Advice needed

[speckled wood]

Originally Posted by glsammy

I agree with Matt. The make of the camera is not important, if you can get the lens range you want.
We don't want to alienate users of other systems, there are many many excellent images being taken on all sorts of cameras, and many of them are on this site.
I'm still interested in the E500, when the Bigma is available for it. (Any time now. Mind you they've been saying that for the past 10 months! ) It will be the equivalent of a 1000mm lens.

I will second this, I am stuck with canon, not my first choice (simple economics at the time I bought it), had I been going DSLR now the Olympus and Sony would have been on my list of possibles, am I correct in thinking that the Olympus E500 uses a Sony image sensor? As to the Sony there is little doubt that Sony will pour a large amount of R & D into the Alpha system and that they will aim to be a big player if not the leader in the market and that in due course the Sony DSLRs will appear amongst the press pack and other pros.

Just amazes me though how emotive and fanatical people become about the make of cameras that they use.

[carlj]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Do you refer to your camera as a 5D in the hope that people will think you mean the Canon EOS 5D?

Heaven forbid - the KM was left out as it came first. I prefer to stride my own path, rather than huddle with the sheep

[Oy]

Originally Posted by carlj

I prefer to stride my own path, rather than huddle with the sheep

Not a baaaaad thing at all

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Oy

Not a baaaaad thing at all

nice one - and no not a bad thing. before I went digital I was a pentax user and trod a minority path out of choice - If I ever get the money together for a Mamiya Z22 I will be back on the road less travelled without caring a whit for convention.

I didnt intend any offence to you carl or to any other KM user, as I said I am sure that many KM users are happy with their choice of equipment - I used a borrowed 7D quite extensively back when my main camera was a Canon 300D and was favourably impressed . I have never used the KM5D so dont have any ability tomake a judgement on that one.

I actually arranged to feild test the Alpha hoping to be able to give a dispasionate and objective review for the site - however I was so unimpressed that I then decided that it would be unfair for me to review it in the review section.

If KM hadnt sold off their camera arm to sony I am sure that things might have been different , my very first camera (mid 80s) was a konica (before the merger with minolta) and that was a great piece of kit.

[speckled wood]

As a point of interest I do find the lack of an easy way to obtain a DOF preview to be a series failing on the canon eos cameras that I own and this does give me the feeling that the cameras are focussed on the mass market rather than the really serious user who wishes to have complete control.

Regarding the Sony DSLRs, Sony of course already controls much of the proffessional Video Camera market and pros feel no shame in using them, doubtless Sony will invest the same resources and efforts into their DSLR range and also into altering perceptions and before long I would not be surprised if Sony DSLRs appear being used shamelessly amongst the presspack, whether this is a good thing for us none Sony users is another matter but just as other well known SLR makes have vanished into oblivion and screaming and shouting and throwing our toys out of the pram will not make a jot of difference. Just remember that no so long ago a lot of people would not have wanted to been seen in a Skoda. I would not be over surprised if either Canon or perhaps even more so Nikon vanished into something other than a badge used by some larger company which wishes to challenge Sony. I the meantime I am going to fondle and caress my beloved OM1 a fruitless and pointless task but at least it feels like a REAL camera and it does have DOF!

[nightshade]

Nobody loves the alpha around here,nearly all Nikon users (one just gone
from KM5D to Nikon 80)

[anniegran]

Thanks for all your advice. I did in fact go to Jessops and purchased a Canon 400D. I was given it on Christmas day - went down with the flue the next day and whilst I have finally had the strength to put in the memory card etc. that is as far as I have got. How frustrating is that. I am also not at all sure if I am posting this message in the correct spot. What a dumbo. Thanks again - I'll get back when I have finally ventured out and used it.

\

Originally Posted by speckled wood

As a point of interest I do find the lack of an easy way to obtain a DOF preview to be a series failing on the canon eos cameras that I own and this does give me the feeling that the cameras are focussed on the mass market rather than the really serious user who wishes to have complete control.

Regarding the Sony DSLRs, Sony of course already controls much of the proffessional Video Camera market and pros feel no shame in using them, doubtless Sony will invest the same resources and efforts into their DSLR range and also into altering perceptions and before long I would not be surprised if Sony DSLRs appear being used shamelessly amongst the presspack, whether this is a good thing for us none Sony users is another matter but just as other well known SLR makes have vanished into oblivion and screaming and shouting and throwing our toys out of the pram will not make a jot of difference. Just remember that no so long ago a lot of people would not have wanted to been seen in a Skoda. I would not be over surprised if either Canon or perhaps even more so Nikon vanished into something other than a badge used by some larger company which wishes to challenge Sony. I the meantime I am going to fondle and caress my beloved OM1 a fruitless and pointless task but at least it feels like a REAL camera and it does have DOF!

[MalcolmX]

this certainly sharpens knives about camera types and camera clubs IS or any other systems will not replace bad practice and we have had discussions before about shake .As a semipro and teacher of photo classes I do not care what camera body you have as most are good enough but if your technique is faulty so will your pictures be .
i always say to eliminate shake you need 3 things a tripod a remote release and mirror lockup wthout these you will often get soft images .
i am a canon user as are most of my camera club ,i use both film and digital but my maxim is always to buy the best you can afford as i think if the camera and lens are good then errors are with the photographer and are more easily detected /corrected.
the other point that eludes me in these discussions is what is the standard of photography that people aspire to , is it just snap shots or are they looking for a quality that will enable them to sell work or win competitions ?
one small point i have never found dofp to work for me i always find it dark nor did the dep system work well on the 10d