How would you spend $1500, with no previous equipment?

[kundalini]

As usual, knowing a bit more about the posters hopes and dreams helps a lot when making choices... just diving in and saying "BUY THIS!" isn't terribly helpful, really.

You're putting rules in the game and bringing me down man.....

Let's say you were just given $1500 cash to spend on photography equipment, but that you currently do not even own a camera. What would you buy?

 

[Montana]

@Montana - Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 is ~$1200... f/1.2 doesn't exist in Nikkorland.

And in real life makes zero difference too. That is what, 1/3rd of a stop going from F/1.4 to F/1.2? Not even really noticeable in real life use. I have my D700 set to the exact same settings as my friend and his 5DmkII and he has the F/1.2 and I have the F/1.4 and the pictures both look great.

Now, the difference between a F/1.0 and a F/1.4 would be interesting... unfortunately, Notilux doesn't make a bayonet adapter for my D700. Their loss!

Its a half stop on the half stop scale. Thats 50% more light! And I agree about the 1.0! I would love to peer through one for a day. Fast glass is addicting!

 

[manaheim]

You're putting rules in the game and bringing me down man.....

Ruining fun is my speciality!

 

[BTilson]

As usual, knowing a bit more about the posters hopes and dreams helps a lot when making choices...

I have been into photography for quite a while, and while I haven't been an INCREDIBLY active poster (as indicated by my post count) I've been around here for a fair amount of time and learned a lot.

I tend to dabble in many various aspects of photography, portraiture, still lifes, landscapes, etc... I do tend to favor outdoor work though, although in the wide sense, landscapes and such.

Really I just want to put together a nice little kit that will be versatile enough to be satisfying for a few years. I don't have a huge need for ultra high ISO performance, as most of my work will be outdoors during the day. I do prefer either Canon or Nikon however, simply due to the huge amount of support, information and accessories available for both companies products.

Does that help a bit?

 

[coreduo]

Nikon D90. I am buying one this December to upgrade. Christmas season is awash with bargain sales. So if you are itching to buy now, procrastinate till this winter.

 

[manaheim]

As usual, knowing a bit more about the posters hopes and dreams helps a lot when making choices...

I have been into photography for quite a while, and while I haven't been an INCREDIBLY active poster (as indicated by my post count) I've been around here for a fair amount of time and learned a lot.

I tend to dabble in many various aspects of photography, portraiture, still lifes, landscapes, etc... I do tend to favor outdoor work though, although in the wide sense, landscapes and such.

Really I just want to put together a nice little kit that will be versatile enough to be satisfying for a few years. I don't have a huge need for ultra high ISO performance, as most of my work will be outdoors during the day. I do prefer either Canon or Nikon however, simply due to the huge amount of support, information and accessories available for both companies products.

Does that help a bit?

Helps a ton, yes!

So I'm getting a "I'm not OVERLY serious" feel from your post... into it, but not going hog-wild. At which point, I'd probably lean towards one of the "serious amateur" bodies... Canon Rebels or Nikon D80/90. I can't personally speak as well to the Canon bodies because I don't know them as well. If you can find one of the deals on a new D200 in box, that's a score. Better overall body for good money.

Since you'll be outdoors a lot you won't necessarily need fast glass, though obviously fast tends to mean better quality, and I'm not saying good glass would be a waste... but you might consider an 18-135 and then perhaps a 70-300 to give you a really nice range of lens for pretty cheap. I think the 18-135 is about $300 and the 70-300 is about $150 (these are both like 3.5/5.6 or something along those lines)

You can also always toss in a 50mm 1.8 for another $130 to give you one REALLY good piece of glass for super cheap.

You could go for the 18-55 and 50-200 VR kit lenses, but I find that the range those are in wind up forcing people to switch lenses a LOT, and if you're not super crazy photonut, that can get really old really fast.

Just some thoughts. Let us know what you decide on and good luck!

 

[BTilson]

So I'm getting a "I'm not OVERLY serious" feel from your post... into it, but not going hog-wild.

Yes you pretty much have me pegged. I love photography, and take the work itself seriously, but it's a hobby, not a job. Someday I think it would be nice to make some cash at it, but that's not my main goal, or even a side goal at this point. We shall see what happens with that in the future.

But right now... it's for fun and personal growth only!

I am going to keep doing research. The help I get from this forum is, and always has been, excellent! Thanks Manaheim.