Taken out of newbie guide as i think they are outdated. Leaving them here as a separate thread if it ever interests anyone.
Major DSLR players
* summary of points in this portion may have differing opinions occasionally, and is mainly from inputs from other users, not mine.
* collated in 2007 Jan-Feb
Nikon/Nikkor
Discussion: (1)
Main strength projected by some Nikon users
- build quality
- better LCD
- good quality premium lens, e.g. Trinities
- wide range of lenses
- maintain body-lens compatibility for old Nikon lens users
- flash system better than Canon
- Service Centre needs more improvement
- D40 the most affordable dslr (not regarding quality or value for money) in the market now
Main weakness projected by some Nikon users
- poor stock control
- ISO performance not as good as Canon
- lack of inbuilt body vibration reduction mechanism
- not having full frame alternatives.
- Nikon service centre need to charge way cheaper.
Canon
Discussion: (1)
Main strength projected by some Canon users
- full frame 5D available
- superb CMOS sensors
- good ISO performance and low noise
- good white balance
- fast AF
- good quality premium lens, e.g. L lens
- wide range of lenses
- Biggest online community for error troubleshooting
- Biggest secondhand market
- More pro's (sports photographers, wedding photographers etc) use the system
Main weakness projected by some Canon users
- ignore body-lens compatibility for old Canon lens users
- build is not as good as Nikon
- tendency to hold back features on lower end cameras even though they have the technology
- lack of inbuilt body vibration reduction mechanism
- pricing of lens is less competitive in Singapore than in other places, e.g. HK
Pentax
Discussion: (1), (2)
Main strength projected by some Pentax users
- Value for money model: K100D - Among the most affordable without having users to spend extra cost on proprietary batteries and little-used functions. more feature with Shake reduction, backward lens compatibility, depth of field preview compared to Nikon entry level D40. K100D can run on standard alkaline AA, CR-V3, or rechargeable batteries in either AA or CR-V3 form-factor. can use standard NiMH rechargeable batteries in AA form-factor, which is so easily available and chargers are easy to find too.
- K10d best value semipro, rubberised body feels good in the hand, big body with steady hold
- build: Pentaprism, Alloy chassis
- superior price/performance
- inbuilt body vibration reduction mechanism
- small size body, but the K10D isn't small and light anymore, even comparing w/ a Nikon D80
- availability of good lens : excellent and small/compact prime lenses, also LE, and FA*,
- Widest choice of backward-compatible lenses from M42 screw mount lenses to the entire series of Pentax K-mount family of lenses
- ease to mod the K-mount to fit in Contax-Yashica lenses (hence adding Carl Zeiss optics to the system)
Main weakness projected by some Pentax users
- Over-processed over compressed JPEG images (RAW is excellent though)
- New lens availability/selection is weak
- relatively new in the DSLR market and poor third-party lens at the moment
- lack of accessories
Konica Minolta Sony
Discussion: (1)
Main strength projected by some KM Sony users
- satisfactory grip, good ergonomic build with knobs
- inbuilt body vibration reduction mechanism
- Backwards compatible maintained with old Minolta A mounts
- circular blade to give nice round spot-lighting in bokeh, e.g. 135mm STF.
- Wireless flash. (Which Nikon D200 has now)
- shortcut to ISO settings
- Sony Service Centre open from Monday to Sunday.
Main weakness projected by some KM Sony users
- new player inheriting the old KM, lack of no "entry level" or "intermediate level" DSLR from Sony's range
- "noisy" at high ISO
- equivocal opinions on the jpg output of Sony A100 esp to skin tones
- limited range of Sony lens
- overpriced lens (100mm Macro, 70-200 SSM, as compared to Canon's counterparts)
- cheap solid KM lenses are hard to find.
- Hard to find lenses and accesories. (VC-7D, RC-1000, HS10, etc)
- slow noisy sony lens
- loud shutter/mirror mechanism not good for candid or street or wildlife
- high power consumption (Due to CCD, AS, LCD and in-built focus motor)
Fujifilm
Discussion: (1)
Main strength projected by some users
- Fantastic out-of-cam pictures, great colors even in raw
- s2 and s3 uses AA batteries, no need for extra vertical grip
Main weakness projected by some users
- Expensive body.
- unsatisfactory vertical grip implementation
- absence of control dials.
- changing ISO is troublesome
- S3 is still slow
Olympus
Discussion: (1)
Main strength projected by some Olympus users
- The E-1 being built like a tank and very weather proof.
- Fantastic out of camera colors for the E1
- dust buster really works
- live view LCD & flip LCD
- lighter, smaller lens
- Pricey but fantastic Zuiko optics (if you don't get a lemon)
- live view modes
Main weakness projected by some Olympus users
- slower startup time
- high ISO noise
- not exactly the system for sports as AF system is not as fast as offerings from Canon and Nikon, but then again, compare the prices & final image quality.
- the only affordable wide angle lens is 22-44mm (35mm reference) Unlike of other camps where you can get a 16mm wide zoom under $1k.
- limited range of lens. and due to a niche market, resale of any used Olympus equipment later is not as easy as Canon and Nikon.
- Not enough accessories like wireless flash solution.
- The FL series of flash units loses out in terms of performance when compared to Nikon and Metz.
- after-sale support service in SG until proven otherwise.
Matsushita National Panasonic
Discussion: (1)
Main weakness projected by some Panasonic users
- too expensive
- pretty bad noisy level even at ISO 800
* conversion factors and sensor aspect ratio are subjective to individual preference, and hence not included above
.
Major DSLR players
* summary of points in this portion may have differing opinions occasionally, and is mainly from inputs from other users, not mine.
* collated in 2007 Jan-Feb
Nikon/Nikkor
Discussion: (1)
Main strength projected by some Nikon users
- build quality
- better LCD
- good quality premium lens, e.g. Trinities
- wide range of lenses
- maintain body-lens compatibility for old Nikon lens users
- flash system better than Canon
- Service Centre needs more improvement
- D40 the most affordable dslr (not regarding quality or value for money) in the market now
Main weakness projected by some Nikon users
- poor stock control
- ISO performance not as good as Canon
- lack of inbuilt body vibration reduction mechanism
- not having full frame alternatives.
- Nikon service centre need to charge way cheaper.
Canon
Discussion: (1)
Main strength projected by some Canon users
- full frame 5D available
- superb CMOS sensors
- good ISO performance and low noise
- good white balance
- fast AF
- good quality premium lens, e.g. L lens
- wide range of lenses
- Biggest online community for error troubleshooting
- Biggest secondhand market
- More pro's (sports photographers, wedding photographers etc) use the system
Main weakness projected by some Canon users
- ignore body-lens compatibility for old Canon lens users
- build is not as good as Nikon
- tendency to hold back features on lower end cameras even though they have the technology
- lack of inbuilt body vibration reduction mechanism
- pricing of lens is less competitive in Singapore than in other places, e.g. HK
Pentax
Discussion: (1), (2)
Main strength projected by some Pentax users
- Value for money model: K100D - Among the most affordable without having users to spend extra cost on proprietary batteries and little-used functions. more feature with Shake reduction, backward lens compatibility, depth of field preview compared to Nikon entry level D40. K100D can run on standard alkaline AA, CR-V3, or rechargeable batteries in either AA or CR-V3 form-factor. can use standard NiMH rechargeable batteries in AA form-factor, which is so easily available and chargers are easy to find too.
- K10d best value semipro, rubberised body feels good in the hand, big body with steady hold
- build: Pentaprism, Alloy chassis
- superior price/performance
- inbuilt body vibration reduction mechanism
- small size body, but the K10D isn't small and light anymore, even comparing w/ a Nikon D80
- availability of good lens : excellent and small/compact prime lenses, also LE, and FA*,
- Widest choice of backward-compatible lenses from M42 screw mount lenses to the entire series of Pentax K-mount family of lenses
- ease to mod the K-mount to fit in Contax-Yashica lenses (hence adding Carl Zeiss optics to the system)
Main weakness projected by some Pentax users
- Over-processed over compressed JPEG images (RAW is excellent though)
- New lens availability/selection is weak
- relatively new in the DSLR market and poor third-party lens at the moment
- lack of accessories
Konica Minolta Sony
Discussion: (1)
Main strength projected by some KM Sony users
- satisfactory grip, good ergonomic build with knobs
- inbuilt body vibration reduction mechanism
- Backwards compatible maintained with old Minolta A mounts
- circular blade to give nice round spot-lighting in bokeh, e.g. 135mm STF.
- Wireless flash. (Which Nikon D200 has now)
- shortcut to ISO settings
- Sony Service Centre open from Monday to Sunday.
Main weakness projected by some KM Sony users
- new player inheriting the old KM, lack of no "entry level" or "intermediate level" DSLR from Sony's range
- "noisy" at high ISO
- equivocal opinions on the jpg output of Sony A100 esp to skin tones
- limited range of Sony lens
- overpriced lens (100mm Macro, 70-200 SSM, as compared to Canon's counterparts)
- cheap solid KM lenses are hard to find.
- Hard to find lenses and accesories. (VC-7D, RC-1000, HS10, etc)
- slow noisy sony lens
- loud shutter/mirror mechanism not good for candid or street or wildlife
- high power consumption (Due to CCD, AS, LCD and in-built focus motor)
Fujifilm
Discussion: (1)
Main strength projected by some users
- Fantastic out-of-cam pictures, great colors even in raw
- s2 and s3 uses AA batteries, no need for extra vertical grip
Main weakness projected by some users
- Expensive body.
- unsatisfactory vertical grip implementation
- absence of control dials.
- changing ISO is troublesome
- S3 is still slow
Olympus
Discussion: (1)
Main strength projected by some Olympus users
- The E-1 being built like a tank and very weather proof.
- Fantastic out of camera colors for the E1
- dust buster really works
- live view LCD & flip LCD
- lighter, smaller lens
- Pricey but fantastic Zuiko optics (if you don't get a lemon)
- live view modes
Main weakness projected by some Olympus users
- slower startup time
- high ISO noise
- not exactly the system for sports as AF system is not as fast as offerings from Canon and Nikon, but then again, compare the prices & final image quality.
- the only affordable wide angle lens is 22-44mm (35mm reference) Unlike of other camps where you can get a 16mm wide zoom under $1k.
- limited range of lens. and due to a niche market, resale of any used Olympus equipment later is not as easy as Canon and Nikon.
- Not enough accessories like wireless flash solution.
- The FL series of flash units loses out in terms of performance when compared to Nikon and Metz.
- after-sale support service in SG until proven otherwise.
Matsushita National Panasonic
Discussion: (1)
Main weakness projected by some Panasonic users
- too expensive
- pretty bad noisy level even at ISO 800
* conversion factors and sensor aspect ratio are subjective to individual preference, and hence not included above
.
