Speaking of photography...

[MAZDA Kitten]

I really want to pick up an SLR.
Now - I know basically SHIT about photography but I obviously we all learn at one point.

I want something to take nice and good quality pics but I\'m not planning to make a career out of this. Also something that will allow me to switch lenses etc. So I am assuming an SLR is a MUST ??

Anyone have any experience with PENTAX SLR\'s? They have one sale @ Futureshop for $659.99 but its only a 6.1mp
http://www.futureshop.ca/multimedia/products/large/10065392.jpg

Next step up we are getting into the Canons. And this is where I get really confused.

Canon Digital Rebel XT 8.0MP SLR Digital Camera - Black for $949.99 ($849.99 at Best Buy)
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT 8.0MP SLR Digital Camera for $949.99 ($150 savings) -- so I am assuming this is the \'better\' one??

Nikon D50 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera for $839.99


Im so confused :( Help anyone

[KenYork]

Pretty much any brand is good, just depends on your preference, but you many want to decide on pixel size since these days even point&shoots are hitting 7-8mp.
For lenses I\'ve noticed if you\'re looking for used lenses pentax and nikon have a greater variety, used lenses for canon are scarce. Most reviews still have the Canon RebelXT(350D)(BTW both canon\'s you\'ve mentioned are the same in one) top of the entry lvl DSLR\'s. If you\'re looking to move a step up the Canon 30D or Nikon D200 which are around $2000. I\'d probably recommend a entry lvl and save the money to add a new lense later. Your lenses can always move up to the next lvl of camera unless you decide to change brands. I think i can safely assume most of use here have the Rebel XT. I bought mine for the fact my friends have canons as well and we can share our resources in lenses.

Definitely do your research, price, comfort, maybe your next DSLR if you plan to move up later.



As for buying lenses read this:

I answered this question in another forum and decided that the answer warrants it\'s own thread here too as there are a lot of folks new to photography here.

This question gets asked a lot:

I\'m just starting getting into blah blah photography. What lens should I buy?

Here\'s the answer...

If you have to ask this question, buy the cheapest damn lens you can get.

What? I must be kidding, right?

Sorry, no.

Here\'s why...

This is really a question that only you can answer for yourself.

For somebody that\'s just getting their feet wet in this photography thing, if you don\'t know what lens gets you what, in all honesty, the replies you get from a bunch of strangers, each with their own agenda, is not going to help you at all.

You used to get a \'normal\' 50mm lens when you bought a camera. Why that one? It\'s a base. A place to start. You have to take your cheap-ass lens and shoot lots of pictures with it. Look at those pictures. Study them. Analyze the situation when you shot them. Now ask yourself...

What do you feel is lacking?

This is the most important thing and is what will lead you to your own answer. It bears repeating...

What do you feel is lacking?

Were you not able to get close enough? Perhaps a longer telephoto lens is in order.

Were you not able to get far enough away? Perhaps a wider angle lens is in order.

Sick of moving back and forth to frame the shot? Perhaps a zoom lens is in order.

Wan\'t a shallower depth of field look? Perhaps a faster lens is in order.

Shots looking a little soft and you KNOW your technique is solid? Perhaps a better quality lens is in order.

These and many others are all questions that you have to answer for yourself. The answer only comes with experience and knowing the equipment you have and knowing where it is letting you down, or even if it is. How much longer, wider, faster? Sadly, this takes time and experience to figure out.

Spending big money on an expensive lens without knowing why is a waste of money. Sure you may look uber-cool with that big white 70-200 f2.8 L IS lens but do you know why you bought it?

If you bought it to look cool, that\'s OK by me. If you bought it because it\'s fast throughout the range, great. If you bought it because it has IS, super. If you bought it because you have more money than you know what to do with, bully for you. I honestly don\'t care why you bought it. What\'s more important is do you know why?

Don\'t believe me? It\'s true. Ask anyone who\'s been around in the photo business for a few years. Odds are pretty damn high they know what each lens in their bag will give them on a shot. They know how close they have to be for each lens. They know the scene each lens will give them. How do they know this? They know this because they spent the time learning their equipment.

There is no substitute for the time spent photographing.

Spend a little time, and you\'ll be able to answer most of your own questions.

Now, if you come in and say something like \"I\'m looking to get a longer reach in my shots. How do a 70-200, 100-400 or 300mm compare to each other?\" we can begin to have a dialog. Why? You already know what you are looking for.

I know why I bought each lens I own and why certain lenses are on my list of things to acquire or investigate. That only came through experience.

As I thought about this some more I came up with an analogy that may be easier for some folks to understand.

Remember your first automobile? Did you get a cheap car to start with or did you buy an expensive one? WHY?

That\'s the key - why you bought that particular car and why you bought each subsequent car or what you are looking for in your next car.

Odds are pretty good that when you bought your first car you had already driven a few others and had ridden in many more so you could start to form your opinion of what you wanted in a car so that when the time came, you already knew what you were looking for. I doubt that you asked a random group of strangers \"What car should I buy?\"

This same thing applies in photography. If you don\'t have a lot of experience using an SLR camera with interchangable lenses, you probably don\'t have an idea of what you really want or need. You need to take a few lenses for a \'test drive.\' Stop by your local camera shop and \'drive\' a few.

I write this NOT because I don\'t feel like helping new folks out. Far from it. This is one issue where I can\'t help you at all. Nobody can. You have to help yourself.

Cheers!
Todd

taken from fredmiranda.com

Oh yeah, if you plan on keeping the setting on the little green box(auto) you may want to reconsider buying a DSLR and go with a DSLR-like camera. With most needs of a telephoto-zoom and image-stablizing built in, plus a bit smaller in size, you won\'t need much more.

[///M]

Canon Digital Rebel XT 8.0MP SLR Digital Camera - Black for $949.99 ($849.99 at Best Buy)
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT 8.0MP SLR Digital Camera for $949.99 ($150 savings) -- so I am assuming this is the \'better\' one??

I think it\'s $849.99 for the body only, and $949.99 for the kit which includes the EF-S 18-55 lens.

[bluntman]

Aden Camera (http://www.adencamera.com) has the Rebel kit (w/ 18-55mm lens) for $999 + a $100 rebate from Canon.

[KenYork]

and the rebel XT acessory kit can be had for 219+taxes at photocreative(.com) in mississauga, which usually retails for $299

[JMAK74]

Originally posted by KenYork

taken from fredmiranda.com



That\'s why that was familiar to me - http://www.fredmiranda.com - haven\'t checked the site out in some time.

MK - KenYork\'s response with the quote is something to consider - take stock of your \'needs\' for a camera and determine if an entry lvl DSLR is worth the $$$ vs. a higher end point & shoot style (without interchangable lenses). Getting the higher end P&S camera may save some $$$ you could use on the car.

I\'m a Canon user like KenYork, so I\'m a bit biased, however if you do decide with the 350D (Digi Rebel XT) - it\'s a good choice (I have it\'s father the 300D, however I\'ve used the 350 and it\'s sweet).

JK

[SourcE]

This place (http://www.dpreview.com/) has all the cameras, and good reviews.

Check it.....

[eguiyab]

Originally posted by SourcE


This place (http://www.dpreview.com/) has all the cameras, and good reviews.

Check it.....

Yeah this site is excellent. I used it lots prior to my DSLR purchase. I decided to go with a Nikon D50. I\'ve used the Nikon D70, D70s and own Multiple Nikon Film Slr\'s. One that was older than me at 26yrs old, and a new one I treated myself to when I scored my first FT job. I have always liked there stuff, found them reliable and good quality. Not that other brands are not. I have used Canons and Pentax\'s and found that they ARE EXCELLENT!!! I was more prone to the Nikons due to familiarity and I felt that they were more compact than some of the canon\'s.

In terms of warranties and price of equipment (lens), I believe, if im not mistaken that the servo for Autofocus on some on the Canon lenses are built into the lens... thus making them slightly more expensive. The servo from what I recall on nikons are on the body. This however maybe dated information... please do double check that. Also I like the fact that Nikons head office is in mississagua.

In terms of Megapixels... this can get kinda dicey for anyone looking for a digital camera in general. More megapixels isn\'t an automatic better camera. Now at 6.0 MP the largest you can print clear I believe is 14 x 11. Now for most of us, that is larger than we will really print. Thus, focus on features, ease of use and comfort. What kind of light metering options does it have... range of shutter and ISO. And in a beginners point of view what pre programed setting are there??

Hope this helps a little....

[Indusbreed]

Originally posted by SourcE


This place (http://www.dpreview.com/) has all the cameras, and good reviews.

Check it.....

Thats one awesome site for N00B\'s. I just purchased my first DIGCAM Canon S3IS from Blacks.
DSLR might be too overwhelming for a starter.

IB,

[bluntman]

FYI,

Canon has just announced the sucessor to their popular EOS Rebel XT/350D. The Canon EOS Rebel XTi/400D was announced just before the Photokina 2006 event today.

Press release (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0608/06082416canoneos400drebelxti.asp#press)

Highlights:

-10.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor
-Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System
-2.5” LCD screen with 230K pixels and 160º viewing angle
-High-precision 9 point AF system
-Picture Style image processing parameters
-DIGIC II image processor with 0.2 sec start up
-Digital Photo Professional RAW processing software
-Compact and Lightweight body
-Fully compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites

[MAZDA Kitten]

PRICE?

[bluntman]

According to the DPReview, $799US (body only) or $899(with 18-55mm kit lens).