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I'm looking for suggestions for a camera body and three lenses: a zoom lens
for general work, a wide-angle lens for landscapes, and a long telephoto
(500-750mm equivalent) for distant landmarks and the occasional moose
browsing on the other side of the lake.

The two criteria are: 1) the camera+lenses must weigh as little as possible,
and 2) the total cost should not be more than $2500.

Thanks.

--
John

John Smith <> writes:
> The two criteria are: 1) the camera+lenses must weigh as little as possible,
> and 2) the total cost should not be more than $2500.

Are you sure you want a DSLR? Maybe you want one or two compact
digicams and a monocular adapter or digiscoping rig.

I can confirm that the Pentax *istDL is nice and compact / light.
I can comfortably fit the Pentax body with Tamron 28-200mm lens into the
pocket of a fleece jacket.

--
www.srsteel.co.uk
http://www.srsteel.co.uk/Panorama
http://www.srsteel.co.uk/landscape
http://www.srsteel.co.uk/Peru




"Paul Rubin" <http://> wrote in message
news:...
> John Smith <> writes:
>> The two criteria are: 1) the camera+lenses must weigh as little as
>> possible,
>> and 2) the total cost should not be more than $2500.
>
> Are you sure you want a DSLR? Maybe you want one or two compact
> digicams and a monocular adapter or digiscoping rig.

simon wrote:
> I can confirm that the Pentax *istDL is nice and compact / light.
> I can comfortably fit the Pentax body with Tamron 28-200mm lens into
> the pocket of a fleece jacket.
>
>
> "Paul Rubin" <http://> wrote in message
> news:...
>> John Smith <> writes:
>>> The two criteria are: 1) the camera+lenses must weigh as little as
>>> possible,
>>> and 2) the total cost should not be more than $2500.
>>
>> Are you sure you want a DSLR? Maybe you want one or two compact
>> digicams and a monocular adapter or digiscoping rig.

But why is your right shoulder so droopy? Is this a congenital deformity?

In article <ehffsd$s5t$>, simon says...
> I can confirm that the Pentax *istDL is nice and compact / light.
> I can comfortably fit the Pentax body with Tamron 28-200mm lens into the
> pocket of a fleece jacket.

But does it have a 500-750mm lens (which the OP is asking for)? To my
knowledge there is no compact 500-750mm (even 35mm equivalent) DLSR lens
currently on the market.
--

Alfred Molon
------------------------------
Olympus 50X0, 7070, 8080, E300, E330, E400 and E500 forum at
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/MyOlympus/
Olympus E330 resource - http://myolympus.org/E330/

In article <>, John Smith
says...
> I'm looking for suggestions for a camera body and three lenses: a zoom lens
> for general work, a wide-angle lens for landscapes, and a long telephoto
> (500-750mm equivalent) for distant landmarks and the occasional moose
> browsing on the other side of the lake.
>
> The two criteria are: 1) the camera+lenses must weigh as little as possible,
> and 2) the total cost should not be more than $2500.

The new Olympus E400 is the smallest DSLR on the market, but the problem
is the long telephoto lens 500-750mm, which is not compact.
--

Alfred Molon
------------------------------
Olympus 50X0, 7070, 8080, E300, E330, E400 and E500 forum at
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/MyOlympus/
Olympus E330 resource - http://myolympus.org/E330/

Alfred Molon <> writes:
> But does it have a 500-750mm lens (which the OP is asking for)? To my
> knowledge there is no compact 500-750mm (even 35mm equivalent) DLSR lens
> currently on the market.

There have been some quite tiny 300mm mirror lenses for 35mm. They
were probably crap though.

In article <>,
Alfred Molon <> wrote:

> In article <ehffsd$s5t$>, simon says...
> > I can confirm that the Pentax *istDL is nice and compact / light.
> > I can comfortably fit the Pentax body with Tamron 28-200mm lens into the
> > pocket of a fleece jacket.
>
> But does it have a 500-750mm lens (which the OP is asking for)? To my
> knowledge there is no compact 500-750mm (even 35mm equivalent) DLSR lens
> currently on the market.

Save your money, you'll never have the lens ready to use unless you camp
for days in one spot waiting for animal you think will appear. Even then
it probably won't pay for itself.
--
Reality-Is finding that perfect picture
and never looking back.

www.gregblankphoto.com

John Smith wrote:
> I'm looking for suggestions for a camera body and three lenses: a zoom lens
> for general work, a wide-angle lens for landscapes, and a long telephoto
> (500-750mm equivalent) for distant landmarks and the occasional moose
> browsing on the other side of the lake.
>
> The two criteria are: 1) the camera+lenses must weigh as little as possible,
> and 2) the total cost should not be more than $2500.

Um, right. Well, the sticking point is the big zoom, of course.
Probably the closest you will get will be the Tamron 200-500mm ( ~300mm
- 750mm equivalent) f/5.6 zoom. It goes for about $850. It weighs 2.7
lbs. That leaves you with less than $1700 for body and two other
lenses. You could, for about that much, get a Nikon D50 and a Sigma
18-200mm (~27mm-300mm equivalent) zoom. The D50 goes for about $550 and
the Sigma for $380. The Sigma will do everything from wide-angle to
telephoto. That would be close to being the cheapest way to go.

Nikons tend to run an ounce or two more than the equivalent Canon in
this price range, but if you are willing to lug around a 3 lb. lens,
what is an ounce or two one way or the other?

But, since these are generic lenses, you can probably get a Canon 30D
or even a Nikon D80 and still be within your budget.

In article < .com>,
cjcampbell <> wrote:

> John Smith wrote:
> > I'm looking for suggestions for a camera body and three lenses: a zoom lens
> > for general work, a wide-angle lens for landscapes, and a long telephoto
> > (500-750mm equivalent) for distant landmarks and the occasional moose
> > browsing on the other side of the lake.
> >
> > The two criteria are: 1) the camera+lenses must weigh as little as possible,
> > and 2) the total cost should not be more than $2500.
>
> Um, right. Well, the sticking point is the big zoom, of course.
> Probably the closest you will get will be the Tamron 200-500mm ( ~300mm
> - 750mm equivalent) f/5.6 zoom. It goes for about $850. It weighs 2.7
> lbs. That leaves you with less than $1700 for body and two other
> lenses. You could, for about that much, get a Nikon D50 and a Sigma
> 18-200mm (~27mm-300mm equivalent) zoom. The D50 goes for about $550 and
> the Sigma for $380. The Sigma will do everything from wide-angle to
> telephoto. That would be close to being the cheapest way to go.
>
> Nikons tend to run an ounce or two more than the equivalent Canon in
> this price range, but if you are willing to lug around a 3 lb. lens,
> what is an ounce or two one way or the other?
>
> But, since these are generic lenses, you can probably get a Canon 30D
> or even a Nikon D80 and still be within your budget.


With that long lens, save a hundred bucks or so for a good
monopod/walking stick combo. Something like a Leki SIERRA AS staff
with a Bogen or Manfroto quick release head that you can put on it when
you need it to be a monopod.