Photographers, advice please!!!

[Caleb]

I want to get into photography. I have never taken any kind of classes or anything so I dont know where to really start. I want to pick-up (sometime in the near future) a decent Digital SLR camera. I have really been looking at the Canon Rebels and the Nikon D70 (thats about how much I want to spend, $800-$1000). I do not want to do it professionally just something that I can do while out I want to be able to print off poster size prints (18"x24") so I think the 8 megapixel Rebel should be able to do that. Gimme some advice, where's a good place to start (reading, getting info, etc), what's your suggestion for a decent entry level SLR camera? I personally prefer Canon over Nikon but if one is far superior then I am not totally committed to Canon

help :greg:

 

[TRD270]

I have a Nikon D70 and I LOVE it, I've taken a few photography classes (it was my major for a while) and when it comes down to cannon and nikon it's all a matter of preference for film camera's. What i've been told about the digitals is that cannon tends to take better pictures of warm colors and nikon cool colors. I love my D70 3fps and an awesome battery life (when I was down in lake powell I took over 400 pictures and never had to charge my battery. Keep in mind to that the lens's are interchangeable so if you want a cannon film camera in the future buy a cannon digital. I have a Nikon F100 so that also swayed me to get the D70.

 

[TRD270]

Sorry for the size but I wanted to show you the resolution.

 

[Cody]

I think any of those camera's can potentiall take a great picture. The lense makes a big difference--I know the lense that comes wth the new digital rebel is a pretty big POS. Any of those camera's, either nikon or canon, will take a great picture with a good lense.

I can teach you the basics of the camera's, as could Milner and a few others out there. I'm going to buy 2 or 3 of the digital rebels in the next month. If you haven't had a chance to see one in action you're more than welcome to come borrow one. Also, you can come and play with my 10d which is a little nicer but pretty similar as far as the functions you would be using go.

Cody

 

[TRD270]

I think any of those camera's can potentiall take a great picture. The lense makes a big difference--I know the lense that comes wth the new digital rebel is a pretty big POS.

Cody

True, and the lens that comes with the D70 is one of the best lens's that nikon makes, one down fall is that it won't work with their film cameras because it cuts off the corners, but all the other lens work fine.

 

[Caleb]

so what would be a good lense? (for the rebel, that wont break the bank?) I am pretty sure you can buy just the body and get your own lenses, also I have seen the rebel offered with a couple different lenses, are they all POSes?

thanks for the info so far guys

 

[Caleb]

such as this kit here that includes two sigma lenses (are sigma any good?) I think the standard lense thats offered is a Canon 18-55mm lense.

 

[Cody]

Yeah, those two sigma lenses wouldn't be too bad--deffinately an improvement from what the basic kit comes with. I think there are several ways you can buy teh digi rebels--the kit we have here at my work comes with this chincy little lense that's not worth anything.

We just got one of these

http://www.pictureline.com/product.php?id=505


which isn't too expensive and is a pretty decent lense for most stuff. If you need a long lense, they start to get pretty expensive. I bet there is a kit that comes with this lense and it's not terrible.

This is a pretty kick ass lense for doing some longer range stuff--like action sports and what not

http://www.pictureline.com/product.php?id=517

I used to have access to one of these

http://www.pictureline.com/product.php?id=488

(so did milner ) but it was more lense that I think I ever really need.

From my experience, I like to shoot jeep/4x4 type stuff with a pretty wide lense--I used to use a 17-35 lense and it kicked ass. That 18-55 I linked you too would be pretty good too.

Cody

 

[Milner]

Canon all the way. Best bang for the $$ imho.
I have used both for years film and digi, I like Canon. Why? More user friendly, good software, good support, I feel the AF is quicker, burst rate is better for the $$ spent, quicker start up time, etc....
The new digi rebel xt is a good option for the $$, but as Cody said, the kit lens is a POS....I have one, I can show you a comparo if you want, doubt it would show on a computer, but you can see the dif through the viewfinder. But the rest of the Canon lens line is good. Sigmas are good as well, but do not sem to focus as fast as the Canon's. I do want a Bigma though
Wish I could afford the L lenses!!!! (remember those Cody?)
You can also find good deals on the 10d's.
I love my 20d.

 

[muleskinner]

I printed both of these pictures, among countless others in 20x30 for customers (shot with a Canon D30, 3MP camera) a couple years ago and they looked great. If you don't want to spend a ton, look for the 1st gen rebels (around $500) my wife has one and it does a fine job. I'd get whatever camera has the best price when your ready. I personally prefer Canon, but thats just my opinion. I have taken over 30,000 pics with that old D30 (1,000-1,500 a weekend) and only had it serviced one time if that says anything. Save your money for lenses.

 

[Caleb]

cool, thanks for the info guys


BTW Cody, how much do you guys sell the Rebel XT for?

So what you guys are saying is I would be better off saving $100 and buying the body only and then buy a different lense I have had a few Canon cameras (digital camcorder, normal digital camera, etc) and have always been very happy with them and when I had a problem with my digital camera Canon had the problem fixed and my camera back to me in less than a week...it seems you can get the Rebel for a better deal than the D70...

 

[Jones]

Canon 350 XT

My Brother just got a Canon Rebel 350D XT. It's a great camera, offering 95% of what a 20D does, for half the cost. It offers 8 vs. 8.2 megapixels, and the same DIGIC II processing (meaning that given the same conditions and glass, the pictures shoud be identical, save for the not noticeable .2 meg resolution). It is a comfortable fit, and the buttons take little time to get used to. The only major difference would be for action shots, where the 20D has a 5fps shot vs. the 350's 3 fps, and a larger buffer for more continuous shots. For someone like myself who shoots almost exclusively landscape, the 350 plus nicer glass would be the more cost effective choice. I was set on a 20D until I had the opportunity to mess with that 350.

At this point the Canon would be the better choice IMO (vs the D70). That being said, Nikon is bound to release a more worthy competitor soon. I think that the best scenario would be to visit a local B&M and see what camera "feels" the best, and offers the most bang for the buck.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos350d/
Above is a link to a fantastic site for digital cameras.

 

[Jones]

such as this kit here that includes two sigma lenses (are sigma any good?) I think the standard lense thats offered is a Canon 18-55mm lense.

Don't get the Rebel 300, the 350 is far better. The 300 had many features "locked" that are nativelay active on the 350. Also the prcoessing on the 350 is vastly better.

BTW, awesome shots Muleskinner.

 

[Milner]

Lots of Canon info here http://photography-on-the.net/forum/

 

[Caleb]

Don't get the Rebel 300, the 350 is far better. The 300 had many features "locked" that are nativelay active on the 350. Also the prcoessing on the 350 is vastly better.

BTW, awesome shots Muleskinner.

oops, I didn't realize that was the 300, I do plan to get the 350 if I go with a Rebel...thanks

 

[tiny2085]

I have also been looking into either the 20D or D70, and just got home from inkley's and talking with two of the sales people for a little under an hour. The lady was all about the D70, and the guy was all about the 20D. The guy said that the 20D was a little less user friendly as far as selecting aperature and shutter speed compared to the D70 where it is litterally at the tips of your fingers. The D70 does come with a far superior lens, they both agreed on that, the D70 had a faster start-up shot compared to the 20D, but the 5F/ps was waaaay cooler than three, it was like shooting an automatic machine gun. I priced the 20D with a 50-500 2.3-4.6 lens and 1gb card and it was like 2400$ CHA-CHING. where as the D70 with a 1gb carb was only 900$ with out an extra lense. I asked about Megapixel and they said you wouldn't notice a difference between the two unless you wanted to do a poster. I definetly like the 5fps compared to 3, but the 1000$ less dollars would be a lot nice too. just my .02$

p.s. They also gave me a nikon catalog that is about an inch thick, and is just filled with stuff, and a booklet on the D70 specifically, so if you want to know anything, this catalog has it.

 

[Caleb]

I have also been looking into either the 20D or D70, and just got home from inkley's and talking with two of the sales people for a little under an hour. The lady was all about the D70, and the guy was all about the 20D. The guy said that the 20D was a little less user friendly as far as selecting aperature and shutter speed compared to the D70 where it is litterally at the tips of your fingers. The D70 does come with a far superior lens, they both agreed on that, the D70 had a faster start-up shot compared to the 20D, but the 5F/ps was waaaay cooler than three, it was like shooting an automatic machine gun. I priced the 20D with a 50-500 2.3-4.6 lens and 1gb card and it was like 2400$ CHA-CHING. where as the D70 with a 1gb carb was only 900$ with out an extra lense. I asked about Megapixel and they said you wouldn't notice a difference between the two unless you wanted to do a poster. I definetly like the 5fps compared to 3, but the 1000$ less dollars would be a lot nice too. just my .02$

p.s. They also gave me a nikon catalog that is about an inch thick, and is just filled with stuff, and a booklet on the D70 specifically, so if you want to know anything, this catalog has it.

you're kind of comparing two totally different things, the 20D is no where near an entry level camera, the reason for the less user friendly interface (except to someone that really knows what they are doing) and the reason for the extra $1000 on the price tag. Now compare a 300 or 350 to the D70 and its a different game. The user interface is easier, the price tag is as cheap or cheaper (350 is 8 megapixel where the 20D is 8.2 megapixel and the D70 is only 6.1), and in all the reviews I have read over the past month or so the 350 has always been rated more highly than the D70. FWIW you may want to look at the Canon Rebel XT (350) before committing to the D70...I know I will be going with the 350 myself

 

[Caleb]

I just found this site that does a side by side of any camera you want to compare. Here is a side by side of all four models (300 vs. 350 vs. D70 vs. 20D) side by side

 

[muleskinner]

I just found this site that does a side by side of any camera you want to compare.

Yep, dpreview is a great sight for comparison. They provide TONS of info on each camera.

 

[tiny2085]

and the reason for the extra $1000 on the price tag.

the extra 1000 comes from the 1000$ lens that I priced with the camera, th d70 was $899 and the d20 was $1199, $300 seems close when compared dollars to what it can do.