Pentax K-x 12.4 MP Digital SLR

I have been looking for a camera that will give me the biggest bang for my buck! I hope to spend more time using my camera as a hobby. Until now have used my point and shoot Canon S3IS digital for children, relatives, show choir and sporting events. The Canon S3IS is a great camera; I need to step up a bit.

I am an avid reader of reviews and lots of times use this information to help in my buying decision. Since I suppose I am like most others who shop, compare, read, read some more and still cannot pick I hope this might help in your quest for the right camera. Of the cameras I tried, all were lovely and I would be happy with any of them.

Both manufacturers offered what I wanted in a camera; the ability to capture video, able to shoot in low light and had speedy and accurate auto-focus capabilities. I tried both brands back and forth for several weeks and preferred the Canon T1i. I proceeded to sell my older Nikon equipment to help pay for the Canon T1i and move that direction

I started looking at used Nikon camera bodies as I had an elderly Nikon 2020 35mm film camera with the 35-70mm ; 70-210mm AF lens. I stopped by my local camera shop and found my elderly lenses would work on the Nikon D50, D70, D80 and D90 bodies. I didn't find anything used locally or on eBay ( expensive) that I wanted so I looked at the new Nikon D90. Since Canon is the other gigantic player in this field I decided to think about their cameras as well.

While saving for my new purchase and reading about digital SLR cameras I became aware of a quantity of other SLR brands. I found several online reviewers that had lovely comments about these less popular cameras. Sony, Olympus, etc had lovely features but for one reason or another I took them out of contention. Sony, I thought the lenses were expensive. The Olympus didn't click with me.(pun intended) Pentax had lovely remarks and had similar capabilities as the Canon T1i. Best of all, the Pentax is considerably cheaper than the Canon.

What helped me to lean towards the Pentax Kx was that I could watch some video shots taken with the Nikon, Canon and Pentax on Google. I preferred the Pentax video, it didn't seem jerky in motion. Still pics side by side were also similar in clarity. I also read several reviews comparing the Canon and Pentax side by side with similar remarks about the performance of both cameras. The biggest positive comment about the Pentax was the exceptional low light pics it could take. The biggest complaint with the Pentax Kx was a battery issue mentioned by a quantity of reviewers. I called Pentax and spoke with a technical rep about the battery issue and any other issues Pentax might be having. I was told the battery issue has been taken care of with a firmware update. I must say I was impressed with the tech rep. They was helpful, took time to discuss his products and said that if I ever had a problem with my Pentax to give them a call as they were here to help me out.
I can use any Pentax lens, new or elderly on this camera. The lenses I will likely use most is the 55-300mm or the 18-55mm. Both these are included in the kit I purchased. Since vibration reduction is built in to the body of the camera in lieu of the lens, any lens I use will automatically be a vibration reduction lens.

My thoughts about the camera.
Positives:
-It's a compact body but not little. My wife likes the size and it is not heavy hanging around the neck.
-The menu is straight forward (I haven't had to pull the book out yet and can still get around easy !)
-Takes lovely pics in several of the modes I tried. pleased.
-The auto focus is relatively speedy and hits dead on at what I am pointing at.
-Some lovely filter features are included in the menu options, great to play with but doubt I'll use them much.
-The low light pics I have taken so far are impressive. When I downloaded pics they were tidy, without any or tiny noise even set at the high ISO setting!
-Used the batteries that are included and absolutely no problems.
-Lenses seem a bit light but balance well on the camera and focus smoothly.

I purchased the Pentax Kx with the 18-55mm and 55-300mm lens package for $653.00 on Amazon. It stated the Pentax camera kit would ship in 1-4 months but I ordered it on Friday and it arrived the following Wednesday, less than a week's time, not bad!

Overall Impressions:
Would I say it feels as solid as the Canon? No, but I love the Canon! However, I am still impressed with the Pentax Kx. The Pentax is not as thick or wide and I think the size might be most of the difference. You know you are shooting a SLR and my wife likes it! For the price, I figure I saved close to $400 over the Canon with similar lenses. If you need a Nikon or a Canon I am sure you will be perfectly happy. If you pick to purchase the Pentax you won't be disappointed in this camera either. It is not the gigantic name of Nikon or Canon but I bet you'll start to see more of Pentax with what all they offer and at the price point it is offered for! My budget was limited to $1600.00 but of work I was hoping to spend less. That is a lot of money to spend on a camera and I could have bought up to a higher level camera which I thought about but I am comfortable this camera will give me what I am looking for and saved me a bit in the method. I added a few pics on flickr that were taken with this camera to give you an idea of the photo quality. Recall, I am not a pro, I enjoy taking pics. Go to flickr and search for scubaguy4409

Negatives:
-The shutter action could be quieter. This is my biggest complaint. It is not like everyone will turn around everytime you take a picture but I'd not listen to it!
-The dust reduction feature rattles inside when you turn the camera to its side but I read that was normal as was mentioned by a reviewer. Otherwise I would have thought something was loose inside.
-I liked the view finder of the Canon. I think the information inside is a bit larger.
-The Pentax does not have auto focus points that light up when looking through the view finder but to me that doesn't make any difference. As I said when I pointed at what I intended to point at, it focused right on it, so this to me is a mute point.
- It seems a bit slow when first reviewing my picture after each shot but I think that is due to the cheap memory card I am using. I'll get another one tonight and expect it to correct the slow method. If it doesn't, I'll update this review and mention it! Otherwise, assume it was taken care of with a faster card.

Tips to think about:
I suggest when buying online you check the retailer thoroughly. I searched several sellers on both Google and Bing and found prices from $400.00 to $900+for a Pentax Kx camera kit. The one low priced sellers I checked on had nasty reviews about shipping and more importantly when I called to ask about their camera packages they were short with me on the phone. I do not like to spend anymore than the next guy but i figured if I had a problem with my purchase I would be out of luck with this guy!

Sony Alpha A330L 10.2 MP Digital SLR

Sony Alpha A330L 10.2 MP Digital SLR Camera 
with Super SteadyShot INSIDE Image Stabilization 
and 18-55mm Lens

Ok, I have just tired living painstakingly comparing entrance-alongside DSLRs (Canon XS, XSi; Nikon d3000, d5000; Pentax k-x) and have even made my own surpass stretch sheet grading each of the nominal pros and cons. Obviously, I finally chose the a330, so I will write this magazine from the perspective of the motive why i chose this camera and why I've immensely enjoyed it.

Picture Quality
- Since you are looking for a door turn DSLR, the picture worth for all item levels is comparable (I thought). Since I am a guide type shooter, the property of my shots are truly based on settings (orifice, close hurry, ISO, light, etc) so you'll be able to get good value out of all of them.

-I would time the a330 as a bit more exceptional, because in the handbook approach, Sony has something called "Creative Style" where you can extend correct your shot (bright color, night shot, night etc....And for each one of those modes, you can broaden modify saturation, sharpness and diverge). See some of my cinema in my profile!

Lenses
-This was one of the first reasons why the Sony alpha string made my sharp listing - any Sony or Minolta lens will work with this camera. In addition, because the persona stabilization is built into the camera and not the lens, the detriment is more reasonable compared to other lenses. Therefore, any lens I find on eBay I can use (don't have to care if a particular Sony lens or elder Minolta lens will work, so my options are endless).

Speed
- Although the continually shooting isn't the fastest in its taste, it's definitely usable. When I first was looking at FPS, I thought this was something that was high on my item directory, but turns out (unless you are a generous-incident photographer) when you shot something relativity still, you end with tons of films, where you'll end just deleting most of them. So the 2.5-3 fps is still closer then i will neediness.

- As prominent by other reviewers, the AF is baking speedy (with 9 AF points), and the switching between Live View and the optical belief finder is very fast as well!

Battery
- The string authority is beautiful pure, especially since I don't shot with the glint. Nevertheless here's my work-around: I just use a vertical series grip, that add three batteries utter to use seamlessly ([...]). This gripped makes your camera look like the big 2k-5k cameras, and give you 3Xs the string right.

 A230 vs A330
- As those who have researched this well, the a230 is the same camera as the a330, but it doesn't have the live examine and oriented LCD. I thought, I'm definitely getting the a230, because the viewfinder is better, and the price is way cheaper. Nevertheless I found that I worship shooting with the Live watch, because in manual manner, the live consider gives me an estimate of how opening, focus, close speed and iso would achieve my shot vs with the viewfinder in the a230, where it doesn't show me any of that(in the viewfinder-only basis, I'm wedged waiting unto the preview shows, so I would have to confirm every shot and then adjust, etc). So the Live scrutiny saves me time and seat on my SC license and I get pictures right the first or second time, versus the 4th or 5th time!

I could write all about my experience with the Nikon d3000 and d5000, and  Canon XS and XSi but I'll just say after trying all of them, I like the Sony better

p.s. I complete Nikon and Canon are more prevalent in the bazaar of DSLRs, which is why I wanted to give Sony an honestly unplanned - FYI I have a Canon HD cartridge camera, which I honey WAY better than any of the Sony models, so for videotape, I would definitely go with a Canon.

Pentax K-7 14.6 MP Digital SLR

Pros:

Rugged, ample survive seals. Rain, snow, or dust won't dawdle it down.
Compact Size with a magnesium alloy carcass of stainless steel hulk.
Selection of lenses designed for the APS-C imaging feeler
Shake cutback with every lens
Ergonomics
External Mic in cartridge method
Very still close
Industry first Composition Adjustment and horizon scale (distinct features)

Cons:

Battery life in Live View/Video genre.
Not the beginners camera unless you have a burly entreaty to learn about photography
High ISO performance could be a bit better
What earlier Pentax users will warning: Refinement, refinement, refinement
Low light autofocus is sudden and accurate (inline with the competition now)
AF-Continual is fixed, but not session foremost.
Ergonomics different from before K10d and K20d (possibly good, perhaps bad depending on your stand)
Insignificant change in vision attribute from K20d
Can disable long close clamor decline for shots 30 seconds or less
Excellent antenna dust ejection

Who should buy the K-7? Anyone looking for a prosumer dSLR (Nikon d300, d300s, Canon 50d, etc) that they want to take some place. This thing is for unsmiling adventurers, with its thorough withstand sealing and varied array of survive sealed lenses (DA* or WR series lenses). Going on a visit to Alaska? Hiking in the back country? Canoeing down the Colorado? Or evening if you just want slighter dSLR with all the features of the big boys from Canon or Nikon. The camera steps up the competition.
What new to Pentax users should be alert of? The camera makes slur noises when you tool it up or curve it on. The sensor is boundless to remove in its mount due to the shake cutback procedure. This is utterly ordinary, but scares some first time users where they think something might be dejected.

Detailing check:
I have weathered out the climate seals in an energetic downpour, where I shot videotape with my DA* 60-250mm lens. The seals seized up well and the camera still plant, so all is good. Having worn preceding Pentax cameras, I have had minimum hitch with batteries ending in the cold like some contacts with Nikon's and Canon's have. I had my K20d out in -30 F endure for 1.5 hours once. The camera had snowy over.
The camera is diminutive, but feels like a little container. It is solidly built and feels great in the hand despite the compact dimension. Without the grip I only have 3 fingers on the grip, but this is the same way I detained my, much better Canon 5d when I had it. The K-7 is comfortable for me to grasp for long periods, I brace the camera with my pinky finger.

Pentax has a lunar medley of lenses for APS-C cameras with an open array of fixed crucial part lenses (primes) for best look trait, or large hole zooms (f/2.8), middling slit zooms (f/4), or "consumer" zooms (f/3.5-5.6). To find an incline of Pentax lenses, visit Pentax Imaging USA's Website. If you want toughen sealed recollect to buy WR or DA* lenses, non of the others harden sealed.
It is important to document that shake discount workings with every lens for the Pentax method, commonly 2 or 3 f-stops, but up to 4 for those with shaky hands. This is invaluable to have a 50mm f/1.4 with shake decrease for those available light shots, just consider that shake cutback allows a slower close rapidity so it isn't best for tender subjects. Also evoke to wait a crack flash for the shake lessening icon to show in the viewfinder before charming your picture at brake close speeds.

The ergonomics are intuitive for the K-7, but might fling some prior K20d users for a disk. Users emergence from the K-2000 (K-m in unknown markets) should be able to adapt rapidly, as it is very similar. One of the new plan paradigms is prompt access to everything through the report menu on the back. Also use the info switch to disable the LCD (for those that do night shooting and get blinded by it). There is a direct ISO knob now too, for those that didn't know it was cryptic under the OK badge before. Typical of modern electronics there are numerous over-laden close functions, so it pays to sit down with the handbook and read over it, but inclusive it is intuitive. The show often shows you what button to press (like a little character of the front e-dial is revealed to change a particular backdrop with that dial). Similar to the K20d, but somewhat different too. Be steady to download the latest firmware from Pentax for better use of the AF Select genre (for selecting your own autofocus item).

The film styled is reasonably good. It uses movement JPG compression (AVI) which outcome in colossal organize sizes, but token artifacts while panning or during motions scenes. It reported 720p at a fixed 30 frames per second, most of the competition only does 24 fps. Max is 4 GB per march, which might be 8 report or so at max feature, or 30 minutes at a lessen eminence. Like all dSLR capture cameras the internal mic picks up every sound the camera makes, so ideally you should use an exterior mic for high quality cassette. Only two dSLR cameras allocate that at the time of this evaluate letters, and those are the Canons 5d which is twofold as expensive as the K-7, and the K-7. The quickly to be free D300s will allocate an external mic too, but it has an embattled charge of $500 more than the K-7. This makes the K-7 one of the best bargains in dSLR tape.
The refinement of this camera is stellar. The secure is very stillness for a dSLR (if you are coming from a point and kill it is of course much louder), but it is unobtrusive and professional sounding. No more clackety clackty whirrrrr that the elder K20d made, one of those noises that curved every precede in the space. It is also kind the secure acts separately from the mirror, so mirror curfew epoch are minimal and the secure can be fired the period without cycling the mirror, like in live scene.

This camera also has a fanatical grade of flexibility in configuring JPG options, you can modify several different JPG modes ranging from lurid, soft, inherent, portrait, etc. You can change the key, compare, saturation, roughness and more. You can also take 3 shot HDR images right in the camera with correct outcome. Finally, you can do an ample degree of idea processing right in the camera with built in digital filters and RAW developing.

The composition adjustment could be used to make small shifts left and right and rotationally using live sight fashion. These are very neat for slight tuning the composition and are equivalent to shifting on a slant move lens (just to a minor degree, 1mm each control). The altitude is also handy, allowing you certainly to see when the camera is not wholly direct, or it can be set to automatically height the horizon.

So, I have had a sweet glowing analysis so far, what are the downsides?

I have shot 2000 shots through the K-7 now, and it has performed as projected. I have emotional the string perhaps 3 times, so life is reasonably good, except when using live opinion or film mode frequently. The camera sometimes thinks the array is untaken exhausted when it is low and turns the camera off. You can still develop pictures if you service it back on, but not much videotape or live vista. However, you can still get a lot of use from the video or live belief before this becomes a gush, and if it does you might invest in a sequence grip or AC adapter.

My only disappointment with the camera is I longing ISO 1600 performed half an interrupt better. The blare is relatively lovely still, and will front to good prints or black and pallid conversions.
This camera has an intimidating array of buttons and options. If you are a beginner, and have no intent to learn photography in language of exposure and opening, I would hesitate retail this camera. Pentax's note K-2000 might be value a look in that lawsuit.

However, this camera truly brings everything to the agenda and if you are a future consumer or even a professional looking for a feature precious camera, this Pentax definitely value a look. This camera is an amazing charge considering the competition.

Olympus Evolt E620 12.3MP

I've had the E-620 for a few weeks now and am utterly pleased. Other options I considered were the Nikon D5000, Canon T1i ; XSi, Panasonic G1, Sony A300 ; A350, and Pentax K200D ; K20D. Some comments with comparison comments:

1) SIZE ; WEIGHT -- There's no time in having a camera that is so colossal that it doesn't get much use. Only the Panasonic G1 is minor than the E-620 but not by much. There is a more dramatic difference in the volume of the lenses, with Olympus being much minor than all but Panasonic. Making for a very compact furnish. For someone worn to the array of films SLRs, the E-620 is very like. My partner also found it the most comfortable for her to enfold.

2) BUILD QUALITY ; HANDLING -- Very impressed with Olympus here. Solid, dense and with much sensibly sited buttons for straight access to settings. The other cameras had a minus safe, plasticy feel, and their bigger grips still weren't large enough for a comfortable handgun grip with my normal range hands. The Sonys, in particular, had gauche fasten situation. The E-620 has a different comfort of grip where you persist the camera in the same way as old tape SLRs, and is more appropriate to such a small camera. I stock the camera comfortably in my *left* hand, covetous the body and lens barrel with my fingers on the zoom encircle; the frees my right hand from having to defense the camera while effective pedals, and foliage my good hand open (I'm a righty).

3) LENSES -- The kit zooms from Olympus are alleged to be of superior attribute than the others, as well as being more compact. So far I have been very impressed. I didn't want to buy a camera only to feel the kit lenses required replacing; I'd pretty consume on lenses that submit new capabilities, like prompt primes or committed macro lenses. For somebody interesting in with heritage physical focus lenses, inexpensive adapters are free to screw virtually any MF SLR lens to Olympus bodies; worn lenses can be totally inexpensive on eBay. Panasonic is limited by a very small range of lenses. For a two lens kit, the E-620 was the cheapest choice.

4) IMAGE QUALITY -- I wanted to finish my time pleasing pictures, not fiddling with them in mail-processing; Olympus has the best out-of-camera JPGs of the bunch (Canon and Pentax, in particular, descend squat here). Although the lesser Olympus sensors are alleged to be a bit noisier, what sound there is primarily luminance blast, bountiful similes a tape-like grain, instead than the decorated blotches of chroma blare. I've found noise very well controlled through ISO1000, even with noise cutback set to LOW. For printing up through 8x10 and watch present, I don't think noise is an alarm up through ISO1600 (surely with noise lessening set to emblem). One caveat: be confident to keep stage set at NORMAL (the evade), not AUTO, save you genuinely penury it; using AUTO gradation will noticeably augment noise.

5) IN BODY STABILIZATION -- I fancy in body stabilization to lens-based stabilization for two reasons: in body factory with all lenses, and lenses can be more compact. You only move one body but you are possible to store various lenses, so it pays to keep them small.

6) LIVE VIEW ; LCD -- Olympus has the best live aspect implementation (perhaps attached with Sony) with quite shrewd autofocus. This is very important if you want anyone, e.g. my husband or haphazard bystanders, who's used to compact cameras to use your SLR for snapshots or the like. The angle & twirl LCD is very practical and seemed more open than Nikon or Sony's implementations.

Overall, I found the E-620 to be the best merit for a two lens kit.

Here are a few comments on the other cameras I considered:

Nikon D5000 -- Good size ; managing, but a bit bulky. Living picture isn't great. Much more dear for a two lens kit than the Olympus.

Canon T1i -- Not impressed by the size value, felt plasticy. Not comfortable for me to take. Out of camera JPGs not so good. Inferior kit lenses. Much more costly for a two lens kit than the Olympus.

Canon XSi -- Not impressed by the develop class, felt plasticy. Not comfortable for me to hold. Out of camera JPGs not so good. Bulkier than the Olympus. Inferior kit lenses.

Panasonic G1 -- Limited lens range; will take heritage MF lenses but doesn't proffer copy stabilization with them since it isn't in the body. Plasticy. Not much smaller than the Olympus. More exclusive than Olympus for a two lens kit.

Sony A300 ; A350 -- Hated the button situation--ruled them out on that lonely. Live consider is very good while.

Pentax K200D ; K20D -- Poor out of camera JPGs. Great handling and build feature. Short on features. Kit lenses aren't great. No live picture / live view inept.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP

If you're looking for an very good, full-frame DSLR, the 5D Mk2 is very, very good. It's not less than 1 full F-stop more perceptive to lightweight than my Canon 1DS Mk2. A setting of ASA 800 or 1000 yields about the identical disturbance grade as my older camera at ASA 400. It's autofocus scheme is very very fast and unquestionable on lone shot mode. (I don't believe EF-L sequence lenses are adept of much quicker aim action.)

The new LCD computer display is gorgeous. 3" diagonal with 900,000+ pixels. It's probably the best value LCD computer display ever put on a DSLR. The meal lists are simpler to realise and navigate than the 1DS Mk2's menus. "Live View" is an very good way to do critical focusing. If you've not ever utilised a DSLR with reside outlook, you'll love it. The only contradictory of live-view is that it actually drains your electric battery and it can only be utilised for a certain extent of time before the CMOS imager circuitry warms up up, supplementing disturbance to the image. (In real-life usual firing, overheating is not a difficulty and in addition to the camera will auto annul live-view if it senses an over warmth condition.)

The gigantic 21 mega-pixel RAW images are excellent. The camera values an revised variant on Canon's .CR2 RAW format so if you use an older type of Adobe's Lightroom or Photoshop for likeness processing, you'll need the newest Lightroom 2.2 or Photoshop CS4 to get the correct RAW converter. I've in person not ever admired the encompassed programs for RAW likeness processing, but numerous persons are joyous with it.

The auto-exposure scheme appears very accurate... more unquestionable than my 1DS Mk2.

I not ever skilled any "black dot" phenomenon. But I've only shot RAW images at less than 1200 ASA. The "black dot" experiment images that I've glimpsed on the internet gaze like easy, in-camera, over-enhancement of highlights. Besides, except you're firing sports at evening or are part of a CSI group, who fires at 3200+ ASA anyway? If you're doing a evening shot of a town use a tripod, a longer exposure, and a smaller ASA. This will yield wealthy, clean blacks and much higher minutia in highlights. Also, whereas JPEG's are much lesser, every expert person taking photographs that I understand fires only RAW images.

I organised the camera with the optional BG-E6 electric battery grip. This grab makes the camera bigger and simpler to hold. It permits simultaneous use of 2 Canon lithium electric batteries or 6- AA alkaline or rechargeables. It's a very precious accessory to consider.

Now the bad...

I mainly bought the camera for its proficiency to fire large looking 1080P HD video for financial television projects. I considered it would be a large source for "B-Roll" cutaways and inserts.

The large-scale lone difficulty in the video mode is that you have no command over iris, ISO setting, or shutter speed. There's an exposure secure button that will secure the exposure variables to anything the LCD exhibitions at the time you press the button. There are no on-screen signs that display the backgrounds that the camera has selected for you. The only command you have is the hue warmth setting. Basically, you pot the camera round in the view and let the brightness ride high up and down. When you glimpse what you believe is a good exposure on the back LCD computer display, you press the secure button. Since the exposure secure resets after each view or take, possibilities are you won't have reliable exposures over multiple takes of a specific scene.

Working with the auto exposure scheme can occasionally be difficult. I was firing with my 85mm F1.2 lens. By looking at the iris, it emerged the camera had determined to only open the lens to about an F2.8 and use a much higher ISO setting than essential to accomplish correct exposure. By pointing the camera to some very dark shaded, the iris completely opened. I then panned back to my initial view which emerged to be much cleaner and free of noise. You actually need to be adept to manually set the ISO & F-stop when firing video.

I modified the camera's made-to-order backgrounds to smaller the minutia enhancement and contrast. These controls effect the value of jpeg stills but appear to have no effect on a video recording.

The camera only notes at 30.00fps, not 29.97fps. This minute .03fps distinction means that you have to adjust each file's header, utilising a program for example Apple Cinema Tools, before you can edit 5D footage into a usual, announced 1080P/1080i, 29.97fps timeline. Failure to do this header alteration needs setting up a 30.00fps timeline or rendering every 5D view on your 29.97fps timeline which yields periodic skipped frames.

There is no 24P (23.98) setting. As far as I'm worried, there is no ordered cause that Canon chose 30.00fps rather than of 29.97fps. No announced television or movie benchmark functions at 30.00fps. Maybe Canon will correct this with a future firmware update. Please note that if you're only firing high value videos for world broad web issue, the 30.00fps pace won't present a problem.

To simulate the film-like cadence of a video camera's 180 degree shutter at 30.00fps, the 5D Mk2's shutter should be set to 1/60 of a second exposure time. There is no way to notify what shutter setting the camera is utilising throughout a scene. My gut feeling from looking at camera video is that the 5D Mk2 often values 1/30 of a second.

The camera's LCD computer display is made empty when an HDMI supervise is closed in. If you're doing a financial fire with purchasers, this means that either the cameraman or the purchasers can glimpse what's being shot, but not both at the identical time... You could add an external HDMI hardworking splitter, but this would furthermore need supplementing and utilising an external supervise at the camera. If you only design to fire by yourself, this shouldn't present a problem.

To do manual follow-focusing utilising the back LCD computer display, address buying Hoodman's 3" LCD viewer. It's accessible from B&H and other retailers and it works very well. Of course, you'll have to number a made-to-order way to adhere it to the back of the 5D Mk2 utilising rubber musicians or Velcro.

The 5D Mk2 notes what I would call "memo quality" audio with it's interior, mono microphone. You actually observe the AGC lifting and reducing the notes volume. If somebody applaud their hands, coughs, or makes a blaring sound, the audio grade and backdrop sound dives down, then very noticeably fades back up. There is no headphone yield or on-screen audio brandish so there's no way to affirm the grade of your audio. If you close an external mic into the camera, there is no suggestion to affirm even the occurrence of an audio signal. The only thing you can do is record a view, then playback and mindfully hear to the noted file. If you design to use this camera on a expert sync-sound task, you'd actually have to address twice scheme sound recording. Recoding the audio on a distinct recorder adds a foremost grade of expanded hassle but it's the only way to insure very good audio. The audio from the camera's notes can be utilised as a post-production sync reference.

Another audio inquiry is why Canon chose to record audio at a experiment rate of 44.1kz rather than of the commerce benchmark 48kz. Apple's Final Cut Pro can handle nearly any experiment rate but other NLE's can't. Once afresh, if you're only firing video for world broad web issue, the compact computer disc experiment rate of 44.1kz shouldn't present a problem.

In certain reduced lightweight or reduced compare scenes, the H.264 encoding impede artifacts are noticeable. In my attitude, the 5D Mk2 artifacts are more obvious than the H.264 encoding utilised in Canon's own HF10, 1080 video camera even though the 5D's noted bit rate is higher.

The camera's signal-to-noise ratio is very good and very clean. It's a more noise-free video image than my $80,000 Sony F900R HDCam... except for the hue red. Red things are noisy. Most colors in a view appear disturbance free, except red. This is particularly factual with reduced brightness red things for example those in shaded areas.

The 5D Mk2 displays no "rolling shutter" characteristics that are affiliated with Nikon's D90.

The 5D Mk2 has the attribute of clipping to "flat-line" very dark very low-light or shaded minutia in an image. This yields a "gutsy" wealthy, very good, "film-like" value for numerous scenes, but you can't do any post-production recovery of lost low-light details. The camera does a attractive good job of revolving view best features off to a hard clip at 100 flats of video.

Possibly, some of the difficulties I've comprehensive here are associated to the exact 5D Mk2 that I bought (serial#0320105XXX) but I don't believe this is the case. Hopefully, Canon will topic a firmware revise to address the camera's video problems. New firmware could probably add manual command to the video arrest purposes and somewhat smaller the border rate to the benchmark 29.97fps.

All cameras at any cost grade have positives and negatives. I've not ever discovered or utilised the "perfect" camera. The Canon 5d Mk2 is an very good still camera and in my attitude, "a not rather prepared for major time" HDTV video camera. Possibly the camera was hurried to market to contend (or annul out) the much hyped video characteristics of Nikon's "rolling shutter" D90. It is an very good glimpse into the future of "hybrid" still & video DSLR cameras.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 12.1MP

This reconsider is actually proposed for parents, grandparents and non-pros who are looking for a camera that will advance the value of their photographs, without strapping a huge camera round their necks. This is a large camera for that.

Per the name, I'm not a pro or even an amateur photographer. I had a Lumix DMC-TZ3, which is very little and has a large-scale zooms. It worked well for images of our young children out-of-doors in brilliant light. However, the inside and reduced lightweight value was not as good as we wanted. Since numerous of these family photographs will be kept, kept, and archived for a long time, we were eager to spend some additional cash IF we could find a camera that would do it and that was befitting and very easy to use.

As an apart, we endeavored a twosome other issue and fire cameras (thanks to Costco's large come back policy) but, with some study, recognized that ever expanding mega-pixels and zoom were not going to help us. We required better lenses and larger / better sensors.

The key characteristics that were most significant to us in matching other cameras in this cost variety were:
1. Improved likeness value than our point-and-shoot cameras, particularly apprehending hardworking young children in low-light / inside lightweight conditions. (We are inclined to turn off the blink and use room lighting so as not to halt the children in their pathways, which wrecks the spontaneous instants we are endeavouring to capture.)
2. Able to take high value video clips when a photograph instant would be better apprehended with video and audio.
3. Small sufficient to convey in a pouch and hold handy on a little ledge in the kitchen in order that we'll really use it.
4. Easy to use self-acting backgrounds / good auto backgrounds, since we do not use the manual (professional) settings.

We contrasted the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 to the Canon EOS Rebel T1i and the Nikon D90. We directed out the Olympus EP1 (or EP2?) early because it does not have an integrated flash. Yes, I understand I said we are inclined not to use it, but we do use it for "say cheese" portraits and a couple of other instances. Light generally appears to advance the value of our photographs, and having to convey and adhere a large-scale blink to the Olympus fallen it from our register early.

We examined the experiment photographs and photograph checks accessible for DMC-GF1, T1i, and D90 at [...]. We furthermore held them, turned dials, and shoved buttons at a localized camera store. We admired the hue, pitch, and clarity of the DMC-GF1 best as dispatched at dpreview. (I envisage this is subjective. We are not pros.) We highly ranked the much lesser dimensions and heaviness of the DMC-GF1, too. These were all large cameras by our measures, though. Any of them would have substantially advanced the photographs of our children. In the end, the GF1 was a clear victor for us.

Quality:
The DMC-GF1 has substantially expanded the value of our photographs, particularly the reduced lightweight (but high action) ones interior the house. We use the self-acting setting most of the time, but occasionally choose a view, for example portrait or (more likely) sports. It is prepared to take images nearly the instant it is turned on. It can take images rapidly with very little lag from the the time we press the button to the time the genuine photograph is captured. For those of you utilising issue and fire cameras, this will be a gigantic improvement.

Video:
Videos gaze large on our 52" screen. There is a little button on peak of this camera that is very easy to locate. It permits us directly take a video of the photograph shot we were endeavoring to take. Research displayed that the GF1's micro-four-thirds scheme permits it to better aim while taking video contrasted to the canon and Nikon because the 4/3's scheme does not have a reflector that has to be moved or administered with while filming.

Size:
We acquired the 20mm lens and are inclined to use it more than the bigger 14mm-45mm lens. The GF1 is not little and portable (by our standards) with the 14-56 lens, but it aligns into a large pouch with the 20mm lens attached. There is no zoom on the 20mm lens (except our feet), but the image value is so good that we can effortlessly crop photographs when essential utilizing iPhoto and still have large value for blown up printout, for example in family calendars...

Easy Automatic Settings:
The camera's self-acting backgrounds are doing what they are presumed to do: permitting us to arrest large instants by mechanically choosing good settings. I don't desire to untidy with it. Light still affairs, but photographs that our telephones and point-and-shoot cameras are incapable of catching or incapable of rendering without allotments of blurry disturbance gaze good. Yes, our children can still do things at high pace in the darkest bends, producing in loud, blurry images, but the while topics (kids) and backgrounds (house) have not altered, the number of hurl away shots of else large instants has plummeted. We depart the camera on self-acting for most shots, but occasionally turn on the blink or choose a view from the very easy to use menu. (Turning on the blink is very very easy, just press the button on the back of the camera (right behind the flash) and it will burst up, prepared to do its thing).

It's not flawless for us, but it's great. Ideally, it would be even lesser, lower, with a mighty zoom, and would not ever overlook a shot. Still, we seem it was the best worth for our cash, and we have been very satisfied with the photos.

Canon EOS 50D 15.1MP Digital SLR Camera

I have had my hands on a 50D for precisely two days, and have taken only a couple of more than 100 photos; although, it is clear to me that this is no "40D Mark II." It is a monster step-up from the 40D and, in my attitude, akin to a leap between the 20D and 40D (the 30D skipped intentionally). I can talk and compose assuredly of this because I own or have belongs to all four cameras. I have the 50D with EF 18-200mm IS Telephoto Lens, which came as an suggested kit. Additionally, I own and have utilised the 50D with an EF 24-105mm f4L and EF 85mm f1.8. Here is my two day take:

a. Controls are well renowned yet more intuitive than the 40D;

b. Photos are peak shelf. "Incredible!," "Beautiful!," and "Wow!" are superlatives which came rapidly to me and to my close friends. I endeavored a couple of photographs at higher ISOs. Those photographs displayed a bit of `noise,' although, was much less than expected. Noise at reduced and mid-range ISOs was not evident to me. I took numerous images in in the shade localities to glimpse if this camera manages colors, pitch, and lighting better than the frustrating kind of the 40D. Seems to be reality to the assertion of enhancement in that area. Not a Nikon D2, but still rather excellent. I did not do any blink photography.

c. The LCD is brilliant, pointed, and much more viewable in sunlight than its predecessor. I believe it agrees well with those on the Nikons, which appears to have been one foremost target with this camera.

d. The camera body is solid; feeling to me even more so than the 40D.

e. The 18-200mm IS lens was rather pleasant, and presents a large "one-lens" option. I have not contrasted photographs taken with it to those taken with the EF 24-105mm L-series; although, I accept as factual in L-series lenses and would estimate the 18-200mm will not contain a candle to the L's. That said, it is a very very good lens!! My only condemnation is the important dissimilarities in focusing `speed' between it and the 24-105mm L lens. It is Slooooooow...

The bottom-line is that 50D is a very very good and, possibly, a very spectacular camera. Not flawless by any means, but a large step forward. I have not to designated day workout sufficient of it's' characteristics and choices to be more exact now, but I will follow-up with more data one time I have the opening to use the camera more. I ranked it a cautious "4 stars," which for me is a high rating.

FYI, I am an sophisticated amateur photographer. I have much know-how with Canon SLRs going out with back to the A-1, and with some Nikons, encompassing the D300. I have stayed a Canon enthusiast because of the buying into I have in EF lenses, and because Canon, earlier or subsequent, habitually appears to arrive to the promenade with superb equipment.

Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera

Whether you're new to the world of DSLRs, or are a seasoned person taking photographs who likes to try your luck at video, the Canon Rebel T2i is perfect. I've had not anything but large knowledge with it so far, and highly suggest to everyone.

Other than the T2i, I own (and mainly fire with) the Rebel XS (1000D), and furthermore have comprehensive know-how with the Canon 50D. While my XS still serves me very well, I liked to get an SLR with video capabilities since the issue of the T1i. After eventually keeping up sufficient for the T1i, I actually lucked out that Canon broadcast the T2i, which has even better features! I am fortuitous sufficient to eventually have it, and desire to share my knowledge, and how they contrast to my anticipations
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OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
The camera is very little and light. It is not weather-sealed or as durable as some of the more costly SLRs, but it doesn't "feel cheap" in my opinion. It characteristics a 3-inch LCD (compared to the Rebel XS's 2.5 inch screen), which furthermore has a very high resolution. It examines lovely! Auto-focus is very fast, and I've been very satisfied with the value of the images and videos I've taken so far.
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PROS
IMAGE QUALITY: I dreaded that packing so numerous megapixels up on this sensor, there would be many of likeness 'noise' (the megapixel myth). This thankfully hasn't been an topic, and I've been very satisfied with the images taken with this camera! Aside from White Balance matters (see underneath, Cons), likeness value is attractive good!

VIDEO: Some persons have disparagingly said that Video on Digital SLRs is just a gimmick. I disagree. Based on experiment clips I'd glimpsed on YouTube, I was stimulated about getting an HDSLR, and while videos are occasionally shaky if you don't have very stable hands, a tripod eradicates those concerns. Audio value on the T1i was admonished by numerous, but the T2i has a microphone input jack, which permits you to attach a mic. I don't yet own one so can't commentary on that characteristic, but will revise this reconsider if and when I save sufficient to try this characteristic out. Additionally, this boasts advanced notes choices, encompassing higher fps (frames per second) than the T1i, which mechanically suggested "true HD" notes of 1080, but only at a choppy 20 fps.

LOW-LIGHT PERFORMANCE: I am much more influenced than I expected. My Rebel XS could proceed up to ISO 1600, but would present attractive badly there. This not only can proceed up to a considerably higher ISO grade, but presents much better. Less likeness disturbance means you have to waste less time revising your pics, and numerous more keepers!

SDXC SUPPORT: Only own SDHC cards up until now, but it's large to understand that this carries the next lifetime of blink storage, which means you'll in the future be adept to contain numerous more images than actually available.

CONS
NOT A FULL-FRAME SLR: This is not a full-frame SLR like the Canon 5D Mark II, and the APS-C dimensions sensor outcomes in a crop component (1.6x), and doesn't inevitably supply the identical likeness value as the bigger, full-frame sensor does. Still, at less than half the cost of the Mark II, I believe this is a trade-off that's well worth it for most users.

Crop component means that this camera, like other Canon DSLRs that have the APS-C dimensions likeness sensor, will not be factual to the lens's designation. A 50mm lens will make an likeness more in line with 50mm x 1.6, or 80mm on a full-frame. This not only makes a distinction for those who desire to do countryside taking photographs (which generally advantages from wide-angle views), but for those with wobbly hands. The general reasoning is that to double-check a stable shot, you need to fire at the reciprocal of your focal length. So for a 50mm focal extent, you should be firing at a pace much quicker than 1/50 second for a stable shot. Keeping the crop component in brain, you actually should be firing at a pace much quicker than 1/80 a second.

Crop components are widespread for most digital SLRs, as full-frame sensors jack up the cost of output, which are then passed on to the buyer in the pattern of very costly cameras. So it's not so much a shortcoming of the Rebel T2i, but just a note to hold in the back of your mind.

DIFFERENT BATTERY: This is more of a hassle for those who belongs to replacement electric batteries than for those whose first SLR would be the T2i, but Canon altered the battery. Again, not such a large-scale deal, but might be a hassle for some who find out that their vintage electric batteries can't be utilized on this model.

WHITE BALANCE: I discovered that the 'Auto' White-Balance setting was madly incorrect on my Rebel XS (often giving inside shots a yellow tint except I altered the WB to the 'Incandescent Light' mode), and I seem that the WB backgrounds on this form still aren't as unquestionable as they should be. If you desire really unquestionable WB, you can use a gray business card, or an alternate would be to easily try digitally revising the photographs on your computer after shooting.

NO ARTICULATING SCREEN: No articulating computer display, but this is a uncommon characteristic in DSLR's in general, so it's not a shortcoming of the T2i. Since most of your shots will likely be created utilising the viewfinder, not a large-scale deal, whereas it would have been convenient! If you wholeheartedly should have an articulating computer display on an HDSLR, gaze into the Nikon D5000.

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A NOTE ABOUT THE KIT LENS
The lens that arrives with this is the benchmark 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 that arrives with the other Rebels. It's a very good all-around lens, but you more expected than not will desire to at some issue improvement your lens for either (a) better likeness value, or (b) better presentation in low-light conditions.

This lens is very good, but for pros or those who pay unbelievably close vigilance to minutia, the optical value of Canon's higher-end lenses is better than to the kit lens. For most users, I don't believe likeness value will be a gigantic issue.

More expected, the aperture dimensions will be the cause persons desire to improvement their lens over time. A lens with a broader aperture permits more lightweight to come to the sensor in less time than a lens with a narrower aperture. That means you can provide work a much quicker shutter pace, which permits you to break the shot much quicker, decreasing the prospect of a blurry picture. Outdoors on a sunny day, this aperture variety of this lens won't be a limiting factor; interior a poorly-lit gym, although, you'll observe some blurry shots (see underneath for a suggested alternate for low-light shooting).

Still, this is a attractive good all-around lens that can outcome in some large shots!
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RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES

1. An external flash: This will arrive in very handy. With the built-in blink, your photographs often arrive out harshly lit. Bouncing an external blink off the partition makes a gigantic distinction in likeness quality. I in person use the Speedlite 580EX II, but there are lower options that are very good. Some higher-end cameras (i.e. Canon 5D Mark II) don't even have a built-in blink, which proceeds to display certain thing about how high-level photographers outlook the lighting supplied by interior flashes.

2. 50mm f/1.8 II lens - At round one century dollars, this lens is somewhat bargain when contrasted to other ones on the market. Despite its reduced cost, it boasts large likeness quality. While it needs IS (image stabilization) like some other Canon lenses (including the kit lens), with a broad aperture of f/1.8, sufficient lightweight generally arrives in to double-check a very fast shutter pace, which in turn minimizes camera shake. Keep in brain that as a 'prime' lens, your feet will have to do the zooming in and out. This is not as befitting as an everyday walk-around lens like the 18-55 kit lens which presents a good zoom variety, but is a large lens for portraits. Also would perfectly be a good choice for poorly-lit locations where the aperture of the kit-lens isn't broad sufficient to double-check a stable shot.


CONCLUSIONS
From my register of 4 pros and 4 cons, you might marvel why I'm giving this merchandise 5 stars?... It's because contemplating the large presentation - and reduced cost - of the T2i, the 'cons' I register actually aren't that large-scale of a deal. Just because some cameras offer the aforementioned characteristics the T2i needs, it doesn't signify the T2i isn't a solid performer. On the opposing, I have been absolutely persuaded with this camera's likeness and video value, presentation, characteristics, AND PRICE, and would suggest the T2i to any individual looking for an inexpensive way to arrest memories!