http://en.leica-camera.com/photography/d_system/digilux_3/

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06022609panasonicdmcl1.asp

They’re basically the same camera with finish, firmware, processing, and warranty differences. Only Panny/Leica Four-Thirds lenses have aperture rings. The following are such lenses:
– 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5
– 14-150mm f/3.5-5.6
– 25mm f/1.4

The aperture ring does not function on any other Four-Thirds DSLR body. On such bodies, the aperture is adjusted using the normal body controls.

Nikon D200 is one of the best on the market, with an excellent build, and all the manual / semi-manual controls one’d need (different metering scheme, aka ways of deciding the exposure time, easy to add compensation, fast response time, etc.).

However, getting the good camera is just half of the story: good lens is just as important, if not more important!

For doing street scenes and portraits, get the Nikkor 18-200mm VR or Nikkor 18-70mm. The Nikkor 18-200mm is probably a bit more than what you’d need, in the sense that you can do some real close-ups due to its bigger zoom. However, reviews suggested that it has a better build. More importantly, the VR (Vibration Reduction) technology definitely helps to keep the picture sharp, again important for street scenes and in some cases, portratis.

If your wife enjoys playing with depth of field, e.g., pictures with blurry background, or sharp mid-range with blurry frontground and background, you might consider to get an extra fixed focal length lens that has larger aperture (and hence more flexibility in depth of field). Examples include Nikkor 35mm f/2.0D, or 50mm f/1.4. (Nikkor 35mm will be considered wide-angle normally; but for dSLR, it’d be considered as equivalent to 50mm, which is good for many street scenes.)

Some other alternatives
You might also consider the more affordable Canon EOS 30D. In addition to price difference, other reasons you might consider 30D include: it is a bit lighter (but a bit less solid to someone); less noise at very high ISO (ISO1600); possibly personal perferences on the controls; and last but not the least, you have friends or family who also owns Canon (to share / try other accessories).

Leica has some newer camera (a dSLR digilux 3 and a rangefinder M8). Their sensors should be comparable to to the other good dSLR, but I just don’t know much about them.

Here is a link that gives you a quick comparison of all the cameras mentioned.

I do NOT want a digital camera. I have a compact digital for the "facebook" and such. I want a 35mm SLR for real photography.

However, I’m no professional so price is a HUGE aspect of this.

It’s pretty much a must for it to have interchangeable lenses.

As far as brands go, I would only buy either Canon, Nikon, Olympus, or if somehow it would be possible a Leica.

I’d appreciate it if I could get some models to look at and what sort of money it’ll be. I’d also like a wide angle lens.

Thank you.
Oh, I would also be more than willing to buy used.

There are loads of used 35mm cameras on ebay at VERY low prices cos 99% of folk want digital.

If you decide to go for a Canon then go for an EOS. The T series and the A series are very long in the tooth and have no autofocus. The A series (AE-1, AV-1, A-1) were very good cameras in their day but suffer from shutter problems when they reach old age especially if they have been sitting unused for 10 years.

Another reason to go EOS is that if you choose to go digital in the future, the Canon EOS lenses will work on your EOS digital.

http://www.amazon.com/Leica-Interchangeable-Sapphire-Platinum-Service/dp/B002NPCJ0Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1274923965&sr=1-1

This Olympus camera costs $4,352.55. How is this so much cheaper than the previous camera?
Olympus Evolt E-3 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with Mechanical Image Stabilization + Olympus Zuiko 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 Digital ED SWD Lens

http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-Evolt-E-3-Mechanical-Stabilization/dp/B000ZZV85Q/ref=sr_1_65?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1274924066&sr=1-65

This camera costs $3,995.00. Is this camera really good?
Nikon D700 12.1MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital-18-135mm-3-5-5-6G-Zoom-Nikkor/dp/B002P2LN2U/ref=sr_1_73?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1274924218&sr=1-73

This camera cost $699.95. Does it mean it is not as good as the others because it is cheaper? Why not?
Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-Camera-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B0012YA85A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1274924342&sr=1-2

So which is the best camera to buy? I obviously do not know anything about cameras but I want a camera that can take professional shots and professional close up shots. I remember when I got my braces that my dentist took some really close up shots of my teeth that turned out awesome. Can all these cameras do the same? I currently have an Olympus 1030 SW and I can’t take a close up shot without it getting blurred or the flash makes it too bright…but if I turn the flash off it blurrs the shot. My point being I don’t get the sharpness that I would like. I want a camera that takes really sharp pictures whether they be fast action, close-ups, portrait, bright light, etc….but I don’t get the quality of picture with the Olympus 1030 SW that I would like to have. Any suggestions?

Hey,

Don’t buy expensive cameras when you don’t know anything cheap ones. The XSI is great.

Here’s a post called ‘Buying A DSLR, what’s important, megapixels, features, brand, price, quality and which one to get. There are also Amazon links, here is the post – http://the-digital-photographer.blogspot.com/2009/03/which-dslr-to-buy.html

Good luck.

Also, Leica M8’s body is cheaper, but the lenses are more expensive: I like fixed lenses better than getting a range.

Any feedback is appreciated!

The Leica M8 is not a DSLR. It is a coupled digital rangefinder with interchangeable lenses. It is manual focus only.

The M8 body is approximately $5,500.00; the D200 body is approximately $1,400.00.

The D200 was introduced in 2005 so it is obsolete by electronic technology standards.

IMO you should consider the latest from Sony and Pentax in the DSLR line. Both have their image stabilization in the body and have dust removal for the sensor.

The Sony A100*, 200, 300 and 700 can use every Minolta Maxxum AF lenses made since 1985. They also use many of the accessories for the Maxxum series and most all accessories for the Konica-Minolta D5 & D7 DSLR cameras.
Sony is expected to release a full-frame (24mmX36mm) sensor camera in late 2008 or early 2009. All those wonderful Maxxum lenses will be perfect for it since they were designed for 35mm film cameras.

The Pentax K100D Super*, K10D, K20D can use every K-mount lens made since 1975 plus every AF K-mount lens made. It also has dust removal for the sensor. Since the pre-AF lenses are manual focus you should like that.

I’m a little unclear as to your reference to "fixed lenses". I’m guessing you mean fixed focal length (aka prime lenses) instead of zoom lenses. Although I have 3 zoom lenses in my arsenal (28-85mm, 35-70mm & 70-210mm) I agree that your best results are from prime lenses.

* The A100 and K100D Super may have been discontinued with the introduction of the newer models. They should, therefore, be available at reduced prices.

1) Only three modes: Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and full Manual control.

2) User or Auto controlled white balance.

3) A screen just to check your results. No "Live View".

4) The ability to change ISO at will just as you can with your current digital camera.

5) Custom lens mounts. This is the biggie. You could order the body with any mount you wanted. Canon FD or EF, Olympus OM or 4/3, Minolta SR or A, Nikon F, Pentax K, Leica M or their SLR mount or any other mount you can think of. All features and functions of the lens would be supported so if you ordered the body with an FD or SR or OM or K mount it would be meter-coupled just as it was when it was used on a 35mm camera like the Pentax K1000 or Canon FTb or Minolta XE-7 or Olympus OM-1.

Of course there would be licensing issues with all the different lens mounts offered and the newer auto focus mounts might be impossible to offer. Still, I think its an interesting concept.

Sounds pretty far-fetched doesn’t it? Remember, it was once considered impossible for a heavier than air machine to fly. The VCR was once considered cutting edge technology. "Pong" was once the video game leader.
EDIT: Never said it would be easy. Also, by having a custom mount designed for each manufacturer you eliminate the problems associated with flange to sensor dimensions. This DSLR with a Canon FD mount would have no need for bulky, cumbersome adapters. The FD mount lens would attach just as it did to an FTb.

I forgot about the smaller image circle of the 4/3 lenses so Nikon’s technology that lets you use a DX format lens on their FX size sensor would need to be licensed. Who knows – maybe we’d have something comparable to the old 1/2 frame 35mm film cameras.

Exactly my thoughts ! This is what most of us need in DSLR cameras. One addition I want is a spot meter to go with it.

(Actually Leica M9 provides the same satisfaction that you might be looking for but then it’s not a DSLR and it doesn’t support various lens mounts).

In my DSLR, the things that I fiddle around with are -
Modes – M, A, S.
White balance
Flash mode- ttl or commander
Exposure compensation when using A or S mode
Screen to check the results and to view the levels at times.

I rarely increase my camera’s ISO.
I have never bothered to use the advanced autofocus modes that are now provided in various bodies.
I don’t fiddle around with image processing menus since I always post-process.
There are a hundred things in the menus that I know exist but I never use them.

I do hope someone hears you.

So, would be a good idea to buy a brand new low end model, like an Olympus E-500 or Nikon D-40, or a last generation top of the line, like an old Nikon D1-H, or Fujifilm S1?

I am learning photography, but want to someday be very good at it (as in possibly even professionally good). I don’t want a camera that will hold me and my creativity back.

Also, I don’t think megapixels are a huge deal, as long as I can get at least 1600-1200 photos. I mostly do online stuff, and would only usually go for a 5×7 if I printed anything out. This would be for learning purposes only.

Thank you beforehand for all the great answers. 8*)
I would also like a camera that can shoot up to 1600 ISO…

A Nikon D40 would be a great start for you. The price difference between the D40 and the D40x or some competing cameras could buy you lenses to expand the possibilities. Then, you can use those lenses in the future, if/when you upgrade camera bodies!

A D1-H is good, but digital cameras have evolved so much in the last few years.

Here’s one trusted viewpoint for you.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm

With a dSLR you'll also have a lot more keepers: no shutter lag, faster auto-focus, and a viewfinder and auto focus system that keep working well in very dim light. So in this case there is nothing to compare – with a point & shoot there would be no picture at all.

Vicseo, I suggest you ask for your money back for that course you took. Or were you not paying attention during the 20 classes when this was discussed? (And 35mm film has *that* much resolution, eh? Bwa-ha-ha!)

As for the quality of Leica lenses, Leica lenses on Panasonic point & shoot cameras (and even on Leica's own point & shoots) are made by Panasonic. They are not much/ any better than lenses by any other brand. Real Leica lenses – the ones that professionals and filthy rich amateurs use on Leica M model range finder cameras – generally cost over $1000 a piece. The nice ones cost well over $2000 each. And for that price they don't even have zoom or auto-focus. So don't be fooled by a famous name on the sticker of that Panasonic.

I have a Panasonic point & shoot myself. I'm actually very happy with it. But I only use it for snapshots and video clips… for anything halfway serious I bring the dSLR. A Nikon in my case, but the XTi is also excellent.

You could try for something a bit cheaper than David's good 2 lens combo and start with a Canon 60mm f/2.8 macro for both purposes. (Macro lenses can also be used for general photography and 60mm on an XTi is a great focal length for portraits.) This lens retails for $400 on Amazon and you might find a used copy for less. A cheap Canon 18-55mm zoom would be more useful walk around lens though. Or if you can spend a bit more, the Canon 17-85mm zoom.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_a640%2Ccanon_g7%2Cfuji_finepixe900z%2Cleica_dlux3%2Cpanasonic_dmclx2&show=all

I would rule out the Leica and Panasonic cameras immediately. In this class, it is inexcusable not to have an optical viewfinder. Not to mention, the Panasonic has a reputation for having a lot of noise in the image. The Fuji is kind of clunky looking to me and it's a year old.

This leaves the G7 and the A640. For my money, I'd buy the A640. If I was spending YOUR money, I'd want to try the G7. I am not sure if image stablization is worth another $200. It doesn't hurt that you can use regular "AA" batteries in the A640, either. My son has an A620 and he doesn't bother with rechargeables any more, because the Energizer e2 Lithium batteries last so long in this camera. I have a Nikon Coolpix 5400 with a tilt and swivel viewfinder (same as the A640) and I have found this to be very helpful in creative situations, as you can use it to place the camera in odd angles.

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