Yet another 'which DSLR' question

[Doseone]

The reviews can cook your brain - there are so many of them.

Shame the camera shop weren't very helpful. Both those cameras look really great, but for me I'd find it odd not to have a viewfinder.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Both those cameras look really great, but for me I'd find it odd not to have a viewfinder.

You can get a viewfinder for the Olympus.

 

[Cyclist33]

You can get a viewfinder for the Olympus.

you can, and for the sony nex also, but a) they cost a bomb, and b) they make the camera much less portable, and c) they're electronic rather than optical, and d) the usp of both the cameras is that flexible lcd screen which i reckon is more useful than a viewfinder for all but the most conventional of shots.
stu

 

[marzjennings]

For camera reviews there is only one site to visit... http://www.dpreview.com/

Best camera review site on the web.

My wife shoots Nikon (D4, D300, D200) and swears by them. She's using lenses she's had for +20 years.

I'm the amateur and currently shooting with a Samsung Galaxy Camera which the wife got free last year to review...

... great point and shoot with some awesome features and direct web connectivity.

I also shoot with a Canon Rebel, which I like ( I'm more used to the Canon interface) and which allows me to use my old lenses. The DSLR beats the point and shoot for shots in the dark and poor light and of sporting events where instant shutter action is required.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

you can, and for the sony nex also, but a) they cost a bomb, and b) they make the camera much less portable, and c) they're electronic rather than optical, and d) the usp of both the cameras is that flexible lcd screen which i reckon is more useful than a viewfinder for all but the most conventional of shots.
stu

I'm glad we both agree!

 

[pplpilot]

This has been around a while and I suspect it's due an upgrade, as soon as it does one will be in my bag replacing my e-p3

- http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusem5

In my opinion the best mirrorless 4/3 there is.

 

[coffeejo]

I think I'll be heading up to Bristol soon to wander round the camera shops and see what's what.

 

[hoopdriver]

@Spinney definitely on the camera for filters regarding landscape work.
If you google neutral density filters and graduated neutral density filters you will see what I mean.
Polarising filters still can not be truely replicated using post production work and graduated ND filters allow you to balance the light a camera can record. Cameras still only manage to record 5 stops of light compared to the human eye of 13 stops. Don't worry about what a stop is it's the 5:13 bit that is important. With a camera you only get that information recorded the rest is simply over exposed or underexposed and White/black accordingly. Detail the human eye can see is lost digitally and can not be recovered. So. Filters such as used in landscape work allow you to balance the light and pull it back into the range a camera can record and show. That obviously needs to be done before raking the shot.

I have to confess my website needs some work and updating. A lot of my recent and better work is not there but currently my eyesight is not up to it. Hopefully next week the NHS will agree to the op I need and I will be able to get on with it afterwards!

I think you are underselling the dynamic range of a modern DSLR a bit. My Canon 5D3 has a dynamic range of about 12 stops, the Canon 1dX and the Nikon D800 have a bit more...

 

[Crankarm]

Always been nervous of the second hand market as it's all too easy to get caught out when you don't really know what you're doing. Thanks for the link and recommendation, though.

*goes to look*

Just a word of warning. You buy 2nd hand camera kit from Ebay at your peril. I have previously won several items of what I was lead to believe was fairly decent camera kit only to receive items substantially different in condition to the sellers' descriptions and NOT for the better. Dealing with Ebay to get a refund was a nightmare. On all occasions I had to use a charge back through my credit card to get my money back as Ebay were fecking useless. The most recent was a Canon Pro lens which the seller described as MINT, perfect unmarked condition which when I received it had clearly been dropped as there was a little damage to the edge of the front ring, plus the lens was a grey import from the US which the seller lied about. I had specifically asked the seller before bidding whether the lens was a UK spec lens. So if you want peace of mind and are risk averse buy from a reputable source such as WEX or Park Cameras or a good local camera shop if they still exist. Avoid Ebay. Even PC world is preferable to Ebay.

My choice for you would be something like a Panasonic Lumix GX 1 - compact, light, robust and excellent picture quality with various lenses you can purchase at a later date. Under £500 as well.

 

[Crankarm]

I think you are underselling the dynamic range of a modern DSLR a bit. My Canon 5D3 has a dynamic range of about 12 stops, the Canon 1dX and the Nikon D800 have a bit more...

Maybe in HDR mode but SNSSO is pretty much spot on. I thought the human eye was up at about 16 stops. I would say most cameras can only handle 5-6 stops of light without some sort of filtration for brighter areas of the image. Expose for the shadows and process for the highlights.

 

[hoopdriver]

Maybe in HDR mode but SNSSO is pretty much spot on. I thought the human eye was up at about 16 stops. I would say most cameras can only handle 5-6 stops of light without some sort of filtration for brighter areas of the image. Expose for the shadows and process for the highlights.

Er... no he's not. Not even close. Sensor performance tests (DXO mark) come up with a figure of 11.7 stops of range for the Canon 5D3 - and that is without mucking about with silly HDR stuff.

See review here: http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Pu...s/Canon-5D-Mark-III-Review/Sensor-performance

I might add that DXO is no great booster of Canon products either and their review indeed criticises Canon for not having made better advances in the area of dynamic range.

I don't know where you get your data from (5-6 stops of light, max!?!?!?), nor do I particularly care, but you're miles off base.

 

[Cyclist33]

She.

just for info.

 

[hoopdriver]

She.

just for info.

Fine. Well, she is way off base then...

 

[coffeejo]

Enough with the maths and technical stuff.

Was on the verge of buying a big ole chunky tripod so I could bash myself over the head with it, but then I remembered that shops such as Curry's also sell cameras - there's one on the outskirts of Taunton so I could mooch over there tomorrow for a look-see...

 

[akb]

For something to play on and to learn got a second hand body or kit from eBay and practice your art from there. This then a) saves you outlay and b) you haven't spent 900 quid on something you aren't going to use no have a Nikon D80 that i got about 7 years ago. Still performs perfectly, I know my camera inside out and the picture quality for your subject matter sounds good. For a lens, I would suggest a Sigma 10-20mm for Landscapes. Brilliant lens for the price. Good luck!