calling all enablers: need camera suggestions

[Bambi]

so lots of great advice and things to look for and I really appreciate it so


now bear with me as I ask some real newbie type questions:
-how can I tell if it has bracketing?
-what is the ISO range I should look for given that I love to shoot landscapes and animal shots?
-so anything with a 10-12 megapixels should be fine? I was wondering if I should look higher.

Right now I am leaning towards the
Nikon D5000 Nikon Canada

Pentax K-x Future Shop: Cameras & Camcorders: Digital SLR: Pentax K-X 12.4MP Digital SLR Camera With 18 - 55 mm AL Lens Kit

Canon Eos Rebel Future Shop: Cameras & Camcorders: Digital SLR: Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1MP Digital SLR Camera With 18-55mm IS Lens Kit

and/or
the Sony A500 Future Shop: Cameras & Camcorders: Digital SLR: Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1MP Digital SLR Camera With 18-55mm IS Lens Kit

but this is just some preliminary investigations...
then there's the saving..... although if I get a workshop in the new year that will help
Marko: I need that podcast! Or I need one of you to come and hold my hand.

[Mad Aussie]

Just looking through those specs on those cameras and the first thing I see is you are looking at all of them having between 12 - 15 mp ... so don't even consider mp to be part of your equation.

I see the Nikon D5000 mentions auto bracketing and I know the Rebel does. I'd say the others do also but I'd check with a sales person/expert first.

The Pentax says 'no' to colour space. I'm guessing you can't change that in camera which would bug me. I like to shoot on AdobeRGB seeing as it's so much bigger in terms of colours. Perhaps they just didn't have the info at hand for this review?

The Sony has great fps specs ... 5 frames per sec is impressive for this price range. The Nikon has 4 fps though so that's good too.

The Nikon and the Pentax both have 11 AF points over the 9 points for the others. That's nice also.

Several of them have movie function as well if that's of interest.

I don't know how good the expanded ISO performance is on any of these. That might take a lot more research to determine properly.

Something the Nikon has I love is the moveable LCD. They call it Vari-angle and I had it on an old camera of mine years ago and totally miss it! So handy for those low or high angle shots using the Live View.

I've been staring at the specs for these for the past 40 mins now and I'm biased to Canon because of what I use BUT I have to say the Nikon D5000 looks like a cut above the rest here.

If my daughter came to me and asked which to buy ... I'd have to tell her the Nikon. Which would be hard because we couldn't swap lenses then but it seems to me to be the best choice here.

[Bambi]

Thanks MA that is all very helpful. I would definitely not be buying from futureshop but getting advice from a camera seller. However FS is a good place to see the specs and get an idea as to price. I do like the idea of the movable lcd monitor on the back. My sony cybershot has that and I love it.

I guess it's now time to go and look at them in person.

[casil403]

Here's the reviews and specs from:Digital Camera Reviews and News: Digital Photography Review: Forums, Glossary, FAQ

Pentax K-x digital camera specifications: Digital Photography Review

Nikon D5000 digital camera specifications: Digital Photography Review

Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 digital camera specifications: Digital Photography Review

Canon EOS 500D digital camera specifications: Digital Photography Review

Hope that helps!

[F8&Bthere]

Very solid advice from MA!

I consider myself to be somewhat neutral because I have Pentax and Nikon equipment, but secretly lust after a Canon 5D Mk II and a couple L lenses (if I could go back and start over). That, plus I've never really been brand loyal.

Some of the cameras have a movie mode, might be a cool bonus for some but there's a lot of debate over it's value.

I'm surprised to hear the Pentax Kx may not have any colour mode selection but I guess if you plan to shoot mostly RAW it may not be such a big deal. I've read a lot of great things about it's ISO performance, I and like the built-in shake reduction. I think Sony offers that too. Although it may not be quite as effective as the lens form of vibration control, it does work on every compatible lens and given Pentax's huge selection of older lenses that are fully compatible with their current bodies, that can save a lot of money on glass. The Kx is also quite a small camera which may appeal to some. Like MA and others here have said it's super important to hold them in your hand and try the controls.

Canon, Nikon and maybe others do have some very reasonably priced slower VR/IS lenses.

On the ISO thing, it's not so much the number range that you need to be concerned about. Say if one camera has the lowest setting of ISO 100 and the other is 200, I don't think that should become a decision criteria. And on the top end most of them go high enough to ISOs that are almost unusably noisy (unless you are lucky enough to afford a Nikon D3). You just need to read reviews and research online to see how each camera's performance is at higher ISOs like 800 and higher.

We've been bombarding you with feedback, maybe too much, hehe. But good luck in your decision!

[Barefoot]

While doing your homework, check out this site.

I don’t want to keep beating a dead horse, but I think high iso performance should be one of the key deciding factors in the purchase of a new camera second only to dynamic range.

Bracketing? Bracketing is cool, but I had no trouble doing it manually with any of the other bodies I’ve had before getting the D90. In fact, it only brackets three frames and I typically bracket five –nine so I’m still doing it manually.

Megapixels? Anything ten and over will get the job done.

Frame Rate? I don’t know, whatdaya want, a machine gun? If you can shoot 3.5-4/sec. you’re gonna be alright.

Focus Points? I’d like to know what it would be like to have fifty or so of’em, but most people won’t have any trouble getting by on nine-eleven.

Upgrading from a body that struggled to produce usable image at iso 800 to one that shoots fairly clean at 3200 is like the difference between night and day. I got the three images below night before last in downtown Columbia during a little annual event known as Vista Lights walking around with on of my faster lens (60mm 2.8) shooting in what could only be described as low light conditions at f/3.2 and between 1/200 and 1/250 sec. at iso 3200. Straight from the camera (except to resize in CS3). I won’t ever use them for anything, but they’re clean enough for me.

I watched others trying to use tripods with a few thousand drunks walking all around them. That was kinda funny. I left mine in the truck.

[Michaelaw]

Frame Rate? I don’t know, whatdaya want, a machine gun? If you can shoot 3.5-4/sec. you’re gonna be alright.

[/IMG]

LMFAO....Dman that's funny

[Mad Aussie]

I'm going to agree on most points here BF but I am going to debate just a couple because my experience is different. That's not a 'hey I'm more experienced' statement either ... I'm probably not more experienced ... but I do have different experiences

Bracketing? Bracketing is cool, but I had no trouble doing it manually with any of the other bodies I’ve had before getting the D90. In fact, it only brackets three frames and I typically bracket five –nine so I’m still doing it manually.

I think bracketing is important for HDR work. I do most of mine with 3 frames but do go to about 5 at times as well. The reason I like the bracketing is, on the Canon (hope other brands are the same), if I use the timer the camera takes the 3 frames in very quick succession. On a static scene this isn't important BUT, on a landscape with moving water or clouds it's vital or at least a handy advantage I think.

Frame Rate? I don’t know, whatdaya want, a machine gun? If you can shoot 3.5-4/sec. you’re gonna be alright.

I had 3 fps on the Canon 400D and for the most part that was plenty. Until I started shooting subjects like Kingfishers with Antz and his 6 fps Canon 40D. Shooting at the same time, the same subject, he often got better shots that I missed while my camera was 'breathing' between those 3 fps. I now have 40D's as well and love those 6 fps in situations where they are an advantage.
But as I said earlier ... 4 fps is not too shabby anyhow and good for this level of camera.


The rest of what you said I agreed on previously and do now

[Iguanasan]

Not sure what decision you may have made yet but I thought you might be interested to see this:

Cameras & Camcorders: Digital Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP Digital SLR Camera With 18-55mm IS Lens Kit | Best Buy Canada Web Store

[Bambi]

oh Iggy you are evil!
This is definitely in the running. my next steps are to go to a store and hold them in my hands to see what they are like. I will be in NY next week and hope to find a camera store in Manhattan. Given that there's a Tack Shop there should be a camera store!