DSLR Recommendation

You want a Nikon D7000 with a 18-200 and a 35mm 1.8. The 18-200 is a great all around camera lens. the 35 1.8 is great for low light no flash stuff. I have a D7000, the reason I say get that over the D5000 is the amount of buttons. While it seems excessive, once you get how to use an SLR, the buttons can make all the difference. The D5100 has them buried in sub menus which take forever to get to. Also if you are staying at the D5100, don't get the D5000 the sensor is not as good as the 5100. Sensor REALLY is everything in the end.

If you want an amazing pocket camera find a Canon S95 or S100. GREAT sensor in those cameras. The only other better pocket camera is the new Sony RX100 but it costs twice as much as the other two.

If you are rich and money is just an after thought, then get the Sony RX100 and a Canon 5d Mark III. The 5D MarkIII is just insanely good. A friend has one and it makes my D7000 look like a childs toy with the results he gets in low light no flash. But the body for one of those is 3500 and the lens are about 1K each

For someone inexperienced, I would pass on the D7000. It may not be as menu driven, but the OP will be facing a steep learning curve. Look at used, or entry level new. With some new models rolling out, people are selling off the older stuff for new. Borrowlenses.com sometimes has used cameras and lenses for sale, and you can snag a good deal. Also, you may look at Mikes cameras, they appear to have taken over some of the old Wolf camera locations.

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Originally Posted by One Shot

Went to Bestbuy to finger some of them.. Didn't really like the Nikon D5100 as much as the wife and I both liked the Canon Rebel X4i. Pretty sure were set on it unless something changes. Anything better would be out of our price range. Once we get familiar with this and learn what we do and dont like... we can be more picky and upgrade in a couple years.

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Since you are going with a Canon - I will 2nd hatidua's recommendation for a single prime lens and learning how to use it. The best at your price point is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM. I have had lots of glass in the past and I *always* come back to this lens. Don't cheat yourself and get the 1.8 because it is cheaper - the 1.4 is what you want. Its small, light, stupid fast and produces incredible bokeh for those gorgeous portrait type shots that people always want of their dog/cat/kids.

If it was me I would get the body only (vs. body and kit lens) and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM. Later you can get a nice telephoto (17-55 or a 70-200 depending on what you need) to go with it and you will have covered 95%+ of all your bases.

I don't know if it has been mentioned as I didn't read the whole thread but Costco has a good deal on the Canon T3i bundle. It comes with the standard 18-55 IS lens as well as a 55-250 IS lens and an 8 GB card. In my opinion this is a great starter package and the 250 lens will allow you to reach out and touch the wildlife.

Just my opinion, but I'm very happy with my Nikon D3100 outift. It'll do anything I want it to do, it'll take any Nikon lens ever made, it's much smarter than I'll ever be, the photo quality is excellent, and on and on. Yes, there's much "higher end" Nikons available, with much higher end prices too. The D3100 has been around long enough that it's now considered one of their "lower-end" models and new kits are priced accordingly. I've noticed they're priced several hundred lower right now than what I paid for mine, because they want people to buy the latest and greatest ones, which doesn't mean they'll take any better photos.

For a good entry-level DSLR that you'll be able to figure out in under a year, and that will most likely do anydamnthing you'll ever want it to do, and then some, I'd recommend you check 'em out. Get the kit with the 18-55mm and 55-200 mm lenses. Those aren't pro quality lenses, for an average Joe you'll never be able to tell the difference.

But one more opinion, you MUST get a good flash to go with it! I use a basic SB-700, which is made to interface with the D3100 and all other Nikons, and it does it very well. Yes, the D310 has a pissant little "pop-up flash", which is very limiting and useless. Get a good flash and learn how to use it, and that alone will improve your photos so much you'll be amazed. I even use mine in broad daylight for lacrosse photos, and the difference in shadow details is very noticeable.

Shot this with my 3100 and a tripod, it freezes lacrosse players and motorcycles just as good.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...f/DSC_0145.jpg

Just buy one of these and get it over with.

http://www.gotashton.com/img/camera.JPG

Well, if everyone's going to be posting examples, here're some with my T2i:

http://gadget-travels.net/photos/alb...11_Nov_402.jpg
T2i w/ Tamron 18-270 lens @ 46mm, f/8, 1/250 s


http://gadget-travels.net/photos/alb...11_Nov_544.jpg
T2i w/ Tamron 18-270 @ 91mm, f/9, 1/320 s

http://gadget-travels.net/photos/alb...09_Nov_426.jpg
T2i w/ Tamron 18-270mm @ 142mm, f/6.3, 1/250 s


http://gadget-travels.net/photos/alb...09_Nov_136.jpg
T2i w/ Tamron 18-270 @ 270mm, f/9, 1/640 s


... and just for S&Gs since the lens is out of your price range at the moment:

http://gadget-travels.net/photos/alb...Day_04_331.jpg
T2i w/ Canon 100-400 IS USM @ 400, f/16, 1/640 s

EDIT: I can add links to the full-size pics but 18 MP is a bit large to post to the forum.

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Originally Posted by Ashton

Just buy one of these and get it over with.

http://www.gotashton.com/img/camera.JPG

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I'm a film guy. Minolta XG-7, do most of my own developing, mostly B&W.

Someone call DangerTastic in here....

We're a Nikon family, but only because we started with a Nikon film camera years ago and advanced to digital and then got more and more professional feature laden cameras as the need arose. My wife is a photographer and is averaging about 4k photos a month now, so shutter life has become the primary driver for camera choice. Her advice for a newcomer is the same as many here. Get a decent body and the best lens you can find. DO NOT shop for lowest price, that's how our CC info got stolen. (by one of the storefronts linked earlier). For simplicity the kits would be fine for starters (Nikon or Canon). As you figure out you photography and want to do it more, you can spend as much as you like on what you really need once you learn what you need. (whether it's low light, high speed, high zoom, or maybe just simply to have a nice camera).

All shot with my Nikon Coolpix L130 which can be purchased for $120 and up on Ebay.
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...SANY0705-1.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...r/DSCN3487.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...r/DSCN3366.jpg
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/...r/DSCN1624.jpg

What about the Sony a57? I ve read a lot of good stuff about it.

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Originally Posted by One Shot

Went to Bestbuy to finger some of them.. Didn't really like the Nikon D5100 as much as the wife and I both liked the Canon Rebel X4i. Pretty sure were set on it unless something changes. Anything better would be out of our price range. Once we get familiar with this and learn what we do and dont like... we can be more picky and upgrade in a couple years.

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I think the OP has already chosen, y'all are just pissing in the wind. :D

I've been following this thread and researching! Been learning a lot. Thanks!

What would be a good price on the T4i body??

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Originally Posted by Tinelement

I've been following this thread and researching! Been learning a lot. Thanks!

What would be a good price on the T4i body??

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Adorama has the T4i body with 16 GB card and a bag for $799: http://www.adorama.com/ICAT4IA.html

They have it bundled with the Canon 18-135mm EF-S lens (good learning lens), 32 GB card, spare battery and a bag for $1049: http://www.adorama.com/ICAT4IK2C.html

Alternatively, bundled with the Tamron 18-270mm lens (good all-around lens), 62mm filters for the lens and an 8 GB card for $1375.43: http://www.adorama.com/ICAT4ID.html I use the Tamron is my general purpose walk-around lens -- good for 90+% of the moments I want to capture and I don't need to worry about swapping lenses -- but your mileage may vary. I have the Canon 18-55 kit lens; it's lightweight, has excellent image qualities and got a good review at DP Review but I really didn't like that 55mm cutoff as a hard transition to the 55-250mm kit lens.


Personally, I find an 8 GB card is pathetically small with these newer cameras but it's good to keep in the bag as an emergency card or for quick moments. There are other combinations of bundles you can look at on the Adorama site (http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?o...DSLR%20Cameras). There are various ways to earn miles or cash back by getting to Adorama through someone else's portal while still getting these prices.

Awesome. I was thinking about doing the body and then starting out with the 50mm f/1.4 usm lens.

Seems its been mentioned her and other places as a great starting point.

thoughts?

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Originally Posted by Aloha_Shooter

Adorama has the T4i body with 16 GB card and a bag for $799: http://www.adorama.com/ICAT4IA.html

They have it bundled with the Canon 18-135mm EF-S lens (good learning lens), 32 GB card, spare battery and a bag for $1049: http://www.adorama.com/ICAT4IK2C.html

Alternatively, bundled with the Tamron 18-270mm lens (good all-around lens), 62mm filters for the lens and an 8 GB card for $1375.43: http://www.adorama.com/ICAT4ID.html I use the Tamron is my general purpose walk-around lens -- good for 90+% of the moments I want to capture and I don't need to worry about swapping lenses -- but your mileage may vary. I have the Canon 18-55 kit lens; it's lightweight, has excellent image qualities and got a good review at DP Review but I really didn't like that 55mm cutoff as a hard transition to the 55-250mm kit lens.


Personally, I find an 8 GB card is pathetically small with these newer cameras but it's good to keep in the bag as an emergency card or for quick moments. There are other combinations of bundles you can look at on the Adorama site (http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?o...DSLR%20Cameras). There are various ways to earn miles or cash back by getting to Adorama through someone else's portal while still getting these prices.

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hatidua and others made good arguments for the 50mm prime. I started with a 50mm lens on my film SLR years and years ago BUT moved quickly to a large aperture superzoom.

I would say think about what kind of photography you want to do and what you want to learn. You'll learn a lot of basics with the prime and won't have to deal with some factors that the superzooms add. At the same time, you'll have to deal with cropping to get the photo you really wanted in the end. Also, remember the 50 or 55 mm prime emulated the human perspective on film SLRs but the compact sensors have an expansion factor compared to 35 mm film. I like my 35mm prime but it's a $600 lens and I really don't use it that much.

I highly recommend you read reviews of the lenses at sites like DP Review and then think about how the photography done in the reviews compares to the kind of photography you want to do. As with anything else, there's no single best solution.

Lets not forget you can rent lenses too... I've never rented a lens, but its an option vs spending $1k plus on a lens you might not like. I would still ask your family/friends/etc to see what they shoot that way you can rent/borrow lenses from them for cheaper (if they trust you)

Ive used borrowlenses.com once, and it let me try out a 70mm-300mm lens for a nominal fee, vs buying one. Can rent cameras as well too. If you are on the fence about a model, rent one and try it for yourself.

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Originally Posted by Tinelement

Awesome. I was thinking about doing the body and then starting out with the 50mm f/1.4 usm lens.

Seems its been mentioned her and other places as a great starting point.

thoughts?

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http://dealsea.com/view-deal/84886
Close

Thanks gents!

I purchased local today!

I purchased the T4i and just got the kit lens that came with it....but I don't like it. I am new to this so it made it hard to decide what I wanted and didn't want. I dont like the auto focus on the lens, i'd rather do it manually and when you are shooting a video with the AF on it is pretty loud and can be heard in the video. I'm thinking about taking the camera back and going with the other lens..18-135mm or whatever it is I cant remember. The kit lens doesn't have enough zoom.

Tinelement - Keep us posted how you like the camera. I'm wanting to personally do more wildlife photography and the little point and shoot cannon with the 20x zoom is working out alot better as of right now. Ya its a point n shoot and i'm sure its gonna be pretty limited to what I can do with it but it was like $200 vs an $800 camera that cant take the photos in distance without a pricey lens. But I will say the T4i takes good photos so far and I do like it.

Pulled the trigger on this package deal for the wife's Christmas present (Canon T3i, plus stuff). She's not a photographer, but I'm hoping she'll adopt the hobby. I think she'd be good at it. If she's not psyched, there may be a camera for sale soon...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0062MYUXS/..._M3T1_ST1_dp_1

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Originally Posted by One Shot

I dont like the auto focus on the lens, i'd rather do it manually and when you are shooting a video with the AF on it is pretty loud and can be heard in the video. I'm thinking about taking the camera back and going with the other lens..18-135mm or whatever it is I cant remember. The kit lens doesn't have enough zoom.

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I don't like where the 18-55 kit lens cuts out either but you can set it to manual focus if you want. Just slide the switch on the left side of the lens from A to M. You can also change HOW the camera selects focus points. The Rebels have an incredible diversity of programming options. I think you'll be pleased with the results if you swap for the package with either the Canon 18-135 or Tamron 18-270.

99% you should use center point focus.... Don't let the camera pick the focus

But when you step up to USM AF you will be spoiled by how quiet and fast lenses with USM are

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99% you should use center point focus.... Don't let the camera pick the focus

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THIS, but I'll go one step further.

99% of the time, don't let the camera do any of the actual thinking at all. If you put it in full automatic exposure mode (green box) or automatic white balance, it'll set the white balance and the aperture and the ISO (analogous to a film's ASA rating) and the shutter speed to something that it thinks is appropriate to the average of every shot anybody will ever take.

That's how you end up with sunsets where the sun is the only thing not blown out, the color all screwed up, etc. The sooner that you start trying to be smarter than the camera, the sooner that it'll actually happen. You just need to shoot a lot and then look at your pictures and ask "What did I do here, and do I like the result?" The nice thing about digital is, you don't spend five bucks on a roll of Kodak Gold and another ten bucks on Walgreen's turning it into prints in order to do the trial and error thing.