Digital Photography School

25 Responses to “Popular Digital Cameras and Gear”

• Klaidas Says:
  April 11th, 2008 at 1:47 am

  Go go Canon’s nifty fifty!
  But the book section seems a little disappointing…. except for “The moment it clicks”.
  Also, how is a memory card an accessory? It’s like like you can take photos without it.

  – Klaidas
  http://www.klaidas.lt

• Fredrik Steffen Says:
  April 11th, 2008 at 4:10 am

  The Sigma 10-20 should be on the lens list imo, since it’s a fairly popular wide angle lens.

• Alex Says:
  April 11th, 2008 at 5:05 am

  There is alwasy some talk baout some one gettig the sigma 10-20mm. What about 55-200mm VR i hear alot about that one to?

  peace

• David Says:
  April 11th, 2008 at 7:37 am

  I’m a little shocked that the Olympus E510 is not on the list. Having used most of the cameras on the list I am a real Olympus fan. Of course the Cannons are always on top, they are a great camera for the price.

• Mark Butler Says:
  April 11th, 2008 at 8:28 am

  I am VERY surprised that Oly’s new E-3 isn’t listed among the DSLR’s, especially since Zuiko came out with some awesome digital SWD lenses that work great with it!!

• kristarella Says:
  April 11th, 2008 at 10:14 am

  I just got the Nikon 50mm for my birthday yesterday! I’m looking forward to having a decent play with it. If anyone knows any really good articles about shooting with 50mm let me know!

• Rahul Says:
  April 11th, 2008 at 5:10 pm

  I am actually very disappointed with Canon quality lately. I had purchased Canon Rebel XTi last year and it had been sent to the service center 4 time in past 6 months for various issues. The most latest I had to send it was 3 weeks ago when the camera went completely dead on me as a nail in the wall… and that too in a middle of a shoot and won’t power up. I called Canon Tech support and they claimed that it is first time someone reported this issue. But a simple google search list fixya.com web site where 8 folks have reported similar issue with their Canon Rebel XTi in past 5 months.

  The camera is still at the service center and they seemed to have changed the main board inside the camera. But with so many issues with brand new camera (almost), I am not going to accept it unless they give me an extended warranty for future, which Canon USA is refusing so far. I am left with 5 more weeks of warranty, and cannot rely on this camera anymore.

  I do not like speaking badly of any company because of one or two bad experiences but this kind of crappy product with no quality control needs to be mentioned to those considering getting a Canon Camera. Especially, in this community where we have so many photographers, both budding as well as professionals.

  I don’t understand that if Canon is a market leader (or claims such) then why are they so afraid of standing behind their product. On top of that, their rude supervisors at the Tech support center who are not at all helpful. For me, it is a big loss as I had purchased almost $2000 worth of Canon accessories (additional Canon lens, Canon flash, CF cards, Canon battery packs, RC) in past 6 months. In past 10 months, This supposedly new camera has been more on the shelf and in UPS truck than in it’s intended use. On an average, it takes around 3 weeks for the camera to ship to service center (not including the time when you report the issue to Tech center and they send you a service form), fixing it, then shipping it back. By simple calculation, 4 times 3 weeks is already 3 months that I was not able to use the camera.

  Canon USA should have been on their own compensated for this time. But why would they care about me, I am a small fish in a big sea who bought this camera for hobby (mainly for nature photography).

  Shame on Canon!!

• Klaidas Says:
  April 11th, 2008 at 10:47 pm

  By the way, you can find a video about “The moment it click” on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xpxA7pyBSs

  As for nifty fifty of kristarella: just practise, practise, practise, and watch your aperture. It’s really easy to get too excited about f/1.8 or f/1.4 and ruin an otherwise great portrait. Try to keep those at, say, f/4.

  – Klaidas
  http://www.klaidas.lt

• Phil Says:
  April 11th, 2008 at 11:11 pm

  I have the Canon A570 IS and it’s a great budget camera! Definitely worth its price.

• bobbie Says:
  April 11th, 2008 at 11:29 pm

  does anyone have ulead photo software,i’m looking for an upgraded version for digital

• Gregory Says:
  April 12th, 2008 at 7:26 am

  Wow I am suprised no one uses Adobe Lightroom! It’s my lifeblood :)

• John Says:
  April 12th, 2008 at 7:26 am

  Looks like I’m in good company. I recently purchased the #2 camera and both the #1 and #2 book and the #1 software. I’m enjoying the new hobby a lot!

• Joe P Says:
  April 12th, 2008 at 7:38 am

  I have the Canon S5IS, love it and I wouldn’t leave home without it.

• Bev Says:
  April 12th, 2008 at 8:56 am

  Thanks for giving us the heads up about Amazon giving a small commission to DPS. I have purchased most of my lens and my Canon 40D from Amazon. I have been very pleased with their service. Now I am even more pleased since Amazon
  supports DPS.
  Thank you for your articles regarding lenses.

  My question is how often do most photographers use a tripod?
  Reading “Understanding Exposure”, I found that Mr. Petersen
  rarely shoots without a tripod. Do most serious photographers use a tripod on a regular basis? I will be taking several trips this year. I don’t want to lug a tripod with me. I tried using a monopod. My camera still
  moved. What am I doing wrong?
  Will a 70-200mm f4 be enough zoom for photographing animals in the wild? What about the rental services and renting a larger zoom lens?

• Bev Says:
  April 12th, 2008 at 9:20 am

  What Lenses are in Your camera bag? Why? What lenses do you use for wild animals? Landscape? If you were to have three lenses, which would you have and why?

• kristarella Says:
  April 12th, 2008 at 2:22 pm

  Bev,
  I’m no expert, but I’d say that 200mm would be enough for animals in the wild if you’re using high resolution or RAW. Does your lens have vibration reduction?

  You could try a Gorilla pod or I’ve seen some tripods that fold down quite small. There’s also the string monopod (I don’t know why people call it a tripod!), which helps eliminate vertical movement. Instructables tutorial and excellent video tutorial.

  Thanks Klaidas!

  That a bummer Rahul! I guess given the number of those cameras around it is a very small proportion that are chronically faulty, but perhaps Canon needs more stringent quality assurance screening measures. I hope your luck picks up!

• Jen Says:
  April 13th, 2008 at 12:35 am

  Any reason why the Canon Powershot G9 didn’t make the list? I was going to get one based on the info I’ve read about it. I need to go and actually see it before I make the final decision. I am upgrading from a P&S Canon Powershot A80, so any upgrade would be better than what I’ve got, although I do like the camera. I do a lot of photo editing, with both my own photos and others, and really want RAW files, the G9 seems to be the only P&S out there that does this correct? I know I’m not ready for a DSLR and wanted a camera that is a step up, kind of in the middle. I shoot a lot of different stuff, from landscapes, to people and also like having macro options. I have been experimenting with bringing files into RAW editing with Photoshop CS3 but I want the real stuff. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

• Klaidas Says:
  April 13th, 2008 at 1:05 am

  bev: depends on how far away they are. If it’s, for example, a zoo, and it’s a bright sunny day, it’ll be just perfect. Well, not as perfect as 70-200 f/2.8 IS, but really enough.

  I was (am) actually considering that lens for a general telephoto, as the mother of all 70-200, which is the f/2.8 IS version I’ve written above, cost a sh-load of money…

  – Klaidas
  http://www.klaidas.lt

• Bev Says:
  April 13th, 2008 at 10:23 am

  Kistarella—Thanks for pointing me to “instructables”.
  I am new to photography and I realize part of the problem with some of my pictures is my inability to stay still.
  I bet the string will be a great tool to teach me to hold steady. I liked Shoeblade’s through diagrams and instruction. The readers comments helped.

  Klaidas- Why do you say in order to shoot animals with the f/4 it would have to be sunny? What happens on a cloudy day? Thanks

  Bev

• Vivian Says:
  April 13th, 2008 at 1:57 pm

  Thanks for this article! I’m an amateur photographer, with experience with an SLR. I’ve never used a dSLR before, but I’m considering getting a new camera. What basic lenses would be good to start with for someone new with dSLR cameras?

• kristarella Says:
  April 13th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

  Jen - I’m guessing it didn’t make the list because this list is of products that people have actually bought, not necessarily what the best products are. Apart from that I can’t give advice on that camera.

  Jen and Vivian - I’ve heard that a good way to approach a dSLR is to go for a cheaper, but reasonable body and spend your money on a good lens, which tends to make more difference. My friend bought a Nikon d40, but got the 18-200 VR (vibration reduction) lens, which is very cool.

  (Mainly at Jen) I don’t think features are something to be afraid of. If you don’t understand all the features in a dSLR, just don’t use them. They work excellently as a point and shoot in auto mode. Then when you’re used to your camera you can upgrade to Priority mode (chooses the aperture and shutter for you, but you control ISO, flash focal point etc), then you can start playing and learning with other features. Saves buying a new camera every time you think you’re ready for a new challenge.

• murr Says:
  April 14th, 2008 at 1:12 am

  Rahul, I am also singing the Canon Blues. I am one of those loyal type of customers, and have loved Canon up until my recent Err 99 problem, which has yet to be corrected. I know Canon sells many cameras, without complaints, and occasionally has a bad camera. My complaint is not with faulty products, considering most Canon owners love their Canon, just as much as I once did. My complaint with Canon is like most other Customer (NO) Service complaints. Canon failed. I tried everything in the book on clearing up the err 99, as found on the internet, and called tech support, and all my professional photographer friends. Nothing worked. Tech Support said that after trying all that I mentioned didn’t work, that I would have to send it in for an “estimate” of repairs, which I did. I spent $15 bucks in doing so. I spent a lot of money with Canon, and I am on a really tight budget. I was expecting maybe a $75 repair to replace a spring or something in the shutter. Boy was I wrong. Canon sent me an estimate of $200 to repair the two year old XT camera. (keep in mind that I am a person who expects more than two years of service from something — my coffee maker is 23 years old and still going strong with daily use.) I know that $200 is not a great deal of money in the big picture, but I can buy a new XT body for $350, which has warranty, etc. I called tech support back and asked what that $200 estimate included, and was told that they would clean the camera, contact points, and lubricate the parts, and that $200 was the set estimate for the XT repair if the camera was in good physical condition as mine was. If that is the case, then the tech support could have told me that over the phone before I sent it in. I wouldn’t have wasted my time. As someone in a very tight budget, I’d be more willing to find the extra cash and upgrade to a newer model like the XTI, especially if the prices come down after the XSI is released later this month. I’d buy it using my American Express card and double the manufacturer’s warranty, to solve all of these issues of non-performance. Right now, I’m stuck with two lenses which serve no purpose, and have been using my P&S which in certain lighting conditions, gives excellent photos, but I miss the heck out of my DSLR.

  Canon really isn’t different from most other Customer NO Service departments, but I wish they were. If their problems are as few as they state, they could pick up huge customer loyalty points by repairing mechanical issues with their products, without incurring much in the way of cost. If they would simply handle the few issues which come up, by repairing them at no cost, they would have many, currently dissatisfied, customers bragging on Canon at every chance we are given, selling more products to non-Canon owners. Customer Service philosophy with most companies needs and overhall.

  (Did you know that Columbia Sportswear will replace or repair any product they make for the life of the product? That is the type of customer service and guarantee of product which would make Canon outsell every other brand for ever.)

• Patricia Says:
  April 14th, 2008 at 4:39 am

  Being new to photography it is great to see what everyone uses. I was looking at books and it was sooo hard to decide which one to buy. ThenkI was This article and I helped me find the right one! Thank you!

• Konsumer Elektroniks Says:
  April 16th, 2008 at 1:13 am

  May I recomend the Casio 10.1 MegaPixel Exilim point and shoot digital camera? It is excellent and only costs around 210 dollars.

• Jim Says:
  April 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pm

  Where are all the Olympus users???
  After reviewing test after test, compairing prices and features. I plan on buying the Olympus E-510 two lens kit.