Need a new girl(?E500?)

Oly Faithful and friends
I'm another newbie looking for help and wisdom. Please be gentle.
Sadly my trusty X-700 Minolta is on her last legs and I must leave her behind.

I have been looking for a new girl to replace her. I just don't think the higher end point and zoomers like Nikon 8800 and Canon S2 IS fluzies will satisify a man used to a great gal like I had(X-700), but that is where the search started. I have found my way to the Oly E-500 with the canon digital rebel trailing. These both seems like great gals, but I would appreciate any wisdom you have to offer. I'm worried a second lenses(zoom) on the canon would break my budget.

1 - I don't have a lot of money to spend on her.

2 - The two lenses kit seems comfortable like my old girl with her two Tamrons. I think I can only afford the kit lenses.

3 - This new girl needs to take general family shots, longer football player shots that turn low light in Michigan later in the season, longer Cello player shots that can also be a little low light(handheld).

4 - Sorry E-1 guys. She(E-1) sounds like the Angela Jolie of camera's, but that is just to much for me to handle. Its sounds like once you touch her there is no turning back or other gal for you, but I'll leave her for Brad and you guys.

Thanks in advance

Go to the store, pick them both up. Pop in your own CF card and take a few shots...

I don't think the decision will be hard.



--

butler83 said:

I'm worried a second lenses(zoom) on the canon
would break my budget.

Click to expand...

The two lens kit is a great deal, IMO. It got me hooked with my E-300 and I have no regrets.

butler83 said:

3 - This new girl needs to take general family shots, longer
football player shots that turn low light in Michigan later in the
season, longer Cello player shots that can also be a little low
light(handheld).

Click to expand...

As a band mom in Michigan, I should warn you - this is where the money pit begins! The 40-150 is a VERY nice kit lens, but if you want football in Michigan as well as cello players, you are going to want to save your pennies for the 50-200, which is a brigher, longer zoom lens. It's amazing, runs about $850 and is worth every penny.

But, hey, you can't take it with you and the kids are grown and gone before you know it. I am thrilled to be able to capture my son's events while there is still time.
--
Theresa Kelly
http://theresak.smugmug.com/
Oly E-300, FL-36, 14-45, 40-150, 50-200

If so your lenses/flash etc.. should all work just fine with the KM 5D.

Just another thought.

It's a very nice camera as well.

From my research (prior to buying my E-300) I thought the KM images were nearly as nice as the Oly, especially in the colors.

Gene

Sadly the old girl is is manual focus. I've had the old girl 20 years and never looked at another woman I mean camera until now. I actually have a Wife that rates above the X-700 most of the time. Her and the kids have been my favorite subjects.

I had an X-370s.

These are manual focus cameras, and the lenses available for them suck by modern standards. I had 28mm 50mm 135mm prime lenses. Only the 50mm was sharp, but although it was sharp even at the corners it suffered from barrel distortion. All the other prime lenses were soft.

And this was not an expensive pro camera, just an inexpensive plastic camera made in China.

About what camera the OP should get to replace it, I would recommend he start out with a good compact digicam, maybe the Oly 7070 WZ, and then he would learn about digital photoraphy and be able to make a more informed decision when he was read to move up to a DSLR.

TK - I'm already getting that OLY hooked feeling. I guess it isn't only for teenagers.

You sound like you know the lighting conditions on Michigan football fields via band. In my shots the subjects would be in the same light only moving faster. So in your opinion the 40-150 be to slow and/or dark??

My lovely daugther plays cello so those would be still shots, but no flashes allowed so its a little dark. My old girl took these shots with ease.

butler83 said:

TK - I'm already getting that OLY hooked feeling. I guess it isn't
only for teenagers.

You sound like you know the lighting conditions on Michigan
football fields via band.

Click to expand...

I live in Grand Blanc, just south of Flint. I think you could get some shots with the kit lens but that you would be MUCH happier with the pricey lens. But then, aren't we all?

butler83 said:

In my shots the subjects would be in the
same light only moving faster. So in your opinion the 40-150 be to
slow and/or dark??

My lovely daugther plays cello so those would be still shots, but
no flashes allowed so its a little dark. My old girl took these
shots with ease.

Click to expand...

It always cracks me up to see people even try flash at these event. All they do is light up the back of the person's head in front of them!

The kit lenses could do these with ease due to the higher isos, even my Panny did them okay. I shoot 'day band' shots all the time, one son plays the trumpet, the other plays the bassoon. But since I have that pricey lens, guess which one I am taking?

My next purchase (probably not until next year, though), will be the 14-54, because it is also very bright. I do plan to hang onto that kit lens, the 40-150, though, as it is light and works reasonably well in a wide variety of settings. It's a nice all purpose lens, IMO.

OOPS! Almost forgot - welcome to the Oly SLR forum!
--
Theresa Kelly
http://theresak.smugmug.com/
Oly E-300, FL-36, 14-45, 40-150, 50-200

Ouch CC

Inexpensive and plastic is no way to talk about my girl - just kidding.

My X-700 was a great camera for me and served me very, very well for 20 years. Not a pro camera and I'm far from a pro that is why I am looking for a non pro digital camera like the E-500.

I appreciate your recommendation. I am very computer and tech savy so I figured I could move to a DSLR or is that to big of jump for anyone? My friends tell me about the point and shooters that are so slow and poor. I have been using my old girl and a scanner for years , but she gave out on me.

handle an E-500. Actually it will/should be easier, what with the histograms, instant review, ability to take many shots modern metering system etc....

As for the E-500 and E-300 they're by far the best DSLR deal going- the 2 lense kit is what I'm referring to.

You can't go wrong with either one. You can find the E-300 2 lense kit for $100 - $200 less than the E-500 in some places if money is real tight.

Gene

Thanks for the welcome TK.

Its cold and dark here, but home(Troy Michigan for me). Winter is time to ice fish when my real girl my Wife lets me get away, but I better stay on topic.

So it sounds like the kit lenses will work, but I may or may not be totally happy. I know this is your opinion only, but its much appreciated from a fellow Michigander. Right now $850 for a new lense and the X-700 may be my only girl: )

...get the E-300/500 from Costco. Try it for a week or so and if you don’t like it (for some, to me, unknown reason ), you can always return it.

But, I’m sure that once you get the camera, you won’t let her go …

Good luck with your choice,
Alex.

--
Oly E-300 (ver. 1.3) & IS3.
Oly 14-54 & 50-200, Sigma 55-200, HLD-3 & FL-36.
EC-14 1.4x Teleconverter, Extension Tube EX-25.
OM 4/3 Adapter, OM 50mm 1.8 & Vivitar 400mm.
PD70X 40GB PSD.

butler83 said:

I am very computer and tech savy
so I figured I could move to a DSLR or is that to big of jump for
anyone? My friends tell me about the point and shooters that are
so slow and poor.

Click to expand...

Compact digicams are not so bad at all. You will probably get a lot nicer images than you'd get from using the Minolta and scanning film.

butler83 said:

I have been using my old girl and a scanner for
years , but she gave out on me.

Click to expand...

You could buy a used Minolta X camera on eBay for practically nothing if you really want to replace her.

Thanks Gene. I'm open to all opinions pro and con. I appreciate you folks taking time to help the newbie.

The price on the Olys & kits are why I am here. Why pay 450 - 700 for a point and shoot zoom when you can get a real camera. I just want to see if folks think the E-500 will meet my needs with football action and cello. I do not expect pro results, but want good results like my old girl did for so many years.

C Cat

I haven't looked on eBay for a X-700 replacement. I have looked at Nikon 8800's and Canon S2's. The used price wasn't worth it for the digital. Looking for a X-700 is a great idea that for some reason never came to me.

I would like to go digital for instant gradification(hey I am a man), picture reviewing, etc. I could do film and digital so I won't miss my old girl so much?? My Tamrons weren't big money glass, but they took many a great picture for me.

Sorry to sound like a cheapo, but things are tough in Michigan and I'm being honest.

The kit lenses will work for the cello performances. High school football is done for this year. Get the two lens kit, see how you like it. If you love it and want to keep using it (which you will), pick up the 50-200 next year, just before football resumes. If you hate it, eBay it. I am sure you will have no trouble finding it a new home.

If you are interested, here is a link to one gallery I did for the band's web page (which I manage): http://hs.grand-blanc.k12.mi.us/band/October%207,%20Homecoming.htm

All of the shots taken at the game were with the 50-200, the parade was done with the kit lenses.
--
Theresa Kelly
http://theresak.smugmug.com/
Oly E-300, FL-36, 14-45, 40-150, 50-200

I also believe that it has made me a better photographer. I have learned immediately what works and what doesn't. I will reshoot a scene if necessary, changing my settings to get the results I want. That works WAY better than waiting for the film to come back and finding only a couple of shots I like.

You will actually save money on developing as you only print the shots you want to use.
--
Theresa Kelly
http://theresak.smugmug.com/
Oly E-300, FL-36, 14-45, 40-150, 50-200

TK

Those are nice shots. Are you in the stands???

Troy High where my son plays football has a great marching band. I wish the football team were that good, but let me get back on topic.

Yes, I think the time to go digital is here. Sometimes I wait two weeks or more to see my pictures and I hate that more and more.

I signing off for the night, but thank you.

C Cat

I just checked Ebay for an X-700 and it looks very promising if I go that route. I looked a few years ago because I knew this day would come for my old girl, but the picking were slim and costly. Things have changed.

I am going to consider a combo. Do a lot of non pro folks like me shoot film and digital??? It might make sense for me to stay with film for my long shots to keep my long glass or do a little of both.

Keep the tips coming. I'm signng off for the night.

Thanks All
George

And the E1 is as tough as it. Look at the E1
--
Shane
http://australianbushwalking.fotopic.net
Lots of information here...
http://www.pbase.com/otfchallenge/root