I want to get my girlfriend a cheap digital SLR

[timmyquest]

She wants to get into photography perhaps for a career, she has an AE-1 program but never uses it, i suspect because of the costs of printing.

I suggested she get a digital camera and she was slightly interested, i'm guessing if i could find her something nice for about $500. I thought (perhaps stupidly) that d-60 cost much less then they actually do.

Any ideas???

[RichardtheSane]

D30?

[Andy_T]

Think it won't be easy to find a good D30 for 500$.

There is some kind of treshold for a good used Canon DSLR.

Best regards,
Andy

[Cadwell]

Cheap and Digitial SLR are not really terms that go together... I suggest that you are on a hopeless quest....

[daaaveman]

Does she already have a selection of lenses for her AE-1? What lenses does she have? Your only real option is a drebel which is running about $815.............

[dn7elson]

Give her your DRebel when you upgrade :lol:

[Andy_T]

Timmy,

something else to consider ...

Does she really WANT a DSLR?

Like in ... does she use yours very often?

Or is she just interested because she loves you and knows that it's important for you?

Sometimes, if you love something (like a car or digital camera) very much, you automatically assume that all the other people around you will also like that.

You mentioned that she's not such an avid user of her AE-1 ... maybe something to consider.

Just my thoughts....

Best regards,
Andy

[stevekwiz]

I recently gave my son my Sony F707 when I switched to the 300D. I should think that for around $400 you could get her a used F707 and a memory stick on eBay. Granted it's not a Canon, and it's not an SLR, but they do take some pretty good 5 megapixel pictures, and the Zeiss lens has around a 38-190mm range including macro. When you can afford the big bucks you can move up to the Canon digital SLRs, which, with lenses, are going to put you into the thousands of dollars range. Something to think about.

[Tom W]

Andy has a point - she sees the way you work with yours, but she never uses her AE-1.

Also note that the lenses for the AE-1 will not work with Canon's newer autofocus system - they are manual FD mount lenses. BTW, the AE-1 is a pretty good, very capable film camera. It certainly isn't ready for the scrap pile.

[CoolToolGuy]

Here's an option:

The Web site has been around for a while, but it was only the intro page. They have added a marketing brochure and a specs page in the last week or so. No price or availability info, but an interesting concept.

http://www.siliconfilm.com

Digital with an AE-1. Hmmm.... I could resurrect my F1...

Have Fun,

[Roach711]

Back when I was racing bicycles there was a kid who kept talking about getting into racing but always had an excuse not to. One of the older guys said (rather bluntly) "if you say you want to race but aren't racing then you don't want to race". His point was that actions speak louder than words.

I think I'd find out how serious she is before plunking down my cash (or else buy the backup camera you've always wanted - if she uses it or not you're covered).

Just my 2 cents - Da Roach

[timmyquest]

Timmy,

something else to consider ...

Does she really WANT a DSLR?

Like in ... does she use yours very often?

Or is she just interested because she loves you and knows that it's important for you?

Sometimes, if you love something (like a car or digital camera) very much, you automatically assume that all the other people around you will also like that.

You mentioned that she's not such an avid user of her AE-1 ... maybe something to consider.

Just my thoughts....

Best regards,
Andy

She has been into photography longer then i have. She works at a photography studio and has openly stated that she would like to make it a career (although a slightly morbid one...she has aspirations to become a photographer for a mourge. Bah, she's a true artist...what are you to do).

I strongly feel that the reason she doenst use the AE-1 is the same reason i hadnt been using my rebel 2000. With an amature and a film camera you are much less likely to take photos unless you are 100% certain that they are an enjoyable subject. And you are also less likely to move out of the "Program" modes and get creative. I've taken nearly 4500 shots in 6 months with my digital, compaired to roughly 24 shots a month with my rebel 2000.

[Andy_T]

She has been into photography longer then i have. She works at a photography studio and has openly stated that she would like to make it a career (although a slightly morbid one...she has aspirations to become a photographer for a mourge. Bah, she's a true artist...what are you to do).


Yes, now I remember, you mentioned that she works at a photography studio.

I was assuming the 'normal' photographer's spouse.

When I gave my wive a Kodak DX6440 recently, I was not too happy with the noise compared to the G2.
She, on the other hand, was *very* happy because in the Kodak software she only has to press the 'email picture' button to automatically send a low resolution version of the picture to somebody.
Of course, I'm happy if she's happy.
Guess she wouldn't have used RAW too often, anyway :wink: .

so ...

you finally have your excuse to get your 10D and give the DRebel to your girlfriend :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

[timmyquest]

Well, i dont doubt i'd let her have it some time down the road, but at this point a $1000 gift isnt something i'll be giving lol.

[cmM]

at this point a $1000 gift isnt something i'll be giving lol.
What shall it be?
The 70-200 f/2.8L IS ~or~ a Digital Rebel for your girl :?:

:P

[Tom W]

at this point a $1000 gift isnt something i'll be giving lol.
What shall it be?
The 70-200 f/2.8L IS ~or~ a Digital Rebel for your girl :?:

:P

There's lots of girls, but very few 70-200 f/2.8L IS lenses. :twisted:

<<ducking>>

[Haifidelity]

I second the Sony F707/F717--it's probably the only non-DSLR Digital Camera I would buy (barring my own S50). I've seen some fantastic shots produced from this camera and it's a very responsive camera.

Getting a D30 or a D60 for as much as you're targeting will be very difficult--and this doesn't include a lens.

You could look into an Olympus E10/E20, but since those are harder to come by, they might be harder to find at a good price in the used market.

[timmyquest]

I second the Sony F707/F717--it's probably the only non-DSLR Digital Camera I would buy (barring my own S50). I've seen some fantastic shots produced from this camera and it's a very responsive camera.

Getting a D30 or a D60 for as much as you're targeting will be very difficult--and this doesn't include a lens.

You could look into an Olympus E10/E20, but since those are harder to come by, they might be harder to find at a good price in the used market.

I've got lenses she could use, and she already has a nice P&S.

We'll see :-\

[Jesper]

Here's an option:

The Web site has been around for a while, but it was only the intro page. They have added a marketing brochure and a specs page in the last week or so. No price or availability info, but an interesting concept.

http://www.siliconfilm.com

Digital with an AE-1. Hmmm.... I could resurrect my F1...

Have Fun,

That thing was recently discussed on another forum too... (photo.net). It's vaporware - meaning, it's not something that really exists. And I think something like this will never be commercially attractive to produce or buy.

The silicon film lacks a lot of the features that make real digital cameras so easy to use. There's no LCD screen to preview your images and no way to change settings such as ISO, saturation, contrast, etc. once it's in your camera. And if it would have a less-than-full-frame sensor, then how are you supposed to know what gets cropped out when you look through the viewfinder? If if would have a full-frame sensor, it would probably be very expensive, and you'd be better off with a Digital Rebel or 10D.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Seems to me D30 are selling for under $600.00 regularly.. keep your eye on Fred Miranda.com... even E-bay.

[eric1]

Tim, you should give her your DReb, and buy yourself a 10D. :P you know you deserve one!


eric1

[PhotosGuy]

Silicon Film vaporware: I remember when they first showed up on the net about 2 years ago. Price then was about $1000US, & it seemed like a great idea at the time, but now they have to compete with cams like the 300D without an organization like Canon behind them. Too little, too late...

[CoolToolGuy]

Here's an option:

The Web site has been around for a while, but it was only the intro page. They have added a marketing brochure and a specs page in the last week or so. No price or availability info, but an interesting concept.

http://www.siliconfilm.com

Digital with an AE-1. Hmmm.... I could resurrect my F1...

Have Fun,

That thing was recently discussed on another forum too... (photo.net). It's vaporware - meaning, it's not something that really exists. And I think something like this will never be commercially attractive to produce or buy.

The silicon film lacks a lot of the features that make real digital cameras so easy to use. There's no LCD screen to preview your images and no way to change settings such as ISO, saturation, contrast, etc. once it's in your camera. And if it would have a less-than-full-frame sensor, then how are you supposed to know what gets cropped out when you look through the viewfinder? If if would have a full-frame sensor, it would probably be very expensive, and you'd be better off with a Digital Rebel or 10D.

I have been watching the site for some time, checking in to see if there are changes, and they updated the site (as I said) recently. From your reply, I don't think you have seen it lately.

I'll be the first to say it is not the best solution, and all that I have seen is the Web propaganda. However, it is an interesting concept.

The current iteration (which may well be vaporware) is a two-part unit - one that looks like a roll of 35mm film with a leader sticking out, and a module that attaches to the bottom of the camera. It does have an LCD screen. Its not likely that you can preview on it, but I'm not aware of any DSLR that has that feature. As for controls, I don't know what controls are available, but they could be done via menus viewed on the LCD just like any other Digicam. The sensor is 20mm x 30mm, which is larger than the 1D MKII. That means it has a crop factor of less than 1.3. Seeing your shot ahead of time is an issue, but you would think they would let you review after the fact. If you were serious enough you could probably mask the prism or the viewfinder.

I don't think this will be a major player, even if it does make it to market. With the Drebel under $1000, it would have to be priced low, or the customers would just go get a Drebel or D70. The best potential market is for folks with a heavy investment in a lens system that cannot otherwise be used digitally. Canon FD is an example, as well as old Konicas, and the list goes on.

A guy I work with has a digicam and a film SLR with a bunch of lenses. I think he is holding out for something like this to minimize his investment to get a DSLR. Who knows how many folks there are like that? Time will tell.

Have Fun,

[CyberDyneSystems]

I First read about this concept BEFORE the D30 was even released...

Wiating for this idea to finally be released in an affordable package is not worhtwhile...

It is a great Idea.. but the time to have gotten this out there was two years ago. Now the DSLR has allready gotten the market share...

[blackviolet]

Cheap and Digitial SLR are not really terms that go together... I suggest that you are on a hopeless quest....

it's a timmyquest....

[CoolToolGuy]

I First read about this concept BEFORE the D30 was even released...

Wiating for this idea to finally be released in an affordable package is not worhtwhile...

It is a great Idea.. but the time to have gotten this out there was two years ago. Now the DSLR has allready gotten the market share...

I most certainly agree. It has a 4 megapixel sensor, so if they can't sell it for about $600-$700, they will lose sales to the Drebel and D70.

I was (mostly) joking in my earlier post about resurrecting my F1, but if I could get one for under $500 I might be tempted - my FD stuff brings a lot of memories, but I will sell it if I can find a buyer. However, if I could make it into digital, I might be tempted to play with it again before I sell it.

Realistically, I don't think I'll get the chance. The time has passed on this idea, or it will have by the time it is available. But I'll keep watching.

Have Fun,