Should i buy the 400D or the Sony Alpha?

ron chappel wrote in post #2301434
Old info.
The Minolta's gave about 1.5 stops (more if i remember rightly) but the sony claims over 3 stops.
There are still some arguments about wether in-body stabilization can do as well as in-lens stabilization on longer lenses.So we should say that until proven otherwise in-lens has the upper hand in this regard

Photography Magazine, August or September 2006 issue, tested the Sony and the published crops from their IS test were showing 1-1 1/2 stops on a 300 mm lens. Canon's 75-300 IS, a 1995 design, does better than that. IS for short focal lengths is easy in-camera. It's with long lenses that it breaks down. I don't doubt Sony can offer 3 stops with a 24 mm lens, but if that doesn't carry through to a 400, what good is it?

Canon is cool!

Personally the only thing i like from sony is the Playstation series

I realised I was starting to invest in a system when I bought a used 10D last year. The camera was a real bargain (as new, few shutter clicks, battery grip etc) and then of course I started buying lenses. In a couple of years I will probably look to add another body (maybe full frame). I'll likely continue to buy lenses over time as well.

Buying Canon was a no-brainer. Canon has the quality bodies and a huge range of quality lenses, and third party lenses for canon are everywhere.

There's always the chance there'll be a single camera body from another maker that might be better than the comparable canon body - but there's no other camera system around that will offer the room to grow, upgrade, add-on etc to beat what Canon offers as an all around prosumer digital solution.

Plus of course all the tips I pick up by lurking in this and other forums

OTOH if you're *sure* you are never going to add lenses or bodies after the initial purchase, go with whatever feels right. It's good to have people buy other than canon occasionally - helps keep canon on it's toes

BogongBreeze wrote in post #2302125
I realised I was starting to invest in a system when I bought a used 10D last year. The camera was a real bargain (as new, few shutter clicks, battery grip etc) and then of course I started buying lenses. In a couple of years I will probably look to add another body (maybe full frame). I'll likely continue to buy lenses over time as well.

Buying Canon was a no-brainer. Canon has the quality bodies and a huge range of quality lenses, and third party lenses for canon are everywhere.

There's always the chance there'll be a single camera body from another maker that might be better than the comparable canon body - but there's no other camera system around that will offer the room to grow, upgrade, add-on etc to beat what Canon offers as an all around prosumer digital solution.

Plus of course all the tips I pick up by lurking in this and other forums

OTOH if you're *sure* you are never going to add lenses or bodies after the initial purchase, go with whatever feels right. It's good to have people buy other than canon occasionally - helps keep canon on it's toes

Yes, consider the system you are buying into. I know this is difficult advice to give because you never know what you REALLY want till after you've bought into the system - as a newbie I had no idea at all! If someone had spoken to me about the system I would be clueless.. maybe once in a while I do get lucky to find the system that I am truly happy with.

Good points about 'point products' being better. Because usually, that IS the best that the manufacturer can offer so they pull out all the stops. Canon reserves some features for higher end bodies and such. Point being Canon HAS a higher end.. they may not

And not just prosumer digital too. If you ever one day do go pro out of necessity or out of choice, you are all set.

Wow, thanks everyone for the replies. I was pretty hesitant to buy something from Sony, especially their (kinda) first SLR. Now i'm pretty sure i'll stick with a more established brand that doesn't try to overcharge for lenses. So...

I guess it's now down to the D80 or the Canon.

D80 is definitely a great camera, no doubt about it. I'll not slag Nikon's cameras one bit, they are great kit.
Just remember Canon's accessories!
Good luck in your choice.

Yep, i got a canon this summer, i used to hae fuji. I can hand on heart say i would never look back! The canon has so many nice colours and well what can i say it is wonderful!

best camera i have every got is a canon!

CANON = best cameras!

Also with sony you will not have all the experience and time put into the development of the camera as with canon and there god knows how many cameras!

The choice is yours, but remember that if it is not a canon then you will probabley regret it in the future!

Joe

Lightstream wrote in post #2301893
In a related story, an Olympus salesguy was trying to convince me that he had a better system.. until we got to the prices. And I was going "No in-lens stabilizer, no ultrasonics, AND costs more? Wait, what am I missing?" and he really didn't have much to say

The olympus 4:3 lens line are all optomized for digital.

Canon will sell you an f/2.8 constant aperture zoom...Olympus offers f/2.0 models and more to come.

And given the 2x factor you need to really compare olymus digital lenses to Canon's EF-S line since the Olympus 300mm would fall more inline with a Canon 600mm EF, Olympus 4:3 has no FF lens. The entire format was designed around a 4:3 sensor from the beginning. Edge to center performance is very good.

Canon is only now starting to offer anti-dust features that the E-series has had for some time. With products like the E-330 and the f/2.0 zooms I would be tempted many times to look at the olympus system. An the new E-2 body in the works is yet another plus.

enriquegonzales wrote in post #2302680
Wow, thanks everyone for the replies. I was pretty hesitant to buy something from Sony, especially their (kinda) first SLR. Now i'm pretty sure i'll stick with a more established brand that doesn't try to overcharge for lenses. So...

I guess it's now down to the D80 or the Canon.

I once met a person at one of my football games that had canon and nikon around his neck quite an odd sight to see.

liza wrote in post #2298713
Canon is an established camera company while Sony seems to have their fingers in everything. As JohnJ80 said, you have to wonder about their commitment.

This is the reason I would rate the first. Esp. when a person plans to make further investments in expensive lenses, its not a great idea to go with someone who's just testing the waters.

If they hang around and produce good stuff over the next 2 yrs, it would be another good alternate system to Canon and Nikon.

Id go check out the Pentax K10D as soon as they hit the shelves, No camera for the price compairs.

I will never buy another Sony product EVER. Every Sony I ever owned broke!

PixelChick78 wrote in post #2305740
I will never buy another Sony product EVER. Every Sony I ever owned broke!

What a coincidence!!

Let me see:

CD player - life three years, replaced with a bottom line JVC ten years ago - still going.
Cassette deck - life two years, fixed on warranty twice, never recovered.
Portable cassette recorder - life two years.
Stereo receiver - life four years (replaced it with a four year old Kenwood from a pawn shop three years ago).

Then there's my son who says he won't even walk into a Sony store.

Nice looking products with nice features that don't seem to last, and these are things they are well known for.

DSLR cameras? I'll probably pass for a bit.

PAFC2004 wrote in post #2298122
Any opinions on this forum will be extremely biased.

Seriously, LOL. That's like going to a Mercedez Benz dealership and asking the guy if a BMW is better then a Mercedez, lol.