Starter dSLR - Nikon or Olympus?

[Tech007]

Okay I learned photo stuff on an Olympus OM-10 a zillion years ago. Am very familar with digital tricks and formats. But I've been stuck with a Canon A series forever - time to move up. Resolution isn't as important as low noise. I'll be shooting outdoors, car racing AND dark theatre/concert pix with a long lens.

Want to get a starter dSLR for $500-800 US/Cdn. Will be my first RAW camera.

I know there are some awesome photo pros hanging around here so cough up the info...

My two choices so far -

Nikon D40 -$500 cheap, light, great image quality, speedy operation. good lens selection. cons - 6 meg sensor.

Olympus E410 - $600 - cheap, 2 lens, live preview. 4/3 format. 10Mb sensor. great lens.
cons - short batt life.

[andsoitgoes]

Why not continue with Canon and look at the Rebel? GREAT cameras and reasonable pricing.

That's what Newsy was using, and look at the hawtness in his pictures.

you can wait for a sale from Future Shop where they'll throw in some lenses, too - It may be a bit more coinage, but you're going to be using this forever and a day - it's probably worth the extra beans.

[picard102]

Ya, I think everyone with an SLR was using a Canon that weekend.

[Uncast]

I'm kind of also in the Canon camp myself however being that you've not listed that among the two, I'd go with a Nikon. Equipment will be more readily available and there's more out there as far as 3rd party lenses (Tamron, Sigma, etc) that works with Nikon instead of those that work with Olympus.
So I think if the only choice is Nikon or Olympus, going Nikon is the easy choice. That being said, if you're used to using Canon, I'd go find a Rebel XTi and start using that. I absolutely love the one I've got and you really can't go wrong with it.

Step away from the dark side. Come back to the light.

Canon Rebel XTi - $500 cheap, light weight, excellent IQ on AF, good control layout, auto sensor cleaning when powering down that I haven't seen in any other dSLR this cheap, user friendly menus, 2.5" LCD screen, 10MP...cons: Well one could say the light weight equals cheap build quality but if you're not going to abuse it, you should be fine. Also there's some limitation that I don't like to see from a dSLR but really the Rebel XTi is next to the low point for Canon dSLRs so if you find that any of these limitations (timer, ISO only goes up to 1600, etc) bug you, then you can always upgrade to the next set of models.

[Newsy]

Originally Posted by Uncast

Equipment will be more readily available and there's more out there as far as 3rd party lenses (Tamron, Sigma, etc) that works with Nikon instead of those that work with Olympus.

Not too sure about that. With the D40 and the D40x, you can only use Nikon's DX lenses, PERIOD. It's completely sensor driven, not pin driven like most lenses.

Nikon really messed up when they got rid of the D50 and D70. Those were their best consumer cameras. Now, you can either go for the 40 series, that nikon themselves consider to be a point and shoot with detachable lenses, or you pay almost pay twice the amount, just for the body of the D80.

I don't have any huge qualms with the Olympus serise. One cool thing that is if you buy one of the kits, it comes with a 14-40 lense, which is the widest kit lense I've ever seen. Sure it's not the best glass out there, but that's an awesome range.

[Uncast]

Originally Posted by Newsy

Not too sure about that. With the D40 and the D40x, you can only use Nikon's DX lenses, PERIOD. It's completely sensor driven, not pin driven like most lenses.

Nikon really messed up when they got rid of the D50 and D70. Those were their best consumer cameras. Now, you can either go for the 40 series, that nikon themselves consider to be a point and shoot with detachable lenses, or you pay almost pay twice the amount, just for the body of the D80.

I don't have any huge qualms with the Olympus serise. One cool thing that is if you buy one of the kits, it comes with a 14-40 lense, which is the widest kit lense I've ever seen. Sure it's not the best glass out there, but that's an awesome range.

Ahh see it would have helped if I'd have taken the time to look past the brand names and see the models he was looking at. You're right about the lenses in that model. Well, glad I stuck with Canon!

and really? Olympus starts you out with a 14-40? Damn that's nice. 18-55 wasn't terrible by any means but that extra bit could come in handy at times even with the cheap glass.

[Tech007]

Originally Posted by Newsy

I don't have any huge qualms with the Olympus serise. One cool thing that is if you buy one of the kits, it comes with a 14-40 lense, which is the widest kit lense I've ever seen. Sure it's not the best glass out there, but that's an awesome range.

I like playing with lens and was attracted to the Olypus 4/3 idea and the selection of lens I'm seeing on-line. The live preview could be handy too. 10MP, 2 lens...$600. not bad.

I'm gonna go test drive an Olympus and a Rebel.

taking two weeks to decide...thanks for the help.

[stjoe]

Originally Posted by Newsy

Not too sure about that. With the D40 and the D40x, you can only use Nikon's DX lenses, PERIOD. It's completely sensor driven, not pin driven like most lenses.

This is completely untrue. I have both a D40 and a D300, and I can use ANY lens built since the 60's on both. The AF just doesn't work if you use non-AF-S lenses. It's not such a pain since focusing manually gives a better result for me most of the time.

[stjoe]

The choice was pretty easy for me, Tech. Go to Futureshop or Bestbuy, pick up all three of the cameras, take some test photos (the cameras should be in demo mode) and decide which one you like best. That's how I picked the D40. 69 is going to tell you to get Canon because that's what he uses and likes. I'm going to tell you Nikon because the Rebel's feel like cheap plastic toys and I thought I'd break it in the first week. But really it just has to feel right to you. Anything you get is going to be better than an A530 (which I also own) or whatever 'A' you're currently using.

[Newsy]

Originally Posted by stjoe

This is completely untrue. I have both a D40 and a D300, and I can use ANY lens built since the 60's on both. The AF just doesn't work if you use non-AF-S lenses. It's not such a pain since focusing manually gives a better result for me most of the time.

that's the last time i offer advice about anything. i hate all you spec nerds anyways. just put a damn camera in your hand and go with what feels right.

damn it.. that was advice right there.