I may be crazy, but I am about to jump into the DSLR world after
shooting with the Nikon 4500 and having been brought up on Nikon
N90. I think the D-70 appears to bridge the best of both worlds
between the 10d and the E-1.
If I remember correctly Phil didn't love the E-1 because of the
sensor performance.
Whatever you do don't buy the 300D. Not for any reason except that
your original post said that it felt cheap. That feeling will grow
and you will hate your decision.
The E-1, 10d and the D-70 will all do you well. The jury is out on
the E-1 so I am going to stay away. We don't know how long the
Olympus line will be around, so if you want to build over time you
are takiing another risk. The 10D is proven and it's problems are
known. I am guessing the D-70 is going to rock and I am waiting.
don't fret too much afterall it's the photographer and the process
of shooting that is most critical.
Geoff
Geoff,
One is taking a risk walking out onto the streets tomorrow morning
- one may be run down by a bus, you know.
There is this continuous reference to the viability of the 4/3
system. I think one needs to look at the grander picture here. I
know, your intent is not to open a whole new argument here and I
respect this - I just want to add this to what I have already said.
The biggest single THREAT to the film companies (Kodak, Fuji, Agfa
etc. ) is the coming of digital photography. There is still some
money for them to be made in printing paper etc., the remnants of
the film business for the next ten years or so. But, in essence
their existence is at stake. Their commitment, together with
Olympus to the 4/3 standard, will ensure its survival.
Had 35mm cameras not "standardized" on the 35mm film format we
would not today have the advanced industry (in film cameras, I
mean) that we do have. In a sense we do have some of this
non-standardization, with different larger formats etc. dealing
with specialized markets. But, it is because of standardization on
the 35mm film type and development processes that we have the SLR's
and other point and shoot cameras to choose from, are able to have
our film developed, printed etc.
The film companies (Kodak, Fuji) have moved, or are moving to
manufacturing sensors now rather than film. I predict you are
likely to see a whole new market created/supported for the 4/3
standard size of imager - Fuji and Kodak will make them (before it
was Kodachrome and Fujichrome) and supply them to camera
manufacturers - either their own companies or others - Olympus,
Chinon (Kodak), Fuji and others we do not know about yet.
An argument which one often sees surfacing here on dpReview is that
only Olympus have announced anything around this standard. Rest
assured, there is LOTS more going on behind the scenes at these and
other companies, than what is being announced on the internet.
Fuji, for example may still be locked (legally) into camera deals
with Nikon - sharing of designs etc. for the moment, which prevents
them from immediately releasing cameras based on this standard.
This is conjecture, on my part, I might add.
This risk of investing into the 4/3 system, I think can be laid to
rest.
ColesKIng
