselves for a couple of years...and ever since their share is shrinking steadily....I suspect they will be number one for a while though if they do not go the in body route for stabilisation and someone comes out with a brilliant camera that could turn upside down in a single model..

The coming Oly pro model may attract a share as well..

If it was because Canon was better then they would win all the awards wouldnt they.....and even the Sony was someones camera of the year..

Neil..

Relax..

Unless you have some very special needs and it does not appear that you do, they are all good cameras..

Go to a store, play with each one for a while, and buy the one that feels best in your hands and is more intuitive..

However, if you do spend time at a store, you owe it to the store to buy it there. To many people try a camera at a store and then buy it on the WEB to save a few bucks. If we keep on doing this, all the brick and mortar stores will disappear..

Don..

Canon's consumer level marketing is a LOT better than Nikon'sDon't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

We'll I think I've narrowed it down to the Oly and the Pentax (Sony still possible but cost prohibitive with 2 lenses plus all extras needed).

As to kit lenses which is the better of the 2?.

The Oly comes with 2 and the pentax 1 but the pentax is less $$ so I could afford to buy a better 2nd lens and still have $$ for all the extras needed..

Opinions/suggestions as to selection and lenses?.

Also I have yet to find the Pentaxk100D at a brick and mortar but have held the 10D how much of a difference is there? Gonna try and find one this weekend and make final decision so I have before vacation in 2 weeks..

Thanks.

Zetachi..

Zetachi, have you considered buying a body only and *one* zoom that would give you the range you're after..

If I bought a dSLR today, it would definitely be the 510 with either Oly's 18-180 or a comparable zoom from a third party. No lenses to change and you're always ready should the occasion arise.mm (Panasonic FZ50; Ricoh XR-2)..