Buying my first dslr

[hod928]

Hey guys, im brand new to here as well as Photography with a good camera. I race motocross and have permission from one of the local track owners to be the "tracks photographer" for the 2012 Race season. So im looking for a camera that can take good action shots, ive been looking at the EOS Rebel T3 but have read that the fps might be a little to low for what im working with.

Any suggestions on a camera and lens that would be good for what i wanna do, and not brake the bank. Only looking to spend around 500-700 for the camera.

Thanks guys!

 

[fjrabon]

That's tough. Your biggest issue isn't fps, it's being able to zoom enough, with a low enough aperture, that you can freeze the bike instead of just getting a blur. That's where the money will go. Telephotos that are fast are expensive. If you won't need to zoom much, you could maybe try a D3100, with a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens.

 

[hod928]

no i wont have to zoom very far, I will be right on the track. Next to the corners/jumps/etc

 

[hod928]

Anyplace to check out prices on cyber monday?? looking to pick up my camera tomorrow if possible

 

[fjrabon]

no i wont have to zoom very far, I will be right on the track. Next to the corners/jumps/etc

Yeah, then look at primes. 35mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.8 would do you well and keep you under $700 total. Which depends on how tight you want the frames.

 

[fjrabon]

Anyplace to check out prices on cyber monday?? looking to pick up my camera tomorrow if possible

DSLR Lenses and bodies usually don't see big discounts on black friday/ cyber monday, in my experience. Usually it's the accessories that can be had for good deals, not the camera or lens.

 

[MLeeK]

60D would be a good balance of FPS and features that you need, but it's going out of your budget just for the camera body. At the budget you are at the T3 and that's about it. It's not a bad camera by any means! As for the zoom you'll need with it, that's going to break the bank.
The 50mm f/1.8 pobably isn't going to cut it for what you need, unfortunately. You are looking at the 55-250 IS or the 70-300 IS IF you are shooting in good light-daylight. Kits including those start at about $850... AND if you are not shooting in ample light you are going to need an f/2.8 lens which starts at $800 for one that is not so hot for action and $1400 for one that is good with action. Those are LENS ONLY.

Capturing action isn't something that you can just do by buying a good camera that "can take good action shots." Good action shots are something that takes some mastery of shooting action and of creating the proper exposure for action. It's not something that you are going to buy a camera and be getting awesome shots. You have to have the right tools and depending on the level of light that you are working in that may mean a lens that runs anywhere from $800 to $2500 lens only. I'd recommend that you find someone near you who shoots sports or action of some sort and get them to let you shadow them for a week, month, year... before you decide what you are going to NEED in equipment. I have been shooting action for about 5 years now and I am OK at it... It's NOT easy and it is EXPENSIVE. My action camera body BACK UP costs somewhere around $1500. Body only. My main action camera runs about $2400 USED right now-it's outdated by now 2 camera models. The new one? $8300. Body only. I won't be upgrading any time soon... I have the cheap lenses because I can't afford the ones I want. One of them ran me $1500, one ran me $800 and my wide ran me about $600. Those prices are lens only. You can do a decent job with the entry level cameras, but if you are wanting to do this professionally? It will quickly fail you.

 

[fjrabon]

Yeah, it depends on if that's really his absolute budget and if this is really serious. If it's serious, then he's not getting by unless he's dropping several thousands of dollars. Like Kelby says how do you know if you're cut out to be a sports photographer: If you bought this book and thought A) "eh, only $40, that's fine" B) "$40, man, sucks, but I need it" or C) "hmm, can I get by without it" you aren't cut out to be a sports photographer if you answered with any of those. Real sports photographers never even think in terms of budgets. They don't even notice the price tag on the book. They are only vaguely aware that there is a concept called money. They know there is some sort of transaction that takes place when they want equipment that usually involves gasping and divorces.

 

[hod928]

the reason im doing this, is because ive always had a kinda love for taking photos. I do releize im not gonna be amazing. Im just trying to get my feet wet, and a track owner has offered me a chance to hone my skills.

 

[fjrabon]

the reason im doing this, is because ive always had a kinda love for taking photos. I do releize im not gonna be amazing. Im just trying to get my feet wet, and a track owner has offered me a chance to hone my skills.

The issue is that you've picked the most equipment demanding genre of photography there is.

 

[Hickeydog]

I hope you're not being paid by the track owner, nor does the track owner expect any photos for his use. No offense or anything, but your first few days (weeks....months....in my case, years) with a DSLR will contain a bunch of shooting and absolutely no good photos.

 

[fjrabon]

I hope you're not being paid by the track owner, nor does the track owner expect any photos for his use. No offense or anything, but your first few days (weeks....months....in my case, years) with a DSLR will contain a bunch of shooting and absolutely no good photos.

Haha, that's a little extreme.

 

[Tigertail]

I hope you're not being paid by the track owner, nor does the track owner expect any photos for his use. No offense or anything, but your first few days (weeks....months....in my case, years) with a DSLR will contain a bunch of shooting and absolutely no good photos.

Clearly the last part is an absolute fact.

 

[Vtec44]

Oh, don't forget to save enough money for adequate lens. Sports photography may need very fast focusing speed, so more cross type focusing points, fast lens, high FPS, and big buffer are some of the things you may want to look for.

That's tough. Your biggest issue isn't fps, it's being able to zoom enough, with a low enough aperture, that you can freeze the bike instead of just getting a blur. That's where the money will go. Telephotos that are fast are expensive. If you won't need to zoom much, you could maybe try a D3100, with a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens.

I think you mean shutter speed.

 

[fjrabon]

Oh, don't forget to save enough money for adequate lens. Sports photography may need very fast focusing speed, so more cross type focusing points, fast lens, high FPS, and big buffer are some of the things you may want to look for.

That's tough. Your biggest issue isn't fps, it's being able to zoom enough, with a low enough aperture, that you can freeze the bike instead of just getting a blur. That's where the money will go. Telephotos that are fast are expensive. If you won't need to zoom much, you could maybe try a D3100, with a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens.

I think you mean shutter speed.

Low f/stop is what allows fast shutter speed, given a certain ISO. Usually when you refer to a lens as being fast, it's because it's got a low f/stop. No lens actually has trouble physically opening and closing the shutter fast enough. The issue is whether or not enough light gets in for a proper exposure at that shutter speed. Hence low f/stop = fast lens.