Looking for a SLR camera - any suggestions?

Genetic Defect · 12-28-2008, 07:17 PM

hello

King James · 12-28-2008, 07:24 PM

Canon 20Ds can be had for pretty cheap now n days and are a very good camera. Even a rebel with a nice lens should do fine. I'm partial to canon tho!

stevieray · 12-28-2008, 07:53 PM

I bought a Nikon D60 for my wife a few months ago. She wanted to upgrade from her point and shoot camera. I did some research online and was going to buy her the Nikon D40 but they were OOS in my area at that time. I also picked up a 55x200 vr zoom lens to go with it as well as an external flash. I think it's a pretty good entry level camera for the price that also has some nice features built into the camera itself. I went this route because she is just getting into photography and has enrolled in a night photography class at a local college. A few years down the road if she gets continues to enjoy photography and gets a better understanding of all that goes with it I will probably look at higher end cameras. For now...I'm happy with the purchase. The D60 takes great photos. I'm sure any DSLR camera you go with will take great pictures wether it be Nikon, Canon, Sony, etc.

coffeemonkey · 12-28-2008, 07:43 PM

I have the Canon Xsi and love it. Reading a few introductory books before buying is a great thing to do. Your initial decision on which brand to start with is important as it means investing in that manufacturer's lenses, flashes and accessories. These things cannot be used on other manufacturer's equipment, with a few limited exceptions. If you decide later to switch from Canon to Nikon or vice versa you are pretty much starting over. This isn't necessarily all bad, since the good gear that Canon and Nikon make resells well, but can be a big hassle if you have become accustomed to a certain manufacturer. I've heard some say it is like switching from a PC to Mac. And of course, in this case, Canon is the Mac.

I don't know how Nikon works exactly but make sure whatever camera you get can use all the lens that that manufacturer makes. If it won't accept them all then you are limited in the future. In the case of the Canon Xsi, it is not a "full frame" camera in that the sensor is not a 35mm sensor (it is smaller). Special lens were introduced for this camera called EF-S, versus the EF lenses for full frame cameras. So, as long as I buy EF lenses I'll be able to use them now, on my Xsi, and on any future camera I may buy. Some manufacturers don't allow their lower end SLR's to use the same lenses as the higher end SLR's, this limits upgradability.

For a better explanation of this see this link: http://photonotes.org/articles/begin...enses.html#efs

Happy Shopping! Now is a good time to buy, I've seen a number of good deals on cameras amongst all the post-Christmas sales.

12-28-2008, 07:17 PM	#1
Genetic Defect difetosso Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Perry Location: An elevator Posts: 5,204 Trading: (5)	Re: Looking for a SLR camera - any suggestions? hello __________________ I'm an outcast riding into town alone I got wanderlust branded deeper than the bone

12-28-2008, 07:24 PM	#2
King James Regard Me! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jim Location: Dark Side Of The Moon Posts: 2,565 Trading: (2)	Re: Looking for a SLR camera - any suggestions? Canon 20Ds can be had for pretty cheap now n days and are a very good camera. Even a rebel with a nice lens should do fine. I'm partial to canon tho! __________________ Mob Herfin' Since 2006

12-28-2008, 07:53 PM	#3
stevieray Just slacking off Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Steve Location: CT Posts: 721 Trading: (42)	Re: Looking for a SLR camera - any suggestions? I bought a Nikon D60 for my wife a few months ago. She wanted to upgrade from her point and shoot camera. I did some research online and was going to buy her the Nikon D40 but they were OOS in my area at that time. I also picked up a 55x200 vr zoom lens to go with it as well as an external flash. I think it's a pretty good entry level camera for the price that also has some nice features built into the camera itself. I went this route because she is just getting into photography and has enrolled in a night photography class at a local college. A few years down the road if she gets continues to enjoy photography and gets a better understanding of all that goes with it I will probably look at higher end cameras. For now...I'm happy with the purchase. The D60 takes great photos. I'm sure any DSLR camera you go with will take great pictures wether it be Nikon, Canon, Sony, etc. __________________ Last edited by stevieray; 12-28-2008 at 08:07 PM.

12-28-2008, 07:43 PM	#4
coffeemonkey Smoking my way to the Top Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Great Pacific Northwest Posts: 314 Trading: (0)	Re: Looking for a SLR camera - any suggestions? I have the Canon Xsi and love it. Reading a few introductory books before buying is a great thing to do. Your initial decision on which brand to start with is important as it means investing in that manufacturer's lenses, flashes and accessories. These things cannot be used on other manufacturer's equipment, with a few limited exceptions. If you decide later to switch from Canon to Nikon or vice versa you are pretty much starting over. This isn't necessarily all bad, since the good gear that Canon and Nikon make resells well, but can be a big hassle if you have become accustomed to a certain manufacturer. I've heard some say it is like switching from a PC to Mac. And of course, in this case, Canon is the Mac. I don't know how Nikon works exactly but make sure whatever camera you get can use all the lens that that manufacturer makes. If it won't accept them all then you are limited in the future. In the case of the Canon Xsi, it is not a "full frame" camera in that the sensor is not a 35mm sensor (it is smaller). Special lens were introduced for this camera called EF-S, versus the EF lenses for full frame cameras. So, as long as I buy EF lenses I'll be able to use them now, on my Xsi, and on any future camera I may buy. Some manufacturers don't allow their lower end SLR's to use the same lenses as the higher end SLR's, this limits upgradability. For a better explanation of this see this link: http://photonotes.org/articles/begin...enses.html#efs Happy Shopping! Now is a good time to buy, I've seen a number of good deals on cameras amongst all the post-Christmas sales. __________________ "I think I lost it, let me know if you come across it"