I want to get into the DSLR world, any advice?

[Spartan X]

I've always used Point and shoot digital cameras, and have always been left wanting in the area of focus and lighting when it has come to taking a good picture. I really enjoy taking creative pictures of my friends, places, and items...so I've decided it would be a good investment to get into the Digital - SLR world. I plan on getting Digital - SLR for Dummies(book) but thought I'd come back to one of my old forums that used to always good good advice on such things ;-)

[xero28]

They're pretty much like any SLR if you have used them in the past. They are quite easy to use, just takes a little reading and practice. That's what's so nice about them though, you can take hundreds of practice pictures to figure out all of the settings. As far as which one to get, it depends on a few things: budget, brand preference, what you'll be using it for. As far as brand, Canon & Nikon are really the two biggies, and they both take good pictures. My wife and I have always been Canon people. There really isn't a "better" brand I think, but it just depends on which UI you like better and what you're more comfortable with. We've owned 2 DSLR's so far, the original Digital Rebel and the Rebel XTI. We've also used a 40D and a 5D to shoot a wedding. We are saving up now for the 5D Mark II.

There isn't much of a difference between all of these cameras except for one big one, the sensor size. The Rebels, 40D, 50D and a few more have a sensor that essentially enlarges the frame by 1.6 times. So, if you are using a 100mm lens, it is actually zoomed to 160mm. The 5D and other similar cameras use a full frame sensor, so the 100mm IS 100mm. It really depends on what you'll be using it for weather this is an issue. It doesn't degrade the quality at all.

I would suggest you purchase the body only and buy a lens seperate. The stock leses (much like stock barrels) aren't really that good.

Just like AO, there are a bunch of camera forums out there that have tons of information. Take a look at some of those to see what people have to say about the different cameras and see what fits your needs the best. Feel free to hit me up too. I'm by far an expert in the subject, but I have a few years of experience along with my wife. Good luck.

-X

[Army]

I have the Canon S3IS, which was a great impulse buy...but not so great a "thought out" buy.

While it takes great pics, with a tremendous variety of lighting, format, sizing, clarity, focal choice, ease of use, SD card size(I use a 4gb for many thousands of pics) and very good battery life (4-500 flash pics before failing, over 1000 if no flash). It really fails in what it doesn't have, like a hot shoe for a separate flash, and the inability to take standard lenses.

The model specific made lenses I use are very high quality, and attach with normal bayonet, but require the use of the camera's focus and zoom feature, as they do not have any adjustments built it. I can use regular filter lenses though.

Price wise, it is hard to beat for all the good features and ease of use, especially if all you need is a "point & shoot" but want a "real" camera. The model has evolved to the S5IS, that gives you more features, better resolution, and even better battery life, along with a hot shoe. Still limited on separate lenses.

[sffudapparel]

depends on what you are comfortable with. I grew up shooting canon slr, and then bought a nikon d70s off recommendation from my photo teacher. While it's a nice camera, I'm personally a canon fan, although i'm liking my d70s better and better (have had it now 4 years)

Dslr = expensive. Don't just dive in, research! keep in mind a GOOD lens is gonna set you back around a grand. A stock 18-55 lens is ok, but you're not really tapping the potential of a DSLR unless you get something nicer IMO.

[Hexis]

The thing about a DSLR is you are really buying into a lens system. Eventually the camera body will get replaced. If you get good glass there should be no need to replace it for a long time. There are really only two lens lineups that are complete all the way from el-cheapo to uber pro. Those are Canon and Nikon. Both companies offer great DSLRs ranging from the budget models, to full frame sensor pro models.

I'm personally a Canon fan. I have shot a EOS 5D for the last couple of years. I'll prob get a 5D mark 2 soonish. Outside of my investment in glass, there are a couple reasons I still prefer Canon over Nikon. The first is that across all Canon EOS models they all use CMOS sensors (and have for a long time). CMOS sensors at this point have significantly less noise and are basically a better technology. The entire EOS lineup from the Digital Rebel to the 1D/1Ds all sport a CMOS sensor. The high end Nikon stuff is all CMOS based, but the lower end stuff is CCD based. Another smaller reason I prefer Canon is that they offer a battery grip with full controls for every EOS model. So you can buy an extended grip with portrait controls for all EOS models (it's a different part for pretty much each different model). Some of the Nikon battery grips don't have controls (making them pretty much useless). All of the pro model bodies have the grip integrated into the body. That's a big deal if you shoot portrait a lot, or have unusually large hands (like me, on both counts really).

I really do think if you get any Canon DSLR you will be happy in both the short and long term. If you have any specific questions let me know.

[Spartan X]

I am coming from point and shoot camera's and I understand lighting and focus when it comes to custom settings, but because most the time only automatic settings are available on these camera's you have to come up with creative ways to adjust these in the external environment.

I want a camera to take stunning digital out door pictures with the ability to focus on specific areas of the photo, other then just the center. I want the ability to swab out high optical zoom lenses, with Macro Lenses for close up shots of my gadgets I'm listing for sale online, or just for fun. And most importantly I want a camera that's good in low light conditions.

I'd also like to figure out how to properly use Photoshop...

I choose DSLR camera's because I want to stay in the digital realm, and I'd heard good things about the advantage they have.

[lasrsktr]

Everything you said can be done on a Point and shoot to an extent... sort of...

DSLR's are great great tools... but just because the camera is more expensive doesn't mean the shots will be out of the box better.... They take a lot more knowledge and practice to get great shots...

I started out shooting Canon Point and Shoots and loved it. I wanted to progress to wider angle lenses and what not in order to capture more of the environment inside houses(I am realtor) so i jumped into the DSLR world with an Original Canon Digital Rebel and a wide angle lens! I am currently shooting with a 30d and a 40d, and will be planning a 5d upgrade in the coming months.

I would recommend starting of on a lower budget camer like the Canon XS or XSI, as there is no reason to jump straight into pro or even prosumer bodies such as the Canon 40d or 50d if it not something more than a casual hobby.

One thing to keep in mind the camera is reliant on glass quality 90% of the time, and thats where most of the money is invested into. The kit lens is great, but its a sacrifice to get something...

As much as I love shooting with my DSLR i still keep a point and shoot handy becuase they are incredible for what they can do and their relatively cheap replacement price and all around portability!


a good source of information is http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/ that will point you in the direction of all things Canon.


just some food for thought.

[ElPanda]

I did a double take of this thread when I saw the title cause I thought it was about the double stuff racing league hahahaha

but to stay on topic I recently purchased a nice panasonic Lumix digital camera, IMO the perfect paintball camera, takes decent video and very nice pictures. All for around $220, I was very happy.

[Hexis]

DSLR's are great great tools... but just because the camera is more expensive doesn't mean the shots will be out of the box better.... They take a lot more knowledge and practice to get great shots...

Yeah it's not the cost, it's the dramatically larger sensor that means the shots will be inherently better quality than a point and shoot. Big photosites mean lower noise. Large surface area means shallow depth of field at a given aperture. In a lot of ways a DSLR is more forgiving than a P&S, it's just in general you expect a lot less from a P&S.

[lasrsktr]

Yeah it's not the cost, it's the dramatically larger sensor that means the shots will be inherently better quality than a point and shoot. Big photosites mean lower noise. Large surface area means shallow depth of field at a given aperture. In a lot of ways a DSLR is more forgiving than a P&S, it's just in general you expect a lot less from a P&S.

I agree 100%....


That being said... Cost is still on every mind in todays economy!

[Hexis]

I agree 100%....

That being said... Cost is still on every mind in todays economy!

Oh yeah, that big ol sensor means a big ol price. It's nearly directly proportional to the square footage of the sensor. I loves me a full frame sensor tho.

[1stdeadeye]

The Nikon D60 works well for me. Easy to use, 10.2 MegaPixels and a billion functions.

[DEEPSEA]

we love the rebel xsi, on a note though buy it without the lens, and stay away from the grey market on the web. dont pay more than 550 for the body which is 12.2 mp.

hoo-ya deepsea!

[Hexis]

A couple good places to buy online:

BH Photo
Adorama

I have purchased multiple large ($1k+) items from both. I would not hesitate to order something from either. They do sell "grey" market items, they are listed as "Import". I would avoid those. The cost savings are not worth the lack of warranty coverage.

Also at this point on DSLRs just ignore the resolution of the sensor. More 'megapixels' that 8MP or so will not buy you much other than larger files to deal with. I know that my 12MP EOS 5D has significantly higher image quality than the 15MP EOD 50D since the 5D has a significantly larger sensor (24x36 mm vs 14.8x22.2 mm). That's also why the DSLRs have significantly higher image quality than Point and Shoot digicams. The P&S models have tiny sensors.

[LK-13]

one word,
CANNON.

but make sure it's EOS Lens compatible and has the features you think you are going to use.