Your DSLR Brands!

It might be a good reference to compact camera users as they might plan to upgrade to DSLR camera( Digital Single Lens Reflex). We often heard how good or great about brand A or brand B performed but we really seldom hear how these brands lack of ...or certain short coming that they have.

Frankly speaking, there is very seldom to come across a bad camera in today's technology advancement when comparing to the past. Will your LCD TV image quality looks more inferior than your 80's TV? ...or will your iPhone/BlackBerry performs more terrible than those 1st generation cell phone in the 90's? Same goes to camera and lens.

We all love feed backs, especially on the things we like or love to buy/invest.
Now lets us take a closer look on usual feed backs on those famous DSLR brands, namely -  Olympus, Sony, Nikon & Canon 

* below comments & feedbacks are based on users experience on specific brands..

OLYMPUS

- the Olympus lens system was a bit expensive when compare to other offering and it has no 3rd party lens around to support the system. Making users have to pay a premium for the lens. Fix Aperture fast lens in their line will make your wallet bleeds to death ...

- No doubt, it was one of the fastest AF(Auto Focus) lens around. Once you got hooked with the DSLR, the major concern will be the long term investment with the system which means that you will further extend your lens collection into your arsenal.

- they had shifted their attention more to EP1 and EP2 models the true 4/3 system. Mainly target on those who wants to look different(if not weird with a big lens and over size flash attached) with the camera they own. Small size which also means lighter weight for ladies to carry~


SONY

- Sony offers a great deal of pricing on their DSLR & lens but it was a bit disappointing when in low light performance. The high ISO1600 or 3200 shots were unable to get as clean as the Nikon & Canon's offering. However, many believes that Sony is catching up real fast especially with their affordable top grade glass - namely Carl Zeiss. Rumors - they even had a plan to produce Full Frame camera in dirt cheap pricing,
which is to compete head-on with competitors.

- Sony got great vibrant color reproduction here as most users claimed. However, the tendency of camera internal mechanism failure(Super Steady Shot and High Vibration Cleaning mechanism) was rather HIGH. Sony should offer longer warranty period to their customers.

- Their small DSLR and light weight design got a very well response from the female market too!



Nikon

- it was a bit funny on Nikon's color ...the color reproduction was rather flat or over saturated especially during the day time. Perhaps their prospects need to opt for higher range of Nikon to get better color reproduction. It was kinda NOT NATURAL when compare side by side to others, especially on skin tone... or perhaps the picture was too SHARP! Yup, Nikon produce the sharpest pics you can ever expect from a DSLR even with their kitlens.

- it was ironic that they got the most user friendly function buttons but a rather complicated Menu to confuse you. They even got a novel like, kinda thick Manual for your reference.
- more superior Flash system than its main rival Canon.
- one of the best performer in low light shooting with fast spot on AF system.
- mostly robust and heavy DSLR they got in their line but some ladies just love it and took it as a small dumbbell~



Canon

- many had complaint on this AF system which only works well with their solely L 'lan si'(Cantonese) lens. You will not get a fast spot on like Nikon did when shooting in low light unless the L (Luxury) lens is mounted onto it. Guess their R&D and marketing had purposely did it. Even your f/2.8 3rd party lens will not help much on the focusing accuracy when shooting in low light.

- some did complain their pain in the ass when using older models where Exposure Compensation(+ & -EV) function was out of reach, you can't find it among buttons!!! Geeee... EV function was very crucial in the whole shooting process!

- stupid inconsistent Flash Exposure, you have experiment your flash all the time~!!!
- only able to master the external flash with FULL Manual Mode, including the Flash level control!!!

- Canon did very well on the compact camera department. While DSLR needs a lot to improve especially on the buttons and AF system. 7D was a well update series or to say an entirely NEW breed from their R&D department. Holy Cow~!!! ... 5DM2 has only 1 cross type sensor and 7D has 19 points; ALL were Cross type sensors!!!

- it has the most complete range of lens around and the color was beautifully natural. Canon had successfully secured most professional sports photographers due superior AF system on the 90's. However, now the Nikon system had catch up and even out performed Canon on their beginner and mid range offering.

*other brand names in brief ....
* most girls like it small and light
Leica - too expensive, a symbol to the rich! 50mm f/0.9 lens may cost you RM50k

Panasonic Lumix- latest 4/3 system, GF1 had claimed to be the best for HD video making among DSLR but once again, it was expensive, moderate ISO performance and limited lens choice.


* some notes on 3rd party lens...
Tamron - slow on AF(Auto Focusing)? how slow? 0.5 sec. Others did mentioned that Nikon lens was actually from Tamron (under OEM). Under certain circumstances and agreement, Tamron was restricted to some pattern restriction in producing top performance lens. Never mind, supply more lens to Nikon will make the business good either way. It did produce very sharp and affordable lens. Their best lens - SP90 f/2.8 Macro 1:1, 17-50 f/2.8 VC (IF)

Sigma - inconsistent quality control, A and B lens were the same model but they did behaved differently. Do you call this unique individual?  kakaka~ When time past ... things had changed. Sigma recently had beefed up and produce some very nice quality optics.
geeeeee ....  Sigma wasn't that cheap due to their HSM(Hyper Sonic Motor) offering in the lens.
Their best lens -  120-400 f/4-5.6 APO HSM, 150-500 f/4-5.6 APO HSM


Tokina - nothing much but related to the biggest optamic lens manufacturer in the world, HOYA ...and their only best and famous lens - 11-16 /f2.8 Super Wide Angle lens


Carl Zeiss - the premium lens after Leica, the most sought after brand among professional photographers. The clarity and contrast were superbly mesmerizing. Their lens coating technology were once use in World War II.

Why premium lens that expensive ya? The coating technology and their quality had made it expensive!
However, some premium lens pricing doesn't justify their quality! Bottom line - buy the best you can afford. If you have no luck that day and feeling difficult to purchase your desired lens(out of stock or no testing). Please forget about it, it doesn't suits you and possibly will give you lots of heartache.
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