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12th June 2008, 5:54pm
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#1 | | The Oncoming Storm Editor
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Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RFS Ravager
Posts: 15,709
| DSLR Recommendations
I’ve had a wee bit of a windfall from a life assurance policy my Dad left me, and I was thinking it might be put to good use if it was converted by some mystical means into an DSLR.
I’m very tempted by the Olympus E-510, which I reckon is going to get a bit cheaper in the near future as folks make ready for the E-520 launch in August.
The E-420 is also quite tempting, but the reviews I’ve read of it generally seem to conclude that it’s good but you’re better off with the 5xx series if you have the money.
I’m pretty bias towards Olympus anyway, since that’s the make of my 35mm SLR and it’s one hell of a quality piece of work (except for the rate at which it eats annoyingly expensive hearing-aid style batteries).
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12th June 2008, 6:07pm
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#2 | | ShakingTheDisease SuperMod
Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ptolomea
Posts: 20,228
| Re: DSLR Recommendations
You can get a Canon 400D new for under £400, anything else seems like madness.
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12th June 2008, 6:12pm
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#3 | | Justice Dustbins Editor
Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Zeinab Badawi's
Posts: 16,980
| Re: DSLR Recommendations
Do you have lenses you'll be able to transfer?
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12th June 2008, 6:17pm
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#4 | | The Oncoming Storm Editor
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Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RFS Ravager
Posts: 15,709
| Re: DSLR Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by Potatojunkie  Do you have lenses you'll be able to transfer? | Yeah. Three OM lenses.
I know Olympus do an adapter for OM to Four-Thirds, but I'm really not up to speed with lens fittings used by other DSLR manufacturers.
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12th June 2008, 6:26pm
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#5 | | Justice Dustbins Editor
Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Zeinab Badawi's
Posts: 16,980
| Re: DSLR Recommendations
Probably sensible to stick with Olympus, then, depending how much the E-510 goes for.
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12th June 2008, 6:42pm
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#6 | | The Oncoming Storm Editor
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Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RFS Ravager
Posts: 15,709
| Re: DSLR Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by Potatojunkie Probably sensible to stick with Olympus, then, depending how much the E-510 goes for. | £350ish for the body, £450-470ish if I want to pump for two lenses and a case with it.
The 520 is £500 for body only on the Jessops website just now, which is a bit more then I'm willing to pay when it doesn't seem to offer a massive upgrade to the 510. Looking at the released info for the 520, the only upgrades that it seems to offer compared to the 510 are wireless flash (which I'm not fussed about) and a tiny increase in the size of the LCD screen, which probably means the controls have been altered a bit.
Edit: Apparently the 520 has an extra 0.9 megapixels and a two extra (underwater) scene modes. Not worth the extra hundred and fifty quid me thinks. Quote:
Originally Posted by djtoast You can get a Canon 400D new for under £400, anything else seems like madness. | What does the Cannon offer that the Olympus doesn't? 
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Last edited by Hammer; 12th June 2008 at 6:55pm.
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12th June 2008, 8:08pm
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#7 | | Justice Dustbins Editor
Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Zeinab Badawi's
Posts: 16,980
| Re: DSLR Recommendations
Better high ISO performance and about a stop's worth extra latitude in the highlights, it would appear.
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12th June 2008, 8:13pm
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#8 | | The Oncoming Storm Editor
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| Re: DSLR Recommendations
Yeah, I noticed that in one of the reviews I read. I'm hoping that Jessops, John Lewis or Black and Lizars might have both models in stock so I can try them out, but the cheaper option still seems much more attractive.
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12th June 2008, 8:14pm
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#9 | | Justice Dustbins Editor
Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Zeinab Badawi's
Posts: 16,980
| Re: DSLR Recommendations
Especially if you've got lenses already. It's what I'd go for, certainly.
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13th June 2008, 5:39am
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#10 | | Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 3
| Re: DSLR Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by Potatojunkie Better high ISO performance and about a stop's worth extra latitude in the highlights, it would appear. | Higher ISO performance all right but at the cost of sharpness. I've even read the comparison test of e-510 (kit lenses) with Canon EOS 1-D Mark III and it appears that Canon produces much more softer edges!!! As for the highlights, you can always compensate by reducing exposure. Olympus E-510 is one hell of a good camera, many professionals use and offers much more than any competitors for a way smaller budget even with the kit lenses wich are performing surprisingly well! | |
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13th June 2008, 11:13am
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#12 | | ShakingTheDisease SuperMod
Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ptolomea
Posts: 20,228
| Re: DSLR Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammer What does the Cannon offer that the Olympus doesn't? |
My main reason for suggetsing it was just that Canon gear is so prevalent just now that it'd be easier to get help, borrow toys etc using that system.
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13th June 2008, 11:28am
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#13 | | The Oncoming Storm Editor
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Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RFS Ravager
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| Re: DSLR Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by djtoast My main reason for suggetsing it was just that Canon gear is so prevalent just now that it'd be easier to get help, borrow toys etc using that system. | Other then possibly you, I don't know anyone with a Canon 
But aye, I know what you mean. There are only three or four Four-Thirds System manufacturers, but there doesn't seem to be any sign that they are going to switch to a more convetional size.
Interesting fact: If you use a normal lens on a Four-Thirds camera, it doubles the effective focal length of the lens due to the small sensor size. Which means I effectively have a 300mm telephoto lens 
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13th June 2008, 11:42am
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#14 | | catpie
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: in bed
Posts: 10,121
| Re: DSLR Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammer Other then possibly you, I don't know anyone with a Canon
But aye, I know what you mean. There are only three or four Four-Thirds System manufacturers, but there doesn't seem to be any sign that they are going to switch to a more convetional size.
Interesting fact: If you use a normal lens on a Four-Thirds camera, it doubles the effective focal length of the lens due to the small sensor size. Which means I effectively have a 300mm telephoto lens | i didn't think it doubled. I thought it increased it by a factor of 1.5. Hence you'd only get a 300mm telephoto when you get above 200mm.
That fact I can only use MF too is killing me. That and I keep forgeting that the 50mm prime is now about a 75mm prime. Which is...bizarre. | |
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13th June 2008, 11:51am
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#15 | | The Oncoming Storm Editor
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Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: RFS Ravager
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| Re: DSLR Recommendations
Quote:
Originally Posted by fallen_nemesis i didn't think it doubled. I thought it increased it by a factor of 1.5. Hence you'd only get a 300mm telephoto when you get above 200mm.
That fact I can only use MF too is killing me. That and I keep forgeting that the 50mm prime is now about a 75mm prime. Which is...bizarre. | I got that figure from one source, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's not 100% accurate. There does seem to be a lot of messaging of figures by the camera companies
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