Thinking about a new Camera

[Mary Sparrow]

THanks Elizabeth, My rebel is even older than your first...it was the 300d. I will go have a look.

[Debra Norton]

Mary, I have the Pentax Istdl with 18-55 and 50-200 lenses and I like it very much, although I'm itching to upgrade too. This camera meets all my needs as a portrait artist; for reference photos, photographing my work, and takes great family pics too. The reason I'd like to upgrade has more to do with landcape painting. The newest Pentax is water and dust resistant, so I'd feel more comfortable using it outdoors in our often rainy/misty weather here in the "Great Pacific Northwest." Plus I'd like a 50-300 lense, sometimes I can't get out as far as I'd like with the 200.

[Clayton J. Beck III]

Hi Debra,

If one is using a lens at 300mm, your angle of view is only 8

[Mike McCarty]

Hello Mary,

I suggest you try the following link:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sidebyside.asp

Here you can make very comprehensive comparisons of most camera brands. For example: here is a side-by-side comparison between the Canon EOS 1000D / Rebel XS and the Nikon D60. An in-depth review is also offered for each.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/comp...n_d60&show=all

I find that this site: www.dpreview.com is very helpful for all digital camera stuff.

[Marvin Mattelson]

The angle that the lens sees depends on the size of the sensor in the camera. A 50mm lens on a traditional film camera is the equivalent of a 75mm on a DX size sensor, which is what you will find on the majority of digital SLRs like the Canon Rebel or the Nikon D60. In order to have a lens equal to the same angle of view as it would on a film SLR one needs a camera with a FX or full size sensor. FX cameras cost more but are much much better in lower light situations regarding noise (color artifacts in dark areas.)

[Debra Norton]

Hi Clayton, I was thinking of the 300 more for getting that heron I can't sneak up on or my grandson's kite at the beach type of photography. As for landscape painting, I try to do a plein air study and take photos too, but I usually use the wide angle lense for that. I consider myself still a beginner in landscape painting, but I definitely try to go for the natural look.

I've never used a 300mm lense, do you know what the difference between a 200 and a 300 would be? I'm not sure I'm even asking this question correctly, but if I took a picture of the same thing from the same place with both lenses how much bigger would the object be with a 300mm lense than a 200? Is there some kind of formula for this?

[Julie Deane]

This link may be helpful in seeing differences between lenses:

http://www.tamron.com/lenses/fundamentals.asp

[Julie Deane]

Actually, this is a better link.

http://www.tamron.com/lenses/learnin...comparison.php