1st time user, dslr or pas? Need help

colintrax · Sep 7, 2011

Hello,
I'm trying to get my girlfriend a camera. She wants to get into photography but I have no idea what to get her, my only experience with cameras was my junior year of high school I took video 1. She's only 16 and hasn't used a good camera, she uses an ipod touch and her cheap'o walmart digital camera. What would be a good, and CHEAP (college does a real good job of making my wallet thinner) camera? I was thinking dslr but they aren't cheap, pas cameras are more in my price range but they don't seem like a real improvement over what she has. Whatever I get should have adjustable white balance, focus, and optical zoom. It will also need work well in a dusty area. Being able to get a tripod, different lenses, rechargeable batteries, and whatever else you guys think will help.
Thanks, Colin

MTVision · Sep 8, 2011

How cheap? Have you looked on Ebay? You can usually get some good deals on Ebay!

PatrickJamesYu · Sep 8, 2011

I think if it's something she really wants to get into, a dslr is the way to go.

I also recommend eBay as the place to go.

There are many older affordable DSLR's out there.
Many discontinued models drop in price a fair amount.

Depending on where you reside, Craigslist is also a great source for cameras and camera equipment.

Sticking with Canon or Nikon I think is easier as the used market is bigger so it will be easier to find lenses and other accessories for a beginner.

colintrax · Sep 8, 2011

Ok, thank you. I've looked on ebay but right now I can't afford any of those. Thankfully I have a little while to save up, but it'd honestly be easier for me to trade. I've looked on craigslist but apparently no one wants to trade a dslr camera. Are photographers not interested in rc cars, or in need of car work? Welders? CAD drawings? I'm getting a degree in Mechanical Engineering so obviously I can do some kind of mechanical service to get the camera. I did find a canon rebel on craigslist but "the CF memory Card slot has 2 pins broken so the camera won't recognize the card and so it needs the CF slot replaced" the camera is only $70. Is this something I could fix? Or better yet, worth fixing?

PatrickJamesYu · Sep 9, 2011

You seem to have knowledge in Mechanical Engineering, do you have knowledge in electrical stuff?

In general, if that is the true problem with the camera, it should/could be an easy fix.
If you fix it your self, or if you take it to a repair shop, you can have them replace the cf connector pins without paying for a diagnostic fee.
But that can backfire if that isn't the problem.

Where abouts are you located anyways?

I don't know a whole lot about the camera market as a whole
but I know the Nikon D70 has become quite affordable.
Some people argue that it is outdated but I've used one before and it worked pretty well
And for the price I say they are pretty decent.

colintrax · Sep 9, 2011

I live in NW Georgia, I'm have some electrical skills just not the same as my mechanical. But I can definitely solder, I'd assume that's all it would require?
CANON Digital Rebel XT DSLR Body {Silver} (best offer)

Looks kinda sketchy though?
Would the Nikon D70 be a good camera to learn on?

enzodm · Sep 9, 2011

Opening the camera may be the crucial problem, since risk is to get dust on the wrong parts. Soldering is the easy side

.
On Keh I found these offers at a good price - less will be very difficult: Canon Digital REBEL SLVER 6 MEGAPIXEL WITH 18-55 F3.5-5.6 II WITH BATTERY & CHARGER (CF CARD ) DIGITAL SLR INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERA OUTFIT - KEH.com
To learn, any dSLR is good. Be sure to accompany it with a good book too. However, before buying a dSLR I would check how deep is interest for photography, because it may be too steep to begin with. A bridge camera might be an intermediate way to go - however, prices may be similar.

PatrickJamesYu · Sep 9, 2011

Darn, if you were in southern California I would have you weld me a roll cage for my car in trade for a camera haha.

Um but they ad says best offer, and there is a chance nobody has sent him an offer yet.
If he's local enough, I'd check the camera out and see if it shoots.
it should still be fully functional other than the fact that it wont save images on the card, and/or read images off the card.
Also call a local camera repair shop and explain the CF card situation, and see how much a repair would be
But if you could check out the camera I would send him an offer.
$50, I consider to be a fair deal, you can use your own judgment to offer lower if you want.

enzodm is right, the soldering is easy. Me, a music major, can even solder haha
But taking it apart is the risky part.

If you're careful I think it is possible.
If you get dust on the sensor, you can always have that sent to a camera shop to have that cleansed.
And like enzodm said, any dslr is good to learn on.
I think the entry level ones are easier as they tend to be more first-timer friendly.
easier to read interfaces, and less 'fancy' features.

colintrax · Sep 11, 2011

Haha, I wouldn't feel comfortable doing a roll cage yet anyways, my little mig and lack of experience wouldn't be good if you had to use it.
Looks like I'll be using that KEH.com website, thank you. I didn't think about getting dust on any sensors, probably not worth it since I'm more used to working with grease and around dirt anyways.
And what is a bridge camera? She's interested in being a professional photographer, so would it just be easier to start off with a dslr? And one last question, what book should I get her?

enzodm · Sep 11, 2011

colintrax said:
And what is a bridge camera? She's interested in being a professional photographer, so would it just be easier to start off with a dslr? And one last question, what book should I get her?

a bridge camera is a sort of compact, non-interchangeable lens camera, shaped more or less like a dSLR and with most apparent features similar (except sensor, speed, etc). E.g., Canon PowerShot SX1 IS - Bridge camera reviews - Photography - Which? Technology .

Having some previous experience, yes, starting from a dSLR is better (principles are always the same, but with a dSLR and some budget you are more free to experiment, e.g., with depth of field). One book, here often suggested, is "Understanding exposure" by Bryan Peterson.

PatrickJamesYu · Sep 11, 2011

enzodm said:
colintrax said:

And what is a bridge camera? She's interested in being a professional photographer, so would it just be easier to start off with a dslr? And one last question, what book should I get her?

Click to expand...

a bridge camera is a sort of compact, non-interchangeable lens camera, shaped more or less like a dSLR and with most apparent features similar (except sensor, speed, etc). E.g., Canon PowerShot SX1 IS - Bridge camera reviews - Photography - Which? Technology .

Having some previous experience, yes, starting from a dSLR is better (principles are always the same, but with a dSLR and some budget you are more free to experiment, e.g., with depth of field). One book, here often suggested, is "Understanding exposure" by Bryan Peterson.

I agree with the bridge class camera.
It has the same internal functions of a dslr, but it's not an slr so you can't change the lens.
But in return, since it is built as a single unit, they generally have a pretty killer lens on it (the sony I used came with Zeiss glass, it did great).

Also I learned about a totally kick butt service Canon has.
If you send them ANY broken/ malfunctioned camera, and get credit towards a refurbished item.
And refurbished can mean so many things, but many times it can simply be an open box item that can not be classified as new, so they sell it as a B stock item.
Anyways, they usually come with warantee's so they are totally legit.
But they give some killer deals on cameras.

Read on it here.
Canon camera trade-up - Slickdeals.net

Call Canon to confirm, my friend told me about it and the link I found was just a quick search, I didn't heavily research it.

Many people seem to go to pawnshops and thrift stores and buys broken cameras from $2-$20 and they get great discounts toward another camera.

colintrax · Sep 11, 2011

Ok, I think I'll pass on the bridge camera. The canon thing seems great, but I'm not sure if it's worth it. I try to not take advantage of that stuff, good way to make canon end the program, but money is a HUGE concern so I might just do it.
And thanks for the book suggestion. Time to start saving, and looking all over craigslist, ebay, amazon, pawnshops, and whatever else comes to mind!

MatteDotCom · Sep 11, 2011

I'd also recommend checking on forums. There is alot of forums in which people are looking for services to trade or offering reasonable deals on equipment. good Luck!