SLR-Camera Reviews

I originally bought the Minolta X-700 in early 1985 while stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army. It had just won "Camera of the Year 1984" from an important consumer magazine. I bought it because I was very satisfied with another Minolta camera,the XG-7, that I had purchased six years before. Also, to be truthful, because the X-700 looks great! It turned out to be an excellent choice as I took thousands of excellent photos and especially color slides with it over the years. I used it in nearly every country in Europe, in a wide variety of conditions, and it never let me down. What makes this camera so great is that it offers an advanced amount of automation, but still gives the user a large degree of control. You can get off that quick shot, yet still be very creative. I was very disappointed with models that came out later. Unfortunately, my original camera was stolen, but I'm happy to find and buy a replacement from Amazon after all these years. Truly one of the best cameras ever made in its class, and one of the most durable and versatile.

The X-700 is great for learning photography. It is manual but its beauty is in the various automated settings, which range from controlling everything except focus to fully manual. It is intuitive and easy to figure out, and comes with the reliability you'd expect from Minolta. The handiest feature that I enjoyed is the lightmeter readout in the viewfinder. In the various photography courses I've taken, I've found that it is superior to many other manual SLRs in that it has levels of convenience and automation that help you get a feel for photography, but still allows for the photographer to have complete freedom.

This camera earns bonus points for being not only reliable but durable. I've owned mine for over 12 years, and its suffered quite a lot of abuse. And hand in hand with its long life is a market rich with used parts. I've picked up quite a few lenses that fit on the X-700 for pretty cheap.

I'm not an expert on cameras by any means, but when I want to work on my photography, I put away my other cameras and even my digital and get my X-700 out.

I picked up this camera to replace my Canon AE-1 that froze (something gear related). At first I thought this was just another fully manual SLR but after doing some homework I discovered that not only does it function as such, which is nice in itself, but it has an Aperture-Priority Auto-Exposure Mode which automatically selects the proper shutter speed based on existing light conditions. It works brilliantly. I have taken this camera on hikes, diving trips and just about everywhere else and it has worked flawlessly. Picture quality is great, options are many and it's basically everything you would expect from a high quality Minolta SLR camera. Five stars.

After years of being a very faithful Sony user (I still like Sony and their products) I finally did the big leap, as in my mind the technology is finally there ... I bought a Canon EOS-1Ds 11.1 Megapixel camera body. Out of necessity I had to buy a set of EF lenses as well. I spent this years toy budget on just one purchase, but then THIS IS NOT TOY!

My last Sony was a F828 and before that a P10. The F828 is a great consumer product for the price, but it actually made me do the leap as good as it is, as it brought back my spirit for creating a REALLY good picture. I started to spend so much time to get to the right photo spot at the right time, that I did not want to have a lack of functionality then. I used to do a lot of photography 20 years ago on film, but returned as a point and shoot fotographer when digital came about. To say it with fellow countryman 'Arnie' - "I'm back."

First I need to say that all Amazon partnershops performed and delivered flawlessly, my special mention goes to Adorama Camera. I would usually be worried to spend so much money on the web, but Amazon takes that away.

Now to the 'beast' itself the EOS-1Ds body. I will not go into all the functional details, as to my mind they are all correct as stated. The camera is great to hold and work with total confidence. But at first - big disappointment. I was unable to concentrate on working with a professional camera. I was too used to point and shoot and expected the camera to do it all for me. Well, it does not. You need to know or learn photography for this one. It is now four weeks and 2500 pictures later and finally there is only one reason for a photo not to be perfect - ME!

Biggest difference to other products is the film-size 24x36 CCD and the ability to set the ASA film sensitivity up to 1250 on the fly rather than having to change film. Not always is a tripod at hand or the photo subject would wait until you set it up and then hold still for a 2 second exposure. I could not ask the helicopter pilot to stop the vibration during a dawn flight over the Las Vegas Strip. Setting to ASA1250 shortened exposure time to s/50. The picture noise that you get as a consequence is dramatically reduced by the noise reduction feature and much less than the grain of a high-sensitivity film.

Cautions and recommendations: Learning how to clean the sensor from dust and dirt without damaging it is essential. This camera is VERY heavy you will need a strong tripod to hold it. Buy a second battery, even so the charging is quick and it usually lasts for two normal days of use. Using a CF card reader is easier than buying a Firwire attachment for your PC. Use 2GB high-speed Compactflash for convenience, it will give you 400 pictures in JPG. Feel free to send me questions, which I will answer as much as I can.

I have shot 35mm for 30 years and paid for the best prints from the best labs and they just can't compare with high end digital prints. The detail goes way beyond 35mm and easily challenges medium format. I am still learning color manipulation on the computer and occasionally I get better color from a Velvia slide - which I am now shooting with the same Canon lenses and a 1v body - but overall it is becoming increasingly clear that film is as dead as video tape and vinyl records. I traded up to the 1Ds from a D60, which also produced prints much better than 35mm. The drawback to the D60 was a poor autofocus and a less than full frame sensor, which limits the use of wide angle lenses for landscape photos. The 1Ds solves those problems and potentially makes larger format cameras obsolete at the same time.

The only problem I have found is that the 45 sensor autofocus setting does not work with a very wide angle (16mm or 15mm fisheye) lens. For some reason, it won't focus at infinity. Switching to the center only focus sensor solves the problem. The 1v and Elan 7 do the same thing.

Our rep brought an EOS-1Ds into the lab for us to look at last week. I'm still pouring over the test bench and outdoor images with my jaw on the floor. I'll never be able to afford this beauty, but if we see the technology of the 1Ds make it into the prosumer market, I'll make the jump. Many of the so-called limitations of digital photography have been directly addressed in the design of the 1Ds.

For example, the small physical dimensions of consumer camera CCDs have limited the performance of many cameras. It's nearly impossible to collect and focus light onto a small CCD with inexpensive optics. Canon uses a larger size CCD in the 1Ds. That upgrade, plus having the CCD house 11 megapixels makes this camera instantly competitive with 35 mm film. Note, I'm not yet ready to say it's the equivalent, but it's so close now that the few advantages of film have much less leverage now. The future is here and it is now. If only I had 8 grand in my pocket...

I didn't have enough time with the 1Ds to get to know all of the bells and whistles, but did find it easy enough to use by just trusting my intuition. I'm looking at the nice collection of Canon 35 mm lenses I already own (which will fit the 1Ds) and my palms are sweating. Maybe I could sell a few of the toys I don't use much and eat macaroni and cheese for a few years?

I had minolta maxxum st si camera and this lens is a perfect match for that silver color camera.

This lens not only looks great, but is an outstanding performer on my Minolta HTsi Plus. This matchin silve lens and body is a nice touch, but should not be mistaken for quality. This lens is much wider than the 30mm or 35mm lenses many cameras come with and a f3.5 is relatively fast compared to other lenses like it on the market. It's large 62mm filter ring size also give you flexibility with your other lenses. Just by 62mm filters and step-up rings for your other lenses. I have been very happy with the lens, and highly recomend it.

The Minolta Maxxum AF 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 II Silver Zoom Lens with Lens Hood is a very good quality camera and has a low price that comes with it.

If you are tired of the point-and-shoot cameras and want to upgrade to a more sophisticated, yet VERY easy to use camera, the Minolta Maxuum is the one to buy! Have gotten a ton of compliments on the results. I love to take pictures of my neices and nephews, and with the 300 zoom lens, you can be on the other side of a room and take great candid shots. What I also love about this camera is you can attach different filters (I'm using Cokin) to create even more spectacular pictures. Can't say enough about it. Did I mention that it is extremely light-weight?!

I JUST BEGAN STUDIYING PHOTOGRAPHY AS A HOBBIE; AT FIRST I COULDN'T MAKE UP MY MIND AS TO WHICH CAMERA WOULD BE BEST, BUT AFTER MANY QUESTIONS AND THE PURCHASING OF THE MAXXUM QTsi, I JUST HAVE MANY GREAT THINGS TO SAY: THIS CAMERA OPPERATES AS A PROFFESSIONAL SLR BUT IS VERY PRACTICAL TO USE, ALSO OFFERS MANY ACCESORIES TO MAKE IT BETTER. THIS CAMERA IS VERY LIGHT AND THE QUALITY OF THE PICTURES IS JUST AWESOME.

This camera is so easy to use and great pictures too!! It's amazing what this camera is able to do...manual focus, auto focus with a touch of a button. Very light and comforatble to hold. So many extra features as well. I would never buy a different type and will recommend this camera to my friends...Amazon prices are the best I've found also so that makes it an extra special buy!!

Excelent camera with some good features. maybe the only problems is that in extreme cold or hot dont work properly

A wonderful camera for beginner to pro. The camera's many features allow you to grow from using automatic features to solely manual. Comfortable in your hands too. The eye start feature is great for action situations but should be turned off otherwise due to battery comsumption. The camera's many features allow you to use it under any and all situations and, even as a new photographer, come out with good photographic results. Many kudos to Minolta for providing one of the best instruction books I have ever seen with the Xtsi.

I bought this camera a year ago (from Wolf Camera in Charlotte). I love it! It is easy to use and produces sharp, clear photos. I have to turn off the autofocus sometimes, but that seems to be true of most AF cameras. I like how I can have complete control over the aperture and shutter speed (as well as focus), or I can let the camera control any or all of these functions. There are many other configurable features as well. I initially bought a 28-105 Sigma lens and just added a 70-300, with Macro. The lens that comes with this camera would be good to start out with.

I bought this camera brand new and I have to that it is a great camera. I needed a new 35mm fully manual but didn't feel like spending a fortune. I read the specs on the camera and bought it. It is one hell of a work horse. Anyone who bashes this camera has not used it.

The FM series of cameras from Nikon has a long and distinguished history. The FM10 is a totally manual camera with through the lens center weighted metering. The beauty of the manual system is that you have a complete range of shutter speeds if the batteries fail. Additionally, you get to set the camera settings how you want to without trying to out think and out smart the auto programming that most cameras have now. In other words, you get to take the picture; not the camera. The FM10 is a sturdy camera that has one of the widest ranges of lenses available to it. There is not a lens that you can think of that can not be found for this camera. Beginners or professionals: anyone that wants to be a photographer and not just a button pusher should get this camera.

Most of the reviews I've read about this camera say it's cheap, not up to Nikon's standards, and made out of horrible plastic.

They're very wrong. The camera's lighter than most manual cameras I've held, but it feels very sturdy. The lens it comes with is just fine for students and beginners, and I'll hold on to it even though I plan on getting a fixed 50mm Nikon lens very soon. Still, for the price, you can't beat it!

If you've read other reviews about how cheap this camera feels and you're weary, all I can say is go to a camera store and hold it. If you want something much more rugged you'll pay a lot more money. If you want something to start shooting with then get this camera. It'll also help you start building a good Nikon kit so if you decide to upgrade bodies later you won't have to repurchase all your lenses.

Great clarity, great quality

I just bought one of these used, but in great condition. What a joy to hold and use! Light, fast, responsive, but not a toy for ones who like "idiot proof" cameras. A peerless image making tool for those who know what they want and can still multiply & divide by 2.... I wear glasses, and the finder presents no problems. Standard PC connector for studio use, and cable release for time exposures. NO SHUTTER LAG! If you can see it and hit the button, the moment is captured on film for the ages. Add an MD12 motordrive, Vivitar 285 flash and you've got a set-up that will do anything. This rugged and substantial camera will go anywhere. Best of all, no batteries are needed for basic operation. Cons? I don't have two of them! Get a 50mm F1.8 lens with it and skip the cheap zoom. You'll see what photography was meant to be.

If you are looking for a camera without all the whizbang circuitry and computerizations that take the challenge out of setting up a camera, you have two choices. The first is to take your chances in the used market. The second choice is the Nikon FM3a.

The FM3a is a completely mechanical camera with only the most basic electronics built in. DX sensors make forgetting to reset the film settings a thing of the past. The Aperture Priority shutter setting allows the you to let the camera do the heavy work of deciding the shutter speed. And the center-weighted TTL metering makes an external light meter redundant.

Forget all those niceties. You are looking for a camera that will take you back to the beginning, back to a time when you enjoyed the fiddling and fondling of cameras. You don't want the automations, and with this camera, you don't need to think about them. The film ISO settings can be changed manually to allow pushing and pulling of film. The shutter speed can be set manually from 8 seconds down to 1/4000th of a second. And the focusing and aperture setting is ALL manual.

If you like having complete control over a camera, this is the one for you. It won't give you spot metering or auto-focus or 'portrait' mode and 'landscape' mode. But it will give you the tools to craft the photos you want, the way you want.

It's not a digital wonder. Thank heavens.

That said, there are a few things Nikon could have done better. They could have put in a mirror lockup to keep the camera steadier. They could have made the exposure compensation dial easier to use (get rid of that button, Nikon!). And they could have made the light meter easier to see in the dark. But these things are niggling inconsistencies at worst.

The camera works well and is excellent at what it does. The rest, as they say, is up to you.

Is everyone you know buying a digital camera? I have decided to go against the trend, and bought a FM3A. A light-weight and nearly manual camera. Why Nikon? After having used Canon for 20 years I decided to make the switch because I wanted better built quality. Something that lasts.

This baby has nearly all the pro features you are looking for in a camera. Built-in light meter, TTL flash, DX ISO, 1/4000 to 1 second, plus B. I usually choose the semi-automatic mode; by setting the aperture manually, then allowing the camera to set the shutter speed automatically.

As such, this camera is perfect for landscape photography. If you are like nature, and enjoy bush-walking or mountaineering, this Nikon is great. It only weighs 570g. This means that you can get away with using a light-weight tripod - if you don't mount big glass (a heavy telephoto lens). And it does not take much space. Good for travelling as well.

The only feature I sometimes miss is mirror lock-up. Without mirror lock-up, camera shake can cause problems at slower shutter speeds. But you can get around this issue by using the self-timer (causing the mirror to flip up before the shot is taken). A spot light-meter would have been nice, but you can still take spot readings by using a longer lens (or by zooming in).

The good thing about this film camera is that it provides me with the best of both worlds. I have the quality (and cheap price!) of film, the convenience of (slide) projection, but I can still scan the images into the computer if I need them digitally. And I can use the same set of lenses, should I decide to buy a digital body one day.

This is a simple to use semi-automatic camera - yet you can get find accessories for it (Nikon and third party) - including a motor-drive and flash.

Classic camera. I love it. Highly recommended.

I own this model as well as the ZX-m. I concur with the other reviewers this camera is excellent. Much better than the MZ-S and other brands dollar for dollar. It's a shame it has been discontinued

I have several cameras by several manufacturers and I can honestly say that my Pentax cameras are the best performers.

Not only is the PZ-1p almost error-proof, but it is easy to handle and uses all the K-mount Pentax lenses AF and Manual!!! (Try getting that kind of lens mount flexibility from another brand like Nikon or Minolta ... forget it.)

The only way the PZ-1p could be made better is if it came with the gripstrap FDP accessory standard. The camera by itself is a little small in the hands for a professional SLR (a tribute to Pentax technology, but bad for photographers who like cameras to fill their hands). The gripstrap FDP accessory makes the PZ-1p feel like it was made for your hand ... it's a definate must if you use this camera professionally or if you are going to lug it around all day.

Sadly Pentax discontinued this model in favour of their new flagship MZ-S. Let me tell you they're different cameras. While the MZ-S is a fully pro- oriented body, PZ-1p is an outstanding all-around gear. It has many features only found in great great Canon or Nikon models, obviously much higher priced. Examples of this is its 4 fps drive motor, 1/8000 top shutter speed, or 1/250 flash sync, and interchangeable focusing screens.
Another great feature is the so-called Hyper Program mode, that allows the user to switch from a full programmed mode to an aperture-priority (or shutter-priority) just by moving the aperture (or shutter-speed) knob. Or the Hyper Manual mode, when you have total exposure control, but can ask the camera to aid you setting the proper exposure with a touch of a button.
LCD display is large enough to be clearly seen from a meter away, and shows any information you need. It can be backlit at the touch of two simultaneous buttons. Almost every info in this display is available at the viewfinder right side also.
Build is good enough for an all-around body. It is not air tight and it has not 72 molybdene silicon-rubbered-thermo gaskets just because it is not intended for carrying it during an Everest climb. But any photographer can safely rely on it for almost every kind of work. Body is metal-carbonate compound, and unlike some mass-market models from a very renowned brand, it has a metal (not hard plastic) lens mount.
Add to this the fact that remarkably puts Pentax above any SLR manufacturer: lens compatibility. You can use PZ-1p -along as ANY modern Pentax body- with ANY K-mount lens you can get. Of course you'll not enjoy the autofocus feature with old lenses, but you can set the PZ-1p to aid your manual focus with a mark on the viewfinder and/or a beep sound. Try to find that feature in any other of the great SLR brands. Just forget about...
So, if you own an old faithful K-1000 with a couple of reliable and solid SMC lenses and want to enter a new photographic era, stop thinking about: this is the camera for you.
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I just bought a Digital Rebel and a bunch of accessories... this bag takes it all without a sweat. Yeah, it is large, but that's what you need if you're serious about your photography.

Here's what mine holds: Digital Rebel, 18-55mm lens, 55-200mm lens, 420EX Speedlite, filters (several in one case), extra batteries and small manuals. I even carry my old Canon PowerShot for quick shots. I had to play with it a bit to customize it -- as expected with a "generic" case -- but everything fits excellently.

The interior dimensions are: 9 x 5 x 7 (to top of dividers - 9 to rim of bag) inches (LxWxH). You get two adjustable dividers for the main compartment. There is nice .5 in. padding on the walls. There is a mesh holder on the inside of the lid. There is a tough front pouch with filter pockets, another mesh holder and space for thin items. And there are mesh side pockets with drawstrings.

Finding a configuration was interesting, and I didn't follow their suggestion, but it works. I have my flash, camera (body) and big lens standing vertically. I keep the standard lens sitting on top in bubble wrap. (It barely moves, really.) My PowerShot fits perfectly on the other side. (Their suggestion is to keep the lens attached and pointing downward in the center space, so you can just pull out the camera and shoot.)

The materials are tough where they need to be... and gentle where you want them to be. The whole outer shell is fine suitcase-quality. It has a stiff bottom with plastic feet. The top handle is very comfortable and soft. It comes with a shoulder strap (sewn-on).

Because of its size, I don't always want to carry it everywhere. So I also bought a Tamrac Small Lens Case. That'll carry my other lens, battery and CF card... the essentials.

The only "complaint" I have about the Samsonite bag is that once you put enough stuff in the front pouch its center of gravity shifts forward and it falls on its face. However, this is FAR from anything to be upset about.

I expect this bag to last a long time -- it is "guaranteed for life", after all -- and I am very happy I didn't settle for one of the default Canon bags.

This is a great bag --- it is light, durable, functional & holds just about anything you might need to drag along.....

As another customer said, it IS a bit on the big side -- but I think that's a plus! As far as it being too big to want to take along just about everywhere [even on vacation, to a ball game or whatever] --- it's definitely not too big..... In fact, it's just right.

I've found that I can just throw my car keys, sunglasses, lip balm & wallet/checkbook right inside --- there's plenty of room! This way I don't have to lug a purse or backpack with my other essentials in it.....

I'd say this is a must have. I carried a 35mm camera & extra lenses around without a camera bag for years --- I don't know what I was thinking. Luckily I decided to treat my new Canon Rebel right & get it this wonderful little home.
Woo hoo!

I ordered this bag to hold only my SLR camera, but was amazed at the size of it. It is big enough to hold 2 to 3 lens, plus flashes and almost any photo equipment you can think of- minus the tripod. This is a bag for a serious photographer, since most people would not need this much room. The drawback of the bag is that it is quite big, so it is not ideal if you are having to haul it around on vacation. It is how ever one of the best bags that I have seen in a long time. It has the wonderful quality that Samsonite is known for, and will last a long time. If you need the room in your bag for lens and filters, film and flashes then this would be an excellent choice. I rate it 5 stars.

It has more than enough space for my Cannon EOS Rebel 2000 and all of the standard accessories. Excellent quality and it looks nice too! Terrific product.

The bag has nice, deep slots, about 1000 compartments and pockets, and a thick, durable flap that goes over the opening for extra security. It's a terrific, classy looking bag that appears to be durable, comfortable, and very convenient.

I've had mine for about a month, and I like it very much. I visited some shops and checked out many bags, being an obsessive shopper when it comes to camera equipment. I almost bought a Lowepro, but the Samsonites have a good plastic base, so that swayed my decision. I'm always putting the bag down in a damp place, etc. The padding all around is very good -- I feel safe with this bag.

I got this one instead of the next size up, because I'd rather squeeze things in and enjoy the benefits of carrying around a smaller bag. I can fit my Nikon N6006, a 3.8" zoom, 5.4" zoom, 6 rolls of film, cable, close-up lens diopter, battery, lens cloth, and handbook.

This morning as the sun was coming up, I was out at the Audobon reserve near an estuary here in Brunswick, Maine. It was about 10 degrees F, and the layer of ice/snow was covered with a newer layer of snow. After about 2 hours and many shots, I returned home with all the gear in good shape. The bag passed the test!