Beginner question

[CoralReeForrest]

Was shot here by misled. I'm wanting to get into photography, I've always wanted to so I'm currently in the research stage and learning. It seems dslr is going to be the way that will be best. It's going to be between canon or Nikon it seems. I'm going to go into my local shop to get hands on with cameras as like a gun or fishing pole the first thing everyone said I need to do is find a set up that feels good in my hand.
Once I've done that
What would be good recommendations on both sides for a good starter kit set up? Also what should I be looking for in a good beginner kit? Particular lense set up? Particular weight of a camera with and without lense?

As on my other thread I posted any and all opinions and advice is welcome!

Thanks guys and gals!

 

[Misled]

See dem stickys up on top of the forum??? Read them. They are geared more for shooting tanks, but some stuff still applies. Get the book I mentioned in the other thread, (Understanding Exposure). I forgot, look here.

 

[CoralReeForrest]

Beginner question

See dem stickys up on top of the forum??? Read them. They are geared more for shooting tanks, but some stuff still applies. Get the book I mentioned in the other thread, (Understanding Exposure). I forgot, look here.

Ok! Also been reading a bunch at DPS.

 

[Misled]

Once you have the camera, make sure you're registered with DPS and they have your email. Sign up for weekly notifications and you'll get a different subject to work on. It isn't bad.

 

[CoralReeForrest]

Once you have the camera, make sure you're registered with DPS and they have your email. Sign up for weekly notifications and you'll get a different subject to work on. It isn't bad.

Ok sounds good!

 

[CoralReeForrest]

Price range up to 700 ish currently, just through reading about specs and the such, it's coming down to the Nikon D3200(5100series also) range cameras or the Canon EOS Rebel T5i series? These seem like good intro dslr's to be looking into. Am I wrong or on the right track? My buddy just offered me his d40 with two lenses for 500 and I have shot with that and liked its size and feel but only played with it for a minute and I feel 500 is a bit much for such an out dated model. Or is that a fair price for that kind of a model?

 

[mkart]

Once you have the camera, make sure you're registered with DPS and they have your email. Sign up for weekly notifications and you'll get a different subject to work on. It isn't bad.

What is DPS? I bought the book you had recommended above when I picked up my macro lens and it has been great. I am taking pictures outside of auto mode for the first time in 8 years! I found a Canon 1ds Mark II for sale used and think I am going to buy it for an upgrade from my Canon 20d. I really want a full frame camera.

 

[Misled]

Digital Photography School

http://digital-photography-school.com/

 

[installman]

QUOTE=CoralReeForrest;22756325]Price[/url] range up to 700 ish currently, just through reading about specs and the such, it's coming down to the Nikon D3200(5100series also) range cameras or the Canon EOS Rebel T5i series? These seem like good intro dslr's to be looking into. Am I wrong or on the right track? My buddy just offered me his d40 with two lenses for 500 and I have shot with that and liked its size and feel but only played with it for a minute and I feel 500 is a bit much for such an out dated model. Or is that a fair price for that kind of a model?[/QUOTE]

I can't really say anything regarding the d40. I guess it would depend on what lenses it comes with as that is what you will probably be spending the most money on. If you plan on shooting close ups of corals and such you will need a good macro lens regardless of which dslr you buy. I own a d3200 and am quite happy with it. I am still learning myself. If you want to see what I can get out of my d3200 here is a link to my photo thread
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2398937

 

[PatW]

Full frame sensors are not magic. You can get perfectly good photos with cropped sensors.

For the Nikon, I would recommend the D7000 or D300 and above. They have an internal focus motor. That means that they can auto focus a lens that does not have its own focus motor. In the Nikon line lenses with focus motors are AFS.

For macro work, which is what most of the aquarium shots are for, the third party manufacturers, sigma, Tokina and tamron, make lenses that are of high quality. These lenses cost far less than the Nikon.

I shoot Nikon glass but that is because I shoot underwater and there are housing issues there.

Also shoot RAW. It allows you to correct white balance in post processing but you do need a RAW converter software package like lightroom.

 

[xtm]

Price range up to 700 ish currently, just through reading about specs and the such, it's coming down to the Nikon D3200(5100series also) range cameras or the Canon EOS Rebel T5i series? These seem like good intro dslr's to be looking into. Am I wrong or on the right track? My buddy just offered me his d40 with two lenses for 500 and I have shot with that and liked its size and feel but only played with it for a minute and I feel 500 is a bit much for such an out dated model. Or is that a fair price for that kind of a model?

What are these two lenses that come with the D40? I'm guessing 18-55 and 55-200? It's not a bad price with these two lenses but you can do better. Personally I won't pay $50 for a D40. That thing is dang old.

My suggestion is a used D7000 + 18-105 lens, usually comes in a package and they are in your price range. Here's one for $760.

This is an awesome camera that you can grow up with and build a system around. It's still pretty current in sensor tech, has built in motor, good AF system and nice DR.

If you want a macro lens for your tank, you can get something like a Tamron 90 for around $200 at KEH. This is the nice thing about the D7000 - it can drive a lot of these AFD glasses and you can save some money. The D40, D3xxx, D5xxx, will NOT. They also allow metering on Non-CPU lenses (legacy Ai/AIS lenses). If you don't mind manual focusing, these lenses can be had for next to nothing and they are FANTASTIC. This is one of the great things in the Nikon system - they support all F-Mount lenses since the 1950's and compatibility is never an issue.

Another good thing about the D7xxx series bodies (and higher) is that they have the front dial for easier Manual control. The beginner bodies require some combinations of a button + dial to change a setting and some menu-diving. The higher end bodies usually have direct buttons to change stuff easily (like ISO for example). They also have better build and faster processor. Menus and previews come up quicker and the buttons are crisp and more precise.