nuby wants a camera recomendation

george1098

george1098

New member
Hey guys
I don't know much when it comes to reef photograhpy,but I do know my point and shoot sucks. I am looking to get a much better camera, and I came here to get some suggestions.

I would like something that I can use to photograph my reef, aswell as take some nice wide pictures when I go on vacation and such.
I know the majority of the money invested in photography equipment goes into the lenses, but for right now I am just looking for a good camera to start off with.

thanks guys!
any suggestions would be great!
 
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SInce you are talking about lens and such, I assume you are thinking of digial SLRs. The 2 top sellers and best rated right now are the Nikon D80 and the Canon Rebel XTI. Both are great cameras with great reviews. The Nikon costs a few hundred more than the Canon but is bigger and build better.

If you are planning to only shoot in auto mode, there are other very good cameras out there for a lot less money.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8636353#post8636353 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jedininja
The Nikon costs a few hundred more than the Canon but is bigger and build better.
Click to expand...

Most Canon owners would disagree. ;)

Canon and Nikon are the top two in the DSLR space (and Canon owns the majority of that market). Sony's new entry has also been getting good reviews and should be considered.

You need to remember, if you're going to go down this road, that you're buying a system not just a camera. Once you spend some additional dollars on a few lenses it's unlikely that you'll be easily tempted to change brands. Nearly every camera in the DSLR space will perform well enough to make you, the photographer, the weak link. Consider the availability of accessories and gear very highly in your decision process.

Once you've narrowed your decision down to just a few, go to the local camera shop (i.e. not Ritz, not Circuit City, not Best Buy....) and try out cameras that you're considering. See how they fit in your hand. Pick the one that feels the most comfortable.

Finally, if your camera shop has been a help to you during your decision making process; give them the sale. You might pay a little more but they deserve to be compensated for their advice and expertise. I frequently buy from B&H online but support my local shops as well. If you get into this sort of thing it's nice to have a relationship with a local store.

Cheers
 
Thanks guys
I agree with you beerguy, I would be much happier giving my business to a local camera shop than to a large chain with a salesperson who knows less about the products they are selling than me.

The more i research, the more I see DSLR is the way to go, but I can't help but be tempted by the cheaper non-slr cameras such as the cannon S3.

in your experience as someone who has been there, is the SLR worth the money?
 
I am a Canon Owner! I had the original Rebel and now the XTi. Absolutely love the camera, but my to-be father in law's d80 just feels so much more sturdy and a bit bigger. But thats just the body. Didnt mean the product was any better. Luckily I'm not a big guy, so the Canon fits my hands well.

IMO, a SLR will get you better results, if you know how to use it. If you are willing to pick up a few books, read about apperatures, shutter speeds, metering, and selection of lens, then go with a SLR. If you want pretty good pictures without much work, a camera like the S3 or other high end non-SLRs will do the trick.

Plus, also think about other uses for the camera. Will you be taking them on trips, shooting people, or other general uses? A SLR will be able to do it all with a few lenses. It will give you the best results, but you will also have to lug around more equipment. So the only person who can decide if you want a DSLR is you.
 
The XT is a good camera. I still own one of those. It's the previous model so you can get it for a pretty good price. Along the same lines, the 20D would be a good choice as well.
 
I was in the camera shop today and had a look at the rebel XTi and the older version of the rebel aswell. I can't recall the name. the salesperson told me that the XTi had a self cleaning feature (not really sure...?) that the older model did not have and that was pretty much the only difference. the XTi was going for $1300 (canadian) and the older model for abour $850, but the XTi came with two lenses, 18-55 and 55-200.
I've decided to wait on actually making a purchase untill i know a little more. I'll probably read a few photography books (photography for dummies perhaps?) and maybe even take a course or something.
thanks for your help guys, I really haven't made up my mind, I think i'll keep browsing the forums untill I decide.
 
What no one has mentioned so far is your needing a additional lens in addition to the kit lens's if you in fact what to take really nice shots. Either one of those are not ideal for taking reef pictures and probably no better then a good point and shoot. If you go with Canon you might want to consider the 100mm f2.8. It is a awesome macro lens as well as a very good portrait lens. Nikon makes a comprable one as well as does Sigma which will fit on a Canon or Nikon and is priced a little less.
 
Dont get the kit with extra lens. The lens included in the kits are not going to give you the sharpest pics. Buy the body only if possible and the lens seperatly. For a decent lens, you'll be spending a minimum of $400usd new.
 
Yes, I know a good macro lense would have to be purchases seporatly.
so the 100mm F2.8 is a good recomendation for a macro lense?
any other macro lense recomendations?

I think I have pretty much decided on the Cannon XTi
 
I just got the canon 30D and I love it. If you're going to hop into the digital slr market, I'd go for a little more and get the next step up. That could be the 30d, or possibly even a discounted or used 20d, as its still a fabulous camera.
 
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