[solo_ryder]

Hi, first real post in this area..

I am on the hunt for a DSLR. Up until this point I have used a point and shoot for so long and would like to get something better. This weekend I was planning on getting a new Canon rebel XS with the standard kit lens and all that. I was also looking at a XSI, but that is out of my budget, I can get the XS new for 585$ taxes in.

I know this is a good camera from the various research I have done on the net and from talking to others.

Now, my friends dad has a Pentax *ist DL that he wants to sell, I can get it for about 275$ with the kit lens... Is this camera any good? Keep in mind that I am a beginner and I will not be doing any heavy modifications to the pictures on the computer (I am aware that the camera has no RAW-Jpec mode as well).

I will most likely be shooting:

Moving shots of vehicles, trains etc.
Night shots
Scenery shots in dark and bright lighting
Closeups

What do you guys think I should do? I want to be cost conscious, but also get a camera that is worth the money and will last me in the long run... what do you all think?

p.s. I know that the Nikon D40 or D60 is also a option, but I believe that I am getting a good deal on that Canon so I was somewhat set on that. I alos like the live view feature as I will do alot of tripod shooting.

Thanks guys/girls!

[+Kardboard+]

I use the *ist DL and love it. I'm very amateur and very casual when it comes to photography, although I never use the stock lens and use one that I had with my Pentax film SLR instead. :p

If you're looking to get more into photography, the Canon might be the better choice because it's easier to get lens and accessories for that.

[sebberry]

I'm a photography N00b and use a Pentax K10D. Very happy with it and the selection of lenses is great, even the older designed-for-film lenses are really nice.

I don't recall if the *ist DL has in body stabilization or is weathersealed, but these are both features I like on my K10D.

Both cameras are good and I don't think you'd be disappointed with the Pentax.

Post up on pentaxforums.com to see what people think of them. I don't think there are too many Pentax users here. Sure the reviews might be biased over there but people who use that one will be able to tell you what they like and don't like about it.

They say that the camera doesn't matter, but I shoot Pentax just in case ;)

[Senna4ever]

They are both great cameras, but the canon system has more potential to grow into. Pentax lenses are really good though....

[+Kardboard+]

The *ist DL has nothing LOLLL

No image stabilization, no weather-proofing. Just an alternate two-tone colour scheme that I love and have. :lol

[Soundy]

I'll offer my standard advice for this sort of decision: once you've narrowed your choice down to two or three models, go to the store and actually spend some time playing with them all. Handle them, operate them, navigate the menus and settings. In the end, go with the one that FEELS best to you. A camera that's uncomfortable to hold or confusing to use is only going to annoy you in the long run, and stands a far greater chance of sitting on a shelf collecting dust, where all the specs and minute technical differences will mean sweet F-A... better to have a camera that you'll ENJOY using in the long term.

After telling two friends they should get Canon so I could borrow their lenses :) I gave them this same advice... one ended up with a Nikon D80, the other with a *ist, and they're both very happy with their decisions.

[sebberry]

I'll offer my standard advice for this sort of decision: once you've narrowed your choice down to two or three models, go to the store and actually spend some time playing with them all. Handle them, operate them, navigate the menus and settings. In the end, go with the one that FEELS best to you. A camera that's uncomfortable to hold or confusing to use is only going to annoy you in the long run, and stands a far greater chance of sitting on a shelf collecting dust, where all the specs and minute technical differences will mean sweet F-A... better to have a camera that you'll ENJOY using in the long term.

After telling two friends they should get Canon so I could borrow their lenses :) I gave them this same advice... one ended up with a Nikon D80, the other with a *ist, and they're both very happy with their decisions.

That's why I switched to Pentax at the last minute. A friend bought a Canon XTi and I played with it for a bit. Took great shots and was much nicer to use than my Canon S3 P&S camera.

I didn't really know much about or research Pentax before I made the decision to get an SLR, but there was a K10D in stock sitting next to the Canon. I liked that it was heavier and felt much sturdier, was a bit bigger and the functions could not be simpler or more intuitive. The two dials sealed the deal as they put all of the functions right where you need them.

Every time I pick up a Canon or Nikon I stare at it in confusion. For me, the Pentax K10D is a camera that I actually want to pick up and use.

[dutch]

Pentax lenses are really good though....

and tend to be cheaper.

[sebberry]

and tend to be cheaper.

Thanks in part to in-body shake reduction and focus drive motors on the newer Pentax bodies.

[MikesJo]

canon.

[sebberry]

I know where this thread is going...












Hey everybody, GM or Ford?

[niforpix]

Canon.

GM or Ford? Neither.

[77civic1200]

Canon.

GM or Ford? Neither.

+1 haha

[solo_ryder]

Thanks guys, ended up getting a Canon Rebel XS. I liked the button positions and the price I got it for so I bought it.

:D

[niforpix]

Sweet! Welcome to the Canon family :D

[Meowjin]

Thanks in part to in-body shake reduction and focus drive motors on the newer Pentax bodies.

Just because the IS/VR/OS is in the body doesn't mean its better though.

[Senna4ever]

Just because the IS/VR/OS is in the body doesn't mean its better though.

...and vice versa.

[niforpix]

IS/VR/OS built in the body will save you money in the long run. It sucks how Canon chargers an average of like $500 more just to have an image stabilizer in a lens. Oh well...

[Soundy]

^The 17-85 kit lens that came with my 40D has IS...

[niforpix]

^^ I have that lens too... but it's a crappy lens compared to the 24-105L I used to have. I may pick up another one and get rid of the 17-85mm.

[Soundy]

I know it doesn't measure up to an L... just saying, in-lens IS is hardly a $500 premium.

[niforpix]

Hmm....

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/91680-USA/Canon_2569A004_70_200mm_f_2_8L_USM_Autofocus.html

VS.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/234444-USA/Canon_7042A002_70_200mm_f_2_8L_IS_USM.html

[Mananetwork]

Non IS performs better

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=242&Camera=9&Sample=0&FLI=4&API=2&LensComp=103&CameraComp=9&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=4&APIComp=0

[Meowjin]

same with the nikon currently.

the 80-200 AFS (which is the sharpest and discontinued in 2004) performs better then the 70-200 vr.

[77civic1200]

Non IS performs better

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=242&Camera=9&Sample=0&FLI=4&API=2&LensComp=103&CameraComp=9&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=4&APIComp=0

you cheater, you have the non-is at f4, and the is at 2.8

Try it at the same f-stop and look again.

[JapaDog]

i can also argue that both canon and nikon provides a superior IS/VR system. the benefit of having the IS system on lens rather than body is that the IS doesn't age with the body model.

For example, canon recently introduced the 4-stop IS system on the newer lenses series such as the 70-200 f/4L IS. when using an older body like the 10d or 20d, it will probably provide better image stabilization than any pentax model that came out around the same time.

the external image stablization system generally provides better flexibility.

the part where canon and nikon comes on top are their lenses selection. Canon offers a wide variety of extremely strong and sharp telephoto lenses whereas nikon offers a wide variety of sharp wide angle lenses.

[Meowjin]

^sadly nikon lacks primes. Although the 14-24 and 24-70 are sharp, the 14-24 outresolves any WA prime nikon makes. It's such a good lens that people make adapters to mount it on their canons.

[Senna4ever]

The 14-24 is as sharp as any wide angle prime out there period. The 24-70 is sharper than the canon 24-70, and is almost as sharp as the Sony Zeiss 24-70. The Nikon 24-70 @ 50mm is sharper than the 50mm f1.4 G at all apertures, as tested on a D3x.