I have a dilemma here...I'm going to buy a Digital SLR camera and I'm in the $700+ price range. The three cameras I've mainly checked out are the Nikon D50, Canon Digital Rebel XT, and the Olympus e-volt e-500. They are all exceptional cameras, it's coming down to the little things. I really like the Olympus because of the vibration feature that clears the lens of dust. The D50 is 6 MP and the other two are 8 MP. If you have any advice or experience for these cameras please help me!

The Olympus dust cleaning system is for the sensor not the lenses and it is supposed to be a good camera system all round so I would say your choice is limited between that and the Canon. It's harder to make definitive choices between cameras now as the lines increasingly blur as technology moves along and often it just comes down to personal preference in this sector of the market.

The Olympus kit comes with two lenses: 14-45mm & 40-150mm while the Canon might come with one standard lense, I'm not totally sure. Take in mind that the Olympus is also cheaper...

I think you should play with all of your choices and see which one just feels best for you. Nikon are said to be better for landscapes and Canon are supposed to be better for sport birds etc. Also look to the accessories to see if one brand supports your interests better than another.

kit lenses are invariably crap regardless of the manufacturer and you'll find yourself wanting a better lens about a week after you get it. both the evolt and rebel get good reviews all round and both appear to score comparable ratings - your best bet will be to go try one out in store somewhere and see which feels best for you - it may end up being as simple as that.

Ok thanks guys, I wonder if I can rent? Ever heard of camera renting? lol

yes - plenty of rental companies exist.

oO Thanks I'll go scout one out.

The olympus or the canon. Well the canon is most likely a little faster for the action and is in its self a very good product But the olympus is a shooters camera , plus it has the on board dust removal system, I have had both and I woulld have to say they both have there pro's and con's. The main draw back about the olympus is the avalability of lenses by other manufacturers There are none except olympus and Sigma. And the olympus lenses can get rather exspiensive even to compared to most camera manufacturers lenses. But I think both are great system and you would do well with either.

I checked the Olympus official site and it comes with Zuiko lenses, add another one to the list?

There’s probably no need to rent. Your camera shop should let you at least go to the door and take a few shots down the street. If you take your own memory card you can play with the results at home.

All of the under $1000 DSLRs were tested a few months back. The Rebel XT won hands down, but the D50 has unbelievable value. Sure, it is slow and its menu systems are limiting, but it leaves you plenty of money to spend on lenses (which are more important anyways). Due to opticss and future upgrades, I would say stick with either Canon or Nikon. Canon glass is known for exceptional telephoto lenses while Nikon has their niche in wide angle. Also, Nikon lenses start applying really good optical quality at low prices while you really have the dish out the dough for superior Canon lenses. Again, the Rebel XT is definitly better, but your image is determined by your lens.

Yes it can come with Zuiko lenses the kit set is the best option. They are the basic lens set but the Zuiko lenses can get very exspensive.

check out the
www.dpreview.com
reviws on both cameras

Ok thanks I'll go check dp right now.

So here's the verdict: I'm hoping to go to a camera store this weekend and try each camera out like you guys suggested. I've printed off a pros/cons sheet for the D50, Digital Rebel XT and E-500 that I'm going to bring to the store with me and ask a salesperson to tell me a bit more about each camera and if he/she has had any experience with these cameras. Hopefully by doing this I'll be able to decide on which camera to purchase. Thanks for all the help, I would be lost without it.

-Nigel

You can also find some great deals on the Canon EOS 20D!

Darryl: if you can find a EOS 20D for $700, please, send me the adress by email... ;-)
(or a Nikon D200!)

what? you want a Nikon with a free stripey and noisy sensor attached? :-) There are definitely deals to be had at the moment, here in the UK you can already pick up a 30D for more than £200 less than it's recent launch price.

I've had a Nikon Coolpix 3200 for more than a year, and I just checked online and it costs an average of about 250 USD. Mine works great with about 40 preset settings for different environments. I don't know much about lenses though

Pierre, you want the 5D, it is full frame;-)

Yeah but the 5d takes a whole different set of lenses. That in it's self is a rather large investment.