DSLR camera?

Caitlin

I'm looking for a digital SLR camera. Preferably not too expensive. Does anyone have suggestions?

Answer
Two cameras come to mind when you ask for a DSLR that's not too expensive. Here you go:

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Nikon D40

The Nikon D40 is a great little camera, very easy to use and quite reasonably priced. It has a few "consumer friendly" totally automatic modes that make it very easy to use, but still offers total photographic control when you are ready to take charge. It will get you in the Nikon family which is a great place to be. If you buy accessories and lenses, you will be able to use everything on any Nikon that you might upgrade to later on.

Check out Nikon's "Picturetown" promotion, where they handed out 200 D40's in Georgetown, SC. http://www.stunningnikon.com/picturetown/

Here are a few reviews, in case you have not read them yet. Be sure to note that they are several pages long and some of the reviews also have some sample images that you can look at.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/nikon_d40.html
http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3756/camera-test-nikon-d40.html
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40/d40-recommendations.htm

I hate to see people slam the camera because it can't autofocus with older Nikon lenses. It is true that there is a "slight problem" with older Nikon lenses not autofocusing on the D40, but if you do not own a bag full of older lenses, it is not going to be a problem. It is barely a problem anyhow. If you check www.nikonusa.com for "AF-S" lenses, which are ALL 100% compatible with the D40, you will find 23 lenses, including 7 "VR" (vibration Reduction) lenses and one true macro lens with "VR". There are another 25-plus lenses in the current catalog that provide all functions except autofocus as well as many (possibly dozens) "out of print" lenses that will work just as well. In addition, although these lens will not autofocus, most of them will still give focus confirmation. From the D40 manual: "If the lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 of faster, the viewfinder focus indicator can be used to confirm whether the portion of the subject in the selected focus area is in focus. After positioning the subject in the active focus area, press the shutter release button halfway and rotate the lens focusing ring until the in-focus indicator is displayed."

The D40 only has 3 autofocus zones arranged horizontally at the center, 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. This might be considered a limitation, but realistically, most people will find this perfectly adequate, especially if you are moving up from a point and shoot with only a center zone.

You can get the D40 with the 18-55 kit lens at B&H Photo available through Yahoo! Shopping or at 1-800-622-4987) for $550 (May 2007) and this is with TWO Lexar 1 GB cards. You can get the same kit with one Lexar Platinum (higher speed) card for $560. Or - get the D40 with 18-135 lens and 1 GB Lexar card for $760.

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Pentax K100D - Cheapest Decent SLR

The cheapest DSLR that is worth owning is probably the Pentax K100D, and this is coming from a Nikon fan. This is a decent camera.

You can click on individual user comments on this page:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinions.asp?prodkey=pentax_k100d

You can read the dpreview.com "Highly Recommended" review here:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk100d/

You can also read this review of the K100D here:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/k100d.html

I used to recommend the Pentax K110D as the best entry level dSLR, but I do not see it for sale at B&H Photo or Adorama. The entry level seems to now be the K100D. The only difference between these two cameras is that the K100D includes "shake reduction," which adds some expense to the camera.

Adorama has the K100D with the 18-55 lens for $489.95, after a $50 rebate. The rebate ends on July 31, 2007. You will still need a memory card and I would suggest at least the 1 GB Sandisk Ultra II SD card, which costs about $30. You can get the 2 GB for $35, so it would be silly not to go for the 2 GB card.

As of this writing (5-9-07), B&H is NOT showing the $50 rebate on the K100D with the 18-55 lens, but they ARE showing it for the body alone. Since this is a Pentax manufacturer's rebate, I would speculate that this is an error on the web site. If you prefer buying from B&H, you can call them at 1-800-622-4987 to inquire about this matter.

If you want "higher" quality and want to spend double the money, get back to me............and I'll tell you about the Nikon D80.

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Ways to manually adjust aperture on lens while taking video with Nikon DSLR Camera?

Morgan

Is there a way (or multiple ways) to adjust the aperture using a Nikon DSLR camera while taking video? I have a D7000 and a wide assortment of lenses. Many old lenses I realize have adjustable aperture rings on the lens itself which seems to be a feature incompatible with newer cameras [unless f-stop is set to 22] and lacking from newer lenses (note: I am completely unaware of any adapters that offer a means of making this option compatible.)

I know there are some specific 3rd party lenses out there that have aperture rings on them so you can adjust your depth of field range/brightness while taking video but am at a loss of how to find them.

Any hints, suggestions, techniques, links, companies, lens models etc... would be greatly helpful.

{Incase it wasn't clear, my main objective is to find a way to broaden/narrow my depth of field while taking video using an adjustable aperture ring on the camera's lens}

Thank you all in advance for any input : )

Answer
When shooting video, the only control of the exposure are the following

* adjust the lens aperture
* adjust the ISO of the camera
* add or subtract light from the scene

If you want to decrease the depth of field by opening the lens, you will have to reduce the sensitivity of the sensor or add an ND filter to the lens. Usually it is very difficult to reduce the actual amount of light in a specific scene

If you want to increase the depth of field, you need to close the lens aperture down until you have just the right amount of depth of field. With less light reaching the sensor, you will either have to up the ISO of the sensor or add more light to the scene.

Whether you use an actual aperture ring or control the depth of field using the camera control, really does not matter much.

You are now beginning to see just one of the drawback of trying to use a dSLR camera with a video "
feature" can be vexing.

What you may want to read before you start spending a lot of money on accessories to make your fine D7000 into a usable video camera. These problems will be encountered no matter what dSLR you use

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/camcorders/cam-cam.shtml

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/techniques/3_years_later_dslr_video_one_mans_perspective.shtml

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DSLR Camera Lens Distance Help?

Sam K

I'm getting my first DSLR camera and it comes with a kit lens that is 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens. After I buy the camera I won't be able to afford any more lenses. I'm wondering how far this lens can shoot. I like to take close up pictures of things in a far distance. Can you please give me a basic guesstimate of how many yards away it can shoot something.
The camera is a Sony Alpha A230

Answer
Sam,

The lens you're asking about is really best for landscape (wide angle) and portrait shots. Not for telephoto zoom at a distance.

If that longer distance zoom is what you want and you can only afford one "kit" (bundled) lens with your camera body you should ask the seller if you can get the 55-200mm kit lens in place of the 18-55mm.

Honestly though, I'd suggest two alternative options for your consideration:

1- Purchase a superzoom "bridge" camera instead of the Sony DSLR starter camera. They have fixed, not interchangeable, lenses. But they zoom from wide to long, include manual, semi-manual and auto modes and will allow you to learn the photography skills you'd need to operate a DSLR when you can better afford one (& its expensive associated lenses). Highly rated superzooms include the: Canon SX20-IS or SX10-IS (the older model of the two but still excellent) or Nikon P100.

2- If you really dream of having a DSLR, then consider a Canon or Nikon rather than the Sony. Sony's are quite good, but the other two brands will provide many more lens and accessory options AND they are often sold in promo pkgs bundled with 2 "kit" lenses - the wide to medium zoom and the medium to long telephoto zoom - probably for the same price you're likely paying for one included lens. Look for a sale! There are also 3rd party lens makers like Sigma, Tamron and Tokina that make a lot less expensive lenses than some of the equivalent Canon or Nikon offerings - in mount sizes that fit the typical Canon & Nikon bodies.

Good luck in your choice!

Interchangeable lens camera <$1100?

Matthew Ch

There's so many damn choices and I am unable to make up my mind! help!

Answer
Take a serious look at the Pentax K-30. Its currently the lowest-priced Weather Resistant (WR) DSLR available. WR means its safe to take it out in the rain or use it in very dusty conditions.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/pentax-k30/pentax-k30A.HTM

The K-30, in addition to its WR feature, has a few additional features not found on any comparably priced Nikon or Canon DSLR.

First, it has a focusing motor in the camera body. You have to move all the way up to the Nikon D7000 to find that feature.

Second, it has the Pentax version of Image Stabilization (IS) in the camera body so any lens used becomes an IS lens. Nikon and Canon have their respective versions of IS in some but not all of their lenses so with them you get to pay over and over for the same feature.

Third, since the K-30 uses the "K" lens mount introduced in 1975 any "K" mount lens ever made - manual focus or auto focus - can be used with it. Although Nikon can also lay claim to using the same lens mount since 1959 - the "F" mount - a Nikon AF lens will not auto focus an any Nikon model below the D7000. Canon abandoned their "FD/FL" lens mount for the "EF" mount in 1988 which is currently used on all their DSLR cameras. However, there are two lens lines from Canon - the budget "EF-S" lenses and the professional grade "EF" lenses. The "EF-S" lenses CANNOT be used on a Canon full-frame DSLR like the 6D, 5D and 1D.

Fourth, Pentax introduced the first Japanese manufactured 35mm SLR long before Nikon and Canon.

Fifth, the K-30 uses a pentaprism viewfinder while comparably priced Nikons and Canons use the cheaper pentamirror viewfinder. A pentaprism viewfinder is brighter which means easier focusing in low-light situations.

Pentax K-30 w/18-55mm f3.5-5.6 WR zoom lens, $696.95 after a $100.00 'Instant Savings' from B&H that ends 6-30-2013. You can add the SMC Pentax DA 50-200mm f4-5.6 ED WR zoom for another $246.95. $943.90 for a two lens kit. By comparison, a Nikon D7000 body with no lens will cost you $996.95 and a camera without a lens is pretty much useless. A Canon T5i w/18-55mm f3.5-5.6 zoom lens is $899.00.

B&H - http://www.bhphotovideo.com

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