Looking for a small chepa dSLR

qwertyjjj · Nov 27, 2012

I'm looking for a dSLR that isn;t too bulky but does a lot of things well particularly close ups with good bokeh effects and some other tricks.
I have the following in a shortlist:
Olympus E420
Nikon D40
Nikon D40x
Nikon D60
Canon EOS 300D/Rebel
Canon EOS 350D/Rebel XT
Canon EOS 20D

Are there any clear winnners amongst that or all fairly much the same?

jaomul · Nov 27, 2012

Canon 20d is well specced, 5fps and a solid build and cheap. Out of these this is the one I would go for. I would scratch the olympus simply because you have "bokeh" as one of your wants. Olympus do fine cameras with nice image quality but the sensor on this dslr is slightly smaller than the others and that is one of the factors in trying to get nice bokeh in a shot.I am sure the nikons listed are fine also

irfan.in.tx · Nov 27, 2012

Bokeh is a function of the lens, aperture setting used and subject positioning vis a vis the background. Consider the Pentax k-x also -- its compact, and if you are not afraid of manual focus, there are any number of old prime lenses that are compatible (with or without an adapter) that can be had for very cheap.

pixmedic · Nov 27, 2012

Nikon D100 6MP Digital SLR Camera - with MB D100 Grip! - 1443 0018208252060 | eBay
Nikon D100 6.1 MP Digital SLR Camera - Black (Body Only) 0018208252060 | eBay
Nikon D100 SLR Digital Camera Body w/2 Batteries & Charger 0018208252060 | eBay

the list is endless. some are even cheaper that are being bid on. for the money, I would take the D100 over the D40 or D40x.

SCraig · Nov 27, 2012

jaomul said:
Canon 20d is well specced, 5fps and a solid build and cheap. Out of these this is the one I would go for. I would scratch the olympus simply because you have "bokeh" as one of your wants. Olympus do fine cameras with nice image quality but the sensor on this dslr is slightly smaller than the others and that is one of the factors in trying to get nice bokeh in a shot.I am sure the nikons listed are fine also

No, not really. It has an affect on the depth of field, which produces the blurring in the background and foreground. Bokeh is the shaping and patterning of the blurred, out-of-focus areas and not how much it is out of focus. Look at a blurred background with nice big balls of out of focus highlights, or a smooth transition between colors. That is bokeh.

jaomul · Nov 28, 2012

Ok then. My info was skewed. Sorry OP.

Village Idiot · Nov 28, 2012

Canon 30Ds are going for $200-$250 on POTN. I saw one with a grip for $250. I think I may buy one for someone this Christmas. There was an XT on there for $125.

SCraig · Nov 28, 2012

jaomul said:
Ok then. My info was skewed. Sorry OP.

Yes and no. Most people think the same thing, that the term "Bokeh" refers to the volume or size of the out of focus area and not the quality of it. I did for a long time as well and it's quite possible that the OP thinks the same thing, in which case your post would have been in line with his post. Regardless, you provided assistance and helped him out.

jaomul · Nov 28, 2012

SCraig said:
jaomul said:

Ok then. My info was skewed. Sorry OP.

Click to expand...

Yes and no. Most people think the same thing, that the term "Bokeh" refers to the volume or size of the out of focus area and not the quality of it. I did for a long time as well and it's quite possible that the OP thinks the same thing, in which case your post would have been in line with his post. Regardless, you provided assistance and helped him out.

Thanks. I know the bokeh thing has a few factors and what you said is spot on. I also know that due to fov etc larger sensors enabled a shallower dof and i suppose I would link that to bokeh. It really is the lens that determines the quality of the bokeh