Beginner SLR......er good n00b camera

[GT]

well,
I would like to jump into some amature photography. I took a class in high school but when I finished the course it was entirly to expensive. With the recent influx of digital cameras I think I can get back into mild photography. I have a sony right now, gift it sucks but takes good photos for AO and ebay, and was looking for some advice on a entry level camera.

The father-in-law, who is a pro, suggests the cannon 10D. Even on ebay they are pushing close to 900 bucks. Any other suggestions around the 500 dollar range?

[Dubstar112]

I shoot a Nikon N-65. Its a decent machine, I used it in highschool and I still use it all the time. I need'a make my own darkroom though.

Nikon N series = good... 400 - 500 can get you the camera and a decent lense.

[drg]

In that range you're looking at very old DSLRs secondhand. With a decent lens, probably only the Olympus E-10. Canon D30 if you don't mind sticking with one or two cheap lenses.

Entry level for modern DSLRs w/ kit lens is 800-1000, these include Nikon's D70, Canon's Digital Rebel (300D) and Olympus' E-300. Alternatively you can go secondhand (like you noted) Canon 10Ds and D60s, Nikon D100s, Olympus E-1s (if you can find one secondhand).

Another possible option would be second hand high-end EVF cameras.

[Muzikman]

Get yourself a Canon Digital Rebel (D300) and a Canon EF 28-135 3.5-5.6 USM IS lens. It's going to be out of your price range, but worth it.

IMO Canon is the way to go. Nikon got decent bodies, but they are always one step behind and their glass is not as good.

Your other route is to not go SLR and get a Canon G5 or G6. They have automatic and manual modes, and take great shots.

[magman007]

if your getting into digital photography, go big. i reccomend the nikkon d70, fastest digital body out there. 3 frames per second for 140 shots before it needs to "think". would be absolutely amazing for paintball shots.

Dad is getting one, so he can use all his old lenses from his nikkon n80. he plans on taking it with him on his xmas present, a national geography photo workshop to the island of skye off the coast of scotland. sounds fun eh?

[Muzikman]

Bill, you are sadly mistaken. the D70 is FAR from the "fastest" body out there. Mine does 3fps, that's nothing.

You want fast, get the Canon D1 MarkII. It IS the fastest digital body out. 8fps at 8MP, 40 shot buffer. Problem is, the body costs $4K.

[drg]

if your getting into digital photography, go big. i reccomend the nikkon d70, fastest digital body out there. 3 frames per second for 140 shots before it needs to "think". would be absolutely amazing for paintball shots.

Aside from it not being the fastest body (as mentioned by Muzikman), the large buffer is not going to help you get better photographs of paintball than other models with similar framerates. The reason is that the peak action you're trying to capture rarely lasts longer than a few seconds, and 3fps is NOT fast enough to do "accuracy by volume."

[govnamac]

I bought the Nikon D100 last year and love it. Price has dropped a lot since then.

[Halliday]

I have a Canon 10D. I have not had a chance to really push it to the limit yet, but I like it so far. I got mine used, with a few compact flash cards for $650 off ebay. Now I already had a few lenses so all I needed was the body.

If you want to shoot film, a Rebel is a great autoSLR that you can still learn on.

A photo I shot with my 10D. It's a rehersal of a play called "The Dance" from my church. The guy with the samurai sword is Satan.



Another, this one of my son Ian



edit: broken links

[Muzikman]

I love my 10D.

Here are a few photos I have taken over the last two years or so with it.

http://jbeamphotos.com/gallery/FinalCalendar2005

[RingOfScale]

my sister has an Canon E10 that works very well ,its a cool camera. I think he payed 400 for it used.

[Mango]

Digital Rebel.

Dell has great deals on it right now, $750 shipped.

[Dubstar112]

I definatley misread his post... Hrmm...

It was late

In that case I've used a D-70 and I can say that its definatley worth the money you pay... (whatever that may be). Also just about any digi slr will take superb pictures.

[rkjunior303]

My Olympus OM-1 is still a tank

[Bluestrike_2]