Got to do better than this - what do i need to start?

[Malakoa]

I use a point and click now and it does not meet my needs. I've been looking around and gather I should try and get a SLR digital camera. My budget, of course, is not huge. I want to spend less than $500, preferably less than $400. I've found cameras starting at $350. If I were to buy one, would I need to buy accessories as well? Are the inexpensive cameras good quality?

The pictures I take are of my active seven year old and her sports and recreation ideas, some nature shots and other stuff like that. I don't want to be a professional, but I want to take better pictures than my camera will allow.

I really (obviously) know nothing about cameras, but I have grown far beyond my point and click.

Thanks in advance.

 

[cgipson1]

got a buddy on another forum with a camera/lens/etc for sale... currently asking $365

Canon XSi DLSR Camera, lens, SD Cards and more! - Honda CRZ Forum: Honda CR-Z Hybrid Car Forums

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Serious question...how do you know you have grown far beyond your point and shoot, if you know nothing about cameras.


Simply getting an inexpensive dSLR isn't going to give you an immediate boost in image quality. In fact you will quickly be frustrated. Particularly if you are looking for better action shots, which will require pricier gear, like fast lenses. Entry level cameras don't have great high ISO performance, knocking image quality down another peg. dSLRS will open up your world of photography, though. Be prepared for lots of learning.

A good book to read would be "Understanding Exposure", to see what you are getting into. It will help you understand exposure, and why you might want faster glass.


Consumer kit lenses tend to be slow, soft, and slow to focus. But they are cheap! Like $250 for the cannon 55mm-250mm f/3.5 to f/5.6 at the long end.

You might want to look at saving money with a used older higher end camera, and put your money to nicer lenses, also used, or third party.

The mantra around here, is glass is more important than the body.



http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...-lens-should-i-use-get-clearest-pictures.html

 

[Derrel]

I would head to Best Buy with some type of coupon in hand, and try to get into a lower-end Nikon or Canon d-slr. Best Buy has a lot of coupon offers, sales promotions,etc, and there's probably one somewhere near wherever you're at in N.C.. Maybe you could drive on up the coast this weekend and score one without paying tax, and then have some fun driving back home and snapping some pics of some of those gorgeous seastacks off the coastline down there...

 

[Destin]

As I tell most people in your position.. Getting a dslr will more than likely give you WORSE photos than a point and shoot if you do not know how to use it.

Getting good images out of a dslr requires alot of learning.

You may be better suited to something like a nikon p7000, or canon g12

 

[Malakoa]

Thank you for your replies. I probably should have said I know nothing beyond my little Canon PowerShot. I will check out "Understanding Exposure" and I will be back. Thank you.