What Digital Camera Should I GET?

[a/z]

Sorry, repeated post. Damn error...

[kvitalij]

HI All,

Ok I had the same problem with choosing the right beast for the job.
I have started same as most of us. Questions Questions & Questions
Reading all the things photographers or amateurs has to say.
I got so much info, I couldn't really decide, and by that time I was confused with all info I had in my head.

So the things to be considered:

1. What are you going to use it for? Landscape, Portraits, Macro...
2. Go to the shop take for instance camera body’s form Nikon and Canon. See how good they fit into your hands. If you have big hands, battery grip could fix that problem. Ask question, annoy sales person, that’s why he is here. But, don't buy it straight away That's why he is there as well...
Size does matter, not only for hands, weight as well.
When you are on a journey and you have a heavy body and 1-2 lenses, trust me you won’t go mount-climbing that easily
3. Next step is lens. IF it comes with basic KIT LENS, don't worry and get it. Canon 550/500/400D, all of them are pretty good entry DSLR with kit lens 18-55 (IS -Image Stabilization - preferably) If you have spare cash. Get portrait lens 50mm F1.8 or even better F1.4 for good background blur.
4. I was never a Nikon user. But my friend is using it, and he get some really good shots with it, But very often it comes to optics that you use.
5. People are crazy about megapixels. Well at some stage it was important, but for cameras like Canon 400D and onwards it's not a problem anymore-lens is more important in terms of quality.
6. 8mp is enough for most things unless you are printing big posters

I started form 400D+kit lens, later on, my camera went swimming, so got myself Canon 40D, and it's a big good camera that fit's in your hands no battery grip needed. Lens was the same; it helped me realize what I need in a future for my projects. I'm not planning to change my body, unless I will hit a jackpot and then I will get myself 5D marks II. But for now I'm more than happy.
On the market it's sometimes cheaper to get OLD 40D/50D instead of 550D or whatever they release in a near future and thrust me, controls on semi pro camera like 40D are much user-friendly than on 500D. Thrust me on that one. Getting 40D is much better choice that 500D in a lot of ways.
Next thing you will want to get is a speed light. Maybe at the start 430ex or if cash available 580ex.

Just to point out one thing. Photography is very expensive hobby, unless you do make money with it.

Don't take old Nikon body’s, the only have 3 focusing AF system, canon are better in that case.

Back to lenses: I was never a rich person, so I couldn't afford a very expensive L lenses. So E-bay was and Is my solution for that.
My first L was old discontinued Canon 80-200 F2.8 and after I put it on my camera. My 18-55 kit lens went to the shelf of NO-return. Most images on that website are taking with that lens, please have a look: http://www.lifeisphoto.ru/kvitalij

What else can I say. I had my time of reading thru review. And I can say I'm a Canon user, and yes I love L lenses with Red stripe. And yes I wouldn’t change it, for Nikon!

Money quite often is an Issue for everyone, so get yourself as a starter if you can 40D with kit lens or 50mm, if it’s too much, get 400D with kit lens, or 50mm. You will still get great results.
Nikon choice, read reviews on photography sites for specific models.

Hope it helps. And you will make you decision easier now!
Happy shooting and getting good DSLR

Questions, email me: [email protected]

Regards Evryone

[Jason Ross]

Well I was in need of a new camera and after doing research I stumbled onto this site from a thread here on CA.org.

Ken Rockwell

If you are new to cameras like I am and are unsure about "what does what" and "what do I need", then I recommend browsing this site for about an hour. Very simple to understand and in plain language Ken educated me on the myths about camera "numbers" and such. I went with the camera he recommends; the Nikon D5000. This camera with lens goes for $650 at walmart (you'll have to have it shipped to the store or your house) or $750 at target and bestbuy...HOWEVER my wife found it online for $535.00! First thing I said to her was "Oh that's just for the body probably." [changed info here] my wife may have been lured into a scam so I'm canceling my order then going to Walmart probably.


Hope this helps.

[overread]

Not sure how valid it is to post to an older thread so I hope I don't get shot for this- but having seen you post Jason I have an alarm bell for you;
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Daily_Deal_Digital

Resellerratings is a good website to check for online shop validity - it is just user reviews on shops, but it is a good place to start for researching lesser known shops. Having quickly read that the price was much lower I got a little worried (few places can afford to charge less than the market leaders like Adorama, B&H, Amazon etc..) and some of the reviews mention that it (Daily Digital Deal) is a bait and switch operation.

You might be lucky and get your order - however I would be tempted to cancel and make sure that right after cancelling your order with them you tell your credit card company to cancel payments to them as well - unless they already have your money. If they do cancel and make sure you get a full refund - if they start to take time or prove difficult put your card company onto them (note if you use a debit instead of credit card some debit cards are now getting more protections so all is not lost if you talk to your bank).

I do wish you luck with this and hope all comes out well for you.


Also I would recommend reading KenRockwells site with a heavy dose of salt - some of what he writes is correct, but a lot is mixed in with his own spin, missleading statements and is often tailored toward his own viewpoint in matters. Sometimes he hits the nail on the head, but often times he misses - and that leads to confusions for many. Simply put if you know the subject you can see where he is making mistakes or tailoring words to promote a certain feature more than it should be, but if you don't then its hard to sift the good from the bad.

[pollygoh2002]

My answer to this question would be: Buy the best camera in the smallest, most convenient size (pocket size) so you can capture those unexpected moments like a bird crossing the road using a pedestrian crossing, or the birth of a rainbow, or three rainbows in ten minutes, a cat surprised by an earthworm popping up out of the ground after rain!

[Redystra]

Well since this thread is still here, and already here. I decided not to make a new thread about asking what camera to buy. I'll keep it clear and simple and hope that one of you guys is able to inform me a little bit better. I'm looking for a simple camera to take reference photo's with, my budget would atleast be ±200€. The things that I would take photographs of would mostly be environments and sometimes macro photo's. I personally don't have any preference to brand, aslong as I can quickly pick up my camera and take a shot at the current location. Oh, and it would be nice if it has a function to quickly snap photo´s right after eachother.

[artsnooze]

As a painter who channels photographs, Nikon D3100 and FujiFilm FinePix S1500, both fine inexpensive cameras, work well for me.
[email protected]
Berkeley CA

[tmcbroome]

Really most point and shoot cameras will meet those needs. You might want to consider one that is weather sealed though.