Hello ameliaspirit,
Thank you for your question. As Google Answers winds down, I noticed
your question still remains unanswered and I thought I could provide
you with some valuable information to help in making a decision on
digital SLR purchases.
There is an old saying from film cameras that goes something like a
camera is just a place to hang a lens. It is not much different with
digital. Ultimately the quality of the image will be directly related
to the quality of the lens used. Choose an SLR for the "system" it
provides so that you have body choices, a wide range of quality lenses
within your budget and needs and a wide range of manufacturer and
aftermarket accessories.
I heard early on in my photo hobby that Canon made the best long focal
length lenses and Nikon the best short. This, of course, excluded the
exotics such as Leica that runs in the same realm you find Ferraris.
One testament to that thought is just look at any sports show on TV
and notice all the white Canon "L" lenses on the sports photog's
cameras. Its a good rule of thumb, though with CAD designs and new
technology, Nikon and Canon are perhaps closer across their lines now
than ever before.
You mentioned price, but did not propose a budget. I took your remark
to mean that you wanted a good price once you made a decision and not
that your decision would be based either solely or primarily on price.
You'll note that Nikon and Canon SLR Digital bodies run from maybe
$500 to $5,000. Lenses run the gamut as well. What system you compile
will depend on what you shoot, what your budget is and just what level
of quality meets your needs. Whatever that turns out to be, you can
check Froogle, PriceScan, PriceGrabber and dozens of other price sites
(and don't forget ResellerRatings.com to learn about a prospective
seller!), but fact is, I don't think I have ever heard a bad word
about B&H Photo in New York. They are not always the very, very least
expensive (though sometimes they are) but they are incredibly ethical,
reliable and service oriented. A few dollars more spent here is worth
its weight in gold. Truly. www.bhphoto.com
Now, as noted below, DPReview is an excellent site to learn about
cameras, lenses and read reviews. I will provide a few more of the
cream of the crop sites for digital photography. And don't forget,
with digital, you will do your own processing. So reviews on
Photoshop. Photoshop Elements, a number of RAW processing utilities,
photo printers and the like are all going to be extremely valuable
reading for you. This is a new world. A lot to learn and I'll help you
weed through the potentials to the best sites below.
Digital PhotoReview - http://www.dpreview.com/
Where you'll find all the latest in digital photography and imaging
news, reviews of the latest digital cameras and accessories, the most
active discussion forums, a large selection of sample images, a
digital camera buyers guide, side-by-side comparisons and the most
comprehensive database of digital camera features and specifications.
We believe in quality, original, unbiased content.
Let's Go Digital - http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/index.html
Steve's DigiCams - http://www.steves-digicams.com/default.htm
Ron Bigelow Photography - Fabulous Articles on Processing -
http://ronbigelow.com/articles/articles.htm
Computer Darkroom - http://www.computer-darkroom.com/
On these pages you will find instructive feature articles, tutorials,
reviews and technical discussions relating to digital image
processing. The feature articles and tutorials cover a broad range of
topics including: Digital Capture and Workflow, Film Scanning,
Photoshop, Colour Management, Monitor Calibration, and Printing with
Epson Inkjet Printers I hope that you will find the written material
and images interesting and informative.
Megapixel - http://www.megapixel.net/html/cover.php
Fred Miranda - http://www.fredmiranda.com/
Great lens reviews - http://www.photozone.de/active/news/index.jsp
Places for "how to choose or buy" articles:
Philip Greenspun - http://philip.greenspun.com/photography/building-a-digital-slr-system
Building a Digital SLR Camera System
PcPhoto Magazine - http://www.pcphotomag.com/content/2006/marapr/choose_digital_slr.shtml
Another Philip Greenspun article on Photo.net -
http://photo.net/equipment/digital/choosing
Choosing a Digital Camera
I trust these links above for quality information and hope they lead
you to making a very informed decision for your new DSLR.
Search Strategy:
Personal experience and personal bookmarks
I trust my research has provided you with a number of quality links
and good basic buying information. If a link above should fail to work
or anything require further explanation or research, please do post a
Request for Clarification prior to rating the answer (and prior to
Google Answers closing on December 30!) and I will be pleased to
assist further.
Regards,
-=clouseau=- |
