[quote=“TheLostSwede”]Ok, let’s see…
- I have no idea what the difference between a 3:2 and a 4:3 camera is, yes I understand that the pictures comes out looking different, but most of the stuff I take will be cropped and put online, so I don’t think that matters for my needs.
[/quote]4:3 limits your composition. But sure you can always crop. Anyways it seems its no issue for you.
[quote=“TheLostSwede”]
2. From what I’ve seen, Nikon and Canon lenses are much more expensive than other brands, as they have the image stabilizer built into the lenses. When you’re on a very limited budget, this is not a good thing.
[/quote]- I don’t think image stabilization really helps. If people move you still have motion blur
- Use a tripod or monopod if you can
- If you shot inside a lot, get a faster lens such as the Sigma F/1.4 30mm which works on Nikon/Canon (not in your budget though).
So you should better save another 10K to have a fast lens.
You can also buy used or second hand fast lenses (especially for Nikon there’s a huge choice).
High ISO could be a solution. In this case: Olympus E-620, Pentax K-7 or Nikon D5000 are the only choices of what we talk here.
This is at ISO 1600, handheld, F/1.4 lens, shutter 1/125, no stabilization needed, no flash:
Don’t make your choice based on stabilization
[quote=“TheLostSwede”]Ok, let’s see…
3. The Nikon D3000 might be an option, depending on cost here and with my concern above proven wrong.
[/quote]I don’t know if its get-able in Taiwan yet.
[quote=“TheLostSwede”]Ok, let’s see…
4. The Pentax K-m/K2000 doesn’t seem to be fantastic from what I’ve read and has a fair few issues, but I don’t know how big of a deal those issues would be for me, as I have no prior experience in DSLR or even SLR cameras.
[/quote]Well its a CMOS sensor and it does high ISO 3200.
But I think it would suck at this high ISO cause the pixel density is 4.0 MP/cm²
That means they put a hell a lot of a pixels on a very small sensor.
[quote=“TheLostSwede”]Ok, let’s see…
5. I don’t think the E-620 replaced the E-520, it’s targeting different users. The E-520 is listed for just under NT$19k here. I guess that’s an imported model, but Olympus offers world wide warranty so it shouldn’t be an issue. Oh and it uses Compact Flash, but you can chose to use the shitty xD cards as well if you’re stupid enough, but yeah, SD cards I have aplenty, but no CF cards at the moment…[/quote]Try at NOVA, at least in Hsinchu you can expect 10-20% lower from the “online price”.
Also the item you list there on Monday has a crap lens with it. I’d at least get a nice 18-200 (out of budget I know) travel lens or a prime lens.
[quote=“TheLostSwede”]Ok, let’s see…
I’ve read a couple of very good reviews of the E-520 and I was also looking at the E-420, but that doesn’t seem to have any kind of image stabilization which I’m worried about. I work as an IT journalist and end up taking a lot of pictures indoors of various computer products as I mentioned in the first post and the lighting is far from ideal most of the time. This is why I want something with good shake reduction/image stabilization and also because I know I’m not a great photographer.
[/quote]In that case maybe you should look into getting a used camera.
I have a old Nikon D80 if you want to buy it. Its in great condition.
No idea what its still worth. But you’d also have to pick a lens for it.
[quote=“TheLostSwede”]I can’t really stretch over NT$20k, as we’re about to move in a month and a half. I’ve also considered various other options, but I think I’m going to have to invest in a flash gun as soon as I have some spare cash and that won’t work with most other types of cameras, or they end up being as expensive as an entry level DSLR.
[/quote]Did you consider financing it?
[quote=“TheLostSwede”]While on the topic, what kind of lens(es) do I need? The main thing I need to be able to do is take good close-up but not macro shoots of shiny gadgets and nothing much bigger than a large notebook. I can’t figure the lens stuff out at all as there’s way too much choice. I’d like to limit the lens purchase to no more than two if must be.
[/quote]Really seems to me you need a fast prime lens. Those are fixed focal length. But are great for night shots and indoor as the aperture opens “wide”. Means you can use lower ISO (less noise).
Some examples (all without flash or stabilization of some sort, Nikon D80 + Sigma F/1.4 30mm).
(The D5000 has actually a better sensor then the D80):
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/1.4
ISO Speed: 800
http://www.flickr.com/photo.gne?id=2597165479
Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture: f/1.6
ISO Speed: 1600
http://www.flickr.com/photo.gne?id=2094030752
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/2.5
ISO Speed: 800
http://www.flickr.com/photo.gne?id=2620814161
[quote=“TheLostSwede”]Sorry for been a demanding, bitching noob, but I really have a limited budget at the moment, but I still need to be able to take high quality pictures which seems to be something of a dilemma.
[/quote]It’s ok, it seems you want to know where to put your money