Re: Question to VCoo71 and Captbunzo
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9245866#post9245866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by happysak
Gentelmen, Help me to make my decision.
Sorry for the slow reply - I actually went to bed early last night (v-day after all
), and then today I was making travel arrangements for my interview trip to England (woohoo!).
Anyhow, my advice would have been: go play with each at a camera store and decide which one (Nikon or Canon) you like the feel for better. Buy that one.... UNLESS you already have a pile of lenses for one of the 2 from a film SLR camera (then that brand would be the choice). However, I assume that is not the case based on your question...
I am sure you will be happy with the camera you got (a Canon, I believe). Both brands make EXCELLENT and VERY comparable cameras. BOTH can be used to create EXCELLENT pics. Just for the record, I have never ran into ANY lacking of capability with my camera, except features I missed out on by getting a cheaper model (I want a D80 someday).
As for lenses, my best advice can just be based on the lenses I have collected thus forth.
1. Wide-angle Zoom Lens 18-70mm: I don't know the aperature capabilities, but it's pretty standard for a medium cost such lens (a little above basic, but not INSANELY expensive).
2. Telephone Zoom Lens 70-300mm: Same as before about aperature capabilities. I got this one used off of Amazon marketplace for about 2/3 the cost new.
3. 50mm Inexpensive, but good quality fixed length lens. This one is more just to play with as it was REALLY reasonably priced, but is really good glass since it is a fixed length lens. It has a very low aperature, such as F/1.8 or something. I want to work someday on seeing what it is like to NOT be able to zoom.
4. Lensbaby 2.0 and lots of accessories - great little lens (you can get them for canon, nikon, etc) that does this great selective focus lens that allows for LOTS of creative pics. Check mine
here and the
website here. REALLY cool and not horribly expensive.
I mainly use the first two zoom lenses listed above for most of my general purpose picture taking. Those are my "walking around lenses". On my list of DREAM lenses is a $800 Vibrational Reduction Lens that zooms from 18-200mm. It is pretty amazing, but well out of my budget, at the time.
Anyhow, I use the 18-70mm lens mostly for all of my reefkeeping pic taking needs. That with a filter noted below...
Now, critical filters.
1. UV Filter: Get a quality UV filter for each lens and keep it on them when you are not using another filter. That'll help protect the lens in case you drop it or something. But do take it off if you slap another lens on for something.
2. Close-up Filter Set: All the pros will scoff at the use of close-up filter sets, but they work DARN well for a GREAT price. I got a slightly nicer quality set by getting a name brand (
Hoya), but have had previous success with cheap no-name brands too. Basically these allow move your focal point closer to your lens. This works VERY well and I would classify as critical if you don't want to afford a more expensive macro lens. My kit fits on my 18-70mm lens. You have to fit filters to the diameter of a certain lens.
3. Polarizing Filter: Great for cutting glare on water, etc. Not critical for reefkeeping. But great for general photography needs.
4. Soft Focus Filter: Gives kind of a nice soft glow to everything. Nice for portrait photography. Again, not really all that required for reefkeeping...
As for actual lenses, etc. I'd recommend two things.
First, you can get great deals on used lenses sold by places like Adorama, etc. I got a great deal off Amazon marketplace. Just be careful. But don't shrug off used if you need a good deal.
Second, find some websites where folks will review Canon lenses, etc. Read read read, before you buy anything. I'd give you some links, but they'd all be for Nikon lenses. But I am sure you can find LOTS of good reviews.
Anyhow, I look forward to seeing some new happy pics posted soon!!!