All pixels are not the same

[Linda Nelson]

I can't afford it myself, but my dad's Olympus E1 is so awesome, I use it instead of my own E20, which is just the version older. The best part of the E1 is that it can take 12 - TWELVE! - continous shots before having to stop to put them into memory, and usually it has already put half into memory before you're done shooting the 12, so you can actually shot 15 or so shots in rapid succession. It's just great for capturing the right expression and keeping the situation relaxed.

Digital rocks.

[Mike McCarty]

Jean,

You might try the Nikon home page .

Linda,

I've held the Olympus E-1 in my hands and it is a serious piece of machinery. It has a lot of heft and doesn't feel plastic and light like some of the new cameras. However, I think it's going to have a hard time competing from this point on because it's price is $1799 body only.

The new competition D-SLR's with comparable features, like the Nikon D70 is $999 body only. And the Digital Rebel by Canon is $999 with a lens. The Nikon also comes optionally as a kit that includes a very fine zoom lens for a total of $1299.

This stuff is always in a constant state of flux.

[Jean Kelly]

Thanks Mike, I went there earlier and got lost in the maze of info, I'll check again when my brain is clearer (if ever)!

Jean

[Michele Rushworth]

A note of caution on the Canon Digital Rebel: if it's the "EOS" model you're looking at, check and see if it comes with the spot metering function. My sister just bought one (she's a pro landscape photographer) but hers doesn't have spot metering. (She doesn't use that feature.)

I find that the spot metering function is essential for metering off of a subject's face when they're standing in front of sky, water or when the subject is dramatically lit in a dark room.

[Mike McCarty]

I find that the spot metering function is essential for metering off of a subject's face when they're standing in front of sky, water or when the subject is dramatically lit in a dark room.

I completely agree with that Michele. I assumed all cameras of of that caliber would have that feature. I wouldn't want to conduct business without a spot meter.

[Michele Rushworth]

I should let you know that I don't have first hand experience with the Canon Digital Rebel EOS in this matter, though my sister (who is a professional landscape photographer) just bought one.

My sister's husband is also a photographer, and a real electronic gadget guy. He did all the camera research (on dpreview.com) when they bought their EOS. He told me that Canon put the spot metering on the next model up in price to give people a reason to upgrade. Otherwise all their customers would just get the EOS, if it had everything on it. I'm basing my comments about this model on what he told me.

He said that competitors to the Canon Digital Rebel EOS that do have spot metering are the Nikon D-1 and the Pentax "First D", though they are slightly more in price.

Another artist friend of mine is currently researching the Canon Digital Rebel EOS and just dowloaded the manual. She is specifically intererested in their different metering options. I'll let you know what she finds out.

When I tried out my sister's Canon Digital Rebel EOS I liked everything else about it: no shutter release delay, fast focusing time in low light, fast "motor drive" in taking lots of images in rapid succession, large image sensor for good quality, etc.

[Garth Herrick]

Originally Posted by Michele Rushworth

My sister's husband is also a photographer, and a real electronic gadget guy. He did all the camera research (on dpreview.com) when they bought their EOS. He told me that Canon put the spot metering on the next model up in price to give people a reason to upgrade. Otherwise all their customers would just get the EOS, if it had everything on it. I'm basing my comments about this model on what he told me.

He said that competitors to the Canon Digital Rebel EOS that do have spot metering are the Nikon D-1 and the Pentax "First D", though they are slightly more in price.

Michele; All the Nikon digital SLR's have spot metering, including D70, D100, and D-1 series. On the D70 the spot metering is 1% of the frame through which ever focusing segment you have selected.