what would you do?
You can go for Pentax and still use your existing lenses with a degree of conmpatibility which is very impressive.
However, if I was looking at alternatives I would be looking at Nikon and Fuji, not Canon.
If you buy Nikon or Fuji you have access in almost the same way to all the Nikon lenses, which are also of highest quality.
If you buy Canon, they have changed the lens mount several times and the choice is more restricted, and although they do make some fine cameras and lenses I have never liked the design details. I also think cameras such as the 300D are rather more "platicky" than some others.
I would be happiest with an *istD or the Nikon 70D or the Fuji S2 or S3 Pro. The Pentax *istDS is unseen so far, but could be the camera that makes me plunge for a digital SLR.
So far I have been upgrading digital SLR-style cameras, relatively low cost and pretty good for the purposes I have wanted them for.
Jayson
mc
I may still go for the 20D but I would like to get a hands on experience first and even then it is rather expensive and I am askign myself is it worth the extra money as will the extra features (2mp, 8000th/sec 5fps ) be usable to me and matter that much?
So.... I have to go meet a fella in jessops who is goign to show me his own istD. I will probably decide after this. that will leave istDs vs D70 and already I am thinkign D70. From reviews it would seem the D70 is more manual/customisable and thereofre professional for the relatively the same money
I could get a d70 with lens for £800-850
hmmmmmmmm
If you really do not want to go the Pentax route, then the Nikon D70 is almost certainly a better bet than the 300D/|Rebel. Canon launched their new entry-level DSLR before Nikon so had some first mover advantage but Nikon had the opportunity to learn from Canon's mistakes. In most comparisons, the Nikon simply comes off better having avoided/addressed many niggling problems the 300D has.
Above that level, well that is a whole different ball game....
Stuart
I have always doen stuff like landscape and art etc
I have doen work covering concerts in the past for newspapers and that wher ei made money before. I am now in a situation where I see allot fo big names in concert as I help to construct and take down shows so I hope to build up work of those. Also My main idea is to do motorsports and alternative sport work and to build a decnent portfolio. I would like to cover youth motorcross and adult and supermoto and have a website of catalgued images for riders/parents to choose prints from.
I live in northenr Ireland and have wrapped on every door there is in the industry here and never got far so I have to try and make my own way. This has been my intial ideas. I have some goos stock but would like more decent stuff before approaching any editors. I just want to get my work out there for now, even if I dont charge to start. I think my images are worth it
I will show you exampels after dinner
I order a D70+18-70mm DX, SB600 Flash and 1gb card a few days ago.
just about to go out and collect it
As it is, he will lose money on his Pentax gear, having bought kit that offers nothing that Pentax doesn't.
As I said I needed whole new kit anyway and for my next purchase which will be a telephoto lens I will be getting the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 VR.. the VR stands for Vibration Reduction
Add Comment
To leave a comment - Log in to Pentax User or create a new account.
2277 posts
54 years
I am making a serious jump to digital very soon and would liek your opinions....
I am 25, finished an HND in photography 2 yrs ago but as yet havent made much money form photography.I have always used Pentax equipment through the years. I at the moment have Z1*, MZ50, Sigma 70-300, pentax 28-70. All of which are a bit shabby.I recently sold a 15mm Pentax SMCA. I also have a Mamiya C330 if i want to use medium format. I now want to get into the busines alot more seriously and do some freelance work covering sports events and concerts. I havent really done any work since I finished my HND but now this interest is growing strongly again and I want to make some money from it all. To do this I want to get new digital equipment.
Basically I am not sure whether to stay with Pentax or move on elsewhere. I will have £1000 to spend after xmas and have been weighing up the options recently
I could go for the istDS... basically same camera as istD as far as i can see for allot less. This would cost £700 body only and i could go for new pentax 18-55 and still use my old stuff even if it is shabby and still hav money to play with but I have been reading dpreview and judgin by the istD sample images.. they dont compare well with the EOS300D
They seem soft in comparison.
So I could go for the EOS300D Black which jessops are sellign as a complete kit for £799 which includes black body, 18-55mm lens and battery grip.
I could add a 2gb CF card and have a whole setup (minus telephoto) for £1000. I would then have redundant pentax stuff which I doubt is sellable
Those cameras are both 6mp and would be very much prosumer models.
My other option which I am seriously considering is goign for an EOS20D
It will require more money as it sells for £1100 with lens but definately seems to blow the other options out of the water. I would then need to get CF cards and a telephoto so I would be looking at another £500 but im not sure whether it is worth it. Ok it has 2m more megapixels but is it really that different?
I could also got for nikon D70 but am put off by general Nikon prices for lens' etc.
If I do change from Pentax I will need to go for a new telephoto which I will try to get secondhand from jessops. in particular my interest lies with Sigma 70-200 2.8. anyone used these?
what would you do?