New camera time...Need help!

[kstrong]

So I'm getting a new camera and not sure what to get. I've been approved at work though our financing and approved at another place. So price isnt too big of a deal because I can have up to a year to pay it off.

At work we are limited to what we have for DSLR cameras, my choices though work are:
Olympus E-520 and the E-620
Canon Rebel XS and the XSI

At this other place my choices are any Pentax, Fuji or Sony.

I have no idea what camera to pick, I've been using my Olympus E-410 for a little over a year, it works great. But I'm having some problems with it on manual setting not holding the settings that I want to use. Everything else works great on it, it just wont hold a constant shutter speed and will move it after every shot. This is why I'm getting the new camera

So far I've played with a Pentxx K-m and the 520 at work and the Fuji S100. I'm not too stoked to go with Olympus again, one year warranty and mine is messing up just after a year. But on the other hand I do have a 40-150 lens already. I wasn't a huge fan of the display setup for the K-m and how it shows your settings. And also not too huge on the feel of the Fuji S100, I've used Fuji before and not huge on their menus either.

But I am also looking at the Pentax K-7 and the K20D, I have never used either of the two, but from what I hear the K-7 is suppose to be quite the camera. And there is also the Fuji S5 and all the Sony cameras.

So what are your guys thoughts? So far I'm leaning towards the Pentax K-7 or K20D

[kat]

Only ever used my one Nikon. Good luck! Congrats!

[kurtdriver]

it works great. But I'm having some problems with it on manual setting not holding the settings that I want to use. Everything else works great on it, it just wont hold a constant shutter speed and will move it after every shot. This is why I'm getting the new camera

Can it not be repaired? It may be a lot cheaper.

[kstrong]

It could probably be repaired...But then I'm a few weeks without a camera, and people are telling me its around 100-200 dollars. So I'm using it as an excuse to upgrade.

It's not that its really broken, its just annoying to use the manual settings.

[kurtdriver]

Got it, want to donate it to my cause?

[Greg_Nuspel]

The advantage of staying with the Olympus is you will have a spare body. With Canon you will most likely have more access to rentable accessories like lenses etc. Pick the one you like the 'feel' of most.

[kstrong]

I do like the feel of the Pentax Km.

I was doing a little bit of research on the K-7 last night and it looks like I might be going with it.......Once I find out how much it will cost

Another reason that is turning me off of Olympus is the lenses are expensive compared to the others, and I would like to have a few more lenses.

[F8&Bthere]

The K-7 appears to be a sweet camera, and has the hotly-contested-amongst-photographers video feature. But I think it will be quite a bit more expensive than the others you mentioned. And as Greg points out if you stay with Olympus you'll have a backup. I remember when I used to think amateurs talking about backups was silly and pretentious but I learned how valuable it is not just when on a longer trip away from home in case of failure, but also when you want to have two different lenses available for more complex shooting environments, but want to avoid constant changing back and forth on one body. There are many places where changing lenses often is quite inconvenient.
For me the only Olympus I've ever wanted was the E-3, and it has come down somewhat in price since it's intro, but that's still their flagship as far as I'm aware and that means big bucks.
Good luck with your decision!

[kstrong]

Actually the price of the K-7 wasnt as bad as I was thinking, I can get the body for $1449.

I think I'm going with the Pentax K20D, which I'm getting for $990 and I'm going to pick up 2 extra lenses for it, getting a 10-17mm fisheye and a 50-200mm.

[Lovin]

I have an Olympus E 620 and is AMAZING !
Big plus on Olympus is the cheap lens. With $500 you can have an f 2.8 sharp edge to edge, no vignette.
I don't have time to tell you all the pro's.
My advice go for E 620.

Cheers !