dSLR Dad

I wrote about Popular Photography Magazine’s comparison of the top five affordable dSLR Cameras last fall after the Photokina 2008 trade show. Their article evaluated each camera on the merits of image Quality, Ease of Use, Control, and System Flexibility.  What’s interesting now, after the PMA 2009 Trade Show has concluded, all but one of these cameras (the Olympus Evolt E-520) are still the top affordable dSLRs from each manufacturer. Actually, since the Olympus Evolt E-620 will cost $100 more than the most expensive dSLR in this roundup once it is released, maybe they should just re-publish the entire article for the May 2009 issue?  The contestants are (in alphabetical order):

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Popular Photography Magazine has a comparison review for you dSLR Dads of five, sub-$900 dSLR Cameras.

Five affordable DSLRs vie for honors in the “step-up” class. If you’re a serious shooter looking to move on up to a better DSLR — with more resolution, faster firing, advanced features like in-camera image fixes and live view — but have been scared off by the $1,000 price barrier, fear no more. An entire class of DSLRs has appeared at this intermediate level, none of them more than $900, street — with a kit lens. And every one of these five comes with image stabilization right out of the box, through either a shifting image sensor or moving elements in the included lens.

Their judgment criteria included image quality, ease of use, camera controls, and system flexibility.  For those of you who want to skip ahead, here are the results:

1. 1. Canon Digital Rebel XSi 23 points
   2. Nikon D60 17 points
   3. Pentax K200D (tie) 15 points
   4. Sony Alpha A350 (tie) 15 points
   5. Olympus Evolt E520 dSLR w/ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Lens 10 points

You can read the entire article over at PopPhoto.com.

Pentax has announced the new 10-megapixel Pentax K200D dSLR Camera with Shake Reduction. The K200D replaces the entry-level K100D. New and upgraded features include:

• APS-C sized 10-megapixel CCD sensor (12-bit RAW output only)
• 2.7 inch Live View LCD (230,000 dots and 160° viewing angle)
• Improved dust reduction system
• weather /dust sealing
• IS0 up to 3,200 (but how does ISO 800 look)
• 11 point Auto Focus system with 9 cross-sensors
• SD and SDHC card
• Battery consumption reduced by a factor of 8 over the K100D

The K200D is available in two configurations:

1. Pentax K200D dSLR Camera with Shake Reduction (Body Only)
2. Pentax K200D dSLR with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens

The following is an excerpt from the Pentax press release: (more…)