Digital M@ Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 You know, You think you get good quality pics out of your digital camera, until you see what an actual quality camera can do. A friend of mine has a Canno 20d SLR camera and took some pictures at a gathering I had and my jaw dropped to the floor. He did not use the point and click options to shoot them, but he still did not take more than a few seconds to set the shots. They were just beautiful. I can't justify buying the 20d as it costs $1300+, but I am going to get the cannon 300d which has most of the same features, but those I would not use at this time anyway. After reading the reviews and seeing pictures from the camera on dpreview I am very stoked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kheprera Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 Before you get overstoked... This is an SLR. The price listed is for the BODY only. No lens included. Lenses run about $100+. Anytime you see SLR (Single Lens Reflex) as the camera type, it means you can change out the lenses. This is a good thing as it gives you greater versatility when shooting pictures. However, if all you're doing is using it for shooting pictures of minis, go for something less expensive that works. The digital SLRs are aimed at the more professional or amature photographers market, people who are making money, winning contests, and take pictures of more than little metal figures. This is the low end of the money I'm willing to shell out for a digital camera, as I've been a photographer for (far too long) 15+ years (I don't feel like figuring it all out). Now, if you're really into photography and want to go out and shoot flowers, animals, portraits and make prints to hang on your wall, then yes, an SLR is a good way to go. For snapshots of family gatherings and birthday parties and vacations that will go into photo albums, go for something lower end. You'll save money in the long run and won't notice much difference in quality. It also sounds like your friend knows something about photography. Just because he has a good camera doesn't make him a good photographer. Knowing how to use the camera to get the best shot does. A good photographer can use a crappy disposable and still get good results because they know how to use the camera to its best extent. I've seen too many people spend large amounts of cash on a top of the line camera expecting the camera to take good pictures for them. The problem was, they weren't framing the image properly, or using the right light, or changing the camera settings correctly for the best exposure, or using the right film (for the film cameras). The more complicated the camera, the more you're going to have to learn about it and photography to get good shots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digital M@ Posted May 3, 2005 Author Share Posted May 3, 2005 NO, I know it is SLR and all that goes with that. I have owned an SLR camera before. I am looking for a slightly used one. I have two leads of people who are upgrading from this camera because they like to take picture of sports and need more than the 2-3 fps rate that the 300d offers. They both come with memory cards, a lens, chargers, etc. I have a nice point and shoot with my Nikon coolpix, but have wanted something more for awhile. My friend just gave me the shove I needed. I know I could get more out of my existing camera, but the menus are very cumbersome to go through to change settings for pictures. An SLR is designed for that flexability. I am also an avid hiker and would like to be able to capture more of my experiences on film. The point and shoots are not capable of really doing that. In the end it is a relatively inexpensive hobby. Since there is no film to buy and I only will print a fraction of all the photos taken, I will probably spend less on that per year than I do on miniatures and paint. Now, I will need to toss some money down on a better lens with a wider range and I would like to get a wide angle lens as well, but I do not see the need for a large telephoto lens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heisler Posted May 3, 2005 Share Posted May 3, 2005 I have my heart set on the Nikon D70, will allow me to use my good lenses on my film cameras and my digital. You only think you don't need a telephoto lense until you are out in the field. Obviously a dedicated focal length lense is the best but something running in 70-300 range will serve you very well. They are also good for sneak shots of little people from across the room. A good flash that sits on top of the camera is a must as well and a quality flash will last for years. I use a Nikon SB-70 on mine and it has performed great in all conditions for 10 years now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastman Posted May 4, 2005 Share Posted May 4, 2005 About a year ago, I bought a Pentax *istD digi-SLR (I started looking at the Pentax instead of the Canon after seeing some of Flynn's posts. After checking it out in detail, I decided it was a better choice for me). I have nearly 20 years of SLR experience (my folks bought me K-1000 and a zoom lens for my high school graduation present). For me, the SLR was the only digital camera type that met my needs. Now, I could get all the same capability in a much cheaper camera/lens combo but I've been very pleased with what I bought. If you are looking for good used camera equipment, I had good luck in the past buying used cameras and lenses from the camera shops in college towns. A lot of low use equipment ends up in those stores when the college kids decide they'd rather have beer money than a camera. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demon Posted May 4, 2005 Share Posted May 4, 2005 Very true.....beer money makes them much happier. Just make sure you do standard inspection of the equipment BEFORE you leave the store. Much of that is sold as is. Check the casing, lens, look through the viewfinder, etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kheprera Posted May 4, 2005 Share Posted May 4, 2005 Okay, just checking. I've known people who thought "I'll buy a bigger, better, more expensive camera and become a pro!" only to discover that their photographic ability was still crap. One of these was the same person who dropped their film and asked if it would come out blurry. I'd love an SLR, especially one that would use the lenses I already have. Right now, I just can't afford one. Maybe in a few years, once the medical bills are paid off and we've replaced the car, I can look at spending our tax refund on something I can use and be happy with. I'm still deciding, though, whether I really need an SLR. I've got my film cameras for those days when I go out on shooting sprees. A digital, for me, would be useful for things like Thomas' birthdays or just him being cute and for minis. It has been hard for me to justify the financial expenditure on a $1500+ camera. Even the ones I could be "happy" with are in the $700-$1000 price range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastman Posted May 6, 2005 Share Posted May 6, 2005 Very true.....beer money makes them much happier. Just make sure you do standard inspection of the equipment BEFORE you leave the store. Much of that is sold as is. Check the casing, lens, look through the viewfinder, etc... The store I used to deal with had their own minilab in the back. They provided a 12 exposure roll of film and the processing/printing. You could test out the camera and know it worked (I think there was a 30 day exchange period, but that was more than 10 years ago). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digital M@ Posted May 6, 2005 Author Share Posted May 6, 2005 Well, I made the plunge this morning on a new camera. It should be in my hands Wednesday night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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