Good high ISO DSLR for < $800 (new or used)

[elty]

I am wondering if anything under $800 has good low ISO performance? There are so many new model I am confused how they rank against each other: Nikon D3000/5000/90 Canon XS/T1i 40D Sony A500...

Not looking to buy now, just asking ahead in case some amazing deal comes up.

[trixstar]

A canon 40d will provide you with good results

[v_tofu]

I like Nikon

Someone else likes Canon

Some other Dude likes Sony.

Just go and try the bloody thing out at a store. Put it in your hands and if you like it, get it. If not, try something else out. Bring your own memory card so you can pixelpoop the crap out of it when you get home.

www.dpreview.com does side by sides comparisons. go there and pixel poops it.

[andrew_plamondon]

In that price range the D90 is pretty much the best thing you can have. Its down-played counterpart (D5000 I think) is cheaper and contains pretty much the same internal components. Put a fast glass on this and you're set.

I have the 40D and I'm thinking of switching to Nikon exactly for the low-light stuff.

[GSRee]

Not an exhaustive list of cameras in the list, but something to look at:

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/DxOMark-Sensor

Can go to the low iso tab and filter by price to see what fits your budget.

(The new Pentax k-x is one of the cameras not listed, and it's been getting pretty great high iso reviews, so that's another one to consider.)

[Kasakato]

Not an exhaustive list of cameras in the list, but something to look at:

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/DxOMark-Sensor

Can go to the low iso tab and filter by price to see what fits your budget.

(The new Pentax k-x is one of the cameras not listed, and it's been getting pretty great high iso reviews, so that's another one to consider.)

DXO sucks. Better off using real reviews.

[avillegas]

The Pentax K-x uses a sensor that has less noise (so far seen) than the Pentax K-7 which dpreview found to have less sensor noise than cameras such as the Nikon D300 and the Canon 50D. Goes for $700 with a kit lens. I'd recommend that over other DSLRs if you are looking strictly at the lowest sensor noise out there for your budget.

[joejoo]

The a700 for $799 is a great deal right now...

[gotak]

Are you asking low ISO or low light?

Low ISO why are you asking? They all do ok. You should just pick one within your price range based on ergonomics and total cost (including cost of lenses and flash etc etc) to get what you need to do the photography you want to do.

Low light? It's best to give up on the idea that one modern camera (or brand of camera) out there is much better any any other camera. They all cannot produce crystal clear noise free images at high ISO settings in low/no light conditions. In some ways the obsession people have with high ISO low light is at this point misguided. We'd all like higher ISO with less noise but I'd rather they put more effort into making higher dynamic range personally.

[Slimfast]

where can you find the a700 for $799?

[KorruptioN]

The a700 for $799 is a great deal right now...

where can you find the a700 for $799?

I think it was a one-day thing only... a smokin' deal if you ask me:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/sony_alpha/discuss/72157622689963380/

[rayt-]

How about this A700 with 16-105mm for $1199.99? Or A230 with 18-55mm for $429.99? Not too familiar with Sony DSLRs but saw this posted in the hot deals section in case you want to check it out. :P

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/sony-weekend-blowout-sale-tv-cameras-cost-gta-only-delta-hotel-markham-807246/

[xtracrispy123]

I'm a little moved towards the K-x myself... I personally think that the colors are cool, and I also like to use prime lenses because they're wider aperture and genrally sharper than swiss-army zooms.

Now that Pentax has a good iso sensor, it looks like a steal to me considering it also has video!!!

Only downside is that there appears to be a smaller market for their lenses, s it'd be more difficult to sell or buy used ones :(

[Spinoza]

i love nikon but I would a d60 or d40 over the d3000.

[Firebot]

I think it was a one-day thing only... a smokin' deal if you ask me:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/sony_alpha/discuss/72157622689963380/

DOH!

At that price I would have bought it then sold my A200, such a smoking hot deal for such a great camera.

[manixc]

Only downside is that there appears to be a smaller market for their lenses, s it'd be more difficult to sell or buy used ones :(

i will confirm this :(

[donkeyman]

Only downside is that there appears to be a smaller market for their lenses, s it'd be more difficult to sell or buy used ones :(

Smaller market = yes
More difficult to buy = yes
More difficult to sell = false; Because the market is so small, anything that goes on sale gets scooped up quite quickly.

I'm constantly trading (buying/selling) Pentax lenses and they are so easy to get rid of. But trying to buy a particular lens is like a needle in a haystack.

[avillegas]

Smaller market = yes
More difficult to buy = yes
More difficult to sell = false; Because the market is so small, anything that goes on sale gets scooped up quite quickly.

I'm constantly trading (buying/selling) Pentax lenses and they are so easy to get rid of. But trying to a particular lens is like a needle in a haystack.
This is very true. >:(
On the plus side you can find yourself with some excellent lenses for decent prices. My 50mm f1.7 manual lens cost me around $40 and is older than I am (25+ years old) but works beautifully.

[mk5gti]

i love nikon but I would a d60 or d40 over the d3000.

can somebody give me some pointers why buy a D90 over a D5000? i do'nt have probably spending a little extra, the LCD thing doesn't do anything for me. just performance wise.

I am new to nikon, so any tips would be good.

[tiijei]

can somebody give me some pointers why buy a D90 over a D5000? i do'nt have probably spending a little extra, the LCD thing doesn't do anything for me. just performance wise.

I am new to nikon, so any tips would be good.

The only thing I can think of is the LCD, pentaprism(D90) vs pentamirror(D5000) [basically bigger/brighter viewfinder] and in-body motor (Your able to use autofocus on older non AF-S autofocus lenses).

[Slimfast]

The only thing I can think of is the LCD, pentaprism(D90) vs pentamirror(D5000) [basically bigger/brighter viewfinder] and in-body motor (Your able to use autofocus on older non AF-S autofocus lenses).

More dedicated controls, bigger body, top LCD screen, higher LCD res (920K vs 230K)