Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests New DSLR Camera Poll

You have a very simple task!
Please provide me your input and vote on one of the following Digital SLR Cameras.

Which DSLR Should I buy?
Olympus E-500 "EVOLT", 8MP, Kit with 2 Zuiko lenses -- $800
Nikon D50, 6.1MP, Kit with 2 Nikon lenses

Others I have considered:

Sony Alpha-100 10MP- Nice body, controls are a bit funky, built-in stabilization. Can use Minolta AutoSLR lenses (which I have access to). Too expensive. $900 without lens.

Canon Rebel XT 8MP- Body is too light, price is too high ($800 w/ 1 crappy lens), eye piece is hard to see comfortably and has a weird "sfumato" character to it, screen is too small.


Discuss.

also, the Nikon kit is $900.

I think you are best off with the Olympus there is the same functionaly for a lower price. Plus you still get some good lenses with. you can pocket the 100 you saved from not buying the nikon and put it towards camera accesories

They seem to be pretty evenly matched, pixels aside. If you haven't already, I suggest reading the reviews at dcresource.com. Tons of good information and test results.

Olympus E500 review

Nikon D50 review

I would probably take the better picture quality and superior burst mode of the Nikon over the higher pixel count of the Olympus.

can you explain what burst mode does? i didn't quite understand that. they both do continuous focus and continuous shooting.

It's the continuous shooting mode. The Olympus seems to have a smaller buffer, and can only take 4 or 5 in a row. The Nikon can take more, and I think at a faster frame rate.

I know you said you didn't like the Canon, but the one thing that's always been the most important to me is Lens selection. Nikon is really good for that, but they're really pricey. The Canon has by far the best lenses for the price you pay, as well you can use nearly every old Canon lens ever made.

5 years down the road, will that olympus actually have new lenses available for it

i sell Nikons, Canons and that Olympus. the Nikon and Canon are BY FAR more popular cameras and appear to be better quality. that's why Olympus gives you the extra lens, for a cheaper price.

there are two types of camera people in this world, Canon people and Nikon people. its like going to two different stereo shops, both will tend to have completely different opinions. the Canon people say that all the kits come with crap lenses (crap for people who are REALLY into cameras) while i havent heard this from the Nikon gang. most people will say though that they are quite equal and excellent purchases, while adding why their brand is juuuust a little bit better.


I can hook you up with a great deal on either of these if you like. i recently sold one to Pre98(iirc) who took it to SZ06. PM me if youre interested...