Camera Labs

Agreed and unfortunately far too much marketing is pushed to consumers to say that a higher pixel count inherently means better quality images.

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Bodies: Canon EOS 550D w/ Magic Lantern
Lenses: Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX f/2.8, Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Accessories: YongNuo Speedlite YN-468 Flash, Neewer Macro LED Ring Light, Meike Battery Grip, YongNuo RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger & Receiver YongNuo WR-128 Wireless Remote Control

Wow, awesome post zackiedawg, thanks. I recently went to Ritz Camera to look at some of the cameras, and I must say the EVF on the Sony SLTs are terrible. Also, I prefer Sony or Canon because of the controls, interface, and relatively cheaper lenses than Nikon's

Some folks like EVFs, and some may not...I haven't been able to go over to an EVF because they don't allow me to shoot the types of shots I do easily - OVFs have been better for me. But also note that the new EVFs from the A65/77 are supposed to be significantly better than those of the A33/55 - so don't necessarily judge them the same.

I've been very happy in my upgrade from my A300 to my A550 - and haven't felt a need to upgrade since. I'm just now getting around to possible next cameras - and am waiting for more info and hands on with the A77...if it doesn't suit me, it'll likely be the A580 which is a nice evolutionary update from the A550. I can heartily recommend the A550, which I regularly shoot at ISO6400...far more than I could ever do with the A3xx series cameras.

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Justin Miller
Sony DSLR-A580 / Sony 18-250mm / Minolta 50mm F1.7 / Sigma 30mm F1.4 / Tamron 10-24mm / Tamron 200-500mm / Tamron 90mm F2.8 macro / Minolta 300mm F4 APO
Sony NEX5N / 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 / 55-210mm F4-6.3 / Pentax K adapter / Konica K/AR adapter / bunches o' Konica & Pentax lenses!

Galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg

I decided to go with the Sony a580 body for $800. The decision was pretty easy after seeing this post - http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/sony-a580-v ... 72055.html

I also picked up a Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS from Adorama for $470.

If you decided after looking at the 3 comparisons in your link ....... why not the D7000?

Hope you enjoy though.

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Nikon D700 & D7100 bodies + Nikkor 300mm F2.8 VR11, 1.7TC, 50mm F1.4G, 16-35mm f/4G VR, 105 F2.8 VR macro, 70-300mm lenses. A couple of filters, Giotto tripod & ballhead. Lowepro Slingshot 302 AW

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcarlos/

Aqsually,Nikon lenses are cheaper in terms of quality-per-price ratio than the Canons & especially the Sonys (but that depends on the country you're in too...)

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Gear: Nikon D80, 18-105mm, 35mm F/1.8, 85mm F/1.8, SB-600
Visit my work here

Congratulations...now you can start shooting and building up the lenses, and not worry about what to pick anymore!

The A580 is chock full of very cool abilities and features, so dig in and learn how to use them all, so you can master the camera and become the best photographer you can be. Don't overlook multistack ISO - it's truly unbelievable for handheld high ISO work. And you've got by far the best DSLR live view system there is, so don't be afraid to tilt that LCD and take shots from odd angles.

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Justin Miller
Sony DSLR-A580 / Sony 18-250mm / Minolta 50mm F1.7 / Sigma 30mm F1.4 / Tamron 10-24mm / Tamron 200-500mm / Tamron 90mm F2.8 macro / Minolta 300mm F4 APO
Sony NEX5N / 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 / 55-210mm F4-6.3 / Pentax K adapter / Konica K/AR adapter / bunches o' Konica & Pentax lenses!

Galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg

The D7000 was a bit more than I would've liked to spend, and I do not like Nikon's interface or controls at all.

one Sony lens that I recommand & that could handle a high resolution sensor is the 35mm F/1.8. very good optics & it's about 200$ too. (this option for a more walk-around role) as a 85mm,you only have the Sigma as an option.

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Gear: Nikon D80, 18-105mm, 35mm F/1.8, 85mm F/1.8, SB-600
Visit my work here

Depends on price willing to pay, and speed needed on the 85mm. There is of course the excellent Carl Zeiss 85mm F1.4, but it's $1400+. There's the Minolta 85mm F1.4 G if it can be found - used they tend to go for between $600-850. Or if that much speed isn't needed, there are cheap and very good options like the Tamron 90mm F2.8 which can be picked up usde under $100 and new under $200. And there's always the manual focus option, with the very well reviewed Samyang/Bower/etc 85mm F1.4 for around $200-250.

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Justin Miller
Sony DSLR-A580 / Sony 18-250mm / Minolta 50mm F1.7 / Sigma 30mm F1.4 / Tamron 10-24mm / Tamron 200-500mm / Tamron 90mm F2.8 macro / Minolta 300mm F4 APO
Sony NEX5N / 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 / 55-210mm F4-6.3 / Pentax K adapter / Konica K/AR adapter / bunches o' Konica & Pentax lenses!

Galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/zackiedawg

Thanks for the suggestions! I am still waiting for my Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 to ship, but I have heard some good things about it. This will be my walk-around lens, since the focal range is perfect for me. I've considered 18-105s and 18-200s, but I'm unsure about the speed/sharpness/vignetting/distortion for those. I prefer to have a telephoto for long zooms. (Tamron 70-300mm f4.0-5.6 Macro). Also, I don't feel the need to get an 85mm prime lens, since my 50mm f/1.7 gets the job done for me.

I like taking macro shots, and some landscapes as well. Don't take many portraits. (I find it kind of odd taking pictures of strangers, but I may get over that) http://www.flickr.com/photos/48137825@N05/

The 35mm f/1.8 sounds interesting; I will definitely look into that. I've also considered the 16-80mm Zeiss lens, but is it really worth double the price of the Sigma 17-70? Any other Sony lens suggestions are definitely welcome!

I don't think you'll get very sharp images with the sigma 17-70,but that's your choice.
btw,the 18-105mm is a Nikon lens. you might be referring to the 16-105mm btw,do check the review from photozone.de , that Sony zoom seems to have so-so optical performance overall.
As a zoom,I recommand the Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8,it has very good sharpness,you got constant F/2.8 & less cromatic aberations & distortsions compared to all the budget zoom out there.

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Gear: Nikon D80, 18-105mm, 35mm F/1.8, 85mm F/1.8, SB-600
Visit my work here