[Markulous]

OK, so I've had my Sigma SD10 for 3 years and I'm reaching decision time for the next dSLR. The choices are wide open as I've only really got the Sigma 105mm macro as a halfway decent lens.

So, should I consolidate my Sigma investment (I'll be keeping the SD10 and all my lenses, whatever) with the SD14? I really like the Sigma images and whilst I'll admit that the camera has certain eccentricities and is not for everyone, I enjoy getting the most out of it! But you do have to work at it!

Or go for the Nikon D200, which has had pretty good reviews - and I'd have to admit is a very attractive proposition? The Nikon lenses aren't too bad either!

Then there's the Fuji S5 - based on the D200 but with a Fuji engine and the intriguing attempt to achieve dynamic resolution with it's "doubled" sensors

Finally, I'll have to include Canon. Ironically, it's the most "sensible" choice (with the best range of lenses/accessories) but a bit like the iPod, totally lacking in imagination. Well hyped and with those dire "look I've got a white lens" (if ever there's a reason NOT to go for a manufacturer - whatever happened to subtlety and understatement?). And as for which model? Probably the 30D (you can really see my enthusiasm, can't you?). Or wait for the 40D (bound to have even more irritating bells and whistles - whatever happened to "lets just make it work well")

And to those that know me and might be a little surprised that I'd even consider jumping ship, whatever happened to customer loyalty (you'd think Sigma would be preferential to Sigma camera users in the "lens queue" but we're actually last!)?

[P-E]

Well you certainly make the best of that Sigma.

I don't think I can advise you but from reading your post I think you fancy the D200

[Tigress]

A sad reality for Sigma, it spends all of its time making lenses for other manufacturers in an effort to produce them at a competetive and reasonable price, but when it comes to its own camera (years in the making), it does let itself down badly. The Foveon sensor, for me, is something which should have had better marketing, and, in saying that, if someone gave me a Canon camera with a Foveon sensor tomorrow - HEAVEN!

I too agree with your point about the white lenses and the insistence of Canon to manufacture them this way - not a fan at all, especially as I am now looking to buy the 100-400 - why can't they make them in black?

[silkstone]

Whatever you get is likely to be pretty decent - there are few bad cameras these days. The D200 is good but the Canon 30D has slightly less noise at high ISO. That would be my choice - no need to wait for the 40D, and the 30D is now available at a very attractive price.

As for white lenses - you may not need them, although I agree that they'd look better in pink... er... OK, black. My only white lens is the 300 f/4L IS and I wouldn't have bought that if I'd had the 70-300 IS at the time. The 17-40L is black.

Canon advert over.

[Markulous]

LOL, P-E! Yeah, I'm impressed by the D200 for sure!

Interesting that the 30D has less noise at high ISOs as I thought the Nikon was pretty good. Having said that was very disappointed by the de-noising on the 350D I have borrowed - instant nutella across the whole image despite the correction being in just the one colour channel (my Sigma's got the detail in depth to not nutella). Maybe it's because the image is already interpolated with Bayer sensors?

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Markulous

LOL, P-E! Yeah, I'm impressed by the D200 for sure!

Interesting that the 30D has less noise at high ISOs as I thought the Nikon was pretty good. Having said that was very disappointed by the de-noising on the 350D I have borrowed - instant nutella across the whole image despite the correction being in just the one colour channel (my Sigma's got the detail in depth to not nutella). Maybe it's because the image is already interpolated with Bayer sensors?

I am not going to get into an Canon/Nikon argument here but I can assure you that there is a significant difference between the sensor in the 350D and the 30D but even more so between the Canon 30D and Nikon D200 where noise is concerned. In my opinion neither are bad (and your comment about de-noising a 350D pic is a little worrying anyway) but there is definitely more noise visible in a D200 shot taken at a higher iso than the Canon 30D shot at the same.

Bearing that in mind perhaps you would be better staying with the Sigma that you know and love. At least you'll only be upset when you don't have the right lens for the job rather than with every single shot at the end of the day

[Dave]

Each to their own on this one, but if you ever fancy shooting with a Nikon D200 for an afternoon with decent landscape lenses, happy to meet up somewhere halfway between our locations for a shoot You can't beat trialing something

[VikingPhotography]

Righty - lets get the statement of fact out of the way first.

• The photographer visualises the picture
• The lens renders the image
• The camera records the moment

You're choosing the tool to record your artistic vision - no more, no less. With that in mind, I'd state the following.

The dSLR market is in a mild state of flux at the moment; both Nikon and Canon will soon (21st for Canon, 24th for Nikon) be announcing new dSLR models. It's rumoured these will be the 40D for Canon and/or the D200s, D200x or D3 models for Nikon.

As such, I would advise against picking up a 30D, a D200 or a D2Xs at this time simply because you could either

a) Elect to purchase one of the newer and possibly improved models once they are released, or

b) Pick up an existing 30D, D200 or D2Xs for a bargain price when they become discounted to clear existing stock

The Fuji S5 is a decent camera that is really geared towards "social" photographers (wedding and portrait work) owing to some quirks - if your subject matter is more diverse, it may not be the camera for you.

I can't comment on the SD-14 since I havent yet seen a comprehensive and objective review of it.

Since you already have a camera and are getting good use out of it, I'd counsel you to wait until after Canon and Nikon have announced whatever new products they're bringing to the market - after all, the news is only two weeks away.

[Markulous]

Originally Posted by Steve

.......(and your comment about de-noising a 350D pic is a little worrying anyway)

Should've said that it was on a 400 ISO dark image which had to be "pushed" to get any detail, Steve. That resulted in noise and it was my subsequent attempt to remove the noise that ran into nutella problems

Originally Posted by Dave

Each to their own on this one, but if you ever fancy shooting with a Nikon D200 for an afternoon with decent landscape lenses, happy to meet up somewhere halfway between our locations for a shoot You can't beat trialing something

Hey, thanks for the offer, Dave. May well take you up on that!

Originally Posted by VikingPhotography

I'd counsel you to wait until after Canon and Nikon have announced whatever new products they're bringing to the market - after all, the news is only two weeks away.

Cheers, Martin - a very nice summary! I'm not in any real hurry, as it's dependant on selling the house!

As an additional point, I'll say that I'm looking to take my photography up a level, so having a backup camera will become more important

[Angela]

And what's wrong with a Pentax?

[Markulous]

Originally Posted by Angela

And what's wrong with a Pentax?

So, how much time've you got?






Nah! Nothing wrong - I always used Pentax film cameras