Totally undecided: PLEASE help!

[JotaSolano]

Hey you guys !!

This is like my first post, but I've been following DPS for quite a bit now (through RSS!)

So... I've been shooting with SLR mechanical cameras for about 2 years now... Now i've saved up enough money to (finally) buy a "decent" Dslr ..

The problem is that I'm totally undecided because there are so many options to choose from !

I'm looking for a mid-range camera, nothing as "simple" as say, a Canon XS or a Nikon d3000, but certainly not as expensive as a 50d or a d7000...

So basically I'm between a canon t1i or t2i (a bit pricey) , a nikon d3100 or d5000 or a sony a500-550 (the thing with the alpha is that it's supposed to be the rival of the d90, but it costs even less than the nikon d3100 !!... I DO WONDER why the price has dropped so much (about $650 on amazon) !... any ideas? maybe 'cause there's no video capabilities??

Anyway... I was hoping you could maybe help me with suggestions ?...

I don't care about the "guide" modes cause I know how to shoot pictures lol... video recording would be a very cool feature but is NOT a priority... and the MP count is not as important... anywhere above 12mp is more than enough...

My budget is limited (say about $750-$800)... and I have to think about a fast memory card...

I hope I'm not making this post too complicated lol... thanks for your help...

Btw... Do you guys know of a site that has charts that show memory size/amount of pics ratio or something like that... i'm undecided on the memory size as well (I was thinking to buy an 8gb one!)


Thanks again !

[oldwolf]

Which SLR were you shooting with before?

[JotaSolano]

Mostly a Canon F-1, using a 35-105 zoom lens and a 50mm macro lens... also a 50mm prime... I've also used a Pentax MX and an Olympus OM-2


I think I'm leaning toward the Nikon d3100 and the sony a500 or a550... the price on the Alpha has dropped A LOT... and they're still great cameras... plus I've heard the lenses are not as expensive as the other brands, and you can use Sigma or Tamron too, right?

[bearly]

just go to a store that has all the cameras you are interested in and play around with them... see if you like the controls/layout of buttons and menus, see which one feels the best in your hand, check out lens selections, things like that.

any of these cameras will suit your needs without issue, and they will all be capable of helping you produce fantastic photographs, so it really comes down to personal preference.

[JotaSolano]

Originally Posted by bearly

just go to a store that has all the cameras you are interested in and play around with them... see if you like the controls/layout of buttons and menus, see which one feels the best in your hand, check out lens selections, things like that.

any of these cameras will suit your needs without issue, and they will all be capable of helping you produce fantastic photographs, so it really comes down to personal preference.

Yeah that's the issue lol: I'm not from the States, so... believe it or not, here in my country I don't have access to all those cameras... they simply don't sell them here... even Sony Style doesn't sell the 500, they've got 300s and 800s, which are exactly the ones I'm not looking for lol...(I have played with them however)... and the new models, like the d3100... it'll take a couple of months 'till they sell them here... that's why I created the post basically.

But yeah, I've been on flickr for about an hour now searching for pictures specifically by model... and they're all great... I do now it all comes down to the lens sometimes but anyway, they're still a good reference...

There's just the matter of the memory card... 8GB will do fine on 12MP ?... Using jpeg mostly ? I've never had a serious digital camera, only point-and-shoots (sony btw)...

And also... If I buy the sony... which is better: SD or Memory Stick ?


Thanks again !

[kirbinster]

Why not a Nikon D90, the price will drop some more as soon as the D7000 is actually on the street.

[JotaSolano]

Originally Posted by kirbinster

Why not a Nikon D90, the price will drop some more as soon as the D7000 is actually on the street.

Possibly true!... hadn't thought of that... This is worse than buying a laptop !... lol... but then again... Comparing actual rivals now, D90 vs a550... they both have practically the same features... I think the alpha has faster continuous shooting and Nikon has well.. the reputation ...

You obviously use Nikon, so tell me... why do you prefer them over other brands?... Is it like, a personal thing or is the D90 actually better than the 550?

[kirbinster]

Well I guess it started for me when a friend got a Nikon D40 and I loved it. Then it was the reputation of the Nikon name. So, I got a D40 - and the rest is history. Its a big decision, as once you pick a brand you will probably stick with it "forever" as you start to build an investment in lenses which typically locks you into that mount.

[JotaSolano]

Exactly !... I think that's the most important factor... You get "stuck" with the brand... I mean... Sony is a great brand... and the lenses are also great... and they have full frame bodies too... (If I ever get that far lol).. but so are Nikon a Canon... and since it's my first DSLR I don't have a preference... it's gonna come down to the price I'm afraid !

The D90 does have video recording and more AF points... but I think that the 550 is a tad modern... and it has built-in stabilization (not that it matters a lot thou...)

[kirbinster]

I think it best to stick with either Nikon or Canon - they are the two biggest brands. I think you will find more and cheaper lenses with these brands than with Sony. I have not seen too many pro's that use Sony.