I just went through this last summer. I researched and studied and went to camera shops to touch and feel each offering. There’s really quite a bit to this and you owe it to yourself to do some research. Opinions are great, but they are typically jaded towards that individual’s personal preference. In other words, my opinion stinks just as much as anyone else’s.
When I was doing my research, I found out that DSLR’s were first developed for existing SLR owner / users in mind. The DSLR body was designed to work with the existing crop of lenses being used for SLRs. When they did this, it came with limitations that ultimately affected the sensor. More importantly, the sensor size. With the exception of the pro grade DSLR’s and DSLR’s built on the 4/3's platform, the sensor size was reduced. I do not profess to know all the intricate details of this sacrifice, it was one that bothered me and ultimately led me to purchase a camera built on the 4/3’s platform. I chose this platform over a full sized pro model because I tend to take my camera everywhere I go, including hiking adventures. A full sized camera is simply just too big for that, and even more weight when packing extra lenses around (then there's the tripod...ugg). Additionally, the 4/3’s platform was designed from the ground up around the sensor. The body was built first, then the lenses to the body size. There were no sacrifices made. For more information around this, visit four thirds dot com.
http://www.four-thirds.org/en/about/index.htmlThe camera I ended up with is the Olympus Evolt 510. It is physically the same size as the Rebel and small Nikon, but when holding it and the Canon and Nikons, it is definitely more robust, and in my opinion, better built. It also has in body image stabalizaion; a dust shaker that fires every time the camera is turned on, it has a live pre-view. And, I just liked the button layout better. After shooting several thousand shots with camera, I have grown to really enjoy it but I have also found some limitations that have inspired me to look at other cameras. One glaring limitation is it only has three focal points. While three is enough for the majority of shots I take, it sucks for taking portrait (vertical) shots. You have to center the subject as the focal points are horizontal. Another limitation is it only has one adjustment dial that you can select to use for either aperture size or shutter speed. When shooting manual, this sucks. I would like to have two dials.
The camera that I have decided to purchase when I can scrape up enough money is the new Olympus E-3. It is a pro grade camera built on the 4/3’s platform. It has more focal points, two adjusting dials, weather proof, an articulating live veiw, and improved high ISO performance over the 510. Olympus has also introduced some very attractive fast lenses including the; 12-60, 50-200. Oly also has probably one of the very best wide angle lenses on the market, the 7-11. As one would expect, the E-3 is not cheap. The body is around $1700, the 12-60 is about $1000 and the 50-150 is around $1300. The 7-11 is even more…..
But, you can find the E-510 fairly cheap and I think it’s a great little camera. You can get it in a two lens package for under $700. The two lenses in the package are a 14-42 and a 40-150. Both are good lenses and very light.
To end the ramble, I suggest you visit a few camera shops and play with all the offerings. I don’t think it really matters which brand / model you go with and they will all take great pictures once you learn how to use it and what limitation each one has. I know my 510 will take a better picture than my humble talents will allow.
