Getting 1st DSLR

[k_wakasugi]

I've said it once and I'll say it again,

"The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it."
-Ansel Adams

Then again it'd be pretty difficult to take pictures without some sort of camera...

What kind of coin you lookin to spend?

[Unearth078]

truth

I've said it once and I'll say it again,

"The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it."
-Ansel Adams

Then again it'd be pretty difficult to take pictures without some sort of camera...

What kind of coin you lookin to spend?

a good didgital slr is the best tool, you see your results of learning instantly

[dinanm3atl]

i have the d80, i am very very happy. except with the noise at night. pretty low but not low enough for me. i mostly take photos of light at night so noise plays a big part. next camera will probably be the d200 even tho they further reduced this with the d90.

canons are nice but i feel like they are under exposed, havent really played with the xsi tho. the 40d is sick. also cannons lenses arent as nice =0

1. You are on the wrong body if you are shooting low light. You need to be in a d300.

2. WTF? It is Canon first off and knocking their lenses? roflmao


People are worrying too much about which body to choose I think in here. I shoot with a Canon XTi but my lens options and accessories cost WAYYYYY more than the body itself.

I am a firm believer in spending money on good glass and if need be skimp a bit on the body. You can take EXCEPTIONAL photos with a Rebel XT and a Canon 17-40 f/4L or Canon 70-200 f/4L. Followed in a close 2nd is the photography. Maybe they are tied. A good photographer can make up for poor equipment though, to a point.

Glass is more important than the body. You can be in broad daylight, Canon 1d and shooting through crap glass and you will get crap results.

If you are shooting low light at night and it is not fast moving sports but landscapes, car photography etc you need a good tripod. Not a 30 dollar walmart special but a GOOD tripod. Then you can shoot at ISO100 and not worry about noise.


So let's start over. What do you want to shoot? What is your budget? How close or how far away are your subjects going to be? What time of day? Are they moving? Stationary?

Let me know and we get you setup with what is right for you/her.

[Unearth078]

glass is more important but body is important too...... does a lens process the image? nahh....

AND i know its not the best body... which is why i mention next step would be at least the d200...

nikon lenses also have a better range of f stops per distance

[dinanm3atl]

If you have crap optics feeding info to the sensor it doesn't matter what is being processed. If you put crap into crap and don't expect crap to come out I can't help you.

I did not insult and demean your body. I said if low light photography is your gig you need to be shooting with a d300 if you want to stay with Nikon.

Canon makes exceptional glass and even most Nikon guys will admit that. Take that back, they make world class glass. Stellar and extremely precise optics are the traits of Canon L Glass.

[steinbachphoto]

glass is more important but body is important too...... does a lens process the image? nahh....

AND i know its not the best body... which is why i mention next step would be at least the d200...

nikon lenses also have a better range of f stops per distance

give me proof. Both brands offer very similar apertures in similar focal distances

[einstein57]

I'd say look at accessories. Whats going to cost you more in lenses, flash towers, batteries netween nikon and canon. That being said i have a xti but also like my dads d80

[apexede30]

Grats on the decision. I have a canon XTI. Great camera. Just replace the stock lense, grab a telephoto, and a prime. You'll love it. Everyone has their favorite camera to which they have a bias, but you can't go wrong with xti 400.

[Pedro]

Wow you guys definately brought out good questions that i didnt even consider. This is going to be a gift for my GF for xmas. All shes had before are Sony point at shoot camera's. Shes always wanted to take better pics. I cant say she'll focus on day or night shots most. The problem with the sony she has now is she cant take pics at night cuz the camera sucks and i probably dont really know how to use it.

I dont expect the camera to be cheap, my step-dad was really into photography and i know his cameras and lens' were pretty expensive. The cheaper the better but I dont expect to pay less than $600.

Cliffnotes..........
Good all around camera (day/night/moving/stationary shots)
I'm assuming I'll have to pay minimum of $600

[sumyungguy]

I recommend a used Canon 20d/30d ($400-600) as its alot of camera for a small price, and a lens/es that will best suit what she will be shooting. Unless she's ready for the task of learning flash photography, go with lenses that have a big aperture (smaller F#). A lower end camera doesn't have exceptional low light noise handling, so make up for that with big aperture lenses, for example the $100 50mm 1.8 is a great lens for low light no flash shooting. Zoom lenses that have a f2.8 are pretty much a standard for good low light use but are sometimes costly, so that could be something to upgrade to.

Dont listen to these people that are saying one brand is better than another, 98% of the time they have no clue what their talking about. Camera systems are tools for capturing what you see in a way you want, the camera can only do so much work (Ive seen some amazing photos taken with nice point and shoots).

Going with what dinanm3atl said, the camera body isnt as important as the glass you put in front of it. Get a decent used body and a nice lens and she will have a ball.

Let me know if you want me to help on something specific or where to find the used equipment.

[dinanm3atl]

Finally another photog with a good recomendation.

Gently used 30D w/ 17-40 f/4L would be quite the xmas gift :)

Definitely grab the nifty fifty either way! 90 bucks and it takes some sharp pics and very fast!

[sumyungguy]

Finally another photog with a good recomendation.

Gently used 30D w/ 17-40 f/4L would be quite the xmas gift :)

Definitely grab the nifty fifty either way! 90 bucks and it takes some sharp pics and very fast!

Yes it would, I was even thinking a EF-S 17-85 IS..

Its funny when I use the ol nifty on my 5d, the camera cost 30x more :o

[dinanm3atl]

roflmao

That is the humor :)

That would also work!

[einstein57]

Damn i wish they had xsi's for under 600 when i got my camera. Oh well. Xti with 18-55 lens and 4gb memory card is about 550 shipped all day on ebay.

[apexede30]

Damn i wish they had xsi's for under 600 when i got my camera. Oh well. Xti with 18-55 lens and 4gb memory card is about 550 shipped all day on ebay.

You'll like the camera. Buy it! I got mine for 650 + 200 for a 5 year warantee from ritz camera. Just don't bend the CF pins.