E-Stew
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2010
- Messages
- 14
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- NW FL
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos NOT OK to edit
I'm thinking of jumping in with both feet. I'm currently just a point and shoot guy with my $250 digital camera that's about 3 years old. My wife wants better photos, and I have always had an more than passing interest in taking good, serious photos.
Photos of family, friends taken inside and out would be typical pictures taken. But I'd also like to take wildlife photos, and landscapes if, as I believe, a nice camera such as a DSLR were to produce. Sports photos are also a possibility as are formal gatherings (weddings, etc). I live near the beach so in the back of my mind I have the idea that maybe eventually I'd get into the business of taking family beach photos for payment if I got good enough (a man can dream, can't he?). Yes, a course in photography is in order, but what to attend class with if I don't have a DSLR yet? If I'm going to get one and I'm going to take a class I'd like to have what I'm going to use in the actual class.
Don't ask me why, but I favor Canon. My questions are:
1. If I had a budget of $4000 what equipment should I purchase?
2. How important is knowing how to use a program like Aperture or Photoshop to producing great photos?
3. If Photoshop or the like is very important, what's the best/easiest way to learn how to use the program besides the "Dummies guide" or something similar?
4. Should I go with a nice lens like the one below or a less expensive one so I can also purchase a wide angle lens?
5. Is this the right lens to start with for what (see above) I've described I'm interested in (family action shots, poses, candid shots of family, sporting events (not as high on the scale as others on this list), landscapes, indoor photos, beach photos, etc.
Here's what's in my cart at Amazon right now:
Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras
Canon BG-E7 Battery Grip for Canon Digital SLR Camera
Canon LP-E6 Battery Pack for Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR
Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch LCD (Body Only)
SanDisk 16GB 60MB/s Extreme Compact Flash Card SDCFX-016G-A61 (US Retail Package)
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Thanks for any help/suggestions you may have.
E-Stew
Photos of family, friends taken inside and out would be typical pictures taken. But I'd also like to take wildlife photos, and landscapes if, as I believe, a nice camera such as a DSLR were to produce. Sports photos are also a possibility as are formal gatherings (weddings, etc). I live near the beach so in the back of my mind I have the idea that maybe eventually I'd get into the business of taking family beach photos for payment if I got good enough (a man can dream, can't he?). Yes, a course in photography is in order, but what to attend class with if I don't have a DSLR yet? If I'm going to get one and I'm going to take a class I'd like to have what I'm going to use in the actual class.
Don't ask me why, but I favor Canon. My questions are:
1. If I had a budget of $4000 what equipment should I purchase?
2. How important is knowing how to use a program like Aperture or Photoshop to producing great photos?
3. If Photoshop or the like is very important, what's the best/easiest way to learn how to use the program besides the "Dummies guide" or something similar?
4. Should I go with a nice lens like the one below or a less expensive one so I can also purchase a wide angle lens?
5. Is this the right lens to start with for what (see above) I've described I'm interested in (family action shots, poses, candid shots of family, sporting events (not as high on the scale as others on this list), landscapes, indoor photos, beach photos, etc.
Here's what's in my cart at Amazon right now:
Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras
Canon BG-E7 Battery Grip for Canon Digital SLR Camera
Canon LP-E6 Battery Pack for Canon 5D Mark II Digital SLR
Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch LCD (Body Only)
SanDisk 16GB 60MB/s Extreme Compact Flash Card SDCFX-016G-A61 (US Retail Package)
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Thanks for any help/suggestions you may have.
E-Stew