Gear

I have been taking photos with my 2 MP Nikon Coolpix for a few years now, and although I can get good results, I would like to be able to have more control of the settings and also a wider angle lens.  I have therefore decided to go for a DSLR.  I have been looking at different models and think I will go for the Canon EOS 450D.  Does anyone have experience with one of these? Would be interested in anyone’s thoughts.

Thanks in advance

CC

on a more practical note. i don't know if you've played with the camera?  dslr cameras all tend to be very good and the lack of performance in one area is offset in other areas between brands and there will be fans of each make. swings and roundabouts.

if you have not played with a camera yet i would strongly recommend that you go to a shop and handle canon, nikon and the likes and choose the one that is most comfortable for you to hold and handle. it is a very personal thing. i only chose a nikon (d80) because the handgrip was much more comfortable and secure than the canon's. this becomes important when you put a heavy lens on the front and you can hold the camera securely, comfortably and still operate the controls without fear of dropping the thing.

the difference between differing models in a range tends to be bells and whistles and again, gnerally, these bells and whistles won't take better pictures. only you can do that.

i also have a d80, and it's brilliant, but now wish i'd got something lighter since getting into wild camping.

so weight might be a factor to consider

I have accepted that it will be heavier than I am used to, but I am happy with that. 

Parky, thanks for the advice, will go and have a 'feel' with some different models.

Parky Again wrote (see)

not with a dslr. it's going to be heavy whatever you choose.

Olympus  E-420, 370g.

Pentax K10D, 710g.

Both 10 Megapixel, so quite a range. This is an area where you can buy the low end cheaper camera and feel smug about it.

I can recommend the Panasonic Lumix LX1 8mp and LX2 10mp, and there's also a LX3 which has just come out. They are probably the only compacts on the market which come close to a DSLR with regard to exposeure settings and lens (Leica) quality. They also have a 16.9 panoramic setting which is fantastic for landscapes.

The only feature i miss from a DSLR is a flash hotshoe, and better noise reduction over ISO 200, but other than that i don't miss the bulk and weight.

I would also think that the LX2 could be had at a reduced rate, now that a newer model has just come out. 

A vote for Olympus here,  quite fancy an E-420 myself but prefer the controls and weather sealing of my current camera.

As has already been mentioned you'd have difficulty buying a bad DSLR. Try them all see what suits you. 

 I have a Nikon D70, an obsolete Nikon DSLR, but I prefer it to my father's D80, why, because it's pretty tough, it has been through some grotty conditions and still works. The D70 is also big, I have long fingers,so there is no cramped controls, they all fall to fingers with ease. The hold of the camera is superb, I can hand hold it steady to less than a sixtieth of a second, something I could not do with my old Pentax LX.

Of course Nikon has been  legendary for building tough go anywhere cameras, the camera of choice for many photo journalists.

But Canon, olympus, in fact most DSLRs are good, but their strengths lie in other directions, me, I wanted a tough camera so opted for Nikon, as it inspired confidence by it's hold and build, I wanted a camera I will not be afraid to take out in whatever conditions, so the D70 fulfills that need.

Whatever you decide to buy, don't get sucked into the megapixel myth, more megapixels does not necessarily mean a better camera, my Nikon D70 is 6mp, which is plenty enough for reasons  demonstrated here

A good digital camera review website ;

 dpreview.com  (The camera you have an interest in no less )

I have three batteries for my Nikon, each of them is good approximately 500 RAW images. The camera uses compact flash, which again is tough. This I know because once I dropped a smaller capacity CF card in the sea, thats it thats gone along with the images. Next day I found it a few metres from where I dropped it, it had been washed onto the beach by the sea. Yeah I found it, ah, but does it work. The answer to that was yep, I retrieved the images in the normal way and still use that card now as it is fine. And the card was just a Jessops card as opposed to the Sandisk extremes.

To the OP, maybe a good idea if you already have memory cards, is look for a camera that takes those cards. 

At the moment I use a Pentax K10D with a selection of lenses (18-55, 70-300 & 14mm f2.8) and carry that lot along with a carbon fibre Giottos tripod and Manfrotto head. The whole lot comes in at 5+ KG but I just factor that into my load.

Even though I like Pentax gear I'm contemplating a switch to Nikon as they seem to have a slight lead on Canon at the moment!?!?

Pentax have some great prime lenses in their back catalogue, but they appear to get overlooked by the review sites and magazines to the extent that I've not seen a review of their 16 - 50mm f2.8 DA* zoom! Also sigma only partially support Pentax with a selection of their lenses compatible with the Pentax SDM focussing system....

As has been said, all the dSLRs are pretty impressive these days so how it handles may be the deciding factor....

I had an Olympus E400 - small, light, neat little camera. A friend had one & it died on Cairn Gorm in the cold. It also didn't like the damp. Years ago I had a Pentax ME Super - small, light, neat little camera. Actually I had three in succession, all dying in adverse weather conditions. I took each back in turn for a replacement, eventually getting my money back. I replaced the Pentax with a bomb-proof, second-hand Nikon FM (still going strong over 20 years later), and on my mates advice, took the Oly back & switched it for a Nikon too.

Canon make great cameras - the 5D is excellent (if you've got the readies for it) - but ergonomically they are way behind Nikon. Look around, try a few for size, and don't discount the option of a second-hand camera, spending the money saved on some decent glass ('kit' lenses are rarely that good).

Chairman Bill wrote (see)

the 5D is excellent (if you've got the readies for it)