D80, XTi or Alpha
Any advice out there?
I've been thinking I'd finally take the digital plunge after resisting for years. I'm afraid I grew up with a dad who helped define photography in the analog world and digital just hasn't measured up to those standards until recently. At any rate, it looks worth playing with to me now so I've been shopping for a good mid range camera.
I've been leaning towards the Canon XTi since I thought a commitment to new glass was part of the equation and I really like the lens on my Canon XL2 video camera. Too bad that lens won't fit the XTi.
Then I discover the Sony Alpha can accept the Minolta lenses I already have on my film cameras. Dad always bought the bets lenses available for doing aerial work late in the day when light was low. That's a definite point in the alphas favor with a big if... see below.
The other camera under consideration is th Nikon D80. My brother bought one this week because he already owns a couple of Nikon lenses. I haven't used it, but I like the way the D80 feels in your hand.
Heres the more below part. Handling these cameras and the D5 and D1 in the store, I noticed that if you put the lens on manual and rack over to the infinity stop, it's gone past infinity. The sales guy gave me some jive about having to have lens compatibility for all applications such as analog bodies with infrared film. Seems like any good engineer could calculate the focal plain and put the sensor there couldn't they?
I have not gone back wit my lenses to check with the Alpha. Has anyone else noticed this or is everyone happy with the speed of their auto focus? I know the XL2 has problems finding something to focus on when the racers are on the opposite side of the race course on a clear day.
This ia also an issue for aerial work where you want to be dead on infinity.
I'm looking for feedback on the lens issue described as well as experiences with the XTi, D80 and Alpha.
I've been thinking I'd finally take the digital plunge after resisting for years. I'm afraid I grew up with a dad who helped define photography in the analog world and digital just hasn't measured up to those standards until recently. At any rate, it looks worth playing with to me now so I've been shopping for a good mid range camera.
I've been leaning towards the Canon XTi since I thought a commitment to new glass was part of the equation and I really like the lens on my Canon XL2 video camera. Too bad that lens won't fit the XTi.
Then I discover the Sony Alpha can accept the Minolta lenses I already have on my film cameras. Dad always bought the bets lenses available for doing aerial work late in the day when light was low. That's a definite point in the alphas favor with a big if... see below.
The other camera under consideration is th Nikon D80. My brother bought one this week because he already owns a couple of Nikon lenses. I haven't used it, but I like the way the D80 feels in your hand.
Heres the more below part. Handling these cameras and the D5 and D1 in the store, I noticed that if you put the lens on manual and rack over to the infinity stop, it's gone past infinity. The sales guy gave me some jive about having to have lens compatibility for all applications such as analog bodies with infrared film. Seems like any good engineer could calculate the focal plain and put the sensor there couldn't they?
I have not gone back wit my lenses to check with the Alpha. Has anyone else noticed this or is everyone happy with the speed of their auto focus? I know the XL2 has problems finding something to focus on when the racers are on the opposite side of the race course on a clear day.
This ia also an issue for aerial work where you want to be dead on infinity.
I'm looking for feedback on the lens issue described as well as experiences with the XTi, D80 and Alpha.
The glass is much better and the pictures just look better.
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