Very exciting times for DSLR owners (or wanna be owners)

[Anthony14707]

As a long standing member of DP review for 10 years, and having witnessed the entire evolution of the DSLR, I have to admit that getting that coveted image quality from a DSLR is here NOW!

I remember waiting until midnight in December 1999, for Phil to announce the biggest breakthrough in photography. It was the Canon D30, 3.1 MP DSLR. It sold for $3,300.00, and you couldn't get one fast enough.

I've since spent lots of money on the best of the best, and I can tell you that for under 1K, you can get image quality and features today, that you could only dream of a few years ago.

I write this because, after 10 years of spending more than i'd like to mention, I've finally reached the point where paying less, and getting the lower end bodies, no longer means settling for less.

Enjoy these fine times.

 

[aneel]

I think it's great that by and large Nikon will put everything into image quality no matter whether it is for a bottom of the range cam or something much higher up. Until full frame cams came into Nikon's line up you would get better pics from a bottom of the range model if it was more recent than a professional one costing six or thereabouts times more. Of course the higher end cam will have faster fps and a metal body but in terms of image quality Nikon deserve top marks for effort and results.

 

[Anthony14707]

I'm very impressed with what Nikon has done to the lower end bodies.

Excellent quality in all their bodies.

I think it's great that by and large Nikon will put everything into image quality no matter whether it is for a bottom of the range cam or something much higher up. Until full frame cams came into Nikon's line up you would get better pics from a bottom of the range model if it was more recent than a professional one costing six or thereabouts times more. Of course the higher end cam will have faster fps and a metal body but in terms of image quality Nikon deserve top marks for effort and results.

 

[M Morgan]

Yes, it is truly amazing. We are almost at the $500 price point for a new DSLR and kit lens with VR. Go used and it's well under. DSLRs have reached the knee in the curve where the prices are almost the same as high end point-and-shoots. These entry level models are not featureless either and have better output in most cases than the "pro" cameras of just 5-6 years ago.

Look at what this guy does with a $500 D40 Kit:

http://abqstyle.com/

I think he is a forum member here.

--
Nikon D90, 16-85VRII, 50 f1.8
Canon A590IS

 

[hd650]

I just sold my D300 and "downgraded" to the D5000. The "kick-in-the-pants" for me is the IQ being equal-to or better-than the D300 in a smaller/lighter/cheaper package. Granted the feature set/performance of the D300 is in another league, but I decided they were features and performance that I did not need.

These are indeed "fine times" to be in the DSLR market and I hope the trend continues!

• hd650

As a long standing member of DP review for 10 years, and having witnessed the entire evolution of the DSLR, I have to admit that getting that coveted image quality from a DSLR is here NOW!

I remember waiting until midnight in December 1999, for Phil to announce the biggest breakthrough in photography. It was the Canon D30, 3.1 MP DSLR. It sold for $3,300.00, and you couldn't get one fast enough.

I've since spent lots of money on the best of the best, and I can tell you that for under 1K, you can get image quality and features today, that you could only dream of a few years ago.

I write this because, after 10 years of spending more than i'd like to mention, I've finally reached the point where paying less, and getting the lower end bodies, no longer means settling for less.

Enjoy these fine times.

 

[WineO]

The array of good cameras from which to choose is mind blowing hence the number of which camera threads one sees. 4/3 format is also interesting for the beginer. The problem for the beginer is always where to start. Most of the modern offerings will give excellent results and I always advocate choosing a system rather than a Camera but either way Nikon is a top choice and in my opinion the top choice.
Claude

 

[lemon_juice]

I fully agree. We can have very good quality photos from cameras at consumer prices. Yet I see how some people still find reasons to complain and can ditch a camera because it has no live view or movie mode. Think what was available 10 or 15 years ago - pros would have spent a fortune only to get something like D40/60/3000 while there are many now who ridicule these entry level models. We should be grateful for current technology, most DSLRs far surpass in features most people's requirements except when someone treats photography as a job or a serious hobby.

--
Michal.