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Digital SLR advice
Gordie1
09-12-2007
Hi there, id appreciate any help here......

Im thinking of buying my girlfriend a D-SLR camera as a surprise for christmas, she's a bit of an amatuer photographer (well actually she is a photograpger with Venture), but she is still using a film camera she has a Nikon and a pentax (both with loads of lenses), ive tried to ask as much as possible without raising suspicions, but i really need advice on what is a reasonably prices semi/pro D-SLR, and will her lenses work if i pick a Pentax or a nikon?

My budget is £700 at the most.


Thanks for any help.
dfgh
10-12-2007
Either go with Canon EOS 400 which is about £400 with lens from amazon or Nikon D80. Personally I'd go Nikon( I think it's better), but I know that at some Venture stores, they still use the slightly lesser Canon EOS 350D - my sister used to work for them. Bear in mind, that SLR's have a limited shutter lifetime the shutter will only open and close so many times before it wears out.The Nikon is rated at 100,000 shutter actuations (100,000 pictures) I think the EOS 400 only has 50,000. Suggesting the EOS 400 has a weaker build quality.
clh84
10-12-2007
See which lenses she has the most of/uses the most and go for that brand. If she mainly uses the Nikon stuff, go with a Nikon. Avoid the D40, it's a bit basic, not many features.

If you go for a totally new brand she'll have to fork out for the lenses too, which I'm sure you know will cost a fortune for anything half decent.
dsnik
10-12-2007
What Nikon and what Pentax does she have

I believe that the lower end Nikons will not even meter with AIS lenses.

If she has a lot of Nikon AIS lenses the Canon EOS 350D or 450D may be a better bet as you can get a lens adapter.

I she has mainly Pentax K mount lenses the guys on the board may advise if they will work on the Pentax digital cameras.

If she is a keen amateur she may well prefer to choose the camera herself
Gordie1
10-12-2007
Originally Posted by dsnik:
“What Nikon and what Pentax does she have

I believe that the lower end Nikons will not even meter with AIS lenses.

If she has a lot of Nikon AIS lenses the Canon EOS 350D or 450D may be a better bet as you can get a lens adapter.

I she has mainly Pentax K mount lenses the guys on the board may advise if they will work on the Pentax digital cameras.

If she is a keen amateur she may well prefer to choose the camera herself”

Sorry mate, you are talking gibberish to me

I'm not up on model numbers or anything, perhaps starting anew might me the solution.

i managed to find out that there is a Cannon camera she wants, so it might be the Eos 350d.

Tanks for thae help everyone, i will let you know how it goes
unimaginative
10-12-2007
As she has Pentax lenses I would strongly recommend a K10D. There are loads of reviews out there but I can certainly vouch for it as I have had one for about a year now. This was my first proper camera and I think I've got some great shots with it (drop me a PM and I'd be happy to share a couple of samples).

Brilliant all round camera with the benefit of being able to use the existing Pentax lenses, another really great feature is the Pentax has an inbody stabilisation system, this means that the old lenses will benefit from having image stabilisation (stabilised lenses for Nikon and Cannon are usually $$$). The K10D is also fully weather and dust proofed which is a bonus and also come with the usual anti-dust features.
K10D plus 2 lens kit can be had for under £600
dsnik
10-12-2007
Originally Posted by unimaginative:
“As she has Pentax lenses I would strongly recommend a K10D. ......”

Out of interest do you get full aperture metering with Pentax K mount lenses?
unimaginative
10-12-2007
I think so but I'm not particularly up with the older pentax lenses as I'm fairly new to photography and I don't have any old lenses so can't speak from experience.

On a slightly similar point I do know that for the shake reduction you have to manually enter the focal length for older lenses which don't report report it to the body.
Last edited by unimaginative : 10-12-2007 at 23:59
Gordie1
11-12-2007
I gor offered a Canon EOS 400 for £319 in Jessops today, i have asked for 1 to be kept until tomorrow.

I might just buy that one, looks good for the price.
Gordie1
12-12-2007
Can someone tell me how get this thread deleted?


I just done a google search for the EOS 450D and one of the first entries was this thread, if my girlfriend tries to look for cameras (as she frequently does) on the net,, she will know what i am getting her and how much it is

Can i delete it all, or at least edit my posts?
swellybro
15-12-2007
Just had a look at the which website for you and they say the Canon EOS 350D + 18-55mm EF-S is the one to go for, they rate it above its successor the Canon EOS 400D.

They say the image quality it much better.

Hope this helps
Gordie1
15-12-2007
Originally Posted by swellybro:
“Just had a look at the which website for you and they say the Canon EOS 350D + 18-55mm EF-S is the one to go for, they rate it above its successor the Canon EOS 400D.

They say the image quality it much better.

Hope this helps”

Cats outa the bag now anyway,
but yeah, i got a 350D for £250 off Ebay in the end, she said there was no point paying more for the 400D, when she could use the money saved towards a decent lens and an adapter for her nikon lenses.

Thanks for all the help.
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