Hi everyone,

Well, after having used a prosumer camera for years, I think its time for me to make the jump to a DSLR. Even though, I know a fair bit about cameras, I'm still consider a newbie when it comes to DSLRs. My question is, what is a good entry level camera? I was told that the Olympus E-410 is a good start. My budget is RM3000, plus minus a few hundred. Is this a good model to start with? How is it compared to Nikon and Canon entry level DSLR? Are there many lens in the market for Olympus? Thanks for your comments.

try to find it here ---> CLICK HERE Gudluck !

With a starting budget of about RM3000, you could consider Olympus E-510 twin lens kit as the starting point. However, it's best to feel all the entry level dSLRs within your budget such as Nikon's D40x, Canon's 400D, Pentax's K100D Super and Sony's A100.

There are countless of reasons when choosing a dSLR and there is no good guide around yet. I would like to write one, but it's just time wasting as all people have their own preferences.

or u can get mine E500 with lots of goodies at RM3200, can be negotiated, check my siggy if you're interested, do give me a PM

This post has been edited by R a D ! c 4 L: Nov 5 2007, 12:13 PM

in ur budget u might consider buying twin lens set that sony or olympus provided ..that way u can save sum of ur money

With that budget of yours, there's too much in the market that can be consider. So, take your time slowly to do some researchs and try handling those camera at some shop and get the one you liked most. Everyone's preferances are different, but you cant be wrong with any of the systems nowadays!

I will go for Pentax K10D.
RM2750 for body, with kit is ard RM300+
Robust body, with weather shild and CCD shif sensor.


Write us some review sharing is good. Take ur time bro

1st, u must see ur interest.. action, landscape.. i think e-510 is best for shoot building, panorama, night scenes, but with only 3 af point, its not a choice for an action/sports enthusiastic.

be urself dudes.

thanks for all the response. are there many lenses out there which are compatible with the e-510?

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Added on November 6, 2007, 7:35 amooo..just read a bit more about th e-510, looks like it can support most lenses out there

This post has been edited by giggsy: Nov 6 2007, 07:35 AM

i believe olympus can..try find out in the e-510 thread !

Olympus is a good choice if u can 't move on from live view of a prosumer however lenses and flashes are very hard to get plus 3AF point is not a good start

If u want value for money try eos 350d ..good value for money body with a lousy kit lens..and perhaps pair that up with a tamron 17-50 f2.8 u shud be paying around close to 3k ..with enought change for a bag and a sturdy tripod.
8 megapixel with 9 AF points.
But canon lenses are very expensive to get ..your choice can be third party like sigma, tamron , tokina,


Good value for money
K100d super = Rm1999 u can get a 6 megapixel slr with an outstnading kit lens which is rated one of the best kit lens in the segment with body stabilization and dust removal ...It's a bang for your buck

Read the reviews and u be amazed at how much this dslr can do for yu compared with canon or olympus as the colours are punchy with compatibility with lenses made 20 years ago...

Readily compatible lenses are very cheap and it ;s easier to own the range and still get excellent shot everytime.
Also third party available lenses tamron, tokina( they made lenses for pentax) , tamrons..

Good recommendation
K100d Super = 1999
11 cross AF points, In body stabilization making any lenses u put on it to have shake reduction instantly wihtout resorting to a lot of expensive lenses . dust removal ( can compete with 400d form canon)
can shoot up to ISO3200 ( good ISO performance). Can support Supersonice Direct Motor lenses for quiter
Stainless Steel Chassis ..much more robust and tougher camera than other cameras..Good comfortable grip



Nikon: d40x d40 not value for money although cheap at 2300 but compatibility issues with lenses made before this body . Only compatible wiht tamron HSM , or AFS pricey nikon lenses..also 3 AF points only.


This is my 2 cents only from a an EX S3IS user who recently movefd to a k100d super.

Are you sure about this statement? Nikon's D300 has 15 cross AF points.

I think that every camera is designed to target specific level of consumers, and I dun think there's a camera which can suits everyone. No doubts that every camera have its pros and cons, but I think you are misleading us here thru your own opinions above which seems like you are promoting Pentax K100d Super here.
Just my 2 cents!

This post has been edited by pac1: Nov 6 2007, 05:13 PM

if he can promote pentax, i also can promote sony!

hi kayan,

thanks for that extensive explanation. yeah, as mentioned by the other contributers, no one SLR can suit everyone's needs. I know that there are specific ones those who like to take portraits, architectures, sceneries, sports, etc...

However, as I dont think I am looking to take any kind of specific pics. I just want to take as many pics as I can, of different categories, just to get a hang of using an SLR before upgrading to a higher end one. I just want something that gives an overall good / average pic quality for all sorts of scenarios.

I'm not too sure, but I have so far narrowed it down to either Nikon D300, Nikon D80, Canon 350D. I've decided not to take the Olympus because I figured that lenses are hard to come by. Any other good ones? And is the K100D really that good? Let me go read up on it...

This post has been edited by giggsy: Nov 7 2007, 06:10 AM

yes, k100d is really damn good. i can vouch for it. u can't get that much of feature for that price.

buy k100d + 50mm f1.4 prime + kit, and you've superb photography equipment (without zoom).

why not try nikon D80? its a good all rounder with not really much weaknesses... one big plus when you are using nikon or canon is that there are many people using these two brands. Thus, you get to ask around bout the lenses, pros and cons ad get to try out the lenses from your friends before getting it...

i dunno about u. but d80 is overprice piece of beginner dSLR. the price is same as prosumer dSLR canon 30d but never perform
as good as 30d. so stay away from d80 at all cost...

why do you say that "it never perform as good as 30d" please state your reasons or i would say that you are being a lil "fanboyism"

and D80 is around 3k+ and MANY people are using it... canon 30d i guess you mean semi-professional DSLR..not prosumer

MANY people using because of fanboyism lor. and semi-pro means prosumer dSLR lor. and of course sem-pro is
better than beginner dSLR rite???

lolz... i would say canon and nikon has its pros and cons... lets stay back to topic before a "fanboyism" flame war occur

haha, thanks:) D400 sounds like a good buy...

D400? Nikon doesnt have that model
i think you meant Canon 400D good luck in your buy get the best deal in town

A camera can only be as good as the person behind it...

My 2 cents for you:

Go to a shop and try the models you have in your mind. Ultimately it's you who will use the camera, not other people here giving you bunch of their opinions and making you all confused.

Go try the cameras in shop, how do they feel like in your hand? Do you feel comfortable holding them? Do you feel comfortable using them? Do you feel at home using the cameras? It'll be pointless if the camera blocks your way instead of making it easier for you to take the picture you have in your mind. Camera X may have features A - Z, but if you don't use them and it feels sluggish to use the camera, my suggestion is to go for another one. Better to have camera Y that has all the essential features that you'll need and feel snappy to use, than to have some features on a camera that you'll not use and making photography a pain than something you enjoy.

And forget about 6MP vs 8MP vs 10MP. They make no difference even when you print in A4.

Yes, yes, go try out all those cameras you have in mind at camera store and choose the one you liked most. You wont go wrong with any of these cameras, be it Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus, Pentax or others, it all depends on your budget. Let's enjoy photographing rather than head-aching on which brand to choose! Just my 2 cents!

since this is your 1st foray into dslr, its good to get something you feel comfortable with.

personally the 1st thing I look for is the price, i got my dslr for RM1.5k with a kit lens. Since your budget is more flexible, i would suggest u get a decent body and shop for some good fast lens and forget the kit lens

invest on a good memory card too and get some filters or at least a UV filter.

look at what brand your friends go for, and you might just get them to lend you some lens to tryout.

ultimately even if you spend 10k on a camera but dont know how to fully utilize it, its just gonna be a very expensive P & S.

that is so true

choosing brand is also important, as you are investing on its system, lighting lens etc...

unless you have commitment to buy more onther brands, no want to hold you down you plain rich guy, hahahaha

ahhaha..rich? if i'm rich, i wouldnt care what camera to buy. just keep buying new ones if its not good:P

no such thing as prosumer dslr
prosumer is prosumer, dslr is dslr

erm quite true, but i think what he meant is semi pro pro user intended camera, d200 against d2

i see the other day, pro only shot with a point and shot camera, and the pic advertise
hmm, its really whose behind the wheel