Excellent camera at a very good price

The 500d is an outstanding camera. It comes with a kit lens which makes it an excellent beginners camera as the it keeps the total cost down, and provides an extremely versitile lens. But this is not a beginners camera. Functionality and quality is uncompromising.
I'm very happy with this purchase and would strongly recommend the 500d to anyone who wants to buy a digital SLR.

first class dslr beginners camera

i bought this camera only 3 days ago and i have to say its so easy to use , the day i bought it i was out that same night shooting night shots, i have the hs10 and have had some good results with night shots maybe half i shot where usable but with the d3000 only one shot was not usable really pleased with it the clarity is crisp sharp and out standing quality , i am really only a novice and i found it to be so easy to get the hang of it an excellent beginners camera the guide mode is fantastic but to be honest i didn't need to use it , so its a really excellent buy superb quality shot from a very affordable dslr camera first class it may not be to an out and out expert but to a novice like my self the quality picture you get from it speaks for them selves ............excelent

A good package comes with a reasonable price tag

1) What you shoot
2) How much you are prepared to pay
If you are clear about these points, choosing a camera is straightforward.
I shoot portraits for family and friends, food/still life for stock photos, botanical macro, landscape and city snaps. And HD video occasionally.
I am happy with 550D.
If you mainly shoot wildlife/ sport/ gigs, consider 7D
If you want a full frame camera and your pocket is deep, 5D.
50D is due to be replaced soon.
Build quality is not fantastic, and it lacks solid feels, but compact and light weight, which is a great advantage to carry around in town and on holiday. Those with large hands may prefer attaching a battery grip for stability.
550D is an entry level model, but i know my requirements, and it fits my needs and budget.
Suitable for SLR beginners as well as experienced photographers who know what they want.

AMAZING

I cannot begin to tell you what a fantastic camera this is! we leave the UK for good in Sept and have been taking portraits of all of our family to take with us FAB! we did buy the long lens too which takes great photos from a distance

Canon 1000D SLR

Delighted with this camera. On automatic it is so easy to use and being digital I can review the results immediately, not like my last SLR a 35mm film camera. I have experimented with manual settings and am getting encouraging results as I learn. It's light too, certainly would recommend it as an entry level to the digital world of SLR cameras, after using a digital point and shoot.

So much fun!

This product is so easy to get the hang of, and there is just so much you can do with it!! Fantastic, everyone should have one.

Outstanding!

I just want to give my impression after using the Nikon D90 for several months now: this camera is fantastic.
Shooting with it is a pleasure I enjoy every day.
Its picture quality is unmatched by its competitors.
Nikon got it right: they choose to improve the picture quality instead of luring inexperienced and silly"consumers" who understand nothing about photography and think that pixel count has something to do with picture quality.
Let the fools follow megapixels.
The Nikon D90 is about picture quality: detail, definition, dynamic range, color, low noise.
If you have passion for photography this camera should be with you.

Blown away... after some practice

Upgraded from XTi (400D) as it apparently blew a fuse after 2 1/2yrs of heavy use. Hopefully this one will last longer. Took some getting used to, and I feel like I need a higher iso for the same aperture with this camera, especially if auto light optimiser is on (so it is not). That being said, within a couple of days of learning all the AMAZING new features, I'm taking pictures my XTi never dreamed of. Birds that take up a small amount of the frame can be blown up to full frame in near-perfect detail. Now its just a matter of balancing aperture to shutter speed to get the right depth without blurring. Thank you so much Canon. Pleasure doing business.

An excellent combination

This camera is a DSLR that you will actually take with you. It's still a fairly big piece of kit - it reminds me of the 35mm range finder that I had when I was a kid (an Olympus TRIP 35).

Put it on intelligent-auto mode and it's a camera anyone can use, and the interface to open up all the manual options is well designed and fairly easy to learn. Pass it to your point and shoot friend and they'll be able to use it, and if you're a DSLR user you'll feel at home.

The 20mm f1.7 lens is excellent and effortlessly takes rather nice bokeh effect shots. The body struggles a bit at ISOs above 400, but the wide aperture means that I rarely need them. Natural light and indoor shots come out great. It'll struggle in a darker environment like a nightclub, but it's also still to big to take on that sort of night out.

It fits in the pocket of my long overcoat, but is too heavy and bulky to carry there comfortably.

It's an excellent travel camera.

What a great camera

I bought this camera and a couple of bundled lens' over a year ago it was clearly a step up from my old Nikon compact. I expected it to be better quality but wasn't ready for how much better it actually was. Truely great quality pictures. As its my first DSLR I guess others could be as good.

I have found the automatic and scene modes have made it easy for me to shoot great pictures from day 1 and in all sorts of conditions. The sport mode takes rapid shots in succession and makes it easy to get very good action shots. I am slowly getting the hang of doing things manually but the automatic options are so good you could use the camera like a compact all the time if you wanted to.

I think this camera is great, not sure what the real expert photographers think but I recently took a load of photos at my nephews wedding. I put together a pack of photos for him, he and his wife thought they were a lot better quality than the official photographers. I think is testament to the quality of the camera rather than my photgraphic/artistic skills.

I can't recommend this enough, especially if you are moving from a compact and dont have experience of DLSR's.

For the money I dont think this can be beaten.

Does what it says on the tin. Very well.

Having played with this camera for over 3 weeks and taken 600+ shots in a recent holiday with a number of different settings / conditions etc... I am very pleased with the purchase. My view (non professional) is that this is a really solid performer with no 'frills' (i.e. it's a camera, who cares about video...) and does what it is supposed to very well. I carried it around for days and it's light enough - the battery lasted for days - the quality of the pictures is good - the usability is good with really intuitive layout of buttons and functions. Personally - having pretty big hands - a larger body/grip would have been nicer so I might invest in the additional battery pack. If you really need more specs from a camera, then the next step up is a full frame machine if you are after processor quality, or one with a higher shooting rate if you are into sports photography. Else, I think this is a solid performer but do invest in a few decent lenses, which will make a world of difference.

D200 to D300s

I currently own the D200, but have also had the opportunity on a few occasions to use a D300s.
The great thing about this camera firstly is the speed. The D200 shoots at 5 frames per second and the D300s shoots at 6 frames a second, but with the optional battery grip you can push the camera up to 8 frames a second. The D300s features a new CMOS sensor which captures stunning images with a very smooth tonal range.
The addition to this camera is the video mode, which unfortunately doesn't afford as much control as any of the Canon SLRs. However, the video quality is fantastic.
I can only say good things about this camera. If your D200 is on it's last legs, or you are looking to make the move up to a pro SLR this camera is the best in its price range!Nikon D300S Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Excellent camera; but

Had this camera over 6 months now and am especially pleased now that I bought the Canon 50mm f1.8 which is when this camera starts to shine. Spent a lot of time researching this entry level DSLR and was torn between it and the Nikon D5000. One thing I've noticed now that I am purchasing other prime lenses for this camera (the standard zoom is really a non-contender, and I'm not an optic snob) is that now Canon is top dog in the market they have a tendency to knobble you now they have"got you". So while Nikon will add a lens hood, Canon won't, and it's pricy for a piece of plastic. Bar the 50mm f1.8 which is a steal, Canon prime lenses are expensive, and for example the price of the old yet excellent EF 35mm f2.0 was jacked up simply because it sells well. A cursory glance at similar Nikon prime lens on Amazon while I was researching Canon lenses seemed to tell me that Nikon did better deals, and I suspect it is still a two-horse race as far as lens quality goes. So while I have no problems with the 450D, I do have a problem with certain Canon marketing policies. Seriously, if you enjoy photograph in any way and you are set to buy a DSLR, good glass is always the next step even if you don't see it at the time of buying the camera (the tendency is always, I'll deal with that later). Key it into your buying strategy NOW rather than LATER, then make a global decision based on what kind of lenses you can get for your camera. Glass makes all the difference, despite all the specs of the body, it's like Pirelli tyres on a Fiat 127.

Believe the hype.

So the ad says: Not a compact. Not an SLR. It's a PEN.

And this aptly describes the PEN experience. For a decent and full review I recommend dpreview as they have covered all areas in far more depth than I could hope to.

However, if you are wondering whether the PEN is right for you, let me tell you why it hits the spot for me. I like photos. I am not an amateur/professional photographer. I have books about how to improve my photos and I know what ISO settings do and bits and pieces about depth of field etc. I have had an excellent SLR (Nikon 35mm) that is now gathering dust due to the expense of developing film. I found it a little large to take to social gatherings too. So I bought a compact. Which was OK. I could never get the results I sometimes got with my SLR (I'm always learning). However, it was small and easy to carry around etc. Having said that, because I was disappointed with the results, I used the compact less and less.

I have now had the E-P1 (14-42mm lens and free Flash unit - I think the promotion has ended now) for several months and despite its limitations, I LOVE IT! OK, it doesn't have built-in flash and it does take a while to get the hang of things, but, I have achieved some fantastic images with this camera. And above all else, I really want to use it all the time! I feel continually compelled to try new shots/effects/exposure settings etc. It is wonderful.

Having been on a few trips and to a few social occasions with it now, I sling it over my shoulder and have it by my side more often than not. If you want great photos from a camera larger and more capable than a compact but in a smaller unit than an SLR, then just do it. Buy yourself a PEN.

Canon 50D

Great Camera a good upgrade if you have a 30D Despite the negative reviews on the net over the high ISO performance this is a good camera better build than the 550D Do really need video on a camera? if the answer is no then this is good choice. Rumours abound that the 60D is due if it is this will become a good buy in its own right

Excellent camera

Despite reading some negative reviews about the battery life, I decided to ignore those comments and buy this camera with the twin-lens kit. Three weeks and over 2000 shots later the same batteries are still going strong and I'm a very happy bunny!

This camera is excellent, and I would have no hesitation in recommending it to amateurs and semi-pro's alike. There is plenty of intuitive help for the beginner, as well as enough headroom for those of us with a wee bit of experience. The old Pentax K-fit lenses fit too, so even more of a bargain than I thought.

An entry-level camera, is fully featured and fantastic value for money and FUN to use.

New Features

10 Megapixel Live MOS sensor
Supersonic Wave Filter for dust protection
Built-in flash with commander function for wireless off-camera flash synchronisation
Wireless flash control in up to 3 groups
One-touch white balance
AE/AF-lock functionality
ISO 100 to 1600 for wide-ranging sensitivity
Depth of field preview function
49-segment digital ESP
Bracketing function (Exposure)
Detailed info screen with histogram
NEW FEATURE Three Art Filters (Pop Art, Soft Focus and Pin Hole)
NEW FEATURE TruePic III+ processor
NEW FEATURE Increased continuous shooting buffer (8 RAW files AT 3.5fps)
NEW FEATURE High-contrast 2.7" HyperCrystal II LCD with 176° viewing angle
Introduction

The Olympus E-450 was announced on March 31, 2009. As an update to the E-420, apart from the addition of 3 Art Filters, a new processor, an improved LCD display, and an increased continuous shooting buffer, little else has changed. This just illustrates how well specified Olympus entry-level cameras are in the E-4XX compact DSLR range.

Design and Build Quality

It took about three hours to charge the battery. The use of live view does impact battery performance. The camera is very light and very compact. The 14-42mm kit lens upholds Olympus' reputation of excellent optics. However, the zoom action is rather stiff and felt like it was sticking at times. Those familiar with Olympus cameras, even the 'bridge' and 'super-zoom' range, will find the layout of buttons familiar. There is a comfortable and logical feel to the button layout, although I would have liked a dedicated ISO button. Of course, one can program the 'fn' button. One reason we buy Olympus DSLRs is their pioneering of sensor cleaning. We know and expect the cameras to do this. Consequently, I feel the SSWF light indicator unnecessarily clutters the limited space. Perhaps the space could better be used for another set of buttons such as Auto/Manual focus. A very nice touch, typical of Olympus finesse, is the hotshoe cover. Unfortunately, though, auto focus assist requires the flash to be up as there is no dedicated auto focus assist light. The OK button brings up a quick menu that allows for a very rapid updating of key settings. I did find the placing of the strap connections to be in the way when holding the camera. Perhaps the position is necessary to provide balance to the camera when it is carried by the strap.

Image Quality

Olympus colours have always been praised. I found the E-450 produced beautiful and natural colour rendition. I used Adobe Lightroom 2.5 to process the Olympus ORF RAW files and did notice a slightly higher quality in the processed RAW files compared to the JPEG shot at the same time. I had not done any adjustments to the RAW file. This shows just how good the JPEG files are. I found very low noise across all ISOs.

The Ultimate"Serious Compact?"

The Internet has been abuzz for a while with what constitutes the true serious compact camera. Historically, compact cameras have been plagued with shutter lag and high ISO noise. Noted for their speed and quality, DSLRs are the standard tool for serious photographers. Imagine a DSLR that not only produces great image quality but that is discreet and compact. Yes, the Olympus E-4XX series. However, coupled with the 14-42mm kit lens I found the E-450 lost some of the discreet and compact character. Olympus was not able to supply me with their 25mm pancake lens for this review. A pity, because up until recently I believe the E-450 combined with the 25mm pancake pretty much fulfilled our demands for the"serious compact." Up until recently? Yes, in the past few months a plethora of"serious compact" photographic offerings have been released. Including, from Olympus, the E-P1.

Conclusion

Of course, such a compact body does present limitations. Most noticeably is the fact that there is no in-body image stabilization. For image stabilization you will need to attach a stabilized lens such as a Panasonic Lumix OIS lens. However, before you grumble just remember what you get when you purchase the E-450: an extremely small and light body, very low price, image quality that is more than satisfactory, useful live view, outstanding kit lens, a very fine display, wireless control of up to three flash units, and an effective anti-dust mechanism. Yes, the Olympus E-450, an entry-level camera, is fully featured and fantastic value for money and FUN to use.

OK!

This camera works for me. I was after a camera that is highly portable to take anywhere and that worked. I was in particular keen to have a camera that does not suffer from the annoying shutter lags that most or all compact non - shutter cameras have. Therefore, along with the 25mm pancake lense, I can use this camera to good effect for photographs of people. Cartier Brsson used only a 50mm lens, so the 4/3rds system equivelent of that is good enough for me. Used in conjunction with my excellent Panasonic DMC LX2 it makes a good combination, so that I can take landscapes or static objects using that.

At first I compared the results with my Nikon D300 and D2h and was disappointed. But then I have to remember that the camera and lense together were cheaper than one of my Nikon lenses. Using the Raw facility allows me to tweak the pictures and give them more oomph, so that they become very acceptable. For processing on the computer this camera gives images that require much more work than other cameras. The metering is not all that excellent in Programme, but use in one of the manual modes, it produces better results, quicker to process. the bundled raw processing software is a little poor, so I use Apple's programme for this which seems better.

The quality of build is ok too. Although I would not want to take it to Ethiopia and reckon that it would stand up to the very high heats and dusts.

In conclusion therefore, the camera gives quite reasonable results if you are prepared to work at it. It is of OK build quality. Its greatest asset is its portability, which is why I bought it. For a ken amateur like me, it makes an ideal companion to my other cameras. As a standalone, for someone who wants reasonable pictures, it would be very acceptable.

Great photos but less reliable than I would expect

No question, the 1000D takes a great photo. However, it not only feels flimsily built, but my particular camera has been back to Canon 3 times within guarantee - and has now failed again a couple of months outside guarantee. Having taken the camera to an independent repairer this time they tell me that it needs a whole new logic board, which is almost as expensive as a new body. They also tell me that this is not an uncommon problem.

I've been a Canon user for 30 years, but I won't be buying another consumer level camera from them. My choice is between buying one of their pro models (which are excellent) secondhand or switching to Nikon. Tempted towards the latter, frankly...

Very very disappointed...