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to DSLR or not? that is the question

ocnbrze said:
ok here is another question, new, used, or refurbished? i always buy my devices new for the most part. the only thing i own that was a refurb was my og evo, when i had a bad usb port. also do you think getting geek squad protection or other extended warranty services is worth it on a camera? i always get insurance for my phone.
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Don't get so stuck on new I have bought some refurbs and used that were better than the new and vice versa. Insurance would definitely be a good Idea but make sure your not paying more for the insurance than the camera. Shop around just like you will for a good camera.Talk to your insurance agent see what they can recommend and come up with. People would be surprised what a bigboy insurance company will protect.
 
Don't forget about software either, if you get into the hobby you'll probably end up spending more time in front of the monitor than you do behind the lens. ;-)
 
ocnbrze said:
you know i never thought of that. do i need photoshop or something?
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If you buy a Canon then it comes with some pretty powerful editing software, if not then I would suggest looking into Lightroom. It's a fast and quick way to edit pictures, well worth it.

I wouldn't recommend a P&S. I would still go with a full size DSLR or something along the ways of the Olympus Pen. These cameras give you a lot more control over how you shoot a picture. It's a really fun and rewarding hobby. I love walking around a park with my camera and shooting anything and everything.
 
If you are just now getting into photography and are not sure if you will keep it up, I would suggest a super-zoom full-feature point and shoot. dSLRs can get very expensive, very quickly and honestly if you aren't going to spend 2-3x more on lenses than the camera itself, then you aren't using it to it's fullest potential.

Check out this camera. I got started on something very similar from Panasonic. It covers a 25-600mm zoom range and will have all of the functions of a dSLR (manual mode, shutter priority, aperture priority, RAW format files, etc.) Really this camera will let you get the feel for shooting with an SLR without dropping $1,000+ on equipment.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 Review: Digital Photography Review

After that, if you like shooting like that, buy a nice, used Canon or Nikon body (I'm a Canon guy and would recommend a 30D or 40D) and start accumulating a lens collection. Lens technology doesn't change rapidly which means you can buy used lenses and still be on the current tech. This is exactly the path I have taken and the wife and I decided that we loved it so much that, eventhough we are hobbyist, we easily justified buying 3 upper teir lenses and a top of the line flash. Once you get started, if you enjoy it, it really is a drug. You will start cutting things out in your daily expenses in order to save up for that next lens, or that better flash, etc.

Feel free to PM me if you want to talk about it in more detail. I've been right where you are and have went through the whole progression of steps.
 
ok so i just went balls in and bought a brand new cannon t3i today. for me i like shiny new toys. i know. i know. i probably could have saved money, but what the heck. gonna be spending the next few weeks learning my new toy. rest assured that if i have any questions i will ask you guys.

just want to say thank you for all of your guys advice. it really means a lot.
 
You will like the T3i. You can use it like a point and shoot ( fully automatic) if you aren't sure of a shot. You can gradually work your way into the other modes. Magic Lantern has good guide books for most Canon. I got one for the 20D. The explanations were a bit better in the book than the manual. If no manual is in the box, it's online and you can download it.

I find the optical viewfinder on a DSLR a lot better for anything faster than an A-10 or a C-130. Birds in flight are really a problem with a digital viewfinder, and so is Macro. I also have an SX30IS, and it can get frustrating. Especially as to manual focus. The DSLR is usually in Manual Mode. I learned that way with film SLR.

If you do want another editing program for photos - Gimp is open source and free.
 
svt_gEEk said:
Did you get the camera with a kit lens?
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yep that is all they had at bestbuy. they do not sell body only versions. it comes with a 55mm lens. i also bought a 250mm lens for half off when you buy it with the camera. i could not pass that up. plus i bought the 3yr geek squad protection as well. unfortunately i have been sick the past few days so i have not been able to really play with it yet:(
 
ocnbrze said:
yep that is all they had at bestbuy. they do not sell body only versions. it comes with a 55mm lens. i also bought a 250mm lens for half off when you buy it with the camera. i could not pass that up. plus i bought the 3yr geek squad protection as well. unfortunately i have been sick the past few days so i have not been able to really play with it yet:(
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I got my Canon at Best Buy too, with the drop it protection, since I'm a klutz.
 
yeah its a good plan. plus i get a once a year maintenance for the camera with the plan. it also comes with accidental as well. i always get some kind of protection on all of my devices. it seems like a waste of money until something bad happens and then your screwed. i like having the peice of mind of not having to worry about that. i'm covered for 3yrs with the option to renew.
 
my favorite picture so far
20120705072144.jpg
 
Just as suggestions, I'm going to plop down a list of lenses you need to be saving up for if you're going to continue down this addictive and expensive path that you have chosen to begin to travel.

The Canon nifty-fifty. EXCELLENT little prime 50mm lens for portraits. The f/1.8 aperture makes it great for low-light and nice bokeh/depth-of-field.
Amazon.com: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens: Camera & Photo

The Tamron 17-50 or 28-75 depending on what zoom range you want to cover the low end. If you don't plan on getting a extra wide angle lens (Sigma 10-20 listed below) then go with the 17-50. If you do want that wide-angle or a fisheye wide-angle, then go with the 28-75. Both are f/2.8 aperture and are great cheaper alternatives to the Canon versions. Very fast lenses and quiet focusing mechanisms.
Amazon.com: Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo
-OR-
Amazon.com: Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

Bought this one last week and completed my collection. Awesome cheap extra wide angle lens.
Amazon.com: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo


One of the following depending upon budget and needs for low-light or image stabilization, both if you can afford it (I went with the f/2.8 without image stabilization and haven't missed the IS yet. Can often find used versions for a couple hundred bucks cheaper than the new price:

Amazon.com: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

Amazon.com: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

Amazon.com: Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

Amazon.com: Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo
 
sheesh i had no idea that lens can run that much!! well i'm gonna take my time with this and see what road this camera with my two lenses takes me on. very much appreciated i will keep my eyes out for them.
 
ocnbrze said:
sheesh i had no idea that lens can run that much!! well i'm gonna take my time with this and see what road this camera with my two lenses takes me on. very much appreciated i will keep my eyes out for them.
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Yes, lenses can cost a small fortune. Depending on what you want to shoot will determine what path you take. I would really consider getting that 50mm f/1.8 soon. You can find some used in good condition on ebay for under $100. It's a great lens to learn how to properly use depth of field with.

The next I would shoot for would be one of the Tamron lenses or that Sigma 10-22. The extra aperture on the Tamrons are great for indoor shooting where flashes aren't acceptable. On the other hand 10-22 zoom range is so awesome on the Sigma. You can create some really interesting shots with it.

The last thing I would worry about is that 70-200mm f/2.8 or f/4. The cost is very hard to justify if you're not head over heels in love with photography.

Tip hidden:
I don't often give out this secret, but check out FredMiranda for used gear. I have bought every single piece of gear I own there and saved at least $1,000 if not more. It is a site professionals frequent and share ideas but also dump their used or backup gear on when they get new stuff. You often get almost brand new equipment listed for 25% or more off of new prices.
 
Sharondippity said:
I am interested in true wifi, where it can be configured to automatically upload to a designated online photo album, such as picasaweb or flikr.

Someday, they will, I'm thinking.
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Some cameras are starting to incorporate this feature. Most, if not all, are point and shoot though.
 
I have an older film cannon EOS with a 35 mm lens and 75mm-300mm lens. With those lenses work with newer digital EOS's?
 
JayC said:
I have an older film cannon EOS with a 35 mm lens and 75mm-300mm lens. With those lenses work with newer digital EOS's?
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Most likely will work with them in some capacity. The camera probably won't recognize the lens so the EXIF data won't be right and sometimes the autofocus won't work if they are autofocus lenses.
 
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