Camera Pros

[E30_fiend]

I am hoping to slap a nice camera on my christmas list this year.

My question:

What would be a good starter camera for me?

I am very electrocally inclined so something high tec wouldnt be the end of the world.

I have a christmas budget of about 700 from my family and I decided a camera would be a nice toy.



let me know what you guy think.






Taylor

[e30nub]

Weren't you strapped for cash the other day? Why don't you save it for a rainy day? Just my .02 cents.

[IRON-E]

Weren't you strapped for cash the other day? Why don't you save it for a rainy day? Just my .02 cents.

^^^this :rofl:

[daniel]

id say get a nikon d3000 (incl. 18-55 kit lens) + another lens, like the 55-200 VR (good for car photos). that would total about 800 if you bargain hunt.

you can't go wrong with the canon rebel xsi, either.

if you get a chance, go to a camera store, or an electronics store with a lot of cameras, look at them in person, maybe play with the menus. personally, i found the nikon menus to be a bit more intuitive than canon's, and i also like the look of the camera more (and my dad had a nikon).

if you don't want a dSLR, there are some good mega-zooms, like the panasonic lumix fz35 (around $350-400), a really awesome camera. the zoom is actually higher than most SLR zoom lenses, image quality is almost on par with entry level dSLRs, and it even does 720p HD video with stereo audio, while entry level dSLRs do not have any video. also, it will be easier to use than the SLRs.

[E30_fiend]

Weren't you strapped for cash the other day? Why don't you save it for a rainy day? Just my .02 cents.

while you ARE right, on Christmas people do this thing called "giving gifts". I cant just ask for the money in exchange for a gift. My family offered to get me something nice and I decided I wanted a camera.

[E30_fiend]

id say get a nikon d3000 (incl. 18-55 kit lens) + another lens, like the 55-200 VR (good for car photos). that would total about 800 if you bargain hunt.

you can't go wrong with the canon rebel xsi, either.

if you get a chance, go to a camera store, or an electronics store with a lot of cameras, look at them in person, maybe play with the menus. personally, i found the nikon menus to be a bit more intuitive than canon's, and i also like the look of the camera more (and my dad had a nikon).

if you don't want a dSLR, there are some good mega-zooms, like the panasonic lumix fz35 (around $350-400), a really awesome camera. the zoom is actually higher than most SLR zoom lenses, image quality is almost on par with entry level dSLRs, and it even does 720p HD video with stereo audio, while entry level dSLRs do not have any video. also, it will be easier to use than the SLRs.

Thank you for the advice on the camera man.



Taylor

[CorvallisBMW]

The Canon Rebel T1i can be had with the 18-55 IS lens for about $750 over on Amazon. It's a great camera and does full HD video (1080p).

[e30nub]

Just saying. If you need the cash, why not ask for the cash instead? Sorry I can't be no help, but just throwing a little advice your way.

[daniel]

The Canon Rebel T1i can be had with the 18-55 IS lens for about $750 over on Amazon. It's a great camera and does full HD video (1080p).

this is a good one, too. too bad the 1080p video is only 20fps (and your computer will have trouble playing it back... better to shoot at 720p at 30fps).

the t1i will also be a bit more complicated than the other ones i mentioned... you may be better off getting a base model SLR first (d3000 or xsi) to see if it is really the type of camera you want.

another note- if you wait until closer to xmas, like the beginning of december, you will save a few bucks, especially on amazon, as prices begin to get more and more competitive.

[Aptyp]

d60 or xti puts an end to this thread...

[daniel]

oh yeah and you can save a shit ton by buying a refurbished body, too, from B&H photo/video or adorama or various other outlets.

[daniel]

d60 or xti puts an end to this thread...

those are both the older versions of what is currently available for sale, now.

[speedminded]

B&H was/is having a killer deal on a Canon XS. The bundle with kit lens comes with a free 70-300mm. It's a $500 setup more than sufficient for a weekend warrior photographer. Until you are doing serious low light high ISO portrait & concert photography the body doesn't really matter...it's the lenses and being both familiar and comfortable with settings.

[E30_fiend]

Thanks everyone for the advice on cameras. I am a bargain hunter so Im sure I will be able to find something relatively inexpensive as well as a quality camera

Anyone else?

Id like to get a group consensus on which would be the best for the money




Taylor

[speedminded]

Thanks everyone for the advice on cameras. I am a bargain hunter so Im sure I will be able to find something relatively inexpensive as well as a quality camera

Anyone else?

Id like to get a group consensus on which would be the best for the money




Taylor

Doesn't really matter what others think, if you're serious about it you just need to find a body you are comfortable with.