dslr cam

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bah , still confused ... but i have used a olympus ... loved it , but i can take it whenever i want ...so i wont be taking that one .. same goes for the canon , my friend has it , so it wont make sense for me to buy that one either ...so choosing between d40 and a200
 
What exactly are you going to do ? If you are going to use ONLY the kit lens and maybe at the very extreme a 55-200mm lens type, then get the A200. Its longer kit lens helps in many situations.

On the other hand. If you wish to grow and start getting lots and lots of lenses, then maybe the Nikon D40 or Canon 1000D will be a better choice.

Though the more I use the A200 I feel it is a better system for amateurs than any Canon or Nikon system. Why ? Because all lenses have image stabilization and many 3rd party lenses match the Canon and Nikon expensive lenses in IQ but lack image stabilization. However these lenses have an effective image stabilization with the Sony A200.

A very good example is - Nikon 17-55mm f2.8 VR and Canon 17-55mm VR costs a good 60k + while a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 will give 97% of the IQ for only 20k. You can see d_payne's snaps in the Photography section to see how good this lens is. :)

However the A200 is not a good macro camera since the viewfinder is a bit dim so manual focusing (a must for macro photography) is a little difficult.
 
so the only con of a sony a200 is a dimviewfinder?

i did see a nice deal of the nikon d40 with couple of lenses ..let me dig it up

Nikon D40 Digital SLR Two-Lens Bonus Outfit (18-55mm f3.5-5.6G/AFS DX 55-200mm F/4-5.6G ED)-Includes FREE Gadget Bag and DVDs $100 Value! - 25420-2156 - RitzCamera.com

how much will the sony a200 come with couple of lenses?

got one more

9420 Nikon D40 6.1 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera Two Lens Kit, with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX & 55mm - 200mm f/4-5.6G ED AF-S DX - USA Warranty

how are those 2 lenses
 
^^ No no its not the only con. Its the most major con of the A200. (since you cant compose your snaps any other way besides the viewfinder).

The other cons are -

1. Crappy JPEG output at ISO > 200 (Rectified by shooting raw)

2. In built IS means you will not see the image being stabilized in the viewfinder (so the image will be very jumpy with lenses >200mm) (You wont shoot too many shots at that range so again no big deal)

3. Heavier than competing cameras (Not a problem for me since it fits in my hands very well).

4. Less support in India and difficulty in finding lenses. (It is a problem, but I have compensated by buying old Minolta lenses. Also Sony has a 3 year warranty and plenty of service centers so you wont have any problems with your camera.)

All budget DSLRs will have some major cons or the other .

1. D40 - No AF motor so many lenses wont AF with it.

2. Canon 1000D - Pathetic ergonomics (small grip )

Here is a Sony A200 deal - Amazon.com: Sony Alpha A200W 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 and 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Lenses: Electronics

Amazon.com: Sony - Digital SLRs / Digital Cameras: Camera & Photo

I am not saying that because I am a Sony user it is the best camera out there. Each system has its own strengths and weaknesses. Know which system will be best suited for you.
 
How about the Panasonic G1? The lens selection is not great, but should improve soon. The common lenses are available already though.
 
Does any one have any idea on the Olympus E 520 one.It comes for 36k with two lenses.Alos it has got some good reviews.
 
The D40 kit that you mentioned lacks IS (image stabilization). That means most indoor shots without flash will look like a blurry mess.

You need IS for indoor if you like to have natural pics.

The Olympus is also a decent bet, but its support in India is worse than even Sony ! And Sony also has a small support presence.
 
kippu said:
so the only con of a sony a200 is a dimviewfinder?
Click to expand...

well compared to nikon D60 and canon 1000d ,sony A200 has the best viewfinder as mentioned in the review/article in anandtech.

sadly sony is no longer a attractive option since sony jacked up the prices,in grey market u can get a canon eos1000d with the kit lens 18-55mm IS lens for 25k.
the D40 is a old camera ,that doesnt have inbuilt auto focus or rather the lenses with auto focus are expensive,they dont have a live view,and has just a old 6mp sensor from sony.so unless u can find that camera for a dirt cheap price its not worth otherwise IMO.
i would suggest u narrow ur choice to canon eos1000d and sony A200,the canon looks funny with its straight grip,and is no where as comfortable as sony,also sony has a more powerful battery and comes with 3years warranty compared to canon which gives 2 years warranty.
 
^^ Take it at that price. You wont get better value.

The only other option worth considering at that price is the Olympus E520 twin lens kit.

The advantages of the E520 over the A200 are -

1. Live view. (Olympus pioneered live view and the implementation is rather decent.)

2. Smaller lighter body while maintaining a good grip (The Canon 1000D has a light body but the grip is pathetic. The E520 has a nicer grip)

3. Sharp kit lenses (Unfortunately the A200 kit lenses (both of them) are beaten by the competition is optical quality while the E520 are among the best in terms of IQ.)

Negatives

- Limited Olympus support in India.

- Much worse viewfinder than the A200 and Live view is slow so it kinda defeats the purpose of a DSLR.

- No second hand lens support. (For the Sony, you get sharp Minolta lenses like the 50mm f1.7 for about 3k)

Thats about it. You can now choose between these two depending upon the pros and cons.
 
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