entering the dslr world

[nathan rees]

Hello All,
My name is Nathan. I am fairly new to photography. I have fly fished for a few years though. I am 17 years old and am wanting to get a DSLR. However, at my age and income, this is a major investment and I dont want to go wrong on my purchase. I am looking for something in the 500-800 dollar range. Any input is welcome !! Please feel free to message me if something shouldnt be said aloud.

By the way I am new to the board and am already liking what I see. This is a wonderful site. Hope I can join in on some post and become one of the regulars.

Thanks,

Nathan

[David Anderson]

Hi Nathan,

I’m not 100 % up on US camera prices, but I do know where you can get some great reviews on DSLR’s –

http://dpreview.com/

And here’s another site with loads of good articles and info.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/

www.dsaphoto.com

A picture is thousand words that takes less than a second while a thousand words is a picture that takes a month.

[John Bennett]

Nathan.
My 2c.

You’ll be better off with a high end “Point n Shoot”, many of which allow you to take full control so you can learn the foundations of photography than an entry level DSLR and “kit” lens.

Both will cost about $500.00-$800.00

Reason being.
To take advantage of your DSLR you really need invest quite a bit more. No you don’t have to have the most expensive lenses and accessories…But its like buying a bass boat and nothing else.
Your “investment” doesn’t stop with the purchase of a body.

So for less $$ (quite a bit less after you add accessories like extra batteries, cards, lenses, bags) etc

You have a high end PnS that can pictures that in many cases are just as good…and it can do macro (without spending 500+ on a macro lens) and with optical zoom you can do wildlife/sports without buying a 500+ mid range telephoto….and you can take video clips..

Some you can drop in the river, without having to call your insurance agent( providing your DSLR is insured)

etc,
etc.

DSLRs are great.
Less noise ( although high end PnSs are getting better here to)
Little shutter lag
Faster frames per second

And they are most certainly the way to go if you want to learn photography but more importantly “grow” and advance in it.

But an entry level body, with a couple consumer grade lenses so you have a little focal range coverage (from 17mm to 200mm) and a macro lens plus some much needed accessories your still looking at probably a couple G.

Compare that to a $500.00 Canon G10 PnS which here is loosely being compared to a $40,000 medium format

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/kidding.shtml

[nathan rees]

John,

Maybe I should have been more clear… this is how much I can spend on the body. My parents said if I would pay for the body they would get me my first lens then I am on my own.

Thanks,

Nathan

[John Bennett]

In that range there are a few bodies you can look at. Im Canon so I’ll stick that..its what I know. Nikon is every bit as good.

If you want to push the upper limit of your budget you can look at a 40D. For your first body, it will be alot of camera for you. With care it can last quite a few years and is for the most part…. current  technology.

If you want to save some money on the Body, that can either be banked or saved for additional puchaces (like a lens, flash, whatever) than you could look at either the XSI or XTI. Both very capable bodies, not quite as current and you might find you “outgrow” them a bit faster.

Meaning as you learn different things about photography, you start to feel like the body is holding you back a bit. For me and my first body, it was a year before I felt that way, for others it might 2,3 or 5 before they feel an itch to upgrade and advance from them.

Which to do?
Both have their merits. The 40D is a hell of alot of camera and wil likekly serve for years.

But a common recomendation (its good wisdom) is to put your money into good lenses first. One way to do that intially is to buy a less expensive body that you use to “learn” on, and with the saved money, get a better lens, or another lens.

J

[nathan rees]

Thanks !!!

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