Clifton

I know from reading that there are a number of people here who have made the switch to digital. Most seem to be moving to the point and shoots.

I was wondering if anyone had moved up to the digital SLRs? I'm talking about the type with interchangeable lenses. We've been using one of the Minolta DiMage series for a couple of years now. It's nice, but I also miss the 15 yr old manual Pentax SLR sometimes.

So, I'm curious if anyone has had any experiences with using one of the newer digital SLRs on a trip? There are lots of reviews of these on camera sites, but I'm trying to get a traveler's perspective on lugging it around, battery life, just general feel for how well a traveler likes or dislikes the camera.

Currently weighing the Canon EOS Digital SLRs against the new Pentax istD and will probably pick one or the other in the next couple of weeks.

Do you like yours?

CarolA

I have just moved to the Canon Digital Rebel. I went with it since I had the Canon Rebel and the lens interchanged.

I have only used it on one weekend trip so far and it worked great. I took one 256 card and a fully charged battery. No problems.

For my upcoming trip to Europe, I am taking three cards, an extra battery and the charger. (I can download my cards into in IPOD).

Since I am used to lugging the Rebel I did not notice much of a difference. The battery seemed to hold up fine. ONe thing on the Digital Rebel is that unlike other digitals you cannot shoot using the LED screen, the photos do show immediately after on the screen and you can go back and review.

I liked knowing the shot was good.

rkkwan

For those who love shooting wide-angle, you need to know that because the sensors on these cheaper dSLRs are smaller than 24x36mm, there's a magnification factor of 1.5 (Pentax *ist D) or 1.6 (Canon Digital Rebel).

This means that while a 28mm lens you already have will work on the camera, it's now an effective a 42mm or 45mm lens. You can get the optional 18-55mm lens for the D-Rebel to get an 35mm-equivalent of 28-90mm zoom, if you want anything wider than the equivalent of 28mm, you're need to spend big bucks, and many fish-eye lens won't work properly.

On the other hand, if you do a lot of telephoto work, then they're great. A 200mm lens now becomes the equivalent of 300-320mm.

CarolA

I read all that about the changes with the Canon and I have to be honest. I just don't see that big of a difference.

I did use the lens that comes with the camera and my zoom lens. I did not get a lot of opportunity to test out the zoom, but the lens that came with the camera did fine.

I have another 28mm lens that I belive is better then the Canon that comes with the camera. I am going on a short weekend trip the last weekend in May and think I will try that then to see if I see the difference. (I am meeting my family and Disney and I have LOTS of Disney photos so I can compare the results!)

rkkwan

Yes, I agree that the Canon 18-55 lens that comes with the Digital Rebel Kit is fine, and the 28-90 equivalent zoom range is the same that's packaged with film cameras. I'm just warning those who need anything wider than 28mm. Also, this 18-55 lens will not work with any camera other than the Digital Rebel at this time, because it intrudes further into the camera body. So, for those with other Canon EOS bodies, do not count on using this 18-55 on them.

Clifton

Thanks to both of you.

I was considering the istD mostly because I've gotten quite a few K-mount lenses from the old SLR. But to really get anything out of the Autofocus features, I have to get new lenses anyway, so that's why I am considering the switch to a Canon Rebel or 10D.

Carol, your list of stuff to bring sounds about like what we take along. Looking forward to hearing how your extended trip photos come out. May I ask which manufacturer you've found for your "other" lens? Did you lose any functionality by not using a Canon lens?

rkkwan, I appreciate the added info on the magnification. I'd been reading a little on this on a site called tomshardware.com. I think for my purposes, I'll come out ok with the tradeoff. I'm not a big fan of fish-eye shots and my old standbys were the standard 50mm and my trusty 28-135. Seems like the 18-55mm ought to fall right in there, maybe with an add-on later for a little more oomph in the zoom area, for those castles on the hill. Or I could just get off my backside and hike a little further up there!

Will be hauling whichever one we choose on a autumn trip through Romania and on to Budapest, so hopefully I'll have some shots up for review sometime thereafter. I say that, not having posted the Australia pics from December, but I can say this with at least the best of intentions...

Again, thanks for the perspectives!

sundowner

Hi Clifton

I have a Canon 10D and just returned from a trip to Italy. I carried two lenses every day but mainly used the 16-35. The 28-135 was used for closeups at some of the sights in Herculaneum and Pompeii and the Sunday we happened upon the Pope in St Peter's Square!

I also carried a spare battery and did need it the day we went to Pompeii. I don't think I would have needed it the other days. (I didn't put in a fresh battery every morning, just carried the freshly charged one and changed it as needed.)

I carried two cards, 1 gig and a 512, and downloaded each night to a portable hard drive.

Although the camera is much heavier than the small point and shoots, and we walked miles and miles every day and "lugged" that camera every step of the way - it was worth it to me. (And my husband wasn't on this trip so I had to lug it myself!) Good luck in your decision.

Clifton

Hey sundowner,

That doesn't sound bad at all for the batteries. With this Minolta we have to have three rotating sets of NiMH AA batteries to make it through a day on the road. Having to maybe swap once is a big improvement to that.

We carry about 4 to 5 256MB cards (just a little paranoid about having all the shots in one place). It doesn't sound too bad to carry it around. I've gotten a little spoiled by getting away from the SLR, but the Minolta was somewhat bigger than the small point and shoots, so hopefully it won't be too much of a leap. So far it sounds like most people have not regretted bringing it.

isabel

I have the Nikon 5700 which is not an SLR - doesn't have interchangable lenses but its built in lens is a 10X optical zoom. Then in addition I got a wide angle converter. You can zoom a little with the converter on but not all the way. Still, this combination gave me really a pretty great range and I'm happy with the quality. It's a 5MP. After a couple of years away from my non-digital SLR it was a little clumsy to go back to having to keep taking on and off the converter and having two different size lens caps to keep track of but I think it was worth it. The Nikon 5700 is a little smaller than an SLR but has the shape and feel of one. I have no idea how people shoot looking through a LED screen - it just wouldn't work for me. I have to hold the camera in a "normal" way. Anyway, it might be something to consider, costs a little less than the SLRs also. It was close to $1000 when I got it but I think they've come down a little. The converter was inexpensive, under $200. Oh and battery life is fine. I had two with me but most days one lasted all or at least most of the day (I averaged 150-200 shots per day on my recent Paris trip).

laurie_ann

We haven't yet traveled with ours, but if you are considering the canon digital rebel, you should also look at the new Nikon D70. We compared the two on various camera review websites (amazon, epinions and dpreviews) and in the store and selected the Nikon. Enjoy your new camera!

CarolA

Clifton,
My zoom lens is a Sigma. I had read of some people having difficulty, but so far mine has worked fine.

Mine is just a few years old and I don't know if that makes a difference so I thought I would mention it.

Clifton

Thanks again for everyone's input.

laurie_ann, I'll check out the Nikon. Initial reviews look very good. Just when I thought I had it narrowed down.

Carol, it's good to know that there are options. Lenses (lensi?) are the area where I get myself in trouble, spending-wise. Good aftermarkets can save a bundle (if they work).

isabel, I know what you mean about the LCD screen. I use it on the Minolta, but only because the viewfinder doesn't do much for you at all. And the LCD's usually don't usually show the real crop area. Loved your photos, by the way.

rkkwan

For a digital SLR, I don't think it matters much if you shoot with the viewfinder or the LCD, but for someone who're used to SLRs, the viewfinders on cheap point-and-shoot (film or digital) are terrible. There are parallax issues, and it's hard to know exactly how much the real image covers.

Therefore, I always shoot with the LCD on my cheap digital P&S.

Jim_Tardio

The LCD on digital slrs (DSLR's) can only be used for image review...you cannot compose & shoot your image with them. You have to use the viewfinder. Why? Because DSLR's have mirrors in them that block the sensor until you actually take the shot.

DSLR's are far superior to digital point & shoots in terms of image quality and flexiblity. That's not to say that point & shoots are poor choices...they're not. They're fantasic pieces of technology. But DSLR's offer sensors with larger pixels, capable of recording much more information, with less noise than point & shoots. Plus, they operate like a camera should...there's no shutter delay.

But, it takes a commitment to lug this stuff around. You'll need a few lenses, more storage cards...or a transfer device (the files are larger), and a greater knowledge of photography basics to get the most from your camera.

Here's a link to a site where the phographer uses a DSLR. I think you'll be able to see the benefits of using one.

http://www.goodmanlife.com/

CarolA

I think that lugging it around is not really an issue for a lot of us moving to Digital SLRs. Most of the time people moving to them have already been lugging around a SLR and the related lens. I figure the spare battery does not weigh that much more then the several roles of film I used to carry.

Which lens to take is the big issue? I really only want to take two. So do I take the Canon or the Sigma as my standard. Decisions, decisions.....

Clifton

Just wanted to follow up with a thanks for everyone's input. After the Nikon was mentioned, I had a bit more review studying to do, and went had a look first hand.

Decided on the Nikon D70. Thanks very much laurie_ann. Now to learn my way around the gadgetry. It's sure nice to have some control again though.

CarolA

Just a note for the ladies (I assume only women will be interested)

I found some really nice camera bag purses at Target this weekend. They had three models all of which look like a purse (one is hobo look, one is a messenger bag and the other a LARGE purse) These are padded and have velco slots you can ajust to fit your camera and lens in.

I currently have ALL of them in my house while I decide which one will work best for me!

SydneySteve

Our big trip comes later in the year and after owning Nikon F series cameras over many years I have a collection of lenses that will be worth using on their digital SLRs albeit with the conversion ratio.
I am hoping there will be a next level point offered shortly above the very good D70. My problem with the Nikon Digital SLRs so far is that I would like to see them more compact in physical design. technology allows for this now of course.I dont want something as big as my F4 anymore and I am very attracted to the Pentax style/design of digital SLR.
Somebody commented that you can read media cards on to an IPOD or similar device. I would like to have more information about this because I have been told its not possible. I know you can download data from a computer to some of these devices but not from a camera direct or through a card reader. I have also checked with Rio and Creative. Most people who are ahead of the pack I thought used portable hard drives. Does anyone know of any real convergence devices and if I buy an IPOD rather than the Rio Karma I have, how can I get it to download images from camera or card reader while on the tourist trail ? thanks for your help.

CarolA

If you buy the IPOD you also have to buy a media reader from a company called Belkin.

You then insert the media reader in the slot on the bottom of the ipod (where the charger and computer connection go), stick your card in the reader and away you go.

Now this will not work with the IPOD mini.

I found some useful info on www.ipodlounge.com

CarolA

This is a link to the IPOD accessory I bought to do the transfer

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...duct_Id=173207