Extreme Beginner

ncstater1919 · Jul 12, 2008

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to this site and also to photography. I started to google forums such as this one to start and look up information on photography. Next year in highschool I will be taking a photography class, so I wanted to try and get a step ahead of everyone, by purchasing a camera and getting out to start taking pictures, while also learning the technicalities of cameras. I don't really have a budget, I guess under 700$ but I have been looking at the Nikon D40, as I have read it is an excellent camera for beginners and even those who are more experienced. I guess the advice I am needing is I am confused on the type of lens i need to buy. I have the option of getting the body and the standard 18-55mm, or should I get the 18-55mm and the 55-200mm? I don't really know the difference in the lenses, if you could also tell me what "55-200mm" means.

Thanks a lot guys, and I look forward to becoming a valued member of this forum!

prodigy2k7 · Jul 12, 2008

I dont know much about the Nikon but I do have a Canon entry level (Canon Rebel XTi) and its great! I am 19 and im very happy with it. Very Awesome...

55-200mm means its a zoom lens, and the numbers mean the focal length range. So you could have two zooms,
one near the wide angle end which is 18-55 and the other is 55-200 which is the 2nd half, notice how the first lens ends in 55 and the second lens starts with 55, anyways the larger the number the more of a zoom you get, for far away objects, the larger the number, the farther you can see

ncstater1919 · Jul 12, 2008

oh ok, so the 18-55 is like a standard lens, where you can get some zoom but nothing too impressive, and then the 55-200 is like a zoom lens, that is used for far away stuff. and how far are we talking?

dmatsui · Jul 12, 2008

18-55mm Is a lens i personally use allot, it's a good lens for portraits(closer to 55mm) as well as landscapes (closer to 18mm)
The 55-200mm lens is good for, for example sport photography where your not going to be able to be to close to the subject. Of course it all depends on what you want to shoot. If you want to shoot wildlife in the forest or birds in trees your likely to need a lens of at least 300mm 400mm would be better. Its hard to say exactly how far you can zoom in on a subject, it's not really measured like that in photography.
It's up to you whether or not you want the 55-200mm lens and what you want to photograph.

prodigy2k7 · Jul 12, 2008

ill brb, uploading shots for you

18mm

55mm

75mm

~200mm

300mm

This was on my Canon Rebel XTi

First two shots were with my 18-55mm the reset were with my 75-300mm

ncstater1919 · Jul 12, 2008

thank you for taking those shots, it really did help me to understand the differences. i think it will be important for me to get both of the lenses, just in case. especially since they are combined and it would be cheaper to pay for it upfront then buy it later on. thanks for the help on that guys.

what are some beginner tips that you can provide to an aspiring photographer? just some helpful hints, that may seem very common, but very important.

hourglass · Jul 12, 2008

You might also consider playing around with these toys (this is not meant as an advertisement):
http://www.tamroneurope.com/flc.htm
http://www.usa.canon.com/app/html/EFLenses101/focal_length.html

To me, at least, they seem quite useful for getting a rough idea of what focal length may mean. But just don't trust me - I'm a beginner, too.

dmatsui · Jul 13, 2008

This was posted in another thread earlier

http://www.camerasinteractive.com/index.php#

It will help you learn what Shutter speed, Aperture are in photography, probably very usefull.

ryan7783 · Jul 13, 2008

I have a Nikon D300 with a 50mm lens, a 28-75mm, a 55-200mm, and an 18-55mm that came as a kit lens on another camera I have and I use the 18-55mm much much more than I use my 55-200mm. Of course, I do portraiture photography more than landscape and nature photography so I find that I don't NEED the 55-200 very much.

It's all personal preference and what type of photography you'll be doing. If you will be shooting a lot of nature - like birds and other animals, you will need a lens that can zoom (either the 55-200, or the 18-200, or even the 70-300).

First ask yourself what you will be primarily photographing. Then make your lens decisions based on that.

As far as which camera you should get...That is also personal preference. Go to the store, hold the cameras, take pictures with the cameras, ASK QUESTIONS about the cameras. Narrow it down to the one you want, then go to a REPUTABLE website like BHphoto.com or US1photo.com or Adorama.com and buy it online. You will save a bundle by buying it online rather than in the store.

Just for reference though, the cameras in the $700 price range include the Nikon D40 kit and the Canon XTi kit. There are other brands out there that are very nice but I think those two are the higher of the bunch.

reg · Jul 13, 2008

ryan7783 said:
I use the 18-55mm much much more than I use my 55-200mm. Of course, I do portraiture photography more than landscape and nature photography so I find that I don't NEED the 55-200 very much.

WTF?

You *should* be finding more use in the 55-200 for portraits. The 18-55 is better for landscapes, although at 55 it is a short telephoto.

ryan7783 said:
Just for reference though, the cameras in the $700 price range include the Nikon D40 kit and the Canon XTi kit.

Nikon D40 bodies are out there for as low as $340 new.

ncstater1919 · Jul 13, 2008

Yea i've already gone to wolf camera, and have decided that the nikon d40 is the way to go. if i really decide to make this a serious hobby after taking the class, and of course shooting a lot, then I may upgrade.

thanks for the advice guys, and hopefully i can start taking some pictures to post up here for critique.

manaheim · Jul 13, 2008

ncstater1919 said:
Hi Everyone,
I'm new to this site and also to photography. I started to google forums such as this one to start and look up information on photography. Next year in highschool I will be taking a photography class, so I wanted to try and get a step ahead of everyone, by purchasing a camera and getting out to start taking pictures, while also learning the technicalities of cameras. I don't really have a budget, I guess under 700$ but I have been looking at the Nikon D40, as I have read it is an excellent camera for beginners and even those who are more experienced. I guess the advice I am needing is I am confused on the type of lens i need to buy. I have the option of getting the body and the standard 18-55mm, or should I get the 18-55mm and the 55-200mm? I don't really know the difference in the lenses, if you could also tell me what "55-200mm" means.

Thanks a lot guys, and I look forward to becoming a valued member of this forum!

D40 is a fine camera. If you can spend a bit more money go with the D80.

Look at this thread... I kind of go over a lot of the Nikons in one spot here.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that tha 18-135mm is one of my favorite lenses to recommend to folks just starting out. It's a VERY flexible lens with reasonable quality and will allow you to avoid switching lenses a lot (which will reduce dust and such that will distract you from learning about other elements of the camera). However, it's important to note that the 18-55 VR that you usually see in kits is also a macro lens, which may be useful for you. I don't think the 18-135 is. You'd have to check.

ncstater1919 · Jul 13, 2008

Thanks Manaheim, i can tell you know your stuff. I did read wht you posted about all the cameras, and it is swaying me towards the d80. Also I don't think the 18-135mm is VR... or it didn't say it was. While we are talking about VR, what exactly does it mean?

Goging back to the d80, being such an inexperienced photographer, I'm not sure if the investment into a 1000$ camera (w/ lens) is worth it. Especially for a 16 year old kid hah. I mean, I enjoy photography, and I want to get better, but I also do not want to put all my eggs in one basket, for it to possibly go either way. I guess it is just a lot of things to think about, but I really do like all the adivce, and would like to continue hearing it, because I feel thats the best way to learn from it, is from the people that know it best.

manaheim · Jul 13, 2008

ncstater1919 said:
Thanks Manaheim, i can tell you know your stuff. I did read wht you posted about all the cameras, and it is swaying me towards the d80. Also I don't think the 18-135mm is VR... or it didn't say it was. While we are talking about VR, what exactly does it mean?

No, I meant the 18-55 VR. VR is vibration reduction. It keeps the lens relatively, reducing the effects of camera shake. This allows you to take pictures with longer shutter times hand-held, as well as helps in odd situations like if you were on a boat or in a car or something. Also obviously means you can take pics in lower light hand-held. My mom took a picture the other day with her 18-55 vr on a 1/8th second exposure time hand-held and it was tack-sharp. Totally unheard of without the VR. VR is pretty slick. You can absolutely live without it, but it is very cool.

The 18-135 is not VR.

ncstater1919 said:
Goging back to the d80, being such an inexperienced photographer, I'm not sure if the investment into a 1000$ camera (w/ lens) is worth it. Especially for a 16 year old kid hah. I mean, I enjoy photography, and I want to get better, but I also do not want to put all my eggs in one basket, for it to possibly go either way. I guess it is just a lot of things to think about, but I really do like all the adivce, and would like to continue hearing it, because I feel thats the best way to learn from it, is from the people that know it best.

That's why we're all here- to learn. I learn a ton from this forum every day. Coming here on this forum makes me realize how much I DO NOT know. It's scary.

You have the right approach. With that attitude, you have chance of real success.

Anyway, on the D80/D40... yup, no question it's a goodly hunk o' cash. Some would suggest you buy better lenses and a lesser camera, some would tell you just buy a D40 and some cheaper glass to get a feel.

Unfortunately, there is no RIGHT answer here. Anyone that tells you otherwise is bonkers. Definitely a good idea to set a budget and work within that- if $1000 is too much, that might suggest maybe not a D80, but then if the D80 meant enough to you, you could make it work for a bit less. Used lens, lesser lens, etc. Kinda depends.

Whatever the case, you really can't go wrong with any of the cameras in the line... you just need to go into it eyes open. Understand what you are buying, and where it is limited, so that way you won't be surprised later on.

For me, I wouldn't ever buy a camera other than the D80/D200/D300, because the behavior and limitations of the sub-bodies would drive me wild, but my mom is extremely happy with her D60. She may someday get annoyed at it, but right now it works awesome for what she wants.

ncstater1919 · Jul 13, 2008

Well thinking about it, what exactly is the difference with the D40 and D60. If I made say another 100$ investment, would I be getting some of the more high-end features of the D80, with the simplicity of the D40?

After testing Nikons, there's no way I could ever get anything else, especially since I have also tried Canons and Sonys...

Im probably making a complete assumption, but like I said, complete beginneer