Camera - Finally got it! Pic on page 5

[Kelly G]

I have a D70s (my entry level digital SLR - I'd had film SLRs)....then I have a D90. I love them both and use them ALL the time!!!

Do it! Take the plunge....you'll never regret it!!!!

My first picture taken with my digital SLR...it was a keeper!

Fall leaves in the pool at the base of a waterfall:

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I really think I want the Canon 50D mostly because I loved the way it took low light pictures. I will get to play with a bunch of different cameras on Saturday though, which will be nice. My uncle is partial to Canons, but I will probably take a look at the others as well.

There is a package online for $1100 that includes the body and an 18-135mm lens. My uncle said that was very cheap, but it is brand new from Amazon. Seems like the lens is a good one, but I don't know much about these new digital lenses. I would like something that is fast (especially for pictures in low light) and originally I was thinking I wanted a telephoto, but it looks like the 18-135mm might suit me well to start with. What do you guys think? Any advice on lenses? I take a lot of flower, landscapes, and animal pictures. I want a good quality lens but I really don't want to spend $1000 to start off with!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I guess i should add that I don't want to spend $1000 on JUST the lens. I know the body + lens will be over a thousand.

 

[seminolewind]

Well, maybe you could start with the lens that comes with the camera, and use that til you have some experience with the camera, by then you will probably learn what lens you need, and have the money!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Quote:
I was originally thinking there might be a kit out there that comes along with the camera, but right now it looks like I will either be buying *just* the body of the camera and a separate lens or possibly the kit that comes with the 28-135mm lens. If I go with just the body, I will have to decide exactly what lens I will want to buy separate and that's where I'm having some difficulty. I'm a little weary about buying a body that comes with a lens because they often are not very good quality, but the EF 28-135mm lens seems like it is a pretty decent piece of glass for it's price.

I'm at the point now where my skills have grown beyond the camera I am using now, and I would love something that could offer me more. Eventually I will buy a telephoto lens because I work mostly with photographing birds and other animals, but I'm not sure whether I want to spend the money right now.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

My uncle says he has a 50mm lens I can use if I buy the camera. I also came across a 70-300mm lens that looks pretty amazing. I'm digging myself a very big hole! Looks like on amazon I can buy the 70-300mm lens and the camera for a little more than $1200, which actually isn't that bad.

Edited to add a sample picture from the 50d. This was using a very nice portrait lens in a dark room with no flash. I can't believe the clarity. My current camera could never even get close to this! This was the only picture I could get to upload for some reason, but I have a bunch of others I wanted to post!

 

[Kelly G]

Chickerdoodle....nice photo! Well done!

I'll tell you what, I use my 28-200 lens more than any of my other lenses. My 70-300 lens I use a lot, but not as much - not because I don't love it - it's just overkill, sometimes. I RARELY use my 28-70 or my 35-50...I never find it quite enough.

...just my thoughts on the lenses I have. Don't worry too much - no matter what you get, you'll end up with more (kind of like chickens!). I'm already plotting a new lens for our trip to Iceland in November!

 

[seminolewind]

Try this place, I buy all my stuff there

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

 

[Intheswamp]

Back in the late 70's/early 80's I shot a lot of 35mm. I shot everything from wide angles to big ol' honkin' telephotos. At the end of the day it seemed the lens that I favored and used the most was....the 50mm standard lens. It gave me a natural "view".

Just saying...
Ed

 

[chicknerd]

Quote:
Your instructor is correct, with a modification. The camera bodies of most of the digital SLR cameras is comparable. What differentiates Nikon from the others is its lenses. They are the best quality. And Nikon lenses only fit on Nikon cameras.

You can buy other lenses for Nikons and all other digital SLRs but Nikon lenses are the best.