Just Starting Digital Photography, So What Can I Get?
I recently responded to an open forum that asked this question: “Camera budget between 600 and 1000 dollars who can help me pick?” The following was my response.
There are several factors to consider here A) camera style (compact digital or full blown Digital Slr), B) type of subjects most often taken (close up, landscape, people, etc.), C) Lens type needed (built in or add on) and what kind of range? D) What do you do with your photos?
A) Camera style – currently I use a Fuji s9000 which is compact and has an awesome 28-300 optical zoom lens. It is a 9 Mega pixel camera and takes very sharp photos. It is small and light (one of the main reasons for getting it.) The down side is, although I can use filters, I can NOT change the lens. Also it is sometimes slow in deciding what to focus on with a moving subject in the photo.
B) Type of subject – you don’t have to be into sports photography for speed to make a difference. I have not done weddings for a number of years, but if I did I would be tempted to go back to my film camera because the reaction time is much faster. If 90% of your subjects stay still, (portraits, landscape, scenic) a compact camera may well suite your needs. If however 90% of your topics move (grandkids, sports activities, or other events (such as wedding ceremonies or even plays)) a person might easily want to think about moving into the world of a genuine DSLR for the photography.
C) Lens type needed – obviously this depends on the type of body you select. There are many compact Digital Cameras that only come with a 35 to 70 zoom. Even if they have a fantastic mega pixel rating (10 or 12 mega pixel) I would never even consider it because it does not give me enough visual range for my average photo, (I shoot a lot of scenic photos) Built on or not I still like having the widest range possible when taking my photos.
D) What do you do with your photos? In the event that 90% associated with that which you shoot is actually possibly submitted on line or is actually printed as 4×6 prints for the scrapbooking, you do not need an excellent high mega pixel camera. A 3 mega pixel camera will still make VERY sharp 8×10 prints. If you regularly want 16 x 20 prints or you do a lot of photo editing (blow up small portions) then a DSLR would be well worth the investment for a good future in photography.
If I had to do it again and had $1,000 to spend I would go with a Canon xsi body (about $500.00), I would throw away the standard 18-55mm lens that comes with it, and add a Sigma 18-250 zoom lens (also about $500.00). A good Flash and a couple high speed memory cards would also be a must, but those I already have. Canon and Nikon both make excellent units, but so do many other manufactures. After all, right now I’m using a Fuji and for most of what I do, it is meeting my needs. I do make money from my compact digital camera, but I do not shoot as many events as I used to. That’s the bottom line… figure out what you want to shoot first, and then decide on the camera.
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Minolta Maxxum 7 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only) $599.99 One of Minolta’s claims to fame is that they introduced to the world, back in 1985, the very first autofocusing (AF) 35mm SLR ever produced: the Maxxum 7000. The Maxxum 7 is the fifth-generation version of that original Minolta AF SLR, combining recent advances in lens design, light metering, exposure systems, and focusing automation with an ease of operation that offers photographers tremendous p… |
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Lowepro Fastpack 350 Backpack (Black) + Accessory Kit for Nikon D3/D3S/D3X/D40/D50/D60/D70S/D80/D90/D700/D300/D300S/D7000/D90/D5100/D5000/D3100/D3000/FM10/F100 Digital SLR Cameras $139.95 Go all day with the lightweight, comfortable Fastpack 350 backpack. It protects your pro digital SLR and 17″ widescreen notebook compactly while providing generous storage for other gear. Side-entry compartments let you quickly grab equipment and accessories, even while you’re on the move. Customize the easy-to-access main compartment with adjustable dividers. A comfortable mesh waistbelt, and an … |
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The Mithra Edition Stylish DSLR Camera Carrying Bag with Removable Shoulder Strap for Sigma SD15 / Sigma SD1 $49.99 Safely carry and protect your SLR Camera with our New Mithra Edition Camera Bag. Its unique design and unmatched elegance will compliment your SLR Camera like no other bag in the market today. The exterior of this bag has been covered with a durable non-scratch water resistant Nylon material and the interior has been reinforced with 4 layers of soft-lushly neoprene padding and covered with a soft … |
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LOWEPRO Fastpack 250 Camera/NoteBook Backpack (Blue) + Accessory Kit for Canon EOS Rebel T3/T3i/T2i/T1i/EOS 1D MARK III/1D MARK IV/1DS MARK II/5D/7D/20D/30D/40D/50D/60D/XS/Xsi/Xti SLR Cameras $115.95 The fastpack 250 protects your digital SLR and 15.4″ widescreen notebook compactly while providing generous storage for your other gear. Side-entry compartments let you quickly grab equipment and accessories, even while you’re on the move. Customize the easy-to-access main compartment with adjustable dividers. A comfortable mesh waistbelt helps distribute weight evenly. To help you make the most o… |
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Smith & Wesson Flashlights Miniature Weapon Mounted Light (Black) $52.00 Pierce darkness! Smith Wesson Micro90 Tactical LED Pistol Light clearly lights up your target. ON SALE! Eliminate shadows and iffy shots! Finally! An affordable, lightweight, gun-mounted Light designed to fit virtually ALL brands of pistols… from sub compacts to full size with accessory rails. NO tools needed! Crackshot: Digitally controlled Micro Technology; 90 peak beam lumens; LED rated for 5… |
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AIM Sports FQ150 150 Lumen Tactical Quick Release Pistol Light $32.00 Powerful and compact the AIM Sports FQ150 LED flashlight is perfect for any pistol with a picatinny or universal type rail…. |
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Chore Gloves 14Oz Yellow Large – Part #: 4032L $2.99 Fleece out, fully lined cotton flannel…. |
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Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras $299.99 Bring your photographic subjects closer with this Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer Telephoto Zoom Lens. It is designed with Canon’s Optical Image Stabilizer technology and is compact and light. This high zoom ratio lens is equivalent to a focal length of 88-400mm in the 35mm format (when used on Canon EOS cameras compatible with EF-S lenses). The image stabilizer effect is equivalen… |
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Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras $649.99 Featuring the latest 3-stop Image Stabilizer for outstanding camera shake reduction, the EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM zoom lens also features super responsive autofocus. Replacing the popular EF 75-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM, the world’s first interchangeable lens with Image Stabilizer (IS), the lens is expected to appeal to serious amateur nature and sports photographers looking to achieve outstanding re… |
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Professional 58mm Digital Tulip Flower Lens Hood For canon 18-55mm , 28-80mm , 28-90mm , 28-105mm , 55-250mm , 70-300mm , 75-300mm , 100-300mm , 50mm 1.4 , 85mm 1.8 with Lens cap Holder and Lens cleaning Kit $1.49 Rotates so that you get the exact amount of shading that you require from the sun - Locking clamp thread design so you can mount on an adapter or ring and still rotate the lens hood - Lightweight and portable - Protects your lens and camera from accidental damage - Easy to use: just screw it on the way a filter would. Rotate to the right to tighten, rotate to the left to detach - 3 Year Limited Wa… |
