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First dSLR

Blogs > Deimos0
Post a Reply
Deimos0
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
Poland277 Posts
June 11 2009 18:05 GMT
#1
It's been long while since I watched how cameras prices change. Right from the moment I bought analog Minolta x-300s slr I knew I will choose Sony later on. I never asked questions like "What camera should I buy?", 'cause it don't really help, except starting a flamewar between users of different systems. Firstly, I thought A100 will be great, but by the time I get enough money, it became hard to get one and Sony released many other models. Finally, I managed to get A200 in dual kit (I'm a noob, so focal diversity was crucial). After two days (lol)of using it, I must say it's quite good camera for person like me, who has just started playing with digital photography, after some experience in analogs. Noise on iso >400 is a problem, as jpeg reproduction - but it's only my opinion What I like in A200 is firm grip, clear menu and overall quality. I don't know if I keep investing in sony, it depends how will do another lens (maybe latest 50mm f/1.8). Anyway, it seems Sony can do more than just tv, and digital cameras market is now open for them - just let them do something about this noise reduction... Now I can go to WCG Poland and shoot some photos (Before that I need to get some bright tele of course and/or wide zoom)

protect me from what I want
rkarhu
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
Finland570 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-06-11 18:09:43
June 11 2009 18:09 GMT
#2
The prices of dSLRs have dropped dramatically over the last 2-3 years. I bought a Nikon D50 4 years ago for 1000 euro and now the equivalent of that model is like 500 euros. I feel stupid.
Deimos0
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
Poland277 Posts
June 11 2009 18:19 GMT
#3
In Poland after last Christmas prices went crazy - they're like 30% higher than earlier. Everything because of złoty's poor pricing. I bought my A200 for something like 500 euros - and that's a huge freakin' deal. Nikon's prices are even higher, especially D70s-D80. This is absolutely crazy and I think I did wrong not checking prices on ebay or somwhere else, but I wanted to check camera manually before I decided to buy any.
protect me from what I want
minus_human
Profile Blog Joined November 2006
4784 Posts
June 11 2009 21:45 GMT
#4
The a200 is a very good camera for entry level in my opinion. Congrats on it.

As for the prices... meh, I basically went through the exact same thing with my Canon Eos 400D

there's nothing you can do about it, so don't stress


Make a blog with your first photos!
PH
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
United States6173 Posts
June 11 2009 22:36 GMT
#5
I noticed more that prices have been going up...I haven't been paying attention to cameras, since I'm perfectly happy with my Canon 40D, but lenses have NOT been getting any cheaper...):

Personally (and this is just my personal opinion), Sony cameras are garbage. I've played around with them at stores before, and they just didn't feel solidly built, and the noise control is horrendous. I don't know about the quality of their lenses, though, but it's hard to imagine them overtaking Nikon and Canon so quickly. It might just be that the store model was a bit beat up or something, but I've had only terrible experiences with them. :\

The prices on DSLRs only really go down on their entry level cameras...unfortunately their mid-level and higher level cameras never really go down until there's a replacement model in their niche released.

Well anyway, best of luck to you. Photography is an immensely fun hobby. Post some photos. (:
Hello
minus_human
Profile Blog Joined November 2006
4784 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-06-11 23:03:35
June 11 2009 23:01 GMT
#6
On June 12 2009 07:36 PH wrote:


Personally (and this is just my personal opinion), Sony cameras are garbage. I've played around with them at stores before, and they just didn't feel solidly built, and the noise control is horrendous. I don't know about the quality of their lenses, though, but it's hard to imagine them overtaking Nikon and Canon so quickly. It might just be that the store model was a bit beat up or something, but I've had only terrible experiences with them. :\
(:



I agree with you, however in my opinion it doesn't really matter at the lower level of cameras. I know I read a couple of magazines, and the general consensus was that if you're an amateur, it doesn't really matter which brand you choose at first. Olympus, Pentax, Sony, Canon and Nikon, their sub 1000 $ DSLR are all pretty good.

Having said that, of course Canon and Nikon rule the market with an iron fist, and they should rightfully do so, since there's basically almost zero competition for them at the top professional level, and even their mid-range models, like your 40 D, fair considerably better than other brands. As far as I know, you will also find the best lenses for Nikon and Canon.

@ the OP, if you plan on upgrading heavily and/or going for some serious equipment later on (this would imply that you're quite familiar with DSLRs) Canon/Nikon is the best choice obviously. However, since you only started, I believe a Sony a200 is just as good. Don't invest a shitton into lenses for it though, you can buy a few 'lighter' ones but if you have big money for upgrading in the future(1500$ ++ ) you should probably make the switch to a middle-level Can/Nik body (a switch you would have made even if you had a Canon 450 D or a Nikon D80, for example)


I'm not really an expert, so take everything lightly, I may be wrong, but I just wanted to share some experience.
NeverGG *
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United Kingdom5399 Posts
June 11 2009 23:09 GMT
#7
Canon is also the way to go if you're planning on shooting anything interior - my Nikon D40X *hates* skin tone and will take any chance sans flash to make it as noisy looking as possible. Even a Canon 30D with the lovely f/2.8 I USM 70-200mm lens does a better job of interior shots (without some heavy editing.) Have fun experimenting with your set up and I hope you post some photos in the future.
우리 행운의 모양은 여러개지만 행복의 모양은 하나
minus_human
Profile Blog Joined November 2006
4784 Posts
June 11 2009 23:20 GMT
#8
like flies to a light bulb, the few people who post in my blog were attracted to this (:
Jibba
Profile Blog Joined October 2007
United States22883 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-06-12 00:44:20
June 12 2009 00:41 GMT
#9
On June 12 2009 07:36 PH wrote:
I noticed more that prices have been going up...I haven't been paying attention to cameras, since I'm perfectly happy with my Canon 40D, but lenses have NOT been getting any cheaper...):

Personally (and this is just my personal opinion), Sony cameras are garbage. I've played around with them at stores before, and they just didn't feel solidly built, and the noise control is horrendous. I don't know about the quality of their lenses, though, but it's hard to imagine them overtaking Nikon and Canon so quickly. It might just be that the store model was a bit beat up or something, but I've had only terrible experiences with them. :\

The prices on DSLRs only really go down on their entry level cameras...unfortunately their mid-level and higher level cameras never really go down until there's a replacement model in their niche released.

Well anyway, best of luck to you. Photography is an immensely fun hobby. Post some photos. (:

Minolta = Sony. All three brands make excellent cameras.

Also, OP remember the lenses for your old Minolta should work with your Sony. It might not have the same coatings, but they're all designed to fit each other. It was a really nice design decision from Minolta.
ModeratorNow I'm distant, dark in this anthrobeat
PH
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
United States6173 Posts
June 12 2009 02:12 GMT
#10
Minolta never made and doesn't make DSLRs worth writing home about.

I don't know about their lenses, though. I've never used any of them.

Personally, I reeaaally don't like the lower-end DSLR market. It's unbelievably annoying to see people walking around with good hardware without the slightest clue as to how to use them. I get the desire to punch a kitten every time I see someone trying to use the onboard flash indoors. -____-

This annoys me also, because then Canon makes lower end cameras with SD card inputs instead of CF, which I think is stupid, then makes a whole wide range of shitty lenses with huuuge focal ranges for ridiculously cheap prices, inflating their lens lineup with a bunch of garbage that I have to sift through in order to take a look at the ones worth even bothering with...
Hello
Jibba
Profile Blog Joined October 2007
United States22883 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-06-12 05:26:54
June 12 2009 05:25 GMT
#11
Uh... the Maxxums were pretty highly acclaimed for a consumer DSLR, along the same lines as the 20D and D70, and they've always been ahead of the pack in features. I don't think the Sony cameras are an exception with built in image stabilization (vs. lens stabilization) and the first swivel live view LCDs.

Which camera did you handle? I've heard some issues with noise on the A350 but that thing never should have been released anyways. It sounds like you've just got an issue with sub-$1000 camera users, but the cameras still take great pictures and nearly everything in that market is competitive. If I had the extra $300 I would've gotten a D80, but as it stands I'm extremely satisfied with my A300 and I'm glad I took it over an XSi.
ModeratorNow I'm distant, dark in this anthrobeat
Deimos0
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
Poland277 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-06-12 18:15:51
June 12 2009 18:05 GMT
#12
As for Minolta - in Poland their lenses have good reputation, especially (as far as I remember)70-200 f/4. In terms of lenses for my A200 - Zeiss' are very expensive so I would go for some Sigmas, Tamrons and probably Samyang (their fisheye for example). As for posting my photos - I still gather them and try to choose the better ones, because I'm very strict about my photos. Now I'm trying to convince some female friends to let me shoot some photos of them I have absolutely no experience in working with people, what makes me really mad :D

EDIT: I know about older Minolta lenses, the bayonet in dslrs is Minolta-A, while earlier, without AF, it was Minolta-M as far as I remember, anyway, I have some manual lenses, so things are looking good :D
protect me from what I want
PH
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
United States6173 Posts
June 12 2009 23:15 GMT
#13
On June 12 2009 14:25 Jibba wrote:
Uh... the Maxxums were pretty highly acclaimed for a consumer DSLR, along the same lines as the 20D and D70, and they've always been ahead of the pack in features. I don't think the Sony cameras are an exception with built in image stabilization (vs. lens stabilization) and the first swivel live view LCDs.

Which camera did you handle? I've heard some issues with noise on the A350 but that thing never should have been released anyways. It sounds like you've just got an issue with sub-$1000 camera users, but the cameras still take great pictures and nearly everything in that market is competitive. If I had the extra $300 I would've gotten a D80, but as it stands I'm extremely satisfied with my A300 and I'm glad I took it over an XSi.

Is IS on the camera body advantageous over IS on the lens? I honestly don't know.

Also, Live View on a DSLR is a gimmick pure and simple. It's the most useless feature on a DSLR, and it even kills your battery.

Sony wasn't the first to put in camera body IS. I know for a fact Pentax was doing it for several years prior, but I'm not sure about any other companies.

I'm not sure exactly which cameras I handled at the Best Buys and Circuit Cities, but the Sony stores I visited had like three on display? So I'm assuming they represented the different price points. I tried playing around with the biggest and most complicated looking one. The lens wasn't a very open one (I don't remember the actual max aperture), so I had to bump up the ISO to like 800...and it looked really fucking terrible. I'm hoping it was due to it being a floor model that's been beaten up...but still. I was pretty shocked. It looked as bad as my old Canon 350D, which was pretty much unusable above beyond 200ISO.

I have a lot of issues with the people with money enough to purchase an $800 camera but with not the patience to learn how to use them properly. I also don't like how the big companies are catering to them. The cameras are still very good cameras.

Most don't differ too badly from their upper niche counterparts. Image quality differences are only noticeable at a "professional" level where detail is a must. Most only have differences in features/controllability/dials&gizmos, battery types, memory card formats, types of JPEG and RAW saves, and noise control.

Actually...those can add up to be big issues...lol. One can get over most of those things, though...save maybe noise control and some features left out in the lower models.

My biggest gripe (aside from the noise issue) with lower end cameras is the build material and the overall feel of those cameras...they all feel like cheap toys. It just doesn't feel like you're using a real SLR camera...lol. Also...they're not nearly as sturdy period...that's a fact.
Hello
minus_human
Profile Blog Joined November 2006
4784 Posts
June 13 2009 01:04 GMT
#14
On June 13 2009 08:15 PH wrote:
Show nested quote +
On June 12 2009 14:25 Jibba wrote:
Uh... the Maxxums were pretty highly acclaimed for a consumer DSLR, along the same lines as the 20D and D70, and they've always been ahead of the pack in features. I don't think the Sony cameras are an exception with built in image stabilization (vs. lens stabilization) and the first swivel live view LCDs.

Which camera did you handle? I've heard some issues with noise on the A350 but that thing never should have been released anyways. It sounds like you've just got an issue with sub-$1000 camera users, but the cameras still take great pictures and nearly everything in that market is competitive. If I had the extra $300 I would've gotten a D80, but as it stands I'm extremely satisfied with my A300 and I'm glad I took it over an XSi.

Is IS on the camera body advantageous over IS on the lens? I honestly don't know.

Also, Live View on a DSLR is a gimmick pure and simple. It's the most useless feature on a DSLR, and it even kills your battery.

Sony wasn't the first to put in camera body IS. I know for a fact Pentax was doing it for several years prior, but I'm not sure about any other companies.

I'm not sure exactly which cameras I handled at the Best Buys and Circuit Cities, but the Sony stores I visited had like three on display? So I'm assuming they represented the different price points. I tried playing around with the biggest and most complicated looking one. The lens wasn't a very open one (I don't remember the actual max aperture), so I had to bump up the ISO to like 800...and it looked really fucking terrible. I'm hoping it was due to it being a floor model that's been beaten up...but still. I was pretty shocked. It looked as bad as my old Canon 350D, which was pretty much unusable above beyond 200ISO.

I have a lot of issues with the people with money enough to purchase an $800 camera but with not the patience to learn how to use them properly. I also don't like how the big companies are catering to them. The cameras are still very good cameras.

Most don't differ too badly from their upper niche counterparts. Image quality differences are only noticeable at a "professional" level where detail is a must. Most only have differences in features/controllability/dials&gizmos, battery types, memory card formats, types of JPEG and RAW saves, and noise control.

Actually...those can add up to be big issues...lol. One can get over most of those things, though...save maybe noise control and some features left out in the lower models.

My biggest gripe (aside from the noise issue) with lower end cameras is the build material and the overall feel of those cameras...they all feel like cheap toys. It just doesn't feel like you're using a real SLR camera...lol. Also...they're not nearly as sturdy period...that's a fact.



If there's one thing I absolutely despise in my Canon XTi, it's the fucking plastic case. Seriously WTF t.t. Nikon shows more professionalism in this regard though
Deimos0
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
Poland277 Posts
June 13 2009 18:07 GMT
#15
Sony has some issues with higher iso, I don't know how it works in A900/A700 (I saw tests, but I mean in real situations). I was aware of that, when I was buying this camera. I still have Minolta SLR, and it's still fun to use it, but now I concentrate on learning how to use A200 functions - especially creative styles and adjusting white balance.
protect me from what I want
PH
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
United States6173 Posts
June 13 2009 18:42 GMT
#16
On June 13 2009 10:04 minus_human wrote:
Show nested quote +
On June 13 2009 08:15 PH wrote:
On June 12 2009 14:25 Jibba wrote:
Uh... the Maxxums were pretty highly acclaimed for a consumer DSLR, along the same lines as the 20D and D70, and they've always been ahead of the pack in features. I don't think the Sony cameras are an exception with built in image stabilization (vs. lens stabilization) and the first swivel live view LCDs.

Which camera did you handle? I've heard some issues with noise on the A350 but that thing never should have been released anyways. It sounds like you've just got an issue with sub-$1000 camera users, but the cameras still take great pictures and nearly everything in that market is competitive. If I had the extra $300 I would've gotten a D80, but as it stands I'm extremely satisfied with my A300 and I'm glad I took it over an XSi.

Is IS on the camera body advantageous over IS on the lens? I honestly don't know.

Also, Live View on a DSLR is a gimmick pure and simple. It's the most useless feature on a DSLR, and it even kills your battery.

Sony wasn't the first to put in camera body IS. I know for a fact Pentax was doing it for several years prior, but I'm not sure about any other companies.

I'm not sure exactly which cameras I handled at the Best Buys and Circuit Cities, but the Sony stores I visited had like three on display? So I'm assuming they represented the different price points. I tried playing around with the biggest and most complicated looking one. The lens wasn't a very open one (I don't remember the actual max aperture), so I had to bump up the ISO to like 800...and it looked really fucking terrible. I'm hoping it was due to it being a floor model that's been beaten up...but still. I was pretty shocked. It looked as bad as my old Canon 350D, which was pretty much unusable above beyond 200ISO.

I have a lot of issues with the people with money enough to purchase an $800 camera but with not the patience to learn how to use them properly. I also don't like how the big companies are catering to them. The cameras are still very good cameras.

Most don't differ too badly from their upper niche counterparts. Image quality differences are only noticeable at a "professional" level where detail is a must. Most only have differences in features/controllability/dials&gizmos, battery types, memory card formats, types of JPEG and RAW saves, and noise control.

Actually...those can add up to be big issues...lol. One can get over most of those things, though...save maybe noise control and some features left out in the lower models.

My biggest gripe (aside from the noise issue) with lower end cameras is the build material and the overall feel of those cameras...they all feel like cheap toys. It just doesn't feel like you're using a real SLR camera...lol. Also...they're not nearly as sturdy period...that's a fact.



If there's one thing I absolutely despise in my Canon XTi, it's the fucking plastic case. Seriously WTF t.t. Nikon shows more professionalism in this regard though

LOL dude...when I got my 350D (my first dSLR), I got the SILVER one for whatever reason.

Once I got into college, I worked as an event and portrait photographer for my school's newspaper...oh god I was the laughingstock of the entire staff. Still, though...that made me work harder than everyone else, so I ended up learning a LOT during that time...but man.

My editor would talk shit about my silver camera every time he saw me, lol.
Hello
minus_human
Profile Blog Joined November 2006
4784 Posts
June 15 2009 07:51 GMT
#17
lol the Silver one
that looked nasty
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