I'm an amateur that is looking for a good beginners camera and i have narrowed it down to the Pentax zx-7 and the Canon Rebel 2000. I have looked through every internet review I can find, and I can't decide which one to get. PLEASE HELP ME.

-- Ricardo Sanchez (ricardo_sg@hotmail.com), March 28, 2001

Answers

I'd go for the Canon Rebel 2000. It's got a better/faster autofocus. Other features are better on the Canon as well. I have to admit that I am biased, but everybody else is too, and even if I am biased the Canon is the better camera.

As far as a lens, I would recommend not getting the 28-80/90 that comes in the Rebel kit. I'd go for the 28-105mm, 24-85mm, 28-135mm, 28-70mm f/2.8 "L" (listed in order of price). If you can live without a zoom the 50mm f/1.8 is fast & sharp for less money.

It's hard to recommend a good telephoto zoom lens for any SLR that's not grossly expensive, but for sports use you might want one. Among the affordable ones the Canon 100-300 f/4.5-5.6 USM is the best built of the lot. The 100-300 f/5.6 "L" is the sharpest but kind of clunky/slow in use. It's also being discontinued.

-- Jim Strutz (jimstrutz@juno.com), March 28, 2001.

What about the system? If you continue your interest in photography, then you will want to buy more lenses etc. Pentax have a very limited range. Canon a very large range (as do Nikon). So on that basis choose Canon. FYI I own Nikon kit.

-- Leif Goodwin (lgoodwin@racalinst.co.uk), March 29, 2001.

Well, I think counting the number of lenses in each system may not be the best way to choose. Look at the lenses in each system; look at their prices in (for example) bhphotovideo.com; and consider whether you are likely to buy the lenses in one system that are unavailable in the other. Many of the additional lens choices are at the fringes: $1,300 tilt and shift lenses, long telephotos costing $4,000 and up, etc. If you can't get lenses that YOU think you might want to buy over the next five years or so, that would be relevant.

You might go to a camera store and see how the two feel in your hands. Is the viewfinder easy to see? Go through the motions of taking a photograph. Does one camera seem easier to use than the other?

You still may have a hard time chosing. Take comfort in the fact that either camera is capable of taking excellent photographs. The choice of lenses is more important than the choice of camera bodies. (Hint: as Jim said, avoid cheap kit zoom lenses). Today's excellent films may make a bigger contribution to quality than variation among lenses. And the main determinent of the quality of the photograph is the photographer. To improve the quality of the photographer, you might want to read some of the books recommended in Photo.net (e.g., do a search on "books" to find titles).

Really, it's hard to go wrong in choosing a camera. Any 50mm lens is optically great. With a little care, you can get a fine (not great, but plenty good enough) 28-105mm or so zoom. Even if you get a 28-200mm zoom, often derided on photo.net, you still are likely to be pleased with the photographs it produces (and if you are not pleased, go back to the part about improving the photographer by reading a good book).

Oh, and if you intend to take flashlit pictures indoors, get a tilt and swivel flash (don't settle for tilt only!!)

-- Michael Lopez (mlopez@ers.usda.gov), March 29, 2001.

PS: You needn't feel obligated to buy lenses and flash units made by the camera manufacturer.

-- Michael Lopez (mlopez@ers.usda.gov), March 29, 2001.

ZX-5N is by far the best in that price range....

-- Paula Davies (pdavies@haskel.com), June 11, 2001.

Pentax has been a maker of the finest cameras over the years. My dad still owns a Pentax which he bought 20 years back, and guess what? it still defeats any "Modern-day" camera. I too was a little "wowed" by the features a canon 2000 rebel has, but lets face it...canons are just too flimsy to be in the SLR-line up. I found each and every feature was just as available in a Pentax. The only difference i could find was the shutter was a little less noisier. But hey, are you gonna get a camera just cause it makes less noise? Do me, and everybody else a favour here..by going to a shop yourself taking the two cameras in your hand and comparing, to see which fits your "profile". in my opinion...pentax, just has that quality edge...and you can't go wrong with the lenses. Which reminds me, anyone in here who has any hatred towards a pentax lens..consider this, Pentax Optics are by far the highest quality comparable only to a nikon..unfortunately the nikon weighs like a battle tanker. Moreover the Pentax ME my dad owns from over 20 years back is still compatible with EACH AND EVERY LENS in the pentax lineup. what more could you ask for??? Please spread this message to all the jerks out there who keep spreading rumours that there arent enough pentax lenses... please visit http://www.pentax.com yourself and decide! heck, there are even various versions of a single type of focal length. However, you should truly consider a ZX-5n over a ZX-7...i think its just around 30$ extra(and pump in the 40$ manufacturer rebate too!!) and offers Depth-Of-Field preview...a great feature that can unleash your creativeness.

-- Nirmal Eddy (nirmaleddy@yahoo.com), January 12, 2002.

I agreed, I think the Pentax is far more better then the Canon Rebel 2000. Not to many people know Pentax is a camera company, so they can easily think that Canon is far better then Pentax. I do admire that Canon has gone this far with Nikon and Pentax in the SLA products. But Canon is only 3rd place when it comes to comparing with Pentax and Nikon. But at times, Canon do have a higher selection on Cameras, but it will just drive yourself crazy in comparing which item is better.

-- Cindy Yum (cwn0321@hotmail.com), January 30, 2002.

Actually, I am using canon camera since 10 years and I think this is the best camera to get started.Go for it. It has vast metering facilities and can focus very fast.

-- rohit shrestha (rohitk_shr@yahoo.com), February 12, 2002.

I have owned a Rebel 2000 for 2 years, and love it! My pic. turn out great everytime as long as I do my part. I have took action shots that have frozen the action perfectly. One shot of a 4-wheeler jump is caught in mid air, you can read the words on the tires! Do some reading and learn how to improve your skills as a photographer, and any good quality camera will give you good results, but in my opinion, the Canon is the best for the money, and the EF lens(s) are very good.

-- Tim Johnson (jtim10@yahoo.com), June 13, 2002.