Comments on: The top 15 entry-level digital SLR cameras

By: Jeff V

Jeff V — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:49:39 +0000

Just wanted to add a comment, I used the advice from kenrockwell.com and got the Nikon D40 with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses, and I’ve been very pleased with it. My view might be slanted in that this is my first SLR camera, but for the price, it’s a great value in my opinion.

By: Tom Sweet

Tom Sweet — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:23:38 +0000

This is a very useful list. Consumer Reports just did a review on digital cameras, and JD Powers rated Nikon tops in their review. It’s funny how much emotion people have about their “brand” of camera. I worked for Ehrenreich Photo Optical Industries in New York (the famous EPOI) as a teenager and learned a lot about the old equipment and photography in general. I was shooting Canon EOS film before switching to digital and medium format film. Now my equipment includes a Nikon D2Xs, Nikon D70s, Mamiya 645 Pro TL, Zenza Bronica ETRS film and lots of associated equipment. I find for me, Nikon digital does the best job overall. I’m considering a Nikon D3 and D300 due to their amazing low-noise extremely high ISO range.

By: Tibor Palocsay

Tibor Palocsay — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:43:38 +0000

A good alternative to the Nikon D300 is the Fuji S5 Pro. I had one and the dynamic range is amazing compared to the Nikon D200 (which it is based on).
Also I found one of the most important factors of a DSLR is the time it takes to write the image to the card, as waiting for images to write whilst trying to shoot is enraging.

But personally after using digital for a half year I ended up hating it. Now I shoot film, and I’ve even grown hatred for any digital process involved (scanning and lightjet printing).

By: Ren

Ren — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:30:54 +0000

I want the latest Nikon DSLR… the D300. But the body alone costs about $2500 here and I canna afford that and to get new GOOD lenses to go with the superdooper camera.

By: peterg22

peterg22 — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 12:06:03 +0000

You can get some very good results with the Fuji Finepix 9xxx series, but whether they actually qualify as a “real” DSLR is a debate point. They’re cheap too..

By: Isaac Fast

Isaac Fast — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:58:57 +0000

How do you consider the Olympus E-3, Pentax K20D, Nikon D300, and Sony A700 STARTER DSLRs??

By: Daniel Condurachi

Daniel Condurachi — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:46:02 +0000

I’ve just ordered my first DSLR. It’s a Canon 450D. I can not wait to get it in my hands and start shooting. Getting a DSLR was my dream fro the last 3-4 years. In the meantime I learned th basic with a very customizable point and shoot camera. It had a lot of settings in manual mode. But now I’ll get the chance to really try it all

By: Keef

Keef — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:48:14 +0000

I am going on Safari next month so I am in the market for a half decent camera. I was thinking about the Nikon D40, mainly it seems a superb price, and should do me for quite a time. I will have to take some time out this weekend and read the reviews. Thanks

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:25:39 +0000

Great list! I was in a bind trying to figure out which DSLR I was going to upgrade to. I bought a Pentex K100D a years or so ago. I was looking at the K10D which is now the K20D and the K100D is now the K200D. With you guys doing to foot work it is great. I still shoot with a Pentex but now with a K20D. Thanks again.

By: Marie

Marie — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:10:54 +0000

Hi I just picked up the canon d40 after much research. Its my first dslr an I tried nikon d80 but found the canon had more bang for the buck, live view, sensor cleaning, 6.5fps shooting, and outclassed the d80. My first impression was to go nikond300 but thought it had to many features I would never use. The canon 40d came with a rebate as well $100.00 back, to invest in another lens? I have the camera equipped with a 17-55 is usm and am happy at the moment. I did purchase a nikon d80 with 18-200mm stabilized lens, but was not completely satisfied. As well after a few days of using it, I noticed a spot on all my pictures at the left hand side. I took off the lens and cleaned the mirror of slight dust with a blower, but the spot persisted. And so back to the camera store. There was dust behind the mirror and would need to be sent back to Nikon. And so, not being committed at this point, I asked about the Canon 40D. Now completely satisfied! I did not really like the 18 - 200mm vr lens of the nikon. The vr works awesomely but at the wide end, it was limited and I realized I would need to buy a 50mm to bridge that gap. And so I realized one lens cannot be all, unless your planning just to take super snapshots. And I wanted more. The canon gives me more features for the same price. I know that the sensor cleaning mechanism is not infallible, but it sure helps. :) And live view is something I will use, having gotten used to it on my point and shoot camera. So I don’t feel totally stupid when I can’t focus through the viewfinder lol.

By: Will

Will — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:18:03 +0000

A great list indeed, but you lost me at the end with the poll and the conclusion. If this list does anything it shows that Canon and Nikon are not the end all, be all of cameras.

signed,
A more than happy Pentax shooter

By: Dan

Dan — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 08:20:25 +0000

Haje, thank you for this list! While I’m not currently in the market for a new camera, a lot of my friends are and this is really going to help them. I can tell you went through a lot of trouble gathering information and reviews from some very respectable sites. I appreciate it and my friends will too!

By: nate

nate — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:42:22 +0000

buy a used slr. then, you can buy a midgrade or better slr and not have to settle for a crappy consumer cam like the rebel

By: Brandt

Brandt — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:30:55 +0000

I had a Nikon D50 (not listed) and have just recently upgraded to the D80. I have used different Canons but find the Nikon better. The D80 is fantastic and does more than I am presently capable of utilising fully. With practice…..

By: Klaus

Klaus — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:22:57 +0000

While some are - E3, D300, A700 are most definitely not entry level cameras, it could have been a nice roundup. Canon 40D is mysteriously absent (though also not an entry level cam.)
But it was kind of a hard read. To truly get a sense you would have needed to read each full review on all the different sites…
Some sort of side by side comparison would have made it a great jumping board to get started, a Street Price info would have helped too, as would have images of the contestants.
So - good idea ( and surely a bit of work) - but it could be approved upon. Maybe next time.

By: fotomanijak

fotomanijak — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 10:13:20 +0000

Alpha A300/A350 and tight fit into entrylevel class, but A700 is out.

By: fotomanijak

fotomanijak — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 10:11:32 +0000

Few of those cameras on the list cannot fit in the entry level class.
Pentax K20D, Olympus E510, E3 for sure, D300.

Also you have forgot new Olympus E420 on the list as newest Oly’s entrylevel dslr.

By: Haje Jan Kamps

Haje Jan Kamps — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 10:08:01 +0000

Hi there Marc - that’s a very valid point, I’ve removed the A200 and replaced it with the 300 and 700!

By: marc

marc — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 09:40:18 +0000

strange that you did not include the alpha 300, 350 and 700, since they are all in the same price range as the cameras mentioned here (d300 = entry level?), especially since I think that the alpha 200 is currently the worst DSLR in the Sony lineup.