DSLR for coral and fish?

[tinyfish]

I want so badly to be able to take professional pictures of corals and fish and I am inundated by data and choices.

The market seems to change the product lines so often I can't seem to keep up with new products.

My preference is something that has been around awhile and is good and dependable. Something they still service.

I understand that price is usually a deciding factor.

I am also ready to go to a large camera store so that features can be explained.

What I am afraid of is that I don't want to spend a thousand dollars on a body and macro lens and then be disappointed.

Could someone give me a couple of suggestions that I can check out online and help educate myself.

 

[JHemdal]

tinyfish,

The one thing you probably don't want to do is keep searching for a camera, when you could just buy one and start shooting!

Do you have any camera experience? If not, then I'd suggest a good point and shoot to work with to learn the basics. I just bought a Nikon Coolpix P100 from Amazon for $329 to use at the office when I don't want to lug my Nikon D300 dSLR in from home.

If you want to jump right in with a dSLR, then I would suggest a Nikon D3100 (takes HD video as well).

Of course, I know nothing about other brands - the choices got so confusing years ago that I just decided to go with Nikon and leave it at that (grin).

Jay

 

[Dino]

Well first need to get you a little bit straightened out. When you buy a DSLR you're buying into a system of lenses, not a specific body because the truth of it is your lenses are what you'll be holding onto forever and ever. It isn't unusual for some of us to have lenses that might be nearing 20 years old or better. Bodies are much different, camera manufactures push out a new generation of bodies generally every 18 months.

Make sure you read both of these stickies: Which DSLR?, Now that I've got a DSLR, which macro lens should I buy? They both contain good information if you're in the market for a DSLR.

If you've read those stickies you'll hopefully know now that you really can't go too wrong with any of the major manufactures. Canon and Nikon are both by far the most popular. If at all possible trying handling different bodies in a camera store, you want something that is comfortable and easy for you to use. It doesn't really matter if its a $5,000 professional body if its uncomfortable to you, you have trouble reaching buttons, and don't use it because of that. Just take anything you hear in a camera store with a very large grain of salt, just like the advice you hear over and over on these boards in regard to LFSs. There are good ones, but there are also a lot of bad ones, and they're all in the market to get you to buy something.

With all that said, a big help to helping suggest gear you should take a look at is a rough idea of what your budget might be.

 

[dendronepthya]

In addition to what everyone else said, I would offer a word about managing expectations. There is a good chance you may be disappointed initially with anything you buy. It takes a great deal of practice with shooting especially if the camera you choose has a lot of manual functions. It took me about 3 years to take enough pictures to finally "get it."

Cameras today are a lot more similar to each other than different. Practice is what separates good photos from bad ones. Take 10,000 pictures with any decent camera and you will probably be very happy with the results at the end.

 

[tinyfish]

I have been taking 35mm film pictures for 40 years. My film camera is an old Canon Ftb. I have Tamron lenses for 28mm f2.5, 80-210mm f3.8.

For digital cameras I initially purchased a Canon G2 and then a G5. They are fine for simple point and shoot but that really is not what I want.

In my mind I have had to learn all those new digital options for white balance, sensors, stabilizing, and on and on.

I read the stickies in this section. But I cannot keep up with the speed of technology changes.

So I am thinking a Nikon D40 or Canon Rebel T1i. And a really good macro lens (of which I have no knowledge).

Am I even thinking correctly so far?

 

[Brett9917]

I don't know much about Canons, but I know Nikon doesn't make the D40 anymore. That being said, I do own a D40 and I think it is a great base dSLR. You can find one used for a fair price I would imagine... There are plenty of people who can tell you about a good macro lense, and most people will agree it's a must for a good aquarium photography...

 

[Dino]

If you're coming from a film SLR you're already IMO ahead of the curve. You should have a handle on things like ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. The other stuff you can learn one piece at a time.

Both bodies you listed are fine beginners bodies. I don't know much about the D40 (I'm sure somebody else will pipe up though) as I'm a Canon guy. If you can try and handle the T1i (and any body really you're interested in), it is a rebel so the body size is smaller. If you're a guy with big hands the small body might feel a little bit cramped. Some people don't mind it, some it just drives them crazy.

As far as macro lenses one of the good things about macro lenses is there really isn't any bad ones. Macro lenses as a rule are designed to be extremely sharp, if your primary purpose for using it will be macro pictures of your tank something to put towards the top of the importance list will be internal focusing. This means the lens doesn't extend during focusing, which can be a huge benefit when you got your lens all setup on your tripod just millimeters from your tank glass.

And speaking of that - do you already have a tripod? If you're going to get serious about taking macros of your tank you're either going to need a way to keep your camera extremely steady, or you're going to need a lot more light in the form of flashes.

Now some of the newer macro lenses that have come out include IS (or VR in Nikon's terms), how important that is to you will depend on what you really plan on doing with the lens. Both IS and AF (auto-focus) are pretty much useless with full macro, you pretty much wont use them. When you're working with movements in the millimeter or smaller scale they just aren't accurate enough. If you plan on using your lens to pull double duty as an extremely sharp prime lens say for taking portraits, IS/VR could come in extremely useful during times of low light.

 

[ALH]

I struggled with my first DSLR camera purchase. I only had experience with p & s cameras. I wound up buying a Nikon D3100. I like the weight and feel of it. It's my Christmas present so my husband won't let me use it till after Christmas, which my teenager thinks is really stupid.

 

[iceemn360]

I remember when I got my first DSLR a few years ago and I was so confused with all of the options/cameras/levels/and lenses!

Most cameras now adays should work well. To get the best feel for any camera I recommend borrowing friends cameras and going to the store to handle some in person. I remember walking into a camera store all set to get a Canon Rebel 3 years ago and ended up walking out with a Pentax K10d because i liked the durable feel and weather sealing (it seemed to have the build of a nikon d700!).

I've used a Canon S90, t2i, 7D, 5D, 5DII, Nikon d40, D5000, D700, D3, and Pentax Kx, K10d, and K20d and they are all different (for obvious reasons) each with its own pros and cons.

I have the most extensive use with the Pentax system so I can give some feedback in this area. The Pentax DSLRs have come a long way and traditionally received the most criticism for Slow/ inaccurate/noisy AF and poor Low light performance. The current Kx, Kr, and K5 are some of the best Low light performers of crop body DSLRS. The AF has also been substantially improved and the shutter on the K5 and K7 sound like a knife through butter....silent. Backwards compatibility of nearly all pentax glass means that those old film lenses sitting in garages have a new life in the digital age. Though their current production line of lenses doesnt compare in size to Canon or Nikon, the combination of their meticulously designed Limited lenses, DA* weather sealed lenses and old MF glass provide lots of options.

The advanced amateur DSLRs are build like tanks. Weather sealed against dust and water. I've dropped my K20d a number of times, spilled soda on it, and used it for 3 months in Costa Rica where it rains and rains and rains. I also wash it periodically which is nice since cameras get dirty/oily. The color is awesome although sometimes a little enthusiastic.


Today, buying a used camera will save you from spending a premium while still getting great performance and image quality.

I started off with a the basic 18-50mm and 70-300mm kit lenses and learned the basics before learning my style of photography and what I wanted to purchase next!


For entry level you might look into the

Canon T1i
Canon T2i
Nikon D5000
Nikon D3100
Pentax Kx~ 400-500 used 600-800 new (excellent low light)
Pentax K200d

For advanced amateur you might look into

Canon 50d
Canon 60d
Canon 7d
Nikon d90
Nikon D300
Nikon D300s
Nikon D7000
Pentax K20d
Pentax K7
Pentax K5


for macro lenses there are plenty that you could look into but the Sigma 105mm gets good reviews and has given me great results
(comes in mounts for Canon, Nikon, Pentax and i think sony)...In Pentax mount it tends to run around 250-400 depending on if its used or new. If you went with the Pentax KX id recommend either the sigma or the DA 35 macro

here are some photos with the Sigma 105 macro

Best of luck!

 

[map95003]

I'm by no means an expert in photography. I've had film SLRs for years and a few digital P&S camers over the last ~8-9 years. About 2 yrs ago I purchased a Nikon D80 DSLR body with the kit 18-55mm VR lens, but it wasn't doing it for me for my tank shots. Not knowing much about macro shots and with lots of mixed reviews and feedback from others on-line/forums....I decided I'll just pick one, I went with the Nikkor 40mm macro f/2.8 AF lens. It's a very fast and sharp lens, however I realized very quickly that I would have been better off with something in the 90-105mm range because with the 40mm, I had to be too close to my subject for macro shots...in an aquarium, at some point getting too close mean blocking out light that is already a problem to start with. But the Nikon 40mm macro is a great lens, I also use it for portraits...good luck, like already mentioned, spend your $$ on good lens, you will keep changing bodies.

 

[map95003]

correction in post above...I have the Nikkor 60mm macro f/2.8, not 40mm.

 

[tinyfish]

I found a Nikon D90 with Tamron 28-75 f2.8 lens on ebay.

I took some test shots and I think this is going to be a good camera for me. Very sharp picture. Now I just need to learn all the buttons and knobs.

Thanks all for helping.