what camera package to get Dslr 3/4 system or bridge

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by warren30

I would like nikon if go Dslr route only as my local optics shop deals in second hand nikon lenses in cornwall.

ISTRC that you need to be careful with some Nikon body/lens combinations. They don't all play nicely together. A Nikon expert will put you right here.

Jim

[warren30]

hi jim thanks for that I will see if a nikon expert writes on post.
is the Olympus a 4/3 camera then what lenses will it have to go with it.I will try and find info about it then.
and what lenses should I be looking for if go 4/3 way,can I get third party's or only brands for the 4/3 panasonic etc.
there is lot of mixed reviews on 4/3 for wildlife bird pics when ask in shops

[pressld2]

Yep, some of the entry level Nikon bodies don't have autofocus motors in them so you can only get autofocus when using lenses that have their own AF motor built in. You can still use lenses without an AF motor but only as manual focus lenses.

So if you do go the Nikon route then check if your chosen body has it's own AF motor and, if it doesn't, look for lenses with the AF-S designation. The S indicates that the lens is fitted with its own Silent-wave AF motor. Similarly, you'll need to check that any third party lenses like the Sigma have their own AF motors. I'm pretty sure most of them do.

Dave P.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by warren30

is the Olympus a 4/3 camera then what lenses will it have to go with it.I will try and find info about it then.
and what lenses should I be looking for if go 4/3 way,can I get third party's or only brands for the 4/3 panasonic etc.

Here's the preview of the camera:

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Preview: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

there is lot of mixed reviews on 4/3 for wildlife bird pics when ask in shops

What do the shops know about cameras - they just want to sell them!

Jim

[Tringa]

Warren, you asked about Pentax.

I have to declare an interest here as I have a Pentax.

Many years ago Pentax were a highly regarded camera maker but they have somewhat faded into the background and Canon and Nikon now have the vast majority of DSLR sales.

Pentax are not better than any other camera - Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus and Pentax all produce excellent cameras that will produce superb photos in the right hands. Canon and Nikon have a very good retailer network and a very large range of current lenses.

However, and I have to admit this is my bias coming out now, a few things to consider about Pentax

The current lens range for Pentax is more restricted but any Pentax K mount lens made from about 1975 onwards will fit any Pentax DSLR. Some or all of the auto functions may be lost with the old lenses and whether this is important is an individual's decision.

The image stabilisation is in the body of the camera, rather than the lens, so any lens used is a stabilised lens

Pentax cameras are, I think, competitively priced. The Nikon D7000 and the Pentax K5 are probably comparable cameras - I believe they share the same sensor - but the K5 is a lot cheaper.

As I said this is my fairly biased view and it should not put you off getting a camera from another maker; there are a lot of very good cameras out there.

Dave

[squishy]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Here's the preview of the camera:

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Preview: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review



What do the shops know about cameras - they just want to sell them!

Jim

Jim, have you seen the prices the OM-D E-M5 is going to be selling for? It would be stretching the budget the OP has given by a lot even before you start factoring in lenses.

[warren30]

thanks tringa I remember my parents always having pentax,I guess they are making a comeback will try and look at one.
thanks jim I will look at the link,
that's why I have asked on here as like you said the shops only want to sell you one the info is very slack and if they don't sell it they say it's rubbish.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by roseway

The biggest limitation of 4/3 cameras is that their very small sensors are inherently more noisy than larger sensors.

Some interesting results from the Olympus OM-D E-M5 here:

Image samples from a pre-production Olympus OM-D E-M5 (Four Thirds User)

The results at high ISO ratings look pretty good on my 23 inch monitor - even at 25000, but without downloading and examining them closely them it's difficult to say. I can't imagine ever wanting to go that high in the photography I do.

It's also interesting to see how small the camera plus battery grip is in the hands of the woman.

Jim

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

The results at high ISO ratings look pretty good on my 23 inch monitor - even at 25000, but without downloading and examining them closely them it's difficult to say.

They're all resized to 1600 x 1200 anyway so you can't assess noise or sharpness using them. You need full size images or 100% crops for that.

None of which alters the fact that, at any given technology level, 4/3 will out-perform a compact, DX will out-perform 4/3, full-frame will out-perform DX and so on. As roseway said, it's inherent. You can't get around the physics.

Dave P.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by pressld2

They're all resized to 1600 x 1200 anyway so you can't assess noise or sharpness using them. You need full size images or 100% crops for that.

That's why I said "it's difficult to say"!

Mind you, for many people 1600 x 1200 or A4 is as good as "full size" and is a big as they're going to view an image! How big are you going to view or print images such that noise becomes an issue?

Jim