Chadu wrote:.
It's tough for me to make the call... I am a designer and know how touse photoshop, so I know a bit about image processing, etc... I wantto play with HDR and some nature photography, but the bulk of theimages will probably be of my kids running around (the speed of theSLR is one of the major reason of upgrading from my two other FujiP&S cameras).
There is an advantage here to SLRs in general, yes..
The Nikon seems like a great entry level SLR but has less featuresthan the other two.I like that the Pentax has IS built into the body and has an autofocus motor in the body too. I am a bit concerned by some noted whitebalance issues with the Pentax, though..
If you're shooting raw mode, which would seem to be reasonable given your willingness and ability to post-process, issues in white balance should matter significantly less..
I know less about the Canon, but virtually all my friends that haveSLR camera have a Canon camera of some sort..
None of these are lemons..
I note that you mention HDR; have you considered any of the Fuji S-series DSLRs? They're well-regarded for dynamic range, if memory serves, due to their design, and you retain access to the Nikon F-mount lens range..
Aside from that, I'd suggest handling them in a store if there's a location near you. Post-processing can fix a lot of sins, but it can't really help if you don't like the viewfinder or control layout...
Chadu wrote:.
I am thinking that one of these three cameras is going to be the onefor me.Nikon D40Pentax K100DCanon EOS 350D.
All are good..
It's tough for me to make the call... I am a designer and know how touse photoshop, so I know a bit about image processing, etc... I wantto play with HDR and some nature photography, but the bulk of theimages will probably be of my kids running around (the speed of theSLR is one of the major reason of upgrading from my two other FujiP&S cameras).
Have kids! Look for high ISO performance and AF assist (helpful in taking pics without flash). I would go for D40 which has usable ISO3200!! and has AF assist lamp too..
The Nikon seems like a great entry level SLR but has less featuresthan the other two..
What features? If it has Auto/A/S priority modes and manual mode, then it has it all! Other features are rarely used by SLR users..
I like that the Pentax has IS built into the body and has an autofocus motor in the body too. I am a bit concerned by some noted whitebalance issues with the Pentax, though..
I.S. is USP of K100D, but you have to sacrifce some to gain on other. However I.S. would be of no help in shooting kids. It is good though for landscapes etc. in low light (akin to having cheap tripod)..
I know less about the Canon, but virtually all my friends that haveSLR camera have a Canon camera of some sort..
Good but has poorer kit lens and does not have AF assist. ISO is limited to 1600. (Believe me, for kid shots (indoor), even ISO3200 will seem inadequate at times.)Keep smiling, Ajayhttp://picasaweb.google.com/ajay0612(Thanks for your precious time & invaluable comments)..
Ajay and Leejay,Thanks so much for the input..
Beyond features, etc... I have to say the fact that I can get the Pentax for about $100 less than the other two is pretty nice indeed, too... That enough savings to get a bag and a nice good size memory card..
The amount of legacy lenses for the K100D are also appealing..
I'm pretty well settled on the price range of under $600... but right now at Amazon you can get the k100 for $450, and Pentax has a $50 rebate... not bad at all!.
The Nikon's lack of a top mounted LCD seems kinda cheap-y, and No lens motor in body means non-AF-S/AF-I lenses are manual focus only seem like it might be a way to sock your for more money later.....
I am happy that you like K100D. It is a great value for money proposition (Bang for the bucks). You won't be disappoited with it or any other of three. Go for it. It also has ISO3200 (usable). It uses Flash as AF Assist.
Chadu wrote:.
Ajay and Leejay,Thanks so much for the input..
Beyond features, etc... I have to say the fact that I can get thePentax for about $100 less than the other two is pretty nice indeed,too... That enough savings to get a bag and a nice good size memorycard..
The amount of legacy lenses for the K100D are also appealing..
I'm pretty well settled on the price range of under $600... but rightnow at Amazon you can get the k100 for $450, and Pentax has a $50rebate... not bad at all!.
The Nikon's lack of a top mounted LCD seems kinda cheap-y, and Nolens motor in body means non-AF-S/AF-I lenses are manual focus onlyseem like it might be a way to sock your for more money later....
Keep smiling, Ajayhttp://picasaweb.google.com/ajay0612(Thanks for your precious time & invaluable comments)..
Chadu wrote:.
I like that the Pentax has IS built into the body and has an autofocus motor in the body too. I am a bit concerned by some noted whitebalance issues with the Pentax, though..
What WB issues does K100D have and other don't?.
Edvinas..
I had exacrly the same shortlist recently and went for the Pentax because.
(i) It has image stabilisation built into the camera (which really makes a difference with long lenses hand-held)(ii) It has a top LCD showing the f-top and shutter speed.
(iii) It has the best kit lens. (The lens that comes with the Canon is notoriously poor).
(iv) It takes AA batteries which is very convenient - you can slip a pack of AA lithium cells in your bag as an emergency backup and you'll never have a problem with not being able to recharge.
(v) It is fully compatible with all Pentax K-mount lenses. I bought an SMC-M 50mm f/1.7 off ebay recently for 28 - you have to focus manually, which isn't hard as the AF lights in the viewfinder twll you when the image is in focus, but the optical quality is great..
Best wishesMike..
The review here at DPreview notes that under incandescent lights, photos are a bit yellow. The Cnet review here: http://www.cnet.com.au/...digitalcameras/cameras/0,239036184,339270959,00.htm,also notes that..
Thanks everyone for your replies. I do think I'll be getting the Pentax...
Yes, very much so. There are also many users of Nikon D40s and Canon 350s who are happy with their choices too so in the end it's a personal decision - you can be sure that thay are all good and whichever one suits you is a good choice. Try them and see how they feel in your hand, that's important too. But for my money the overriding factor at this price level is the in-camera image stabilisation which the Nikon and Canon don't have..
BTW the white balance on the K100D works just fine. I leave it on 'auto' for everything except artificial lighting and it gives very good results. If there is a colour cast because the lighting is unusual and the auto-WB is fooled it's only one click to correct it in Photoshop elements. For tungsten / fluorescent lighting you'll need to set it explicitly (as on any camera) but there is no need to mess around changing it on every outdoors shot just because a cloud has come over....
Best wishesMike..
Chadu wrote:.
The review here at DPreview notes that under incandescent lights,photos are a bit yellow. The Cnet review here:http://www.cnet.com.au/...digitalcameras/cameras/0,239036184,339270959,00.htm,also notes that..
I can't stop wondering why people pick-up reviewers' comments about poor white balance in artificial light of Pentax DSLRs and skip the same comments about other cameras. BTW, for some reasons all DSLRs suffer from poor automatic WB in artificial light. Check reviews here..
Let me quote dpreview..
About Canon 350D:.
The EOS 350D's automatic white balance performance is virtually identical to previous EOS digital cameras, good in natural light, acceptable in fluorescent light but really rather poor in incandescent light. Again it's a shame that Canon hasn't advanced automatic white balance performance on their digital SLR's..
Conclusion: Average automatic white balance performance, still very poor under incandescent light.
About Nikon D40:.
If you like orange then you're going to love the D40's automatic white balance in incandescent / tungsten light, otherwise you're probably going to want to use the incandescent preset, which although closer still doesn't produce perfectly white whites, you'll need a manual preset for that..
Conclusion: Disappointing automatic white balance performance in incandescent light.
About Pentax K100D:.
We're never that surprised to see poor automatic white balance from a digital SLR, it is becoming par for the course, however we would at least once like to be pleasantly surprised. So the K100D's automatic white balance is pretty much the same as most other digital SLRs, and that's just fine in natural light, poor in incandescent (or tungsten) light and better in fluorescent light. To be fair the K100D's incandescent preset white balance did perform better than most, so if you can remember to switch to the preset it will make the world of difference..
Conclusion: Average automatic white balance performance, still very poor under incandescent light.
Edvinas..
Wow.. I just posted almost the eact same thread, asking for help to narrow down my choices. I also want a stabilized body, not lenses. I am concerned by noise levels in many cameras and found the canon 30 and 400/XTi to be top notch...
What is your experience with noise now that youve had the Pentax for a little while? I'll be taking mostly macro, nature, wildlife shots so.....
Thanks for everyone's replies they have helped me as well..
Dog is my copilot...
With the push of a button the entire LCD contains more information than the top lcd contains. IQ is excellent, size is perfect for carrying around and there are more than enough AF-S lenses available..
Image control:Zoom outZoom 100%Zoom inExpand AllOpen in new window..
I would buy the Canon, but I would prefer the Rebel XTi (400D), If you want to buy a Canon, why not go for their newest model: 400D. You'll get 10,2 Megapixel, CMOS sensor etc. etc. I bought mine 2 month ago with nature photografy as the main goal (as well as moon-photografy and sports->Lacrosse).Goodluck with it!.
Ps. If you choose not to go for the Canon, go for the Nikon, I read very good reviews about that one too!..
It really depends on what you shoot and want the photos to turn out like. Canon makes more big zooms for sports and wildlife..
I shoot available light and went Pentax for the better high ISO performance and more natural rendering. Make sure you look at the photos from users to see what strikes you. Read what the users have to say and hold the bodies...
This pic of my duaghter was taken indoors by a window at ISO800 on my K100D iwth the kit lens and looks great at 10 x 7 inches hanging up. The 'noise' is there is you look but is much less intrusive than I used to get with ISO400 colour print film..
The high-ISO performance of modern DSLRs is excellent and makes avaialbe-light indoor photgraphy easy even wit the kit lens..
Image control:Zoom outZoom 100%Zoom inExpand AllOpen in new window.
Best wishes.
Mike..
Thats a good looking shot. She has really pretty eyes, btw..
I'm definitely interested in stabilization and if I can manage to afford a couple of $300-500 lenses (does anyone make IS canon compatible lenses that might cost a bit less?) I'll definitely go for a canon. The only reason I might not want the 10MP is that noise seems to increase as you put more MP on the sensor- not sure if I said that right, but you know what I mean..
If I cant afford the lenses I want, I'll likely go with the Pentax..
Thanks for the input, y'all..
Oh, and sorry if I hijacked your thread for a little while. lolDog is my copilot...
For putting the things straight. I myself was not aware about these facts. Such is the power of reading uninformed opinions or reading in isolation:-). Results - Misconception. Thanks..
Edvinas wrote:.
Chadu wrote:.
The review here at DPreview notes that under incandescent lights,photos are a bit yellow. The Cnet review here:http://www.cnet.com.au/...digitalcameras/cameras/0,239036184,339270959,00.htm,also notes that..
I can't stop wondering why people pick-up reviewers' comments aboutpoor white balance in artificial light of Pentax DSLRs and skip thesame comments about other cameras. BTW, for some reasons all DSLRssuffer from poor automatic WB in artificial light. Check reviews here..
Let me quote dpreview..
About Canon 350D:The EOS 350D's automatic white balance performance is virtuallyidentical to previous EOS digital cameras, good in natural light,acceptable in fluorescent light but really rather poor inincandescent light. Again it's a shame that Canon hasn't advancedautomatic white balance performance on their digital SLR's.Conclusion: Average automatic white balance performance, still verypoor under incandescent light.
About Nikon D40:If you like orange then you're going to love the D40's automaticwhite balance in incandescent / tungsten light, otherwise you'reprobably going to want to use the incandescent preset, which althoughcloser still doesn't produce perfectly white whites, you'll need amanual preset for that.Conclusion: Disappointing automatic white balance performance inincandescent light.
About Pentax K100D:We're never that surprised to see poor automatic white balance from adigital SLR, it is becoming par for the course, however we would atleast once like to be pleasantly surprised. So the K100D's automaticwhite balance is pretty much the same as most other digital SLRs, andthat's just fine in natural light, poor in incandescent (or tungsten)light and better in fluorescent light. To be fair the K100D'sincandescent preset white balance did perform better than most, so ifyou can remember to switch to the preset it will make the world ofdifference.Conclusion: Average automatic white balance performance, still verypoor under incandescent light.
Edvinas.
Keep smiling, Ajayhttp://picasaweb.google.com/ajay0612(Thanks for your precious time & invaluable comments)..
What is the cost differential on a AF-S lens vs. a typical Pentax or Canon SLR lens?..
Not at all... these are my next logical questions, too...