Quote:
Originally Posted by Wagnbat
So should I just get the new A100, or go with Nikon/Canon instead? I may just buy a fancy-pants point & shoot until the 2nd gen Sony comes out, but I'd welcome any opinions from the camera enthusiasts lurking about.  |
Excellent question. We have had multiple Minolta Maxxums (film) with a half dozen lens, etc. ended up selling them on eBay. Bought a Nikon 5000 before Digital SLRs really came out.
Today, we are searching for a new digital camera and I have read just about every review I could find on the D80 and non-DSRLs ... I've come to the following conclusion.
It all depends upon what your going to do with it. If its to throw pics on the net ... you dont need anything like that. Internet pics more than 72 dpi (maybe 100) are a waste as you cant see the resolution. The only real reason I can see getting 10 MPixel or better is to print 11 x 14s (meaing you need the printer (not cheap) or send them out to be done (more $$ and printer will pay for itself). So, to me, question #1 is
What do you do with the pictures?
Next question is what kind of pics do you take? If your into landscapes, large interior shots with crowds, a 24mm or 19mm (35mm equivalent) is the way to go. 28 mm or higher is point and shoot country. On the other hand, if your into pics of wildlife or maybe racetracks? 300mm minimum or 400mm (35 mm equivalent) better (and not with digital zoom which lowers the resolution).
SO question 2 is, when all is said and done, how many lens do you need?
Flash, gotta have one of those ... looking at $200 easy.
Interior portraits? Multiple flash setups.
Need a "fast" 50mm?
Macro. Nothing beats a real macro lens.
The primary advantage of a DSLR are the interchangeable lens. Secondary advantages of what you see is what you get, a bit faster between shots, slightly larger sensor are all good but IMHO, in no way come to anywhere near the cost of the lens suite.
In the old days, pros would have one or two bodies, different lens on each body. The bodies they kept forever, the lens technology keeps changing ... better glass, faster lenses.
Today, the body technology keeps changing. Today 12Mp, tomorrow 20 Mpixels. But how are you going to use those Mpixels?
At the moment, my conclusion is if I buy a D80, I'm looking at maybe $3K in lenses easy. If you buy nikon (and whats the point of buying a nikon body and Joe Smoe lens), your looking at $900 easy for a good wide angle. 300 - 400mm? I have no idea how much.
If everything you ever take a pic of fits in the kit lens (usually the cheapest lens the manufactor sells), then your golden.
But probably dont need a SLR.
So my thinking is ... how much is the whole 9 yards going to really cost me to allow me to do what I want to do. That is what I would do my analysis on.
