Cameras??? Help Please...

Fireman32

Let me add another option. Do you not have a local camera store in your area? I would hate to buy my gear from Best Buy but if they are the only choice in your area you can at least pick up the camera. The reason I ask is that most of the local camera shops have a good selection of used bodies taken from trade ins. The D200 that I have I bought used and was very well taken care of by its previous owner and had a low shutter count. Then not only can you buy a higher end body but can maybe get a better lens then the kit 18-55mm. As far as megapixels all the current cameras out there will allow you to blow up a picture to a good size as long as you shoot in RAW format. My camera in 10 megapixels and I have printed quite big without an issue.

I am saving my pennies to get the D4 one day myself but thats a $6,000 body. Any body that you get will be good for you and save up for better glass. A good lens will cost you but will help in low light situations and they hold there value if you decide to seel down the line.

mrbiron

Tell that to this Pulitzer Prize winning photographer who used his iPhone under fire in Iraq

So why do you have all these fancy cameras when your iphone is so amazing. (I'm not razzing, i'm only asking)

Just to be clear, i'm not using the phone for pictures.............................

stretchl

They are professional tools. Each of the professional cameras works well in particular circumstances. One is a hammer, one is a saw, etc, etc.

I don't use them every day because they are too big and bulky and heavy to carry around as I do my iPhone. They are also too obtrusive for many situations. Once I start carrying my professional gear I'm always without the right lens or flash or tripod or whatever because the choices are virtually limitless.

One of the beauties of the iPhone is that I am strictly limited in particular ways and I have to work creatively within those parameters.

My point, one that any professional photographer worth her salt will agree with, is that what's important isn't the camera, it's your eye.

Take a look at the two attached covers from the National Geographic and ask yourself which kind of photographer you'd rather be. The photographer on the right, Koko, is technically proficient enough to score a cover of the NGS; the photographer on the left, Steve McCurry, creates art on a regular basis. The camera's not important. The photographer is.

Face

Ok, what did we learn here folks?

mrbiron doesn't need a camera, he only needs photography lessons.

EndersShadow

nguyendot wrote: »

I wonder if you meant LCD display?

My mistake that is what I meant. The LCD display shows only the settings you have for the camera, not what your shooting so you have to use the viewfinder.

Some folks may find that a turn off. Personally if I am using it rather than my ~200 dollar Sony point and shoot or my iPhone its because I want to make sure I get just the right picture and would use the viewfinder even if I didnt need to.

stretchl

Face wrote: »

Ok, what did we learn here folks?

mrbiron doesn't need a camera, he only needs photography lessons.

ROTFL!

And I need listening lessons. :redface:

nguyendot

Fireman32 wrote: »

Let me add another option. Do you not have a local camera store in your area? I would hate to buy my gear from Best Buy but if they are the only choice in your area you can at least pick up the camera. The reason I ask is that most of the local camera shops have a good selection of used bodies taken from trade ins. The D200 that I have I bought used and was very well taken care of by its previous owner and had a low shutter count. Then not only can you buy a higher end body but can maybe get a better lens then the kit 18-55mm. As far as megapixels all the current cameras out there will allow you to blow up a picture to a good size as long as you shoot in RAW format. My camera in 10 megapixels and I have printed quite big without an issue.

I am saving my pennies to get the D4 one day myself but thats a $6,000 body. Any body that you get will be good for you and save up for better glass. A good lens will cost you but will help in low light situations and they hold there value if you decide to seel down the line.

This is a great way to do it. I picked up a D200 with low shutter count for $200 three weeks ago. I replaced all the grips (ewww) for $30 off ebay and it's good as new now. Combined with my 18-105mm everyday lens it's great. It sits opposite the 40D with 18-85 and really it's a wash/preferences. The Nikon 3200 looks to be a great camera too. I prefer the mag alloy of the D200 to it however.

mrbiron

Ok, what did we learn here folks?
mrbiron doesn't need a camera, he only needs photography lessons.

Hehe...:cheesygrin:

And I need listening lessons.

another Hehe...:cheesygrin: Do they make lenses to take pictures of monkeys 40' up in trees for the iphone or do i have to climb the tree to take his picture?

Do you not have a local camera store in your area?

I'll do some research tonight and see what i can dig up in the area. Upon initial research came up empty but i will try harder later.

I picked up a D200 with low shutter count

What is a high shutter count? Meaning, at what point do you say the camera is warn out if that even makes sense?

nguyendot

The step up from entry level is generally rated for 100,000 shutter actuations. I try to stay below half. 50,000 pictures is quite good. I think mine had 20,000 on it, which leaves me with 80% life left for 1/5th the original retail of a still viable camera.

The entry levels can vary from 20k to 50k.

Fireman32

mrbiron wrote: »

Hehe...:cheesygrin:



What is a high shutter count? Meaning, at what point do you say the camera is warn out if that even makes sense?

The shutters are usually rated for 150K actuations. When I bought mine it had 9K on it so it was almost brand new.

mrbiron

Ah very good! That's a whole hell of a lot of pictures except for wedding photographers. They must go through cameras every couple years!
Again, i will look up any local shops for a weekend adventure.

Need i dare ask about lenses? Everyday use and has to be able to be Scotch taped to an iphone :cheesygrin:

maximillian

With my DSLR I take lots more photos than I did with a film camera or with a PNS. It's not a great habit, but when photographing moving objects like babies and group photos then taking multiple photos is sometimes the way to go. Regardless of the number of times I tell people to look at the camera, someone is looking somewhere else or looking at their children. Achieving a high shutter count isn't that hard.

+1 for the used market. Put the money towards good lenses and other necessary accessories. Tripod, camera bags, UV filter to protect the lens, camera straps, more memory, second battery, flash units, different lenses, reflectors, diffusers, and on and on. And save some for a good but inexpensive PNS camera. They're better for amusement parks and on the go IMO. I don't think an iPhone camera is better than a decent PNS camera that has real optics for zooming.

Face

Depends on what you're using it for and personal preferences. Without getting too technical, I use a 10-20(soon to be 12-24) wide angle most of the time, otherwise a 18-55 for indoors or close up and 55-300 for outdoors(distance). Then there's macro, fixed, fish eye, etc...

mystik610

Face wrote: »

Ok, what did we learn here folks?

mrbiron doesn't need a camera, he only needs photography lessons.

A lot of DSLR users do! I've always found it funny how many DSLR owners spend all this money on gear, but spend no time/money learning how to use it.

mrbiron

A lot of DSLR users do! I've always found it funny how many DSLR owners spend all this money on gear, but spend no time/money learning how to use it.

Luckily my better half has prior life photography knowledge. Just hasn't bought a camera in 10+ years.
So we are semi covered in this area.

Fireman32

I currently have 3 lenses that I use. I have the 18-70mm that is my carry around lens. Then I have the 70-300 and the 50mm 1.8.
Lenses can get very expensive the 3 lenses that I want to buy will cost me about 7 grand. And the one lens I would really like is 10k.

You want to choose your lenses based on what you want to shoot.

Face

I wouldn't call myself an expert either, but whenever I have a question I can call my brother who is a semi-pro.

maximillian

Use my 18-105mm VR lens most of the time. But then I have a 60mm macro for closeups, a 75-300mm for nature, and a 50mm/f1.2 (old manual) for some portraits. Not a huge collection, been collecting over time. Again, a bounce flash for indoor family photos is the way to go if lighting is insufficient.

mrbiron

I currently have 3 lenses that I use. I have the 18-70mm that is my carry around lens. Then I have the 70-300 and the 50mm 1.8.
Lenses can get very expensive the 3 lenses that I want to buy will cost me about 7 grand. And the one lens I would really like is 10k.

You want to choose your lenses based on what you want to shoot.

Too rich for my blood!!
This will be something to consider as i would guess a basic indoors lens, close-up lens, and outdoor for wild life would cover it. I'm not taking photos for the NY times so the over-the-top professional lenses do not apply.

Fireman32

You would be good with a 18-200 lens as it will cover wide angle and telephoto.

stretchl

Fireman32 wrote: »

You would be good with a 18-200 lens as it will cover wide angle and telephoto.

Dude, I'm sorry, but this is bad advice! Perhaps its a typo.

With an 18-200 you're going to get a seriously slow lens. So slow it will be unusable for indoor shooting.

Moreover, the aperture (f stop) will change as you zoom and your exposures will be all over the map.

I'm retiring from this thread, but I STRONGLY suggest, Mr. Biron, that you go to a site like DPReview.com and consult with the folks there.

As much as I respect the hifi info I'm getting from this forum, I don't think you should use the photo advice you get here to make serious purchase decisions.

I'd never ask the folks who haunt a photo forum about hifi, y'know.

No disrespect intended toward anyone...

littlewoodboats

mystik610 wrote: »

A lot of DSLR users do! I've always found it funny how many DSLR owners spend all this money on gear, but spend no time/money learning how to use it.

+1 on this. It is much easier to take bad pics with a DSLR

littlewoodboats

From everything you have said I think your best bet is to find a camera forum for competent advice.

Fireman32

stretchl wrote: »

Dude, I'm sorry, but this is bad advice! Perhaps its a typo.

With an 18-200 you're going to get a seriously slow lens. So slow it will be unusable for indoor shooting.

Moreover, the aperture (f stop) will change as you zoom and your exposures will be all over the map.

I'm retiring from this thread, but I STRONGLY suggest, Mr. Biron, that you go to a site like DPReview.com and consult with the folks there.

As much as I respect the hifi info I'm getting from this forum, I don't think you should use the photo advice you get here to make serious purchase decisions.

I'd never ask the folks who haunt a photo forum about hifi, y'know.

No disrespect intended toward anyone...

I understand where you are coming from but as a beginner camera and the budget he has it is the reason I am suggesting it. I would say get the 70-200 2.8 but it's a $2,300 lens. He can do quite well with it indoors if he turns up the ISO. Most of the new cameras will handle 1600 ISO without to much noise. Going on needs and budget is why I am suggesting it.

GlennDog

stretchl wrote: »

Tell that to this Pulitzer Prize winning photographer who used his iPhone under fire in Iraq -

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/finding-the-right-tool-to-tell-a-war-story/

"it happens that Mr. Winter quickly realized ? after trying a few shots ? that his iPhone would be an effective way to capture the day-to-day trials of the First Battalion, 87th Infantry of the 10th Mountain Division in northern Afghanistan.

stretchl wrote: »

If you're looking to buy a camera, I encourage you to do so. If you're looking to make photographs, I encourage you to do so. But don't for a minute believe anyone who tells you that the latter depends on the former.

TRUE DAT !!!

G

boomerfss

I just upgraded my DSLR today and bought the Sony alpha a57 http://store.sony.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=100803&storeId=20153&langId=200&productId=8198552921666434673 . The body was $599 (I already have some lenses). DSLR's can take spectacular photos. I justify it by the amount I save on events like grad and prom photos (3 teenage daughters). Grad photos alone are over $300 a pop. I get way better photos with my own equipment and I enjoy it as a hobby.

emoxley

If you can add another $47 to your budget, you can get the Nikon D5100. The other cameras mentioned are good, but the D5100 has the same sensor as the D7000, which is known to be the best non-pro model in low light and no flash. That's huge! I have seen pics taken with the D7000 at ISO 6400, and very little, if any, noise at all. The D5100 should be capable of the same thing. Of course, the D7000 has much more that the D5100 doesn't, but the D7000 is $1200 just for the body, with no lens. If it's going to be awhile before you can buy a speedlight flash, you may very well need a camera that's very good in low light. For the money, you're not going to find anything close to the D5100. It comes with the 18-55mm lens, which is good for family pics, and landscape pics you might want to get on the honeymoon (depending on where you go). You will eventually want a good zoom lens too. When you're ready, look at the Tamron lenses. They are cheaper than the Nikon lenses, and most people like them just as good. My Tamron 70-300mm is sharper in the 200-300mm range, than the Nikon 70-300mm lens. It costs a good bit less, and has a better warranty. Anyway, as you've seen, everyone has different suggestions, but most agree on the Nikon brand. Nikon's menus and buttons are easier to navigate and use than Canon's. But Canon makes great cameras too. Nikon and Canon are the top two. Here is the camera, and info on it: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/764102-REG/Nikon_D_5100_Digital_SLR_Camera.html B&H is very good to deal with. Good luck with whatever you get...........

jbooker82

I would like to get a Sigma 8-16mm lens for my Canon 60D.