NEW CAMERA........think im going to bite the bullet

key

been wanting a good camera for some time. not the little pocket digitals. seen a thread on hear with someone just getting the canon 50D. ebay had one with a 18-200 lens for 1599. is there any others i should look at around this price range that are better for any reason. please explain for i am a cam-idiot for now. thanks...

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

Nikon D300 - But I'm nikon biased.
Have you done your reading about the camera at all the different sites?
www.dpreview.com
www.robgalbraith.com

MojoPin · Posted: Mar 04, 2009 4:13 am Post subject:

Dragonlady8, Agree. Love that camera. AND I used to be a Canon-guy.

key · Posted: Mar 04, 2009 4:26 am Post subject:

ive been doing some reading,....yes. is there something im missing toward the negative aspect?? ill check out the nikon as well.

ky1e · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 2693

I really want to start getting into photography as well. I am moving to the beach next year and have a serious interest in surf photography or just pictures of the ocean (being that it is clearwater beach it will most likely be flat ocean sunset shots Laughing

). What do you guys think is a good starter camera for the REAL cameras. Dragonlady8, still the Nikon D300 or is there anything a little cheaper that I can jump in with. I can't imagine dropping almost $2k on a camera without even having bought a lens or any other equipment yet Laughing

without knowing if I have a legitimate interest in photography.
Then I come to the crossroads that what if I do love it and i spent $800 on a camera and now I want to get the damn $2000 camera!! What is the average cost of a setup. I know NOTHING about cameras like this. What kind of lenses do I buy, and how many? I just love seeing REAL photos and how great the quality is of them. That Nikon must take unreal photos at 12.3 megapixels.

ky1e · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 2693

WOW WOW WOW That Cannon 50D is 15 megapixels and cheaper than the Nikon. Is megapixels not what determines these fancy cameras? When you buy one, do they come with no lens? or do they come with one lens but not a good one? Is ebay a good place to buy cameras. I wouldn't be against buying something used, almost for it because like I said, what if I don't love it. Now that I have this macbook pro, I'd really like to get into this. With mac's do you still use photoshop or is there a different program? Sorry for the million questions...

goofyboy · Posted: Mar 04, 2009 5:47 am Post subject:

I bought the Nikon D40. it is a great camera to break into the digital SLR world. I got the camera and two lenses for around $600.

jeff7 · Outlaw Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 227 City: Monticello

The canon d50 is an awesome cam as well as the nikon.....try to find the best deal on the camera you can because I'd put my money in glass....the lenses are where its at. Its not always a megapixel battle either....check out www.dpreview.com they have some great reviews on all the latest cameras and check out fredmiranda.com for lens reviews and other cool info. I've got a friend who shoots professionally as a wedding photographer and hes told me before that some of the images from the rebel xt series of cameras rival his 5d when used right. I shoot a canon rebel xti and with good glass the images are awesome! but the good glass is pricey!!!! my .02...

key · Posted: Mar 04, 2009 6:42 am Post subject:

4GB memory can hold approx. how many photos??

ky1e · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 2693

http://digitalsfuture.com/products/nikon-d300-slr-digital-camera-camera-body
Nikon D300 for $759, but no lens. Is this a good deal or by the time you have to buy all the stuff to get the camera to even turn on, will it turn out to be the same price as all the other stores?

finkle · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 4067

key, depends on what format you are shooting in I believe.

ilubronix, keep looking around. You will figure out what is a good deal and what isn't. Also, there are a ton of websites that will sell camera bodies but there are A LOT that I wouldn't buy from even though they are cheaper. You may have to wait a long time to get it or it may be a refurb even if listed as new. It might not be warrantied even though it says it is. You'll learn a lot if you go to a brick and mortar store that strictly sells cameras and camera accessories. They will acknowledge that their prices are higher than what can be had on the internet but they can also make up for it in other ways.

Some advice that was given to me; buy your body from some place reputable and get your lenses on ebay.

key · Posted: Mar 04, 2009 8:13 am Post subject:

FINKLE: format for idiots = ?
how many MP etc.?

sorry just trying to learn as i go. my aunts got some book on photography she is going to dig out before i get up there in april. so trying to take in what i can for now before i make a purchase. thanks......

key · Posted: Mar 04, 2009 8:24 am Post subject:

ok,.............ill come clean..............looking at this pretty hard. whatcha think?

http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=CNEOS50D18200#CASES

finkle · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 4067

key, seems a little high to me but I haven't shopped around recently. I know there are other people on here that know WAY more than I do.

Your aunt's book is probably old unless your aunt is a photog buff. It likely has more to do with lighting and such.

As far as format, I THINK that if you shoot in RAW you will have fewer pics per gb as they are uncompressed files.

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

1. Make sure you research who you are going to purchase from. Many, many online camera dealers are shady, sell gray market when claiming US, and love the bait and switch. You can avoid all this by going to www.bhphotovideo.com. '

2. when you get a lens with big ranges 18-200 or 35-300 you compromise quality. You are best served getting a couple a lenses. There is no one size fits all, but the 24-105L is a great walk around lens.

3. More megapixels does not mean it's a better camera. Much like horsepower in a car, so what if you have 400hp, how are you using it and what is the torque.

4. With the 5D MII coming to market there are thousands of used 5Ds out there that will provide better results than the Canon consumer line, and provide access to a better range of lenses. With the 5D you get a full frame sensor, see point 3.

5. A 4GB card gets me 750+ photos on my 5D shooting in JPEG.

6. Lots of great used gear on Fred Miranda.

key · Posted: Mar 04, 2009 10:43 am Post subject:

FINKLE: is there a sorce that you know of that will teach me the insight to this camera if i get it? the sight offers a cd tutorial for it. are these type cd's worth the money?? i dont want to dump money into this thing and dont learn hot to use it and its functions.

Dragonlady8 · Black Widow Joined: 27 Aug 2004 Posts: 9198

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810

I'd look at the Canon 40D over the 50D. During the holidays I got a chance to fondle both at the store and I'd definitely save money and pick up the less expensive 40D. There's a few added features on the newer 50D, but not enough to justify the extra cost IMO. Both are very capable cameras, though, as are most cameras that retail for over $1000.

And for reference, my friend picked up a 40D, kit lens (the better of the two kit lenses), 8gig Sandisk memory card, Canon timer remote and a nice backpack for $1500 out the door. And this was at a local pro shop, so you should be able to do even better online.

If you're looking at Nikons, the D80 and D90 are closer in features to the Canon 40D and 50D. The D300 is a step up which is why it's more expensive. So yes, there are solid options at a lower price point than the D300.

Also, www.resellerratings.com is a great site to use if you wanna see if an online shop is legit. With cameras, if it's 'too good to be true' then it typically is.

key- I'd hold off on picking up any 'how-to' type of books because the internet is FULL of stuff like this.

key · Posted: Mar 05, 2009 2:05 am Post subject:

SCOTT A: point me in the right direction..............im an internet idiot as well. sorry...........what just do a search on camera functions?? Embarassed

key · Posted: Mar 05, 2009 2:15 am Post subject:

JRYOUNG: what would be a good three for lenses? one for close ups, one for midrange, and one for far off shots. i guess this is the ones people use huh?? give me a little explanation on the numbers of the lens/ what they mean. once again........trying to learn as much as possible. Embarassed

key · Posted: Mar 05, 2009 4:56 am Post subject:

ok. once again i have been checking around on the net trying to learn about the 50d. good god all mighty at all the functions and settings this thing has. i need some books or something to help me learn about all this. ive always been interested in photography since high school. doing some photography and developing in art class. but never persued learning about ISO's, METERING, HIGHLIGHT, SHUTTER SPEED, MACRO, RAW, LIVE, LENSES, etc, etc, etc. like i said before,....i dont want to dump the money into it and not know all its functions. i think maybe a small photography class is in order. or some online book or cds i can buy. HELP ME GET STARTED GUYS!!!!

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810

A lot of the "what is ISO, Live View" etc will be answered in the manual that comes with a new camera body.

edrex · Posted: Mar 05, 2009 1:24 pm Post subject:

Ejazzle · Soul Rider Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 345 City: Tequesta

key, the best way to learn about all this stuff you are confused about is to just grab the camera, read the manual a little bit. But most of all. Just bust out the camera and start messing with all the little knobs and dohickeys. And go with the 50d, if you have some money laying around for nice glass. I wouldnt put a kit lens on that sexy beast.

key · Posted: Mar 06, 2009 2:06 am Post subject:

well i think today im going to buy it. but it does come with a 18-200 with the "kit" sort of speak. so if i dont buy it like that, EJAZZLE,... what you recomend as a legit piece of glass?? several lenses or just one in particular?? i really want to be able to do close ups, sunsets, waterfalls, and have a nice zoom. thanks for all the help!!!!

edrex · Posted: Mar 06, 2009 7:51 am Post subject:

If this is your first dSLR then you might consider sticking with the kit lens for a bit and find your shooting style before dropping cash on nice glass.
I bought my 40d with the kit 35-128 lens which is actually a decent lens for what it does and still gets used at times. I have since added a 50mm 1.8 which is cheap and good (around $80 I think) and also a Sigma 15mm 2.8 which I use for skate photography. Next on my list will probably be a 70-200mm to add some more zoom to my arsenal.
If I had first bought the glass I thought I needed with the camera body instead of the kit lens I would probably have gotten the 70-200mm. Turns out when I got my camera and really started shooting with it, that lens was not on top of my list anymore.

Ejazzle · Soul Rider Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 345 City: Tequesta

Get the 70-200 f/2.8L non IS and the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 and youll be pretty set.

key · Posted: Mar 06, 2009 10:16 am Post subject:

thanks EJAZZLE!! ive ben reading through what EDREX sent. pretty informative. but like he said nothing like playing with it in hand. Shocked

seriously though...........preciate it.

Ejazzle · Soul Rider Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 345 City: Tequesta

do work

key · Posted: Mar 09, 2009 4:42 am Post subject:

well i did bite the bullet. but made a few adjustments. i bought the 50d with the 28-135 lens. want to add a few other lenses to my arsenal, but for now i think this will get me started.

now i have to wait until the first of april to get home and use it. Sad

key · Posted: Mar 09, 2009 5:03 am Post subject:

i checked for the lenses you recomended EJAZZLE. but didnt see either of the two.

EDREX: you mention a 50mm 1.8 FOR $80 BUCKS. UM,.....i dont see any lenses on the cheap like that. everything i see is way up there,...like 600 or more. i see this could get really expensive QUICK.

edrex · Posted: Mar 09, 2009 9:20 am Post subject:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8-Camera-Lens/dp/B00007E7JU/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1236618969&sr=8-1

This is the 50mm I was talking about. The 1.8 aperture makes it a fast lens and give you really shallow depth of field when you want it (depth of field has to do with how much of the picture is in focus so a shallow depth means that what you fucus on will be sharp but the background and foreground will be blurry which can add a really nice touch to some shots).
The 28-135 is really a decent lens even though its a kit lens. The Image Stabilization is nice, it is quick to focus, and it has a good useful zoom range. You'll dig it.
Also, this CAN get expensive really fast. Thats why you should really take your time to plan out your next lens and make sure its what you need. If you find that you are shooting your 28-135 at full zoom alot and wish you had more length then you know you need a higher zoom. If you find that 28mm is not letting you get wide enough then look for something wider. Do all the research you can, talk to as many people as you can that actually shoot with a lens you are interested in, and you'll be able to make informed decisions instead of just taking one persons word because that lens worked well for them.
Here is a good refernce site for lens reviews and info:
http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showcat.php/cat/2

key · Posted: Mar 09, 2009 10:07 am Post subject:

really good info from you guys preciate it!!!!! i found this site as well: www.dslrtips.com.

now its time to sit down and start reading............ Cool

Ejazzle · Soul Rider Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 345 City: Tequesta

you gotta check ebay for that 70-200

and heres the Canon 24-70
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/264304-USA/Canon_8014A002_Zoom_Wide_Angle_Telephoto_EF.html

but get the tamron if you want that focal range.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/284399-REG/Tamron_AF09C700_28_75mm_f_2_8_XR_Di.html

The tamron is actually better.

oh and here is the sigma 18-50.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/463428-REG/Sigma_581101_18_50mm_f_2_8_EX_DC.html

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810