MarkO

I'm by no means an expert, but I've got an EOS 300 and have been very chuffed with the results.
Here's some piccies I've taken with it - not so much 'cos it'll help you choose, more just 'cos I felt list posting 'em.

STI Type-R Offroad Kestrel Beach Seagull Eden

(Warning - these are fairly hi-res, so won't load immediately )

[Edited by MarkO - 4/3/2003 2:42:43 PM]

Crush

So I've been looking through a few catalouges, and have narrowed down 3 cameras which would suit my needs & ability. All from Dixons <spit> .

Nikon F55 (2 lens deal 28-80, 70-300)
Nikon F65 (2 lens deal 28-80, 75-300)
Canon EOS 300 (2 lens deal 28-90, 75-300)

I understand the F65 has more functions than the F55, but at the moment I’m mainly looking for quality of pictures and a good 2 lens deal.

Does anyone have experience of using any of the above? Bearing in mind, It would mainly be used for Trackdays & Rallies. With the odd scenery shot thrown in for good measure.

On paper, the Canon looks to be a better deal, but would the Nikon be on a par with regards to quality? And it couldit be likely that I would want to upgrade to the F65 from the F55? Or would the F55 suit my needs?

Also, (the important bit ) Price. Who can do me the best deal? On a new package? I need something to go into Jessops with, so I can haggle them pretty hard

Any advice would be helpful

RussP

Pesonally i'm a canon man - asking which ones best is like asking the old "subaru or evo" question, except with photographers it gets even more verbally violent.

One word of advice tho, Jessops will price match pretty much anthing u find. so look on line for the dodgiest, cheapest deal u can find, print it out and trot along to jessops. dixons won't do you too many favours.

They're all fabulous cameras - though i'd ditch film for digital any day, take a look at Canons G3!

Happy Snapping

Russ

RichardC

I have a F55 twin lens kit. I am not really to good with camara's, but even I can take good photo's with it. It takes very good night shots which suprised me as I have never had that with a "normal" camara.

RichardC

BOB.T

I've got the Cannon EOS300V with 28 90 and 75 300...well, you've seen my results!

I love it to bits, dead easy to use, lightweight and it looks cool! I haven't looked back since getting mine I think I got it from www.warehouseexpress.com but I'm not sure

Good luck

TopBanana

Most SLR's are the same optically - the main quality difference is between lenses. You don't need to go too mad on the body

Brendan Hughes

We missed out on the two-lens deal, and got an F65, but then found a 28-300 ultrazoom for it in Thailand for about 250 quid. No messing about swapping lenses or carrying them! Brilliant.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

They're all exactly the same - as soon as the mirror flips up, there is absolutely NOTHING in the path between the lens and the film

Both Canon and Nikon have their fans. I'm a Canon man myself, largely by accident (the EOS D30 was the obvious digital SLR when I bought mine), but I'm very happy with my system. Both companies produce lenses of excellent optical quality - the limiting factor will just be what you're prepared to pay. Canon arguably have the technological edge in that they have a number of Image Stabilised lenses, plus many of their lenses feature the smooth, fast and silent ultrasonic focusing motor. Nikon are behind in this respect, and aren't really catching up either.

If you have the opportunity, pick up both makes and see what feels better in your hand - which is more comfortable to hold and which seems more intuitive in use. Check which focuses fastest and which is the best at focusing on a low contrast subject. Personally I found the EOS 300 a bit light and plasticky, but its focusing system is excellent. For what it's worth, I have an EOS 33 myself, which has similar capabilities but is just a bit more solid and comfortable to use.

The results you'll get don't just depend on the sharpness of the lens - they depend on whether you have the camera set up correctly, pointing in the right direction and focused on your subject at the instant when the shutter opens. Finding a camera that you like and which you can operate intuitively is more important than which lens picks the most detail out of a resolution chart.

Whichever you choose - enjoy, and post your results!

Andy.

Crush

Thanks Guys

I've since, been told of a really good deal on the F65 package (£310). So I'll check that out against the EOS300. But as Andy said, I'll check so see which one feels better

Decisions, decisions!

Toonman1

As HOD in Photography and Digital Imaging at an FE College, I'd echo the suggestions to try the cameras for yourself and buy what you feel happy holding and using.

As regards the F65, bear in mind it's been replaced by the F75, so there will be deals around on the F65. Also don't rule out S/H. I bought a Nikon F60 as a (hopefully never to be used) backup for my D100 - £100 in mint condition, with box, instructions, etc and 12 months Jessops warranty.

When looking for a Digi SLR, I checked out Canons before buying my first Nikon at Xmas. I thought it was a shame the AF system still lagged behind that of other makes. It was flaky back in 1987/88 with early EOS cameras, and still doesn't lock onto certain subjects as well as it should. I understand Canon have sorted that on the new 10D, by using the AF setup from the EOS 30. Maybe they're getting the hang of AF at last!

Cheers and good luck!

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

The odd thing is that Canon's film cameras have perfectly decent AF - it's just that, for some reason, the D30 and D60 were cursed with the least capable AF in the whole range, which is inexcusable given their price. The 10D is certainly better, but it's taken long enough to get there.

That said, I've not missed too many shots thanks to the D30's focusing system - but I have learned to manually focus to track moving objects quickly!

A.

Toonman1

Andy

Got to say compared with other makes (Nikon and Pentax in particular), the Canon AF systems still lag behind. A student of mine sold his car (literally), to buy an EOS 3. He was then very disappointed to find it didn't focus as well as an 8 year old Pentax Z1P. Jessops even changed it for him, but it was still iffy.

Anyway, it matters little as long as your happy with your gear and get the results you desire. There's too much bitching in some of the camera forums about whose camera is best! Far worse than car owners!

Cheers

Mike

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

*snigger* So you read dpreview.com as well, then?

Toonman1

lol It's incredible isn't it?! Canon owners having a pop at Nikon, Nikon having a pop at Pentax - everyone having a pop at Minolta!

I get some students like that too; loads of kit and no money for the film. They talk a good photo, but rarely take one.

Cheers!

Mike

Crush

Update

I got the F65 with a 28-100 & 90-300 lens kit

I had a look at the Canon, it was OK, but I felt that I could have broke it within the same afternoon. I'm a bit destructive and the camera felt a bit too light for me.

The F65 felt more sturdy, looked the part & was just as easy to understand, not a lot more to say about it.

I spent the rest of Friday afternoon using up the crappy film they gave me trying to understand the basic settings. I'm only using the auto settings, like portrait & landscape, but i'll soon learn stuff like aperture & all that

They did price match, but that's it, they weren't in the slightest open to haggling any further . So I left partially satisfied.

I'll send the film away to be developed, then post the results (fooked if I use boots to process them!)

Brendan Hughes

What price?

Interesting you comment on feeling sturdy - I remember my boss about 8 yrs ago () said that he preferred Nikons as they were a bit better built and could take a bit more abuse.

Crush

How could I forget the price?!

It was £320, they price matched empiredirect.co.uk TBH, they should at least try to better it IMO, even if by £10 or so

I'm going to try not to break it But anyone who knows me will just laugh at that

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

I felt the same about the Canon 300V (was it the 300 or 300V that you tried? They're different...) - very light and a bit plasticky. That's why I went for the 33 instead, it just felt much more solid like a 'proper' camera

Glad you found one you liked - which lab are you using to process your films? I tried Peak Imaging and liked the result. (Did you see what Boots did to my carefully set-up shots of the moon? )

A.

Crush

I think it was the 300v, it was very light!

I usually use 'Click' to process my films, and they've been very good, unlike boots who annoyed me one time too many. Your moon shots were a good example as to how amateur'ish they are

I don't like the size of the boots prints either. Click do 5" x 7"

MartinM

Andy C

No focussing problems on my 1D There...I've let the cat out the bag

It's as awesome as everyone says - as someone said, you don't need a zoom capability on the LCD of a 1D to check focus, 'cos it WILL be in focus. Well, not always perhaps, but on a recent "assigment" in very poor light I had less than 5 out of focus in 200, whereas for a similar event 6 weeks or so ago with my D30 I had about 60!

When's the next photo comp then?????

Brendan Hughes

Crush, when you get peed off with changing the lens, get one of these!

OK, so it cost as much as your camera and its extra lens, but hey, what's money?

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Martin: BARSTEWARD!

I just bought a house - no toy money for a while, sadly. Maybe I'll upgrade next year, but for now I need to get out and actually use all this kit..

A.

ChrisB

Just remortgage the wife Andy

Crush

Brendan, It pisses me off already

Not quite sure if I'll be taking it seriously enough to spend that much again though

Luke

Anyone else got one of these?????

My all time best camera for quality/price/lens... If you want a compact with manual control and a lens to die for get one of these.

Toonman1

Ricoh GR1 - nice camera. I use a Contax G2.

MartinM

LOL

..yep, I've no toy money either now

[Edited by MartinM - 4/7/2003 1:31:15 PM]