Need Help Choosing Camera

[Igor39]

I'm in the market for purchasing a good digital camera to help me build my portfolio. In about a year I will be applying to various art schools and I hope to major in Fine Arts Photography or Photojournalism so I need to build up my portfolio. I feel that the photography I have done so far is good but if I plan to pursue this I need to upgrade from the rather conventional digital camera I have now. I am looking to shoot a variety of things from portraits to scenery, so I would like a camera that is good or at least decent in most fields. I have about 500 dollars to spend at the moment although I would prefer not to use all of it. Thank you in advance for your responses. - Igor S

[TPF Sponsor]

[Sideburns]

In any photography course you take now, you'll be using a DSLR. Rebel XT or a Pentax K100D or something, should fit the bill. Maybe a Nikon D50 if you can still find one.

[Igor39]

So something like the Canon Digital Rebel XT would be good for my needs?

[sabbath999]

That would definitely work.

[Igor39]

Thank you both for the help

[Mike_E]

So something like the Canon Digital Rebel XT would be good for my needs?

No, it doesn't have a spot meter. If you are going to do Fine Arts a spot meter is one Very handy thing to have.

In a perfect world, I'd say to get a Graflex Speed Graphic 4"X5" and shoot a lot of B&W for a year (you can easily develop and print B&W yourself) because what you would learn using the tilts and shifts along with exposure would do you a huge service!

Look here... http://graflex.org/speed-graphic/pac...d-graphic.html

BTW, the Graflex doesn't have a spot meter either but you can get a hand held one (you should anyway if you are serious about Photography)

[Igor39]

I ended up going for a Nikon D40, I found a good deal on it at a local camera store and I'm satisfied with the purchase, thank you for the help though