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In this article I’m going to take a look at an entry level DSLR from each of the 5 main players in the DSLR field: Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax and Sony. In each case, it’s possible to purchase the camera body, a wide angle zoom and a telephoto zoom for well under $900, in fact you can probably get all of them for under $800 if you shop carefully. The five DSLRs I’ve selected are the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi, the Nikon D60, the Olympus E-520, the Pentax K200D and the Sony Alpha A350.
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi falls between the cheaper and less fully featured Digital Rebel XS and XTi and the more expensive EOS 40D. It’s Canon’s best “entry level” DSLR with many of the features of the more expensive EOS 40D/50D such as Highlight Tone Priority, Auto Lighting Optimization, a 14-bit A/D converter, a spot meter, Live View with live focus. 9 AF zones and a full set of auto, semi-auto and manual exposure modes. The sensor is a 12MP CMOS unit with dust removal, and it has a higher pixel count than the 10MP EOS 40D. Image quality is excellent and the camera operational speed is fast. It’s capable of shooting over 50 full quality JPEGs at 3 fps. Though it has the second highest pixel count of the group, high ISO noise is still well controlled.
The Nikon D60 falls between the less expensive D40 and the more expensive D90. It adds a number of features over those found in the D40, such as a 10MP sensor (the D40 is 6MP), active D-Lighting, an ISO 100 setting, and a faster continuous shooting rate. The D60 features active dust reduction which includes an image sensor cleaning system with airflow control. With a reasonably fast memory card, the D60 can continuously capture high quality JPEGs at 2.6 fps without filling the image buffer and slowing down. The number of images is limited only by the card capacity. Limitations of the D60 include the fact that non-AF-S/AF-I lenses are manual focus only since there is no focusing motor in the D60 body. There are also only 3 AF zones, which is a smaller number than most of the competition (though for many users, 3 will be enough). The D60 does not have any Live View capability.
The Olympus E-520 uses a Four Thirds format sensor, which means that the aspect ratio is 4:3 (rather than the more usual 3:2 of other DSLRs) and the sensor is physically smaller, resulting in a “digital focal length multiplier” of 2x rather than the 1.5x/1.6x of APS-C crop sensor DSLRs. The smaller sensor does allow the E-520 to be the lightest camera in this group, though it’s only about 1oz lighter than the next heavier camera. The E-520 is small, but not really any smaller than several of the other cameras described here. One very nice feature of the Olympus E-520 is that the camera body has image stabilization built in. The sensor moves to compensate for camera shake. This means that you don’t need to use lenses with built-in optical stabilization. Any lens you mount on the E-520 becomes part of an image stabilized system.
The Pentax K200D is unique in this group in that it’s the only camera of the five that offers full weather sealing. However, this isn’t quite as useful as it might be since none of the inexpensive Pentax lenses is weather sealed. Only 6 of their more expensive DA Star lenses match the weather sealing of the K200D body. Like the Olympus E-520, the Pentax K200D has image stabilization built into the camera body via a sensor shift system. Again this means that any lens mounted on the K200D becomes part of an image stabilized system. One rather disappointing aspect of the K200D is the small buffer size, good for only 4 JPEG images at 2.5 fps. Like the Nikon D60, the K200D also lacks any Live View capability.
The Sony Alpha A350 has the highest pixel count of the 5 cameras described here at 14MP, almost as many as the new 15MP Canon EOS 50D. It’s also the only camera which has an LCD which can swing out and tilt, a very useful feature when shooting in Live View mode. In addition to that, the A350 also has image stabilization in the camera body via sensor shift, meaning you don’t have to use stabilized lenses. Of all the cameras in this group, the A350 probably has the best Live View interface, so if you like to shoot that way, bear that in mind. On the other hand for conventional use, the A350 has the smallest viewfinder screen of any of the 5 cameras described here. A downside of having the highest pixel count in this group is the fact that the A350 also probably has the highest noise levels once the ISO setting goes above 400. The larger file size is also probably a contributing factor to somewhat slower than average operation of the A350.
Here's where in-body stabilization becomes a big advantage: CHEAP TELEPHOTO ZOOMS!
With Canon or Nikon, if you buy a $150 telephoto zoom like the Tamron 70-300 LD Macro, then you don't have stabilization. This makes it really tough to take handheld telephoto shots except in the very brightest light. With Sony or Olympus or Pentax (my favorite!), those inexpensive zoom lenses are now stabilized. And that model is quite decent optically too, a real bargain!!
To get stabilized telephoto lenses for Canon or Nikon, you have to pay a couple hundred dollar premium.
"Limitations of the D60 include the fact that non-AF-S/AF-I lenses are manual focus only since there is no focusing motor in the D60 body."
Does this imply that my old 35mm 50mm f/1.8 and 20mm lenses I used back with the N70 would not autofocus on the D60 body? I fooled around with a D60 body recently and found this to be the case (no autofocus) but found few other posts suggesting that older AF lenses only worked in manual focus on the DSLR. Do other Nikon's DSLRs support AF for older lenses?
For serious photography, features like mirror lockup and DOF preview might be of interest even in entry level DSLRs. Therefore I think they should have been included in the comparison table.
All Nikon DSLR's except the D40, D40X, and D60 have an in-body motor and thus can use old Nikon AF lenses in AF mode.
However, only the D2, D3, D200, D300, and D700 have the meter coupling lug so that you can meter with old Nikon (MF) lenses. The more "amateur class" bodies (D40, D40X, D60, D90) cannot meter at all with MF lenses.
The table lists the lens mount for the Sony as "Sony Alpha." It would be more correct to list it as "Minolta Maxxum/Dynax" or "Minolta A/F."
That's right, folks, the Sony can use every Minolta autofocus lens made since the Maxxum/Dynax was introduced in 1985. Most Minolta mount aftermarket lenses are also compatible, although not all Sigma-made lenses will work (visit www.dyxum.com for details)
Good call Charlie. I also see a similar error on the Pentax K200D listing. It merely states the KAF2 mount while all K-mount lenses will work with some limitations. Heck even those superb old M42 screw mount Takumar, Super-Takumar and SMC Takumar lenses will work with an inexpensive screw mount adapter on the Pentax.
I think the Rebel XS is worth considering, as well.
The extra two megapixels the XSi have aren't overly important, except maybe for people making huge prints. While the ability to spot meter is useful, the extra AF points and larger viewfinder may not be huge advantages for many people. The XS is also smaller and lighter.
In short, people who see a significantly better price on the XS than the XSi should give the latter a serious look.
If its sharper at large print wouldnt it be sharper at smaller print? The canon xsi looked fairly impressive compared to some cameras costing twice the price. My choice for this pricerange. Too bad it doesnt have a scroll wheel.
As a purely film buff turned Digy 12 months ago I tested the range.
I have owned and used Olympus, Nikon and Pentax out of these 5 manufacturers (Film Cameras).
I suggest forget about the names, the badges and the hype!!
Look at what you get, ease of use and quality. I tested them all using friends cameras.
Based on everything I found and an expert analysis of experienced colleague photograpers evaluation of my results there was only one outcome:
The Olympus 510 or 520 (don't pay the extra cause they perform the same) come out tops in quality and useability.
However if you want to have the 'Nikon' badge thats a matter of personal self esteem!.
Cheers
David.
A year ago I looked at all the entry level DSLR's as an upgrade from a Canon Powershot S1 IS, and have had no regrets in buying the Olympus E510. Having found an image stabiliser invaluable in the Canon, the extra expense of the Canon and Nikon IS lenses left me checking out the other three. A camera that produces quality shots at an affordable price was a priority, so with good reviews, lots of features, two purpose made lenses, 14-48mm and 40 -150mm, the E510 is great value for money. I'll still aspire to Canon pro cameras, but the Olympus is absolutely fine for my photographic needs at the moment.
There is an error about the K200D in the text. It's 2.8fps not 2.5. Also the buffer is for 4 Jpegs or RAWs but in practice with a fast card you can get a little more.
I would also disagree that the weathersealing is not useful because the kit lens is not. The body is much more important to protect than the lens. I've been shooting with a K10D (same weathersealing) with an unprotected lens under rain and snow and never got any problems. I wouldn't try that with any of the other competing cameras in this round-up.
Another interesting feature of the K200D is that it uses AA batteries (the only current DSLR with the Pentax K-m). Being much cheaper, and much more available it makes the K200D a very good travel camera. If you ever forgot your charger at home, you know what I mean.
I know someone who bought a Pentax K100D Super at the time when I had a Canon Rebel XTi. She also purchased the Tamron 18-250mm with that. I was so impressed with the ergonomics, large viewfinder, image stabilizer, and other features on that simple camera, that I switched over to Pentax. I bought the Pentax K10D and sold all may Canon equipment on ebay. For entry level, The current Pentax DLSRs are really nice, and the backward lens compatibility is a great plus! I found the Nikons to be very similar to the Canons, unfortunately I have too little experience with Olympus and Sony to form an opinion.
What is the least priced Nikon which can use non-HSM lenses? I love Nikon's overall quality, but feel like I'm being taken advantage of by the elimination of motorized bodies for non-motorized auto lenses. I think it's time to change?
I just compared the Nikon D3000 and the Canon EOS 500D ... I was looking for the entry level DSLRs. I picked the Nikon and I am more than happy. There was little in it to be honest.
The Nikon uses the DX lenses which I have found excellent. I tested both cameras and, since I have crap sight and can't trust manual focus all the time, I checked out the autofocus on both - they were all great but I liked the controls on the Nikon.
I wonder how you could do a review without the D3000 or the 500D being reviewed or are these not entry level?
Would love to see this comparison run again against the Pentax K-x wit the newer DA 55-300 telezoom option. The K-x + 18-55 + 55-300 kit is running only $679 shipped at Amazon.COM now (from Amazon itself, not a 3rd party), which makes the DA 55-300 a steal in the kit. Without the 55-300 the kit is under $500 at several, reputable Pentax USA dealers.
