What Kind of Camera and Gear Should I Buy?
Today I want to post a question from a reader asking for advice about photography equipment for Wildlife, Outdoors and Sports photography (for those on a budget. I hope this generates some interesting discussion and good advice for Dan – the person behind the question.
“Hi, I was wondering what a person like myself should do about getting started with photography. I’m kind of on a limited budget, but want to know what type of equipment I should by to start. I think that shooting wildlife and the outdoors sounds fascinating and I’m also into sports amongst many other things. What type of camera/hardware do you suggest? Thanks for taking the time to review my request.”
How would you answer this question? What camera and gear would you recommend?
76 Responses to “What Kind of Camera and Gear Should I Buy?” - Add Yours
November 9th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I do not know what you mean bu on a budget, but here are things to consider:
1) Most point and shoot will not let you approach wildlife and get a decent shot.
2) Most point and shoot cameras have too much shutter lag for sports
If you can swing it go for a DSLR even a lower end one over a high end point and shoot. If your budget is too limited consider a film camera to start (they are really cheap now). We have a D200 (several gens old) and it is great. You could probably get a used one pretty cheap these days, so consider used or older spec gear to get started rather than new or the most current stuff.
November 9th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I’m not sure what kind of equipment you have already, but I recently bought a Canon xsi with the kit lens and couldn’t be happier with it. It may be a little slow for sports photography though, so maybe a 40d would be a better purchase.
As for lenses, I would think either one of the 70-200mm zooms would be good or the 100-400mm L depending on budget and how much focal length you will need. Use those for a few months and you will get a better feel for what you are missing.
I also highly recommend the Sandisk memory cards for their write speeds versus a cheaper card like the Transcend.
November 9th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Cameras are very personal things, so I wouldn’t dream of recommending one with such a vague description (I would say stick to Canon or Nikon though, ancillary equipment is easier to come by and can be picked up cheaply through ebay – other auction sites are available). For the type of photography you’re talking about though, you’ll be wanting a decent tripod. Get as good a one as you can afford, focusing on stability and ease of movement for tracking wildlife. And if you are seriously thinking about wildlife, you’ll be wanting a zoom lens, depending on the specifics something 300mm+.
November 9th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
I always say, decide the type of photography you are interested in, then you finalize what kind of budget and usage and complexity before you go out buying. And using comparison sites to decide between 2 or more models of same range but different brands.
November 9th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
If you are going to be outside and in the wilderness… then you want durability. I have held canon and nikon both in my hands and nothing feels more durable than a high end Canon DSLR and their L series lenses. I am very biased though (grin).
November 9th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Hello.. I’m new to photography, but I’ll share my 2 cents. I’m using Canon 350D (yes, it’s been quite ‘old’, but I love this type) and I think for wildlife / sport photography you’ll need a lens with IS and a good zoom length. so try Canon 55-250 IS which is -IMHO- a good lens and at a great price.
November 9th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Depending on your budget, Nikon D40 or D90. Then get the 18-200mm VR DX lens. That’ll do everything except for low-light shooting, for which you’ll want the 50mm F/1.8 or F/1.4.
If you go with the better options in there, you’ll be out $1900, but have a very powerful and versatile kit. After that, you’ll probably want a a longer faster lens for catching wildlife in action.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
As Simon mentions, you can’t go wrong with almost any of the camera models from Canon or Nikon. But, buy the best you can afford, but not more than you need. A good tripod is also a very good idea. More than anything, however, I would recommend good glass. Scrimping on lens quality will only leave you disappointed (speaking from experience). Buy the best you can afford and your photos will be the better for it.
November 9th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Dan,
When I was getting my first camera I was going though the same thing that you are going through. I did ALOT of research and found alot on DPS that helped me in making the desicion that i made. At the time i was deciding between a body and a lens. I ended up going with the Nikon D40 with a 70-300vr. I know that alot of people start with that set up because it is a fordable and there is alot of them out there. But it’s not the gear that makes the photographer its how he uses the gear to make a photo that takes you. Well good luck and happy shooting
Ian
November 9th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Out doors? Sports? You just listed two opposite ends of the spectrum :( Which is bad, because it means multiple lenses. And you said “budget,” which is also bad in photography lol.
Sports: You want a fast lens, the end. You can’t substitute anything for a lens with an aperture of f2.8 or larger (large the hole, smaller the number).
Outdoors: You’ll want wide angle. You’ll probably start off with a kit lens, which are usually at 18mm, and that’ll be fine to start. But if you want to do really cool landscapes, I suggest a wide angle lens, in the 12-24mm range.
good luck!
November 9th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
For wildlife and sports too, you want long, fast lenses, but those don’t usually jive with limited budgets. That’s why I’ll pass on this and hope others can give you some advice on this.
I will, however, suggest some body options. Mind you, I’m more familiar with Canon than with other systems, so forgive my bias.
Note that all my recommendations have crop sensors – you want as much reach as you can, so no full-frame for you. I won’t explain why here though.
The bodies I picked have high frame rates (5 fps or faster), great high ISO performance (since you’ll need fast shutter speeds to freeze action), and decent prices (since they’ve been replaced by newer models). I think my choices are also a bit skewed to sports rather than wildlife, but again, that’s just me sticking with what I’m familiar with.
Anyway, on to my choices:
1. Canon 40D – used or new: You can get 6.5 fps on this thing, so it’ll be do ok for sports. It also has great high ISO performance, so you can freeze As for price, quite a few people will be unloading their 40Ds for the 50D or the 5D II.
2. Canon 30D: You’ll get 5 fps, but that’s still pretty good. It’s very similar to the D40. It’ll also cost quite less.
3. Nikon D300: excellent high ISO performance (compared to most Nikons before it), not sure about fps and price.
Having said all that, I second what Simon says and suggest getting a tripod. For sports work though, you might prefer a monopod.
My $0.02
November 9th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Once you think you’ve decided what body and lens(es) you need/want, it is worth hiring that gear for a weekend/week or so. That’ll give you the opportunity to try it out in a range of environments, to see if it is really what you want.
Hiring camera gear is surprisingly cheap, and very worthwhile when trying to determine which gear suits your needs.
November 9th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
…that depends on what ‘limited budget’ means.
I just bought a Nikon D1 on ebay for about $150, and use it with an old manual Nikon lens I have. You could get a whole Nikon D1 setup (lens, battery, memory card & extras) on ebay for under $250.
Double that price, I’d but a new Nikon D40 – $500.
For $4,000, you will be unstopable with a D700 + 300mm f/4.0 lens.
(And for $45,000, go with a Hasselblad H3DII-50 + 50-110mm f/3.5-4.5)
(this is mostly Nikon-world. I’m sure you could buy the same setups in the Canon-world.)
November 9th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Budget?
For my money I’d say to look at the basic range of DSLRs – Canon 400D/450D or the Nikon equivalents, and get the best you can afford.
Stick with the kit lens to start with. These smaller cameras will be lighter and easier to carry around and will get you more opportunities, and less complex than their more sophisticated big brothers.
Then get out there and take pictures. Lots of them. All it’s costing you is the electricity to recharge the battery, so read, photo and learn. Once you’ve taken 1,000 pictures you’re allowed to think about adding lenses, flashguns or other bits and pieces!
November 9th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
I noticed everyone here says canon or nikon, there are a few other brands out there to which are just as good or better in there own way.
When i was buying my first DSLR i did alot of research and i ended up with a samsung gx10 (re branded pentax k10d).
Why?
For the price of a nikon d40 or canon 400d i basicly got a camera with the build quality of a nikon d200 and a 40d. Large view finder, 2 control wheel’s but it has other things to.. like in body image stabilization (so you can use ANY lens you want and get shake reduction), weather sealed body.
It Dosnt have as fast an continuous auto focus as the other brand’s (top camera’s) but its pretty fast and very accurate in single auto focus. It also dosnt do more than 3fps either but i find that more than fast enuf.
The best advice i could give you tho is..
1) try hold the camera you want to buy, as any brand will give you good photos. But there will be a camera that just feels right in your hand. (dont just try a canon or nikon)
2) Your buying a system, not just a camera so have a look at the len’s/accessory’s available for each camera, pentax have a nice range of primes for exsample.
November 10th, 2008 at 12:32 am
I’m going to be one of the people that recommend Canon or Nikon. It’s just a better long term investment. I recommend buying the low end DSLR kit from either manufacturer. Just handle them and see which one feels better. The fact is that you think you’ll like outdoor or sports photography but you just don’t know because you haven’t done it. The low end kits will do a passable job at whatever kind of shooting you do without breaking the bank. Then you can add accessories as your photography evolves.
Also if you know someone who is heavily invested in Nikon or Canon you may want to lean in that direction as you’ll be able to ask questions and borrow gear.
Luca Ragogna
http://www.lucaragogna.ca
November 10th, 2008 at 12:48 am
With any equipment you buy, if you are going to shoot sports, a sturdy monopod should be on your list.
I like to shoot lots of things, and my lens collection includes a 28-300 zoom, a 100-400 zoom and a 50mm prime. I also have a sturdy tripod and sturdy monopod. I also have 3 flash units, 2 of which are for use as slave flashes.
November 10th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Look around at used equipment too, it can help you stay in budget and get more for your dollar. A used Canon Rebel XT is around half the price of a new Canon XSi. You won’t notice a huge difference once you start shooting and you can use the money you save to buy a good used lens.
November 10th, 2008 at 1:23 am
I bought my first DSLR (Nikon D40) just a year ago and I probably would have felt overwhelmed by a lot of the suggestions (and expenses!) here. I got a tripod (a decent one, not the cheap kind you find in Wal-Mart), a good camera bag, and the basic kit lens (18-55mm, which is not really all that suitable for nature photography); I also made sure I had at least Photoshop Elements. I’d say I spent $800 all told and that’s really a bare minimum.
My next investment is probably going to be a 55-200mm lens, sure it would be great if I could afford the 18-200 but this is a suggestion for people on a budget. I guess I would caution against spending too much if you really aren’t sure if you would enjoy serious photography or have a chance to use the equipment that much.
I realize this is probably Super Cheapo suggestion to most here, but it’s hard to tell what the original poster’s budget and interest level is. The beauty is that there are so many different options (and hence price levels).
November 10th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Well, You’ll need a DSLR and a zoom lense.
Many things are said allready so I’ll only recommend you a lense if you go for a Canon. =)
The EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS
which is with 300$ pretty cheap and a great lense. I have it myself.
I’ve seen it in a bundle with the EOS400D (rebel xti) and the 18-55mm kite lense…
November 10th, 2008 at 2:12 am
Hi I was a pro for many years but before the digital revolution. When I retired I wanted a good digital camera for Wildlife, insect and flower closeup and scenery. I also had a VErY limited budget. I asked a nephew to shop in the US (I live in rural Colombia) and he found the perfect solution in Radio Shack of all places. He bought a new but older KODAK Z7590. It is a point and shoot but with many settings custom situations. I can not quite take 1 to 1 without the digital zoom. I live about 1 mile from town and I can take a photo of the Bells in the church tower from my front door.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Before everyone boo’s me off the site please listen to my rationale. I purchased a Leica V-Lux 1 a 1 1/2 years ago. I have found that it is very versatile but with limitations. The glass is great with a 35 – 425 mm zoom. More than enough for most wildlife and sports shots. Reasonably fast recycling between shots.
Limitations: What you have is what you got. Add ons for more versatility are limited.
But for less than $900 it is a good all purpose camera.
Thx
November 10th, 2008 at 3:06 am
Not knowing your experience or budget or tenacity on projects, I certainly wouldn’t recommend specific bodies or lenses.
Do go digital – for the quick feedback and learning it will give you.
Start small, with a good point and shoot that combines auto modes (easy to start with) and some manual control (as you learn and explore.
Then get out and take lots of pictures, challenge yourself to explore different areas (sports, people, outdoor), join a group or online forum or a site like Flickr and get feedback from others to help you learn the art as well as techniques of photography.
As your skill and needs outgrow the tool (camera) you are using, move up. You’ll have a better idea of your requirements, and can browse forums and reviews for answers.
Good luck.
BTW – be sure to figure out a simple system to catalog and manage all these photos too, before you get buried under them.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:10 am
The question is a bit too vague to offer a definitive answer but my experience may be helpful. I recently bought a Panasonic Z28 and find I actually carry it to many places that I don’t take my Canon D40 with extra lenses.
Remember that the original question mentioned a budget. For $300 you can get a camera that offers a good sports/wildlife telephoto as well as a decent wide angle lens and everything in between. After you buy a SLR body there are the extra lenses to consider and decent long telephoto lenses are both expensive and heavy. With an ultra zoom you get remarkably good lenses built right into the camera. And it’s much more than just a point and shoot, offering full manual controls and focus. Panasonic isn’t the only manufacturer to offer such a camera. It’s just what I have experience with.
A SLR camera does offer a better sensor for low light conditions and provides a wider dynamic range, as well as the ability to print poster sized prints, but there is a cost beyond the obvious one of the hit to your bank account. It’s heavier and for a combination of wildlife and landscape photography requires at least two and probably three lenses, which introduces complexity to your shooting and the frequent situation in which the camera has the wrong lens on it for the shot. Remember we’re talking both wildlife and scenery. With an ultra zoom you’re only three seconds from switching it on to zooming to the best magnification. And the 480mm equivalent zoom does a pretty good job for birding.
So is it better to be able to capture an extra couple of percent of photo opportunities with the more capable camera at the very real possibility of not having it with you because the whole kit is so heavy? Or is it better to lose a small bit of capability but have the camera kit all in one reasonably compact piece that is easy to carry?
I don’t print huge photos. 11×17 is the largest I’ve wanted and the latest generation of ultra zooms can handle that just fine. I don’t do a lot of night photography with available light so the higher ISO capability I lose is seldom missed, though by shooting in raw and using Noise Ninja plus Photoshop Smart Sharpen I find 800 ISO to produce very usable images.
With my middle aged back and knees I find that the more compact ultra zoom comes along with me in places where my bigger SLR body and bag full of lenses doesn’t. And honestly the image quality the newest ultra zooms offer is at least as good as what entry level SLRs of just a couple of years ago offered. And since the newer ultra zooms offer raw image support I have a lot more post processing options.
There is a very real SLR bias among camera enthusiasts that, IMO, blinds them to the capabilities of cameras like the Z28, which is capable of taking some fine images. I admit that I had such a bias until I got this camera. But it’s the camera that gets taken on almost every hike. The much larger Canon is still on the tripod at home.
Even if such a camera gets outgrown, the reasonable cost and excellent lens makes it a good transition/learning camera and an excellent backup. For someone who has limited experience, I think that a better ultra zoom is a good choice.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:12 am
My basic recommendation to such a beginning DSLR photographer is to buy a camera a lens that are good for starting – and to not try to buy gear that you imagine will be right for you at some future point.
Starting out you do not yet know the ultimate level of your interest, much less the specific directions your photographic passion may take. It isn’t until you figure that out that more specific gear choices become possible or that differences between different types of equipment become truly significant. Later you might decide that you want to focus on portraits or landscape or sports or weddings or something else – but at this point you really don’t know which nor do you understand what gear your will prefer.
So, the best beginner camera is… a beginner camera. While I am certain that you could choose a camera from any number of manufacturers (Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Canon, etc.) and it would be fine, I’m more familiar with the Canon line. Here, the XSi with the EFS 18-55mm image-stabilized kit lens is a great camera for such photographers – though I readily admit that the equivalent kit from the others would also be just fine.
The idea is to take this camera and lens and shoot… a LOT. After a few _thousand_ frames you’ll start to develop a much better and more refined notion of your own goals. You’ll develop specific equipment preferences based on actual experience. And that will be the time to consider if you want to invest in more sophisticated equipment and, if so, you’ll be able to make much wiser choices about this.
Dan
November 10th, 2008 at 4:50 am
Discussing about the DSLR brand is useless… they all offer relatively similar products and price levels. Personally I’d recommend getting a Sony Alpha300 & 350 if your starting out. It’s easy to use, great User Interface, a nice tiltable screen, and is prepared for future upgrades (all the sony alphas use the same lens mount, so if in the future you decide to upgrade to a better camera, you won’t need to change your lenses.) The 350 has 14.2 megapixels comparing to the 10 megapixels of the 300. I know megapixels doesn’t determine the quality of the image, put in the end, you’ll have a bigger image to work on (a slightly higher cropping ability too). Since your a novice, & if you want to save 200 bucks, then go with the Alpha300. Just my two cents. Now, I think the most important thing for you is the lens. I wouldn’t recomend getting an 18-55mm lens, because you wouldn’t be able to zoom in as much, and if you want to shoot sports or wildlife, it’s pretty safe to say that you’ll be at least 50 feet or so from your shooting target. At least get a 50-200mm (maybe even a maximum of 300mm) lens, so you can check out the action from a distance.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:59 am
Olympus makes great DSLR’s but they are never mentioned here that I have seen. I shoot wildlife and landscapes mostly and chose the the Olympus E-510 because of the 2X factor for 35mm equivalent makes the Zuiko 50-200mm 2.8-3.5 weather sealed lens a 6.18 inch & 2.2 lb 100-400mm lens and I use the 11-22 2.8-3.5 Zuiko weather sealed lens for most of the landscapes. There is also an E-3 camera that is even better than the E-510. These are both last years models.
Like Buckmiester above, I have a Leica V-Lux 1 superzoom for a second camera.
November 10th, 2008 at 5:10 am
There are a couple of other things, besides cameras, that you need for serious wildlife photography. [I don't really have any interest in sports]. The equipment I use when specifically going after wildlife includes:
Proper clothing – good wildlife photos seldom are taken from the road. You can shoot bison from the roadway in Yellowstone, but most of the time you have to walk or ride a horse or ATV. Depending on the weather, I wear Sorrel’s snow pacs in the winter and waterproof Hi-Tec hiking boots when it’s not. As you can tell, my feet are important. You will also need something to carry your equipment. I use a Camel Bak combination hydration system/back pack.
Camouflage – when I photograph waterfowl, I wear a ghilli suit, which makes one look like a green big foot. You can, also, build a blind in some circumstances. I prefer the ghilli suit, because you can move around more. Photographing ungulates, I really have never found a fool proof method of camouflage, so I just wear appropriate color camo clothes.
Preparation – for two reasons. First, it helps you to know where to look, what time to go, et cetera. The second is safety. If you are going after large bodied North American predators, i.e.; bears or mountain lions – read up on how your subject lives. If you are going after bears, [or you are going to be in bear country], read Steven Herrero’s book “Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance,” before you go. Bison are the icons of “wild” wildlife in the US, but, if you are going to photograph bison, realize that the last study in Yellowstone revealed the more people were killed or injured by bison than by bears. If you are going into bear country, you need ‘bear spray” [pepper spray] and/or a firearm. I carry both bear spray and a handgun chambered in Casull .454, (no firearms in national parks, they have to be disassembled before going into the park).
I have spent more money traveling, buying the proper clothes/gear, hotels/camping, et cetera than I have on camera equipment. Add in a four wheel drive pickup, horse, tack, horse trailer and/or an ATV and you can see you can spend a whole lot of money.
As far as camera equipment, realize that you are not going to be able to get very close to a lot of animals. [Bears and mountain lions, you do not want to get close to, for any reason], so you are going to need a long, fast lens and a camera that has good to high resolution. A Canon XTi, XS or XSi, is a good body to start out with. Proper lens would be 400+mm, which are not cheap. The aforementioned Canon 55-250 lens is a good one, [I have one], but you aren’t going to get anywhere near close enough to wildlife as you need to be.
As far as tripods/monopods, I just bought a ‘TrekPod.” It looks like and functions as a walking stick, but it has a ball mount on top to function as a monopod and the bottom third breaks out into three legs to work as a sort of tripod.
November 10th, 2008 at 5:16 am
I’m of the same type as you. I bought a Nikon D40, almost the same price as the expensive Point and Shoot. It’s good for sport shooting and I have used it during our basketball tournament. I bought a tripod also for night shooting. And for wildlife, you might need to buy additional lens but for the mean time, you can enjoy and learn from the original kit provided.
It’s the cheapest DSLR camera I know.
November 10th, 2008 at 5:39 am
Canon PowerShot S3IS has a 12x optical zoom, so with a tripod to keep everything steady you could get nice shots without disturbing the wildlife by getting too close to it. There is also a super macro function, for when you can get really close to insects and the like.
It also has a rapid fire repeat shot function so you can get multiple split second shots for as long as you hold down the shutter release button. It is noisy at higher ISOs, which bothers a lot of people (not me personally) but if you are in a well-lit environment this shouldn’t create a problem for action shots.
Most people’s suggestions are dSLRs I see, and perhaps that is what you are looking for. But there are some P&S options as well, for less money.
November 10th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Hmm, I hate to be a killjoy, but “a person like myself”, I’ve no idea who you are. How can I recommend an investment of up to €100k, yes, budgets can go that high, if I don’t know anything about you?
“I need to buy a rope, should I buy a long rope, or a short rope. How about a stretchy rope? Should it be think or should it be thin? Ooh, coloured rope.”
I’m grumpy now, I don’t want to be, but this is a ridiculous question. There’s masses of options and questions that need to be answered and posting a question like that, on a forum like this, you’ll get a thousand and one answers, (as well as me being belligerent).
Dan, read a bit more and come back with a clear question on lenses or camera bodies and you’ll get some great answers here.
November 10th, 2008 at 6:41 am
Hello all, I just wanted to put my 2 cents in to this topic, I just got a Song A350 Digital Camera with a 28-70 mm lens and a 50mm-200mm Telephoto lens. It is a 10.2 meg. I am this fare very impressed in this camera. It has built in stabilization into the body of the camera where most are built into the lens themselves. I would very highly recommend this camera. I just wish more would be talked about this Camera and other brands on here. Just my opinion. Thanks
Clint
November 10th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Buy this, don’t by this, buy that…. It all has been said.
Start with a kit and move up.
-To be very brief, get Canon 30D or 40D (20D would work as well, I know several Pro’s that still use it) If you shoot in RAW it won’t take “too much” space on your disk.
Get THE best lens you can afford. Depending what you kind of effect you want to achieve, zoom or wide get a lens accordingly, you are the only one that can make that decision. For Canon lens L series you will need $1200-$1600. If you get regular lens, you could save 40%-60%. Check out Adorama.com or BHphotovideo.com.
Just ready post on dPS site, you will learn a lot.
It’s not an equipment that makes great a photographer, it’s a photographer that gets the best out of an equipment.
November 10th, 2008 at 7:03 am
Wow, great question and I think a tough one to answer. Outdoor Photography (I am assuming landscapes); for those generally a wide angle works really well. As for wildlife a long zoom would work and it should preferably be fast (moving subjects or less light over long distances). So really you are a opposite ends of a scale. Depending on the budget I would do 1 of two things. First, I would consider buying a body only and a lens like 18 mm to 200 mm or 250 mm with like an f 3.5. This would give you an ability to do both types of photography with a minimal amount of equipment. You can get a 18 – 200 for around $ 200 – $ 300 US (Tamron or Sigma). They are now making those an a range from 18 – 250 or 270 mm. Which would give you even more focal length. If you had some more bucks to spend you could buy a kit package giving you an 18 – 55 or 70 mm (depending on brand) and then consider a 70 – 200 mm f2.8 for the wildlife shots. This lens can get pricy though a Sigma or Tamron would be around $ 700 US. Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc would be closer to $ 2000 US. You can probably get a kit with Camera and lens for around $ 500 to $ 600 US and add which ever of the above lens you like so for around $ 700 to $ 800 US you would be good to go. You may save a $ 100 or so if you went body only and the 18 – 200 mm. If you go with the 70 – 200 mm you budget would need to climb by around $ 500 for the Tamron/Sigma and quite a bit more for the “Brands”. I would look at one of these Cameras, Sony A200, Pentax K200D or an Olympus E520 although you can never go wrong with Nikon or Canon. Although test reviews I have read have the ones I list out in front in the price range. Happy buying.
November 10th, 2008 at 10:57 am
You might also try a set up with a Nikon or Canon body and Tamron and Sigma lens. They are good lenses and can save money as compared to a Nikon or Canon lens. I would also recommend http://www.keh.com for buying good used cameras. They have a rating system that is very true the condition of the camera. Another good way to save money and get good equipment is buying used.
November 10th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I was at the same point 2 years ago and decided for the Pentax W20. Small, compact, and I could take underwater-pictures down to 5m. Allthough I never did that so far, it was always good to know that rain couldn’t harm that thing. I allways knew that the camera would never compete with things a DSLR could do, but as novice I couldn’t stress that possibilities either. On the other hand it was good enough to gather some expirience and now I’m waiting for the new Canon 5D MkII to come to stores. But the W20 will stay on my belt anyway.
I vote for an outdoor modell because, when you make a mistake, you know it the same second and promise this will never happen again. But only a tough modell will forgive it to you.
November 10th, 2008 at 11:30 am
go to kijiji.com or craigs list to get great prices on used and new cameras ..i get most of my lenses there …even lights …umbrellas ..everything
November 10th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
If you’re on a limited budget, why not buy a second hand DSLR and start playing with that?
November 10th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I recommend Canon S3IS, a S5IS or the new Canon S10….amazing cameras at very good prices and often mistaken for DSLR type images….very versatle, combines with a monopod or tripod, awesome work horses.
Super zoom….my wildflife images are amazing with this setup.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I agree, the question submitted is too vague. Specifically the person’s budget should be elaborated on and a price range given.
I can only share my own recent DSLR experience . . .
In August I bought my first DSLR, a Nikon D80. I was a long time Olympus bridge camera user, so I had no Nikon or Canon bias at the time of purchase. I too was also on a budget, a budget of about $1,000 USD. I am a person who always likes to have the best, at least the best my budget can allow. I’m a discerning person when it comes to gadgets.
I chose the Nikon D80 because the other Nikon models below it, D40 & D60 felt like toys in comparison in my (large) hands. I discounted the Canon models in the same class because they immediately felt like cheap toys in hand and I didn’t like the button layout. I found the D80 to be the minimum “real DSLR” out there. The body is a decent size and it has two dials and a nice top mounted LCD quick view screen.
Now about lenses, I got a Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens used for $600 USD. I already feel I have outgrown it in just a few months. The problem is, the next better lens, the Nikkor 70-200mm VR f/2.8 lens is very expensive. So really there isn’t much choice. However, I already realize buying any lens (>200mm) that is not at least f/2.8 is a waste of money (unless you shoot in perfect sunlight all the time).
So if you are discerning person, then I think anything less than a D80 will be a disappointment (in the Nikon family). Look at the D40, D60 and D80 all side by side. You’ll see what I mean. The D90 is of course even nicer, but finding a cheap version of that body is not possible yet. I got my D80 body, brand new, for just $590 USD.
That said, I’m already dissatisfied with the D80’s FPS and ISO performance, but then I’m probably trying to do things that are hard even with high end cameras and I’m using the slow 18-200mm VR lens.
Sorry for the long comment.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I am a learning photographer, been taking pictures for years with crappy cell phone cameras and old digital cameras. It was about a month ago i got the Nikon P80 in which i recommend to all beginners like myself. Its easy to use and very light. Its also small and portable.
I recommend you taking a trip to the nearest stores and test out cameras for yourself. It took me a while until i found the right one (Nikon P80). I went to many different websites to compare prices and got mine from Amazon.com.
You should know whats out there and find one that is comfortable and fits best with your budget.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
I opted for a used Nikon D70 from eBay, a Nikkor 70-210 F4-5.6 D lens and a Nikkor 28-80 G. So far, so good. Camera works great, I get most of the shots I want and need(I live in Florida) and I’m satisfied with what I have…for now. I know I’ll upgrade probably to D80 or D200 because it will be what I want, within my budget and my lenses will easily interchange. I also have other Nikon film SLR’s and lenses and use whatever I feel like using for the shots I need. I recommend you buy what you can, upgrade when you can and enjoy the time in the field shooting as much as you can!
November 10th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Depending on where you are, you may be able to rent a camera and/or some different lenses for a day or two and try them out to see how they feel and how you like the results.
November 10th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
What I can say with utmost confidence and experience, DO NOT GET the entry-level dSLRs. DON’T. Too many compromises at the wrong places. I have the D40x. It’s only one practical autofocus point, so compared with anything more advanced, it’s a very slow process to get things in focused. Also, the autofocus only works with a bunch of specific lenses. You’d miss out on a lot of cheap gear, especially the $100 50mm fast lens. For autofocus with a fast lens, you’ll end up spending upwards of $400. Plus, handling issues. Really consider older good gear then going for entry-level new stuff.
November 10th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
I bought sony H9 feb ‘08. Extra battery is the first thing i purchased within a month purchasing the camera.
Now I feel the need of a good tripod! So next I will be purchasing a tripod.
November 10th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
So much advice, so little data to go on. It’s a daft question and the only positive thing to come out of it is to illustrate how many supportive people there are on here…
November 11th, 2008 at 12:46 am
Dan–It’s difficult to recommend specific equipment without knowing your budget, but I can give you my experiences from being in the same situation about a year ago. Firstly, I decided to go Canon since it’s what friends and relatives were using (free advice and cheap used equipment) but if you’ve got a clean slate it’s best to go to a store and try out several brands for usability and feel. For sports and wildlife a dSLR and one reasonably good general purpose zoom lens would be a good start. I’d stick with the same brand of lens as the camera for now just to eliminate potential complications. Take a lot of photos over a good period of time (weeks to months) and see where you’re interests take you. You may find yourself wanting to zoom in close to your subjects rather than take vast panoramas–or vice versa. In the meantime, save up and research other lenses and equipment online that meet those critera. One must-have piece of equiment I would recommend is a sturdy, roomy bag that’s comfortable to carry. There are good products out there for under $100 (US), so plan for that in your budget. Good luck and have fun!
November 11th, 2008 at 1:11 am
When in a budget, usually it’s a good idea to move payments in the future.
So one usually faces two options:
1. buy fancy new gear by installments
2. buy old things and spend various amounts of money while using it.
Option one means a good DSLR, good lenses, a brand new Manfrotto, … And debit.
IMHO today it’s not at all a good idea to use credit, in the Western World…
There’s Option 2: the best gear from the seventies/eighties can be bought now for a fraction of the cost of a middle-range DSLR. And you can go through a National Geographic collection in your library to judge by yourself how good it is.
You’ll spend more money for film, development and print, but think about the cost of a computer set, software, backup devices, printers and inks…
Where I live, a Canon 450D kit costs more than an old Hasselblad with a wide angle 80mm lens… Ask around which one is better…
So, have a look on used gear: you can really have top level stuff at entry-level price.
;-)
November 11th, 2008 at 1:58 am
im also a newbie but i went for D80 instead of D60 or D90.
D60 is too small in my hands and there’s no LCD on top of the camera which would be helpful when you want to change the aperture, shutter speed, exposure settings, etc.
D90 is too expensive for me… yes it has LiveView, video, 12mp, HDMI connection, and 4.5fps but it is $500+ more than a D80. D80 is discontinued but there are still so many people using D80.
btw, i got my D80 for $749 at circuit city
November 11th, 2008 at 2:29 am
Being as though the camera is a no brainer, I’m going to go with a TRIPOD!! Preferably something with a pivoting ball head. I love my Manfrotto :o)
November 11th, 2008 at 3:33 am
Light and cheap:
Olympus 420 or 520 (IS) Kit (500-600$), much smaller and lighter than a 450d or equivalent. Therefore less to carry around! There also exist very good affordable lenses such as the 70-300mm (crop 2x) or the 14-54mm sealed lens.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:22 am
“What I can say with utmost confidence and experience, DO NOT GET the entry-level dSLRs. DON’T. Too many compromises at the wrong places.”
Wrong.
I’ve sold prints made on so-called entry-level gear.
Dan
November 11th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Buy the least expesive piece of kit. Spend the most you can reasonably afford and are prepared to loose. Then learn to use it.
Find out what it doesn’t do that you need it to do and then you will know what you really need.
If you can, think that each shot you take is going to cost you £10. If you can work this out you are nearly there.
November 11th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I assume that being “on a budget” means, “having not much money”. Here’s the thing: most people consider struggling with their photographic equipment really annoying, inhibiting, and, avoidable. I, on the other hand, feel that struggling is what it’s all about. You can’t just take photos that are well within the capabilities of your equipment if you have less than $100,000 to spend. So, you spend as much as you can, reasonably, and make do from there.
A person on a budget who wants to do sports and wildlife should just pick a nice super-zoom with image stabilization and start shooting. While my advice may seem to be aimed at a camera I’ve chosen (because I chose it), you’re going to have to believe that I chose it because I figured it would work really well. And it does. Over a year ago, I reviewed the Canon S5 IS, and still stand by what I said in that review. You may notice that the pictures I provide in the review are both sports and wildlife. The price of the camera has dropped precipitously since my review, so, for the “budget-minded”, it’s now a great choice. But don’t wait too long, its replacement is already on the market.
See http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/Powershot%20S5.shtml. Good luck with your pictures, and remember: practice, practice, practice and be patient.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Buy the best camera you can afford on your budget! You don’t need a DSLR to take wildlife or sports (but it makes life easier).
Things to look for would be a long lens and the shortest shutter lag you can find. If your budget will only stretch to a camera with a modest zoom and longish shuuter lag have you looked at second hand? If you are confortable with not having the latest model you could get a decent DSLR for P&S money. If not then learn to shoot round the flaws you’ve got.
Try to aticipate where the action will be in sports. Put on some camouflage and get close to nature. Have fun with what you’ve got rather than hankering after a DSLR.
You can read more about how I chose my new camera on a recent blog post I made – Choosing my new Camera
November 12th, 2008 at 1:55 am
Ok, I’ve started and restarted and restarted writing an answer to the question and still don’t feel good about it.
If you don’t know his knowledge or the amount of time and effort he’s going to spend in mastering the equipment, or his budget you can’t really point a beginning photographer towards a system.
Personally I wouldn’t go to a p&s but a good bridge camera or a dslr would be the direction to go.
Then the brand … send the person to a shop or go with him and figure out what he likes, make a list of the favorites and try to figure out what the best on the list is.
And this is the most difficult part, because we almost only see our own choice as being the best, I’m a Pentax fan but that doesn’t mean that another brand might be perfect for the one you are helping.
But more important is that the one who you are helping understands that it’s not the camera that makes the photographer it’s the time and effort put into the system that’ll make it.
There are enough post’s on forums of people who after using a dslr for a month believe they have made the wrong choice.
Just pointing someone towards a brand, a lens is not helping them at all.
Just my 5c
Ronny
November 12th, 2008 at 3:39 am
If you are serious into taking photos. Ask yourself these questions:
1. Do I want the animal in my wildlife photo looks like some unrecognisable microscopic alien species? If answer is no, then get an SLR.
2. Do I want my subject in my sports photography looks like some microscopic dwarf running in an open field? if answer is no, then get an SLR.
3. Do I 90% of the photos captured are useless, or do I want 90% photos captured are useful in sports? If answer is 90% useful, then get an SLR
if the answers are all “get an SLR” then your choice is clear.
4. if you have budget over $4k, get a new system and decent body with a decent lens.
5. if you have budget less than $4k, get a used system, with good condition body and decent used lens.
my recommendation as for beginner and serious about photography, if you have $4K or more
- Nikon D90 ($1.3k)
- 17-55mm F2.8 as general photography lens ($1.5k)
- and 70-200mm F2.8 VR for sports and tele lens ($1.7k)
if you are on low budget, but serious about photography, find yourself these
- used Nikon D80
- used 80-200mm F2.8 (older generation tele lens)
- used 17-55mm F2.8 (general purpose)
if you are not sure what you will be serious in photography or not, or just wanted to feel how SLR is like,
- used Nikon D40 (plenty in the market, and cheap)
- used 18-200mm F3.5-5.6 VR (general – tele, don’t expect superior result)
November 12th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Calvin Foo – if you buy an slr, then you’re going to have to have a huge lens. My S5 IS has the 35 mm equivalent of a 430 mm lens. Surely there’s no one on a budget that could afford that kind of magnification on an slr!
“If you have $4K or more.” Calvin, calvin, calvin. Think about it. Four thousand dollars! Don’t answer anymore posts by people on a budget.
November 12th, 2008 at 8:57 am
As is typical when a new prospective DSLR buyer asks this sort of question – and it is one that gets asked a lot – response are all over the map, ranging from “buy a point and shoot” to “you’ll have to budget at least $4k.”
But let’s keep in mind the original question and what it tells us about this buyer:
““Hi, I was wondering what a person like myself should do about getting started with photography. I’m kind of on a limited budget, but want to know what type of equipment I should by to start. I think that shooting wildlife and the outdoors sounds fascinating and I’m also into sports amongst many other things. What type of camera/hardware do you suggest? Thanks for taking the time to review my request.—
Some points:
“Limited budget” – Whatever you and I may think about inexpensive gear compared to the equipment we use, this person’s options do not include high end equipment at this point.
“I want to know what type of equipment I should b(u)y TO START” – The gear that this person will buy is the _starting_ point, not necessarily the end point for his/her photography.
“I think that…” I’ll shoot various listed subjects “… among other types.” – Note that the poster covers a very wide range of potential subjects – as most do in this situation – but is not really certain yet what role any or all of them will play ultimately. (It is kind of like shopping for a car and saying “I want something that gets great mileage, goes really fast, can carry 8 people, looks really great, and costs under $10,000.”)
And, finally, the poster doesn’t really have a notion of where to start or any preexisting opinions about what kind of gear he/she wants. Notice that we also don’t know what this new photographer plans to do with the photographs – make small prints? share with friends? post online? make big prints to hang on the wall?
I’m going to contradict my own earlier post a bit with my first recommendation. If the OP really is new to photography in general and is still not at all certain about subjects and/or how the photos will be used, it wouldn’t be a bad idea at all to get a rather inexpensive point and shoot camera first. Take a lot of pictures and find out what he/she likes to photograph and whether or not such a camera might be sufficient.
If the OP is certain that he/she wants a DSLR, but is completely new to this, it makes no sense at all to aim for the high end equipment. Yes, it is “better.” But, “better” is not very useful if it is the wrong gear – and our new photographer does not have the experience yet to know what types of gear he/she will need because he/she does not yet really know a) what the subjects will be, or b) how the photos will be used.
So, if a DSLR is the choice, make in an inexpensive entry-level model with the kit lens. One can hardly go wrong with this as a beginner given the very low cost of this gear and the fact that it now does a rather creditable job. (One can certainly go VERY wrong by taking advice that he/she doesn’t understand to buy very expensive gear that may or may not be right for his/her photography.)
Use this gear a lot and one of several things will soon happen. The new photographer will find it sufficient or even perfect – many or even most who buy such gear do. Or the photographer may lose interest and decide that a point and shoot would be fine – it happens – and the “lost” investment was small. Or the photographer may decide that the camera is perfectly functional but that a longer or wider lens could be added or that an external flash would be useful – all of these will work fine with the entry level camera. Or the photographer may become very serious about photography – perhaps the least likely result but it could happen – in which case the experience with the entry level camera will provide good experience that will let him/her make intelligent decisions about more expensive and specialized gear.
Dan
November 12th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
TimP: Why not? Think about it. If you have a budget of $2k in your mind, chances are you will probably buying something exceed the budget $3-4k for yourself.
everyone will tell you they have a “limited budget”. Because there is no such thing is “unlimited budget” and most of all, the ceiling of budget is never defined in the first place. Any amount can be “limited budget”, regardless any amount, $1k, $2k, or even $10k, all are still a “limited budget”. I would first ask what is the budget ceiling line is, then from there, I normally recommend something within the budget that suits beginner.
That’s is why I put if-then-else condition for option A (>$4k), option B (<$4k) and option C (minimum budget). Which ever fits your needs/budget.
option C.2 (minimum budget):
- D80
- used 50mm F1.8
- used 70-300mm F3.5-5.6,
also can be considered as pretty good minimum beginner combination.
generally I don’t advise anyone to buy a used body, used lenses yes. Used body is considered only when I think of it as a quick disposable item in my list if I plan to replace it in near future. If it is firmed that it will stay in my system for long time, go for a new one for longer lifespan. Body’s life and price are relativity.
If you ask me which SLR brand to go for, I will normally advise them don’t look any further than Nikon and Canon. Not to say other than these two are not good, but I am looking into investment point of view. to ensure minimum in overall investment and lost, Nikon and Canon, high volume of supply and demand. I won’t recommend anyone to go into territory where low supply and low demand, and compatible equipment is also difficult to get.
Getting a brand is also just a matter of preference. I may like Honda maybe because it just looks cooler, you may like Audi just because it feels more comfortable. Both are good quality cars.
“if you buy an slr, then you’re going to have to have a huge lens” What’s your concern? I don’t see any issue in your statement.
“My S5 IS has the 35 mm equivalent of a 430 mm lens.” i have no doubt (and i don’t care) compact camera could deliver maybe even 500mm equavalent of zoom to SLR, but keep in mind that Quality and size are relativity. Like any equiptment you can think of in general, You want Quality, be prepared to invest in a heavy equipment; if you put your weight on size, then be prepared to sacrifice the quality.
People go for SLR is because they want better control, fast shutter speed and image quality, therefore they are prepared to carry heavy equipment and prepared to fork out more money for it.
People go for compact P&S, is because they just want a tool for snapshot, easy to carry around, don’t care about shutter speed and image quality, and they are prepared less than $500 for it.
That’s why my question 1, 2 and 3 is to make sure they know what they wanted. if you go for P&S, be prepared that the hornbill bird that you taken looks like an insect and most likely everyone will mistaken that you are taking a scenery and never noticed there was an “insect” there; the F1 looks like a toy car made by MicroMachines and you can hardly tell the car number on the F1; football looks like a microscopic tiny dot, and the players looks the miniatures in Risk (the boardgame) standing still on the field, 90% of the photos are without the ball even though you tried so hard to capture the ball while it was passing around, and 10% you managed to capture the ball only because the ball stood still on the same spot maybe only during penalty or kick off and you have to draw a circle around the ball to highlight the ball. “here is the ball! no, it is not a dirt on my camera sensor”
November 12th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
If you *think* you want to take serious pictures but aren’t sure, buy a used DSLR and lens. You can quickly sell used equipment with little loss. If you are positive about it, go for new if you wish. The latest models of cameras are honestly not a lot better than the generation from 2 years ago.
As for brand, I wouldn’t buy anything but Canon or Nikon. To decide which brand to buy, go to a camera store and pick up the cameras. Most people have an immediate preference based on ergonomics for one brand or the other. Every Nikon DSLR feels better to me than the best Canon. Other people say the opposite.
If you choose Nikon as your brand, go join Nikonians.org (it’s free) and shop for used cameras and lenses there. I’ve gotten the best deals for the best used equipment there. A used D70 — which is a great camera — is dirt cheap now, and it’s a mid-line DSLR.
Don’t buy into pixels — a 5 megapixel camera takes great pictures. You are unlikely to see the difference between 5 megapixels and 8 megapixels.
If you are not sure at all that you want to go with a DSLR than I recommend you buy the best Canon or Panasonic point and shoot you can afford. My observation is that both Canon and Panasonic p&s are better than Nikons. Panasonics have incredible Leica lenses on them. Then pick up the cheapest Slik tripod you can find — they are about $100. I have sold photos taken on a 5 megapixel Panasonic point and shoot mounted on a Slik tripod. In fact, I sold enough of them to pay for a Nikon D300, and 4 lenses.
I wouldn’t suggest that a beginner buy a used film camera, however good, because of the very high cost of film and developing. Not only that, you get instant feedback from a digital that you do not get from film. You’ll take more pictures and learn faster with digital.
November 12th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
top deal:
D70, upgrade firmware & shoot raw if you have the time – current street price: I’ve seen bodies at 175 EUR
get the 50mm 1.8 for 90 EUR or so (for low light, high quality portraits & other fun stuff)
get the 28-80 G lens for 50 EUR or so (for portraits)
get the 80-200 G lens for another 50 EUR
Buy Nikon cause it has a great second hand market and it keeps working.
Move up once you can pay it.
I currently still use my D70 with a 50mm 1.8 and, i admit, a 18-200 VR. Total investment is upto now 350+90+450 = 890 EUR.
Happy shooting.
November 13th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Hi! Dan,
A lot of what you are hearing from our friends is based on his or her experience and you really cannot beat that because they are all true.
Your problem is nothing new!
A lot of reading(IanD40) will be very helpful.
You also have to know a lot about
terms in photography,how’s and why’s in photography.etc.
We do not know what level of knowledge you have in photography.
G Dan Mitchell’s comments are worth reading over and over.
Regarding your fields of interest(Stephen,”opposite ends of the spectrum”),it will be very helpful if
you limit yourself first to one field and slowly progress to another as soon as you are comfortable;not two,almost totally different fields at the same time.
Doc Holliday’s comment on, not only will you need your photo gears,but other gears like clothing and camp equipment etc.as well, is very true and must be greatly considered.
Steve Mahers and Calvin Foo’s comments on your budget are also true(see ranges of equipment for budget),everybody’s “Limited budget” is different.
Martin’s idea of renting is a good idea.
I am an old photographer(I used films before) and I would really go with Rachel’s advice of not going with film cameras and films(again you have to read about advantages and disadvantages of the above).
There is no hurry,take your time!
Photography will always be there. Cameras,equipment,gears.etc.,will be greatly improved by the time you are ready to buy.Save more,if you must,so you will be able to afford a good camera or the one you are comfortable using.
And I definitely agree with Ian D40.”Sometimes it is not the camera which will give great photos,it is you!”
A decision may be wrong or right,nevertheless,a decision has to be made;and it is acceptable.
Take Care!
November 14th, 2008 at 8:48 am
The same question I ask is what camera for macro stocking.Looking to do closeup shots like food,advertising pictures stuff for mag’s,and things you can create.Area around here is not like your area unless you drive hundred miles away. Looking for things that can be done in the home or small studio.
November 14th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Hi, haven’t read all the responses, but predictably Canon/Nikon. Great cameras! But not the only ones. For sport and wildlife photography you might want to seriously consider Olympus.
If you’re on a budget they are widely considered to make the best entry level lenses on the market. That said, an upgrade path is even more important, and most of their mid to upper tier lenses are exceptional. These are award winning cameras.
The 4/3 sensor format effectively gives more ‘reach’, so for example, a 150mm Olympus lens has an equivalent field of view of a 300mm full frame lens. You’ll read a lot of negative stuff about the 4/3 format – high ISO noise, etc., but they’ve come a long way and are very good.
The 510/520 and up have in-body image stabilisation so that all your lenses are effectively stabilised, you don’t need to buy expensive IS lenses to do the job. The 410/420 don’t have in body IS, but are the smallest on the market so very portable and there are compatible stabilised (Leica) lenses available.
Canon and Nikon are the leaders for a reason, but this also creates a halo effect that can mean the other players don’t get a fair look in. Just leave your options open at this stage of your research.
At the end of the day, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the major brands. Canon, Nkion, Sony, Olympus or Pentax would all be good buys and all have pros and cons.
Oh, and definitely consider buying used. A one generation old camera will still take exceptional images!
November 14th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I have a Panasonic Lumix FZ18 I am almost 70 years old and need compact and light weight. I go to Colorado and climb to 12,000ft.+ and get into Elk and Mule deer and Grouse. Got some outstanding pictures last summer. I would go with the newer FZ28 for around $300. You can turn off all sounds such as shutter. Very versatile and nice cameras. The 18x zoom will do the job.As you know wildlife or well, wild.But this camera will get you up close.
November 14th, 2008 at 11:45 am
I can only tell you what I did, and whether I’m happy with the results or not. That’s a mix but I’m mostly pretty happy. I think that the adage “you get what you pay for” is pretty true but I didn’t want to break the bank. My first purchase was the Canon XTi (400D) and a rather inexpensive 300mm lens. This was very affordable and the ONLY reason I got that lens was in an attempt to keep me from rushing out and buying the lens I really wanted. That strategy didn’t work very well as about 5 months later I couldn’t wait any longer. I rushed out and got the 100-400mm f5.6 IS L-series canon lens and I love it. If I had more to invest I would have picked up the 40D instead of the body I have because it is faster and has a few other useful features but I feel that the XTi (or the newer XSi) is a decent body to learn with. I shoot birds with this and I think it works pretty well. Maybe someday I’ll decide to drive an old beater and finance a big lens instead !
November 14th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I started out being very conservative I had a Nikon D50 with a 18-55mm lens and a Nikon bag. Soon after I purchased a 55-200mm lens as I like taking dog protection sports pics and needed it to get closer shots. Later purchased a SB 600 flash. The accessories get kinda addictive once you start to really ge4t into it.
I now have a Kata bag and a D80 along with my D70 and many, many other toys.
You have to do your homework and decide what you want to accomplish with your photos
November 14th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Personally, having recently been a student while discovering photography, I discovered the better value of a full-size compact such as the Canon Powershot (Mine is an S3-IS) is inexpensive, yet offers decent close-ups (Don’t use digital zoom though). The S5 IS has a higher resolution than the S3, however, I don’t think that you’ll get great enlargements over 8×10 simply because of the size of the Powershot’s S series sensor. Another great compact on the cheap would be the Olympus UZ models. I hope this helps.
November 14th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
I have a Nikon D40 and I love the recovery speed for shooting wildlife. Dollar for dollar I don’t think it can be beat. When you can afford a zoom for it you can pull animals up so close. I took pics of buffalo in SD that are looking them right in the eye. Whatever you buy, have fun with it!
November 15th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Lot’s of info; here is mine. Get something you can afford and take alot of pics. I would go DSLR, you will learn faster because of instant results. Play with it at its extreams, ie. Apature, Shutter speed. Spend money on a tripod if you want good outdoor photo’s and again take alot of pics. BTW did I say take alot of pics? This is how you will learn don’t be afraid of taking a bad pic.
BTW Costco has a great price on a Nikon D90 Kit, it would suffice for years to come.
November 16th, 2008 at 11:43 am
OK, all I can do is give you advice based on my own experience. I am fortunatein that, because I use a power wheelchair (it’s a long story but work related), my vocational rehab counselor essentially gave me an open check regarding equipment. I had already bought a Canon S3IS myself, and can tell you that you can get amazing pictures with that camera…..pictures that it’s difficult to believe were done wth ANY point-and-shoot! When my VR case was approved,I again chose Canon, the Canon Rebel XTi with an assortment of lenses. I do a wide variety of shots, from marching band contests to wildlife and landscape, but find myself using my 70-300mm lens more than any of the others. Now, I have been told rather rudely by one band pgotographer that the Rebel is a mere toy that will never shoot low light fast action but managed to get crystal clear shots of a woman using a flaming hula hoop during a circus performance in a completely dark circus tent, and get far more excellent marching band shots in really poor light conditions than ones I discard on a regular basis. It will take an eight gig CF card which is all I need for everything except the really BIG band contests, the regional and state contests.
One thing I will say, and this is from a year of personal experience with their so-called customer service with this $2500 laptop and a very expensive camcorder is, “Whatever you do, DON’T buy ANYTHING made by Sony!!!”
I think you will most likely learn to love whatever you buy, and if the camera you start with isn’t a good match, think of it as a trial run to determine what you DO want and need. If you’re just beginning to photograph, maybe one of the high end point-and-shoots is a good choice for you, at least as a starting point. While they make some peoples’ lips curl, there is a place for them in serious photography.
Remember that in photography as in many other things, our choices are very, very individualized and what is a good match for one person may well not be for another. Renting equipment as a trial is a great idea except that I don’t think you can really “road test” a camera properly in just a few days. You might want to think about renting it for several weeks and then making your choice.
Whatever you decide to do, have fun with it. Don’t be discouraged by “bad” shots. What may seem bad to you may be a treasure to someone else, and on top of that, there isn’t a photographer alive or dead who hasn’t made some really bad shots now and then!
November 19th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Whatever feels good in your hand and on your shoulder.
Any camera can take great photos just as any camera can take crappy ones. It’s all about what you do with it. So, the goal is to have one that you’ll enjoy using and won’t feel burdened carrying with you.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:59 am
As i became older, I love to travel light, I always have a TZ5 in my coat pocket and I love my Fuji S9100, a little bulky but with manual options, and a nice manual zoom (28-300). SLR with different lens no more
November 26th, 2008 at 3:33 am
Simple answer: The best lens you can afford. And make sure it it attached to a camera you can also afford. If that comes to be a point and shoot, then so be it. If you can move to a DSLR with a decent kit lens, also not a bad place to start (remember, once you go down this road, you will probably be committed to a certain brand – choose wisely, ask anyone who used to shoot Minolta).
The best thing you can do is go to a decent camera store and try out some gear you think you can afford (in the store, of course). Then, when you find what works for you – go, shoot, experiment and be happy.
December 7th, 2008 at 8:29 am
I won’t suggest specific gear since many above have left great suggestions, however, I would like to add my comment on picking up gear or selling gear on craigslist. I had a great experience getting rid of a lot of good gear quickly on craigslist and I know there are also constant offers available for others to pick up quality pre-owned gear from local resources.
I put more details on using craigslist for photography here:
http://blogs.adamparkerphotography.com/blog/Selling-old-camera-gear-on-craigslist.com/8/
Hope you were able to pick up everything you needed/wanted for a good price.
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