Camera recomendation needed

Wook

I am looking for a LSR Camera at around 600 - 700 euro.
with enough options to play with and the possibility to mix the lens
Problem is that i do not know enough about the technical bits of a camera to be sure that i will buy the correct one for me.

manufacturer and model please , do you also happen to know a camera store in dublin that has good value for money ?

Cheers !

Samson

Read my second post in this thread:
http://muppet.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=72021&highlight=ffordes

DadaKopf

I'd recommend you check out Camera Exchange on George's St. They don't try to rip you off as much as people like Conn's in the Grafton Arcade.

Samba

I wouldnt bother Thomas, the Euro is gaining in value and has been growing very strong over the past few weeks.


£299 is down to 445 Eur

DadaKopf

Yewha?

davej

Ok, your choice is basically between Nikon or Canon.
Both have their supporters and some shop assistants and photographers will swear on their mother's graves that one system is better than the other. Either makes a fine choice for an SLR.

The second choice you have to make is whether or not you want to buy a fairly expensive body with little or no extras or go for a slightly cheaper model but say for example get an extra lens.

Different shops in Dublin specialise in either canon or nikon. For example Berminghams on the quays are more Nikon oriented whereas Conns on Grafton St. will try to sell you Canon.

Personally I suggest you go for the Nikon F65 (comes with a 28-105mm lens).

http://www.nikon-image.com/eng/35mm/f65.html

This will set you back around €430 in Dublin. You can then buy yourself a second cheap telephoto lens (70mm-300mm) and possibly a dedicated ttl flash or cheap tripod. This would all up to around the €700 mark.

The Canon model in the same price range as the f65 is the eos 300. So you could make up a similar "package" using the 300 as your starting point.

A step up from the f65 or eos 300 is the f80 and eos 30 respectively. They will use up all of your budget in one go.

My advice is to go for the cheaper range and get the extras, they are amazing cameras and won't let you down.
Ask around in the camera shops, they are all fairly friendly and will give you honest advice.

davej

Wook

i specificaly avoided the shops because they will try to advice me the products they want to get rid off Hence the 'boards' post

another question i had was, do you know if being able to take 'panoramic' shots is a lens option or a camera option ?

DadaKopf

I have a Canon EOS 1000FN - it's about 7 years old and it cost about £350 back then. Since then, the Canons have improved enormously but, in my opinion, good as they are, they're still just very good, reasonably priced cameras in comparison to similarly priced Nikons.

My stepmother has, what i think is a Nikon f65 with a Quantaray 38mm - 80 aspherical lens. The winding mechanism seems more sold as does the overall construction, it has a more versatile 5-zone focusing mechanism which mine doesn't have.

The most striking difference I found between the two was their respective light meter systems and the overall exposure. On my camera, I find sometimes that the photos are too dark while with the Nikon, in exactly the same light, printed at exactly the same studio, the photos were much brighter, more colourful and, on occasion, a little overexposed. This may have been the printing process but it's unlikely.

So, as a Canon user, I think I can safely recommend the Nikon over the Canon.

DadaKopf

Originally posted by Wook
i specificaly avoided the shops because they will try to advice me the products they want to get rid off Hence the 'boards' post

another question i had was, do you know if being able to take 'panoramic' shots is a lens option or a camera option ?

The box will tell you . If you're buying an SLR camera, it'll be a lens option. All a panoramic lens is, really, is a wide angle lens - something less than 28mm. The smaller the mm's, the more of a fisheye effect you'll get.

davej

do you know if being able to take 'panoramic' shots is a lens option or a camera option ?

This is totally dependent on your lens. I have a tokina 19mm-35mm lens for my Nikon which is excellent for wide angle shots. It costs about £200 sterling.

What type of photography are you interested in? Scenery? Wildlife ? Architecture? Candids? Or all of the above and more ?

Also the comment about the shops trying to flog off unwanted gear, most of them will be looking for repeat custom so they generally won't screw you. A lot of them are enthusiasts themselves and will go out of their way to help you - often to the detriment of making a sale.

Also the definitive Canon v Nikon argument can be seen at:

http://www.photo.net/equipment/35mm/canon-v-nikon

The thread is years old and still going!

davej

Samson

Originally posted by davej
Also the definitive Canon v Nikon argument can be seen at:

http://www.photo.net/equipment/35mm/canon-v-nikon

The thread is years old and still going!

And that thread will still be going for quite a few years.

Wook, the best advice I can offer is to go into a shop which sells both Canon and Nikon and play around with both brands, see which feels right for you, because as far as features and performance goes, both brands are on a par.
Anyone who tries to argue the toss is wasting their time.

I personally prefer Canon because it's what I'm used to (the first camera I used was my Father's Canon), yet I would never argue with a Nikon owner that "my brand is better than yours", it's fruitless.

See which you like best.

Samba

Originally posted by DadaKopf
Yewha?

Hence it is becoming more attractice to buy in the U.k

Wook

hmm... thanks for the tips, it's true i guess that you can't compare between the two camera's ...still 700 euro is a bit of money to NOT know what you are doing or buying

Samson

Originally posted by Wook
hmm... thanks for the tips, it's true i guess that you can't compare between the two camera's ...still 700 euro is a bit of money to NOT know what you are doing or buying

Well, as I said have a look at my recommendation in the other thread.
The EOS 50e is an excellent camera, and you should consider it if you are buying second-hand.
The current equivalents are the EOS 30 and 33, you can buy the 33 (body only) online for as little as €480.00 from:
http://www.ny-camera.com/language/english/index.htm
German site, been going quite a while, I have used them and can recommend.

The EOS 30 has eye control focus, the 33 does not; personally I never use the eye control on my EOS 3 and my EOS 1v does not even have it (and the 1v is the top of the range Canon film camera).
Basically what I'm trying to say is that you don't really need the eye control, it's ok sometimes but I view it as a bit gimmicky.

Now for a lens, if you can can scrape together another €50 to go with your €700 you could buy this for €259.00:
http://s28489807.einsundeinsshop.de/sess/utn153e2333fa4fd87/shopdata/0030_Lenses/0060_Sigma/0050_Wideangle+=26amp=3Bslash=3B+Wideanglezoomlenses/product_details.shopscript?article=0570_Sigma%2B2%3D2C8-4%3D2C0%3D26slash%3D3B28-105%2BC%3D26slash%3D3BEF%2B72%3DA0%3DA0%2B%3D28900588%3D29
Should suit most of your initial needs; good focal range, good max. aperture, quite sharp.

Samson

Just noticed that they are actually selling that body and lens as a package at €699.00, which is quite a bargain.
http://s28489807.einsundeinsshop.de/sess/utn153e2333fa4fd87/shopdata/0010_SLR+Cameras/0010_Canon/0600_EOS+33+Series/product_details.shopscript?article=0050_Canon%2BEOS%2B33%2B%3D2B%2BSigma%2B2%3D2C8-4%3D2C0%3D26slash%3D3B28-105mm%2B%3D28900062%3D29
You should price the same combo in Conn's Cameras, I think you will be astounded at the price differential.
Conn-man more like!

Wook

Hey thats good info, and many thanks for it!.
I'll be interrested in nature and the a project that runs trough my mind and one of the reasons i want to buy a camera..to shoot Dublin in all it's grimness and decay..

Whats the difference in 'autofocus' and 'autoexposure' ?

davej

You should do a beginners course with the Dublin Camera Club on Camden St.

http://www.dccweb.hostinguk.com/pages/index.htm

Some nice images up on the site as well.

to shoot Dublin in all it's grimness and decay..

There are some really great "urban decay" type shots to be got around Dublins Dockyards and Train Stockyards. I was down there a couple of months ago with a friend and shot a few rolls of B&W. There are some very interesting structures, especially if you're willing to trespass...

davej

Wook

will start course soon
http://www.irish-photography.com/

Samson

Originally posted by Wook
..to shoot Dublin in all it's grimness and decay..

I suggest that you do indeed visit the sites that davej mentioned.
Something I would personally recommend would be to use black and white film for this type of project, it's much more atmospheric.

Originally posted by Wook
Whats the difference in 'autofocus' and 'autoexposure' ?

Autofocus is when the camera automatically brings whatever you are pointing it at into focus (makes sharp). In modern autofocus SLRs there will be a number of sensors which will be marked in the view-finder, you select (or let the camera select) which sensor to use and whatever that sensor is pointing at is brought into focus at the press of a button, typically (but not always) by depressing the shutter release half-way.

Autoexposure is when the automatically selects what settings to use based on how well lit the subject is.
For example, if you have the camera in "program" mode (automatic selection of shutter speed and aperture*) and are pointing it at a tree on a sunny day you will get differing settings than if you were pointing it at a black cat in a coal mine!

*Shutter speed is the length of time that the film is exposed to light.
Aperture is the amount of light that the lens allows in (how "open" the lens is).

Samba

Gonna go for this one here


http://www.irish-photography.com/courses/intro.html, so that I can say I did somthing for my interviews with DIT and Dunlaoghaire



Where abouts in Temple bar are they based, anyone know?

Mr. Fancypants

They are in meeting house square at the back of the IFC as far as i know.

Wook

Found it !
This is the Camera i am going to get
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2001_reviews/maxxum7.html

Price in Ireland between 1000 E and 1650 Euro
Price in the States between 500 and 650 dollars (Euro better, exchange)


So i will fly to NY and get one

davej

Sounds like a good model from what I've heard (especially the meter).

Once you're aware that the amount of accessories available are limited in comparison to Nikon or Canon, especially when it comes to 2nd hand gear (eg lenses).

If this isn't a problem for you and you've done your research, then it sounds like an excellent choice.

Getting it from the US is a good option, make sure to use it over there and get some film developed - that way if there are any problems you can bring it back to the retailer before you come back home.

davej

Samson

Good choice Wook, I have heard many good things about this camera.
However, I would bear in mind what davej says about availability of accessories/third party lenses/used lenses etc.

BTW, that particular model is known as the Dynax 7 in Europe, and I would suggest you consider buying from Germany, www.ny-camera.com have that body for €748.90.
http://s28489807.einsundeinsshop.de/sess/utn153e2333fa4fd87/shopdata/0010_SLR+Cameras/0030_Minolta/0700_Dynax+7+Series/product_details.shopscript?article=0020_Minolta%2BDynax%2B7%2BGeh%3DE4use%2B%3D28345725823%3D29
I'm sure you guys must think I have shares in the company, considering the amount of times I recommend ny-camera.com, but their prices are the best I've come across (in Europe).

Wook

I am now the proud owner of a minolta dynax 7 !
It looks even more impressive then the specs i have been reading. It will probably take me a year just to figure out all the knobs and buttons

Samba

and me a Canon EOS 50 E

MXV are very friendly fast and efficient, would recommend without hesitations

Samson

Originally posted by Samba
and me a Canon EOS 50 E

MXV are very friendly fast and efficient, would recommend without hesitations

What lens/lenses did you get?

Samba

Well I have my first bad word to say about NY Camera, they had a second hand sigma 28-105mm Lens USM up on the site so I ordered it and recieved an email, saying they would ship when they get it in stock

So I rang them up and it was actually a 28-70mm Lens, was a bit peeved, so they did me a deal with a brand new 28-80 mm USM lens.


But really wanted that extra Zoom ability, although it would not have been phenonemal, would have made that little difference.

Will just have to start saving for other lenses

Wook

bought my camera from www.cameraking.co.uk
next day delivery and very cheap !

Samson

Originally posted by Wook
bought my camera from www.cameraking.co.uk
next day delivery and very cheap !

What did you buy?

DadaKopf

Just got me one of these . It's dope.

Wook

bought the Minolta Dynax 7

sci0x

Or id suggest the Nikon Coolpix 5400. Its a gr8 camera.

fitz

Picked up a Minolta Dynax 60 myself over the weekend, and I have to say, I'm liking it a lot.

Compared to the Canon, the metering is much better, and the lens feels smoother and easier to use on manual.

I'm quite

FinoBlad

the dynax 60 looks cool, good luck with it.

rob1891

dada, your link is broke. I'm guessing it's something funky like a horizon?

This is turning into an i just bought thread, let me contribute. Canon F1n. I should have got a t90 in retrospect but the f1 can kill small animals & children ad infinitum, where as I'd be worried about a t90 breaking up after a while. Good to see some people still buying film cameras!

tribble

I boughts me a Pentax MZ-50...


...seven years ago - SLRs don't have to be big