DSLR Decision Help

[Chaitika]

I'll be the out cast that says Sony. I have an a300 and love it. Sony acquired Minolta so it's not like they are a start up new to the game. The reason I picked the Sony was the one feature it has that none of the others do (or at least didn't when I bought) image stablization built into the camera body not the lens. That make severy lens you attach IS. I'm far from being a good photographer and still manage to get some good pic's with it.

The best advice has already been given by chaitika - go hold a few and see how they feel to you. Everything else is just opinion. I had the advantage of borrowing a friends camera for a week to try it.

Sony's new flagship A900 totally kicks butt. In a few years once Sony has developed a decent lens line up, they will definitely compete with the big boys.

 

[Davey_8313]

I think that I'll probably end up getting a Canon 20D. My wife really likes that one and she has to be happy...

 

[wolfsburgfanatic]

I recently bought a Nikon D3000 and love it, so my vote is for the nikon

 

[Davey_8313]

I recently bought a Nikon D3000 and love it, so my vote is for the nikon

It was between the Canon and a Nikon D50, but she likes the Canon. I think that she would like the Olympus better though b/c it has live view and built-in image stabilization.

 

[Davey_8313]

I shoot with an E-500, got the kit that you are looking at. It is a FANTASTIC beginner DSLR, with the option to use it like a P/S until you are comfortable with the basics of DSLR photography. The menu system on that particular camera is super simple and easy to figure out, the buttons on the back are all easy to decipher and are very functional, again similar to using a decent quality p/s. I have had some great results with the basic package. Most of my fish shots are taken with an F2.0 50mm macro, but, my outdoor shots are all with the kit lenses and I am perfectly happy with the results in that aspect. Just remember that the 4/3 mount always has a 2x crop ratio, so, that 50mm that I use would be equivalent to a 100mm on a film camera, the crop ratio is much smaller on a Canon or Nikon. Olympus has a good selection of lenses, covering all of the basics easily, but, Zuiko lenses aren't cheap.

I have to be honest, I have had this camera for three years and I believe that I have progressed beyond the abilities of the camera now, I will be upgrading in the near future, not certain, but, likely to a Nikon, better feel to the camera than any of the Canon's that I have picked up.

That is my $0.02, hope that helps, at least a little.

Ray

What exactly does that 2x crop ratio mean? I sorta understand, but want to make sure I'm thinking right.