Newbie wants camera for christmas

[LobsterOfJustice]

Hey guys,

Not a newbie to fish tanks but newbie to photography. Only ever used a point and shoot. I'd like to get a nice camera - good general use, but honestly I would mostly use it for the tank. I dont know where to begin, I guess something thats easy to use but as I get more in to it I can manually adjust settings. And I've heard macro lenses are helpful too...

Anyway, can someone point me in the right direction on a setup? I'm afraid to see how much money this stuff costs... but can we limit it to a few hundred dollars?

 

[richardhmc]

So your budget is a few hundred dollars? What is your number range because a difference of a hundred dollars can mean alot.

Do you want to keep using a point and shoot or something more complex that depends on manual work?

The price depends on the type of camera but in general the types of cameras used for aquarium photography with great quality and focus are on the higher scale

 

[JHemdal]

Lobster,

With that budget, you won't find a new dSLR. My favorite $200 camera is the Pentx Option w60. It's small, functions well as a general "walking around camera" plus it is waterproof to 14 feet or so. This allows you to dunk the camera in your tank and get a unique vantage point. Here is a link to an article I wrote about it:

http://microcosmaqx.typepad.com/jay_hemdal/2009/05/underwater-photography-in-aquariums.html

It produced good enough quality images to have half a dozen or so published in FAMA magazine...

Olympus also has a similar camera, but I've not used one: the Stylus 850 SW.


Jay

 

[wetWolger]

I'm afraid to see how much money this stuff costs... but can we limit it to a few hundred dollars?

Short answer.....no

If your looking to move out of a point and shoot area, you will be looking at around $500 to $800 for just the body. And probably another $500 to $800 for just a good macro lens.

I personally know the canon line the best. But you might look at a pentax K-x
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/651672-REG/Pentax_16201_K_x_Digital_SLR_with.html

Not a bad price for the camera ($650 with a couple lenses)....you would still need to buy a macro lens, and I don't know what direction to point you in the pentax line for that.

Otherwise you can also look at the canon rebel line. Do some searching to find out what model is best for you. Your going to end up spending more than the pentax in canon, but it might offer more long term possibilities also (particularly in lens choices).

 

[Jacob D]

Hey guys,
I'm afraid to see how much money this stuff costs...

Photography is a bigger money pit than reefing... run now.

 

[lilchris]

I am interested as well. I would like to know what a good introductory camera above the point and shoot level.
I was looking at the Canon EOS Rebel XS

 

[Misled]

Photography is a bigger money pit than reefing... run now.

Yup.

 

[npsossi@msn.com]

I am about to pull the trigger on a Nikon D40

 

[BlueCorn]

I am interested as well. I would like to know what a good introductory camera above the point and shoot level.
I was looking at the Canon EOS Rebel XS

Actually if you're looking at Canon, that's the only Canon DSLR that I don't recommend. The controls are hideous.

I second that.

Do you have one or are you just trying to pad your way to 50 posts?

 

[lilchris]

Actually if you're looking at Canon, that's the only Canon DSLR that I don't recommend. The controls are hideous.



Do you have one or are you just trying to pad your way to 50 posts?

Do you have any recommendations that I can take a look at? I have notice
people talking about the D50 and the D70. Out of my price range and skill level.

Sorry Lobster of Justice, did not mean to high jack your thread.

 

[BlueCorn]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1503490

Pick a price point and then go handle the cameras in your range. They're all good.

(except the XS)

 

[ryshark]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1503490

Pick a price point and then go handle the cameras in your range. They're all good.

(except the XS)

What about the XSi is that still in the same category?

 

[Jacob D]

XSi is a good camera.