Camera Labs

I guess I don't get it!

Oh well, I am basing my facts on 30 year old lenses.

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-Evan

Gear: 7 Nikon Nikkor AI-S and AF-S lenses, SB-700 flash, Nikon D7000, Nikon FM, variety of accessories

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."
- Ansel Adams

Yes but your experience is more then rather limited, if you have any at all.
Olympus has always had good glass. Sony's glass is not to shabby either especially once you start looking around. I find that Tokina usually produces better lenses then canon does (not including the L line up). Pentax I don't know too much about but they are owed by Hoya, and hoya is known for their filters and they make the glass in tokina's lenses.

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Check out: http://www.eagle1337.deviantart.com/
Camera: Canon Rebel T1i
Lens: Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm OS DC HSM f/2.8-4, ef-s 18-55mm IS, ef-s 55-250mm IS. EF 50mm F/1.8
Tripod: Giottos MTL9351B with a MH 5001 head.
Bag: lowepro Slingshot 202 AW. Cards: Sandisk Ultra 2, Lexar MicroSDHC.

So Evan, were you dishing out advice on a digital system based on experience with analogue 30 years ago?

I bet you recommend GM cars to everyone too "for their reliability"

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/53061745@N02/

Panasonic G3: 9-18mm, 14mm, 20mm, 45mm

Haha, no.

Yes, my experience is very limited with other brands. I've mainly been a Nikon shooter, for the reason that I've been most impressed with their glass, hence that's why I recommend their lenses. I do like other brands, but since I've gotten best results with Nikon, I recommend them. Sorry if I offended anybody with my post.

And no, I don't recommend GM

I drive Honda

_________________
-Evan

Gear: 7 Nikon Nikkor AI-S and AF-S lenses, SB-700 flash, Nikon D7000, Nikon FM, variety of accessories

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."
- Ansel Adams

as your friend is looking for lightweight system for travel and hiking, wouldn`t premium compact of some sort make the most sense.
With relative big zooms, easier to carry and protect from the elements and low weight, they are the ultimate travel/hiking camera. If it doesn`t meet the requirements and later a DSLR is needed it would still make a very good back up. So nothing to loose really.
And you did say your friend was only now moving to digital, so a good compacts wouldn`t be a bad choice in my opinion.

ie Canon powershot S90 or 95 would be my choice.


I once choose a SLR and lenses based on low weight for hiking purposes. Bad choice really as I ended up compromising too much.


http://www.cameralabs.com/buyers_guide/ ... mera.shtml