Beginner Needs Opinions on Camera!

[crysbruce]

Hi All! I am a beginner at photography- I have always thoroughly enjoyed taking pictures, but haven't gone further than it just being a hobby. I believe that this is what I am suppose to be doing so I want to take another step into it- I am looking to buy a new camera. This is my problem- Should I

a- Buy the SLR that i really want (I am thinking the Canon Rebel XS... I love the pictures it takes and the way it feels in my hands) and just practice for a while

or

b- Buy a smaller camera (like the Nikon P80 which I really enjoy also but it isn't so advanced) so I can tote it around easier (I have a one year old that I LOVE taking pictures of at random times) and I can just practice with for the next year or so and then possibly putting out more money on a SLR?

Do you have any suggestions for me? Knowing that I really have an interest for this but I also love to take random pictures at random times (usually I just throw my camera that I have now in my purse and take it out whenever needed)

Also- Do most 'professional' photographers use Photoshop? is this something I should invest in for editing? or is there something better out there?

Thanks for your help!

 

[tirediron]

Sure, start with an easy question. First, welcome to the forum. Second... that depends. The big deciding factor is your budget. Can you afford to buy an SLR, and a lens or two, and then put up with the loss if you decide in six months or a year that it's really not all that much fun?

The XSi by all accounts is a good basic camera, and a DSLR will give you infinitely more flexibility and creative control than a P&S. Assuming that there are no budgetary issues, and since you already have a P&S, I would go for the SLR.
With respect to your question on Photoshop, 99.999% of photographers use some sort of post-processing application. Photoshop is the industry standard, but it's also very expensive. I would consider either Photoshop Elements or Paintshop Pro, both around $100 and having all of the tools you will need until you're far more advanced in your hobby.

 

[anubis404]

I agree with tiredon. I would go with an SLR, if you budget allows, just because it is such a huge leap in terms of flexibility and image quality from the P80. I was debating the same thing when I was first getting into photography, and I made the decision to wait a little while for an SLR, and have not regretted it since. The possibilities are nearly endless with an SLR, even an entry level one. If you buy a P&S and get more serious about photography, you will want an SLR very soon.

 

[crysbruce]

Thank you both so much for your info!! What do you think are the best cameras (SLR's) for a beginner? I am trying not to spend more than $500-$600 just b/c I AM a beginner...know what I mean? and I also want to but a program, like we talked about, photoshop or something.. so that's another expense! I am so looking forward to this... but nervous and have tons of questions!

 

[TUX424]

Photoshop is a great program and i love using CS3 on my macbook but i do not a have a copy of photoshop for my desktop so i use a free program called the gimp which i found out about from some folks here at tfp, i really like it and it has some nice features but i just like my photoshop better for ease of use

 

[crysbruce]

Have any of you bought a camera or accessories off of Adorama.com? If so, did you like their business?
This is the kit I was thinking about getting and if i've done my research right this is an awesome deal...what do you think?
Canon EOS Rebel XS Digital SLR camera/ Lens Kit Black with EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens, 4 GB SD Memory card, Spare LP-E5 Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Batter and Camera case for





$568.49

 

[tgelston]

If you have a kid or kids only an SLR will be able to capture those faces that last 1/2 a second. I speak from experience

I am not a big fan of package deals - usually with a little bit of work you can mix and match for a better deal. Adorama is in general is an excellent site though.

I do see the XS on Amazon for 478 with free shipping. [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CBKJGG?ie=UTF8&tag=gelstoncafeco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001CBKJGG]Amazon.com: Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black): Camera & Photo[/ame]

 

[sultan]

Don't forget Nikon, Pentax, and Sony. The D40, K200D, and A200 are great cameras. The olympus e420 is there too; its a nice small SLR but I don't like it because it is a tiny format Four-Thirds camera. (Its not that camera itself that I don't like, but I dislike the Four-Thirds format)