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Help with buying First SLR Camera

post #1 of 48
11/10/09 at 11:12pm
Thread Starter 
I'm looking to get away from point and shoot and get my first SLR, I have no idea what Im getting into, and don't want to shell out the ~$1000 every one recomends, I'm willing to enter the $500 range, but can't go much more then that. Id like to get a nikon or Canon so that I can upgrade over time (seems that they are the best to go with for this feature correct me if im wrong) Is this (canon rebel 1000d bundle) worth getting or are the lenses that come with it worthless? Also I've seen Nikon d60 with a 18-55 lens for about 450 is that worth it?
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post #2 of 48
11/10/09 at 11:39pm
Yes. It gets you started. Good pictures are a factor of proper lighting for the capabilities for the lens. You can take a fantastic picture with a pinhole camera, which doesn't even have a lens.

The best thing about a digital SLR is the instant shutter release - - no shutter lag.
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post #3 of 48
11/10/09 at 11:43pm
If you are looking into either a Nikon or Canon entry level camera, I would go with Canon. My only regret with getting my D40x is the selection of lenses. Nikon's lower end cameras have the autofocus motor in the lens itself, while their other cameras have the motor in the camera body. There is a much wider selection of lenses with the motor in the camera body. Canon's glass are pretty much compatible with all of their bodies. Just a little heads up from a Nikon user. To answer your question about the kit lens, they are good for beginners because of their flexibility.
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post #4 of 48
11/10/09 at 11:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by A.K.A. View Post
Yes. It gets you started. Good pictures are a factor of proper lighting for the capabilities for the lens. You can take a fantastic picture with a pinhole camera, which doesn't even have a lens. The best thing about a digital SLR is the instant shutter release - - no shutter lag.
You can take a picture with a pinhole camera. That's about it. The reason you can't take a decent picture is because of the aperture (pinhole). There's no reason to pretend if you're good enough, you can be the next Ansel Adams with a shoebox and some B&W paper stock. The best things about a DSLR are the large sensor and lenses. In fact, I would get a used Rebel X/s/i with a good lens like the 24-70 f/2.8L before I spent more on the body. I've had several Canon DSLRs and upgrading the bodies never impressed me nearly as much as a spectacular lens. The 24-70 f/2.8L, the 70-200 f/4L IS, 70-200 f/2.8L IS, the 135 f/2.0L, the 300 f/2.8L IS, etc. fall into that category of wow lenses in the Canon lineup. There are also a lot of great non L series lenses. Nikon has a similar set of great lenses, but I never owned a Nikon DSLR setup, so I can't comment. Read up at dpreview.com. Remember one thing, you'll keep the lenses long after the body is outdated and good lenses don't loose much in value. Don't blow a lot of money on a higher end body and several cheap lenses when starting out. Get a basic body and a quality lens.
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post #5 of 48
11/11/09 at 12:34am
I agree about spending more money on lenses. That is where the real value lies.

Something to consider is that Nikon lenses tend to be more expensive than the equivalent Canon lens. Canon has the market for sports shooters, which really drives the prices down on their big lenses. Nikon is usually seen as the system for portraits and nature/wildlife/landscapes.

Do not let that type of categorization swing you one way or another. I've seen plenty of great sports shots from Nikon gear and plenty of great nature shots with Canon gear. I think the quality is the same for both systems.

As for the bodies, try them both. See which one feels more natural. I find most people have a clear preference for one or the other when they first pick it up (even if they've never handled an SLR before).

So, IMO, it comes down to:

1) feel
2) pricing
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post #6 of 48
11/11/09 at 12:48am
Thread Starter 
i've done a little looking into the canon lower end models, mostly rebels i think, I'm so confused with all the different model numbers (XS, XSi, Ti, XT, among others) Also a bunch of numbers 350, 400d, 1000d... any way to simplify these? looking on ebay and I don't know what is a better buy because I don't know what is a better camera.
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post #7 of 48
11/11/09 at 12:51am
I'm looking at making this my first D-SLR: Pentax K-x 12.4MP

http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-K-x-Dig...=2R1W40OZD2DOR
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post #8 of 48
11/11/09 at 12:55am
Quote:
The reason you can't take a decent picture is because of the aperture (pinhole).

Shut yo' mouth, heathen.
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post #9 of 48
11/11/09 at 1:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by milosz View Post
Shut yo' mouth, heathen.

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post #10 of 48
11/11/09 at 1:17am
Ramuman and Milhouse summed it up pretty good. Ive used Canon and Nikon, and I prefer canon. Canons lens lineup is superior to to every other period, and as others have said its glass that makes the most difference. Canon and Nikon bodies are similiar enough, but I prefer canon because to me their ergonomics, menu layout and overall feel are more suitable for me. Concerning the numbers for canon here they are 300d=Rebel. Dont buy this, its obsolete 350d=Rebel XT. See Above 400d=Rebel XTI. Not bad, lots of good features. Pretty inexpensive now 1000d=Rebel XS. This is like a slightly stripped down 450. I feel its better to get the 450 though 450d=Rebel XSI. Great entry level DSLR. This is the top of the tier for canon entry level For more info on any of these cameras or others check out dpreview.com for some seriously in depth reviews. Oh and dont buy a fucking pentax or sony
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post #11 of 48
11/11/09 at 5:22am
Quote:
I'm looking at making this my first D-SLR: Pentax K-x 12.4MP
I was going to post this as a suggestion ha. So this has the motorized AF in the body like someone was talking about above me. A big feature for this camera to me is that it shoots HD video. A lot of cameras have been stepping into this realm, but the K-x is a great option when you have a smaller budget in mind. I know 650 is more than 500, but the price should come down somewhat once christmas is near. It's just a great way to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. I recently got the Canon t1i, i'm a little sad it doesn't have the motorized AF in the body, but i can deal. it's still a fantastic camera and i love the fact that i can shoot beautiful video on it as well.
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post #12 of 48
11/12/09 at 2:18pm
Thread Starter 
I've done some googling on canon vs Nikon, and have read a bit about the entry level nikon's being more first SLR user friendly (better menu layout, something about a reset button that doesn't reset every thing, but only iso/shutter/wb/and such, maybe some other stuff too). Anyone agree to this? I've been leaning towards the canon because of the above statement regarding canon vs nikon entry level lens (nikons not being compatible with their higher level cameras), but i don't want something i get past understanding the menu.
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post #13 of 48
11/12/09 at 2:37pm
First off, Nikon glass is indeed compatable with current Nikon DSLRs, you just won't get autofocus (and to be honest, autofocus is rarely needed for most people). Also, Nikon offers spot metering in most (all?) of their bodies, something that I think Canon still doesn't do. I spot meter just about every shot, so I prefer Nikon. But as others have pointed out, either will serve 99.99 percent of people well.
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post #14 of 48
11/12/09 at 5:20pm
Here is a link to one of the best references on the web: http://www.dpreview.com/

I bought the first Canon digital Rebel when it was introduced. The EF-S lens is just OK, but when the light is right for f8, it takes a good picture.

Do you know anything about photography? Just having an SLR will not improve your results. Also, it galls me the many people I know who have an SLR and don't know how to shoot on anything but the fully automatic modes, and complain that they still don't get good results.

Little pocket cameras are better for those who prefer to let the camera make the decisions. SLRs are better for those who understand how to manipulate f-stops and shutter speeds.

You can't go wrong with Canon or Nikon.
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post #15 of 48
11/12/09 at 5:24pm
^good point.

I use manual focus a lot. I change metering modes a lot. And I shoot on manual most of the time. I also adjust my flash a lot too. I'm not a wedding photographer or photojournalist or something where I need speed of 50 automatic systems in my camera. I can take time to get the shot I want.

That said, the glass alone on an SLR will result in clearer, sharper, images, but the photo may still suck if it is poorly lit. poorly exposed, etc.
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