guywithcamera
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2008
- Messages
- 9
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OK so my "photography" goes for a little while, I really started to like it when I went to London using my trusty old point and shoot, which is now a paperweight.
Soon after my mom got a camera for free from work as a 5 year of employment gift dealie. It was a Fujifilm Finepix S5200, it is still my camera of choice mainly beacause I dont have another one to use. The camera isnt bad it has a lot of features but it has no SLR capability, and the controls are pretty annoying to use outside of the full auto mode (which im sure any real photographer will agree is rubbish in 99.9% of cases)
I went to the local mall with my dad today and saw a camera shop so I decided to stop by and take a look at what they have as far as moving up in my hobby. I held and played with a few cameras (Canon 400D, Nikon D80, Nikon D200) and out of them I really liked the 400D for its price and features. The guy behind the counter told me that there are a wealth of lenses available for Canon cameras and that there are certain perks with the brand as well (lenses interchange from SLR to DSLR cameras, Canon hasnt changed their lens type since 1985, and that there are over 200 lenses total for the Canon SLR/DSLR family from the Canon/Aftermarket side).
My questions are as follows.
1. Is a 400D a good camera for a beginner?
2. Will I have to sell it and get a new one shortly after because of the features/lack thereof?
3. Is it a good value for the money?
4. What are other alternatives in the same price range?
Also, I found some XTi packages on eBay. In the store, the 400D with a Canon 18-55mm lens for 699.99. On eBay, I found a similar package for a total of 570 shipped, and it comes with a Tamron 28-80mm lens, a CF card, cleaning kit, and some other stuff. My questions are as follows for this set.
1. Is buying on eBay a good idea when it comes to something like this?
2. Do these seem like reasonable prices?
3. Is Tamron a good company?
4. What is a better starter lens for "all purpose" shooting, the 18-55 or 28-80?
I will also get a MACRO attachment and a set of filters for the lens I start with, and more if needed for later/larger lenses, I hear the filters are a great tool when shooting in certain conditions.
A side question. I have noticed this "f/3.5-5.6" on lenses. The guy in the store explained it to me but it slipped my mind..what does it mean?
Anything else I should know perhaps, please post up. Here are a few of my pictures with each camera, and yes, I used editing to get them where I want, I would like to get a better picture from the start rather than edit the life out of it, and I need to get a bit more creative.
Kodak Point-and-Shoot
1.
Fuji Finepix S5200
1.
2.
3.
Any advice/info apreciated, thanks!!!
--Alex
Soon after my mom got a camera for free from work as a 5 year of employment gift dealie. It was a Fujifilm Finepix S5200, it is still my camera of choice mainly beacause I dont have another one to use. The camera isnt bad it has a lot of features but it has no SLR capability, and the controls are pretty annoying to use outside of the full auto mode (which im sure any real photographer will agree is rubbish in 99.9% of cases)
I went to the local mall with my dad today and saw a camera shop so I decided to stop by and take a look at what they have as far as moving up in my hobby. I held and played with a few cameras (Canon 400D, Nikon D80, Nikon D200) and out of them I really liked the 400D for its price and features. The guy behind the counter told me that there are a wealth of lenses available for Canon cameras and that there are certain perks with the brand as well (lenses interchange from SLR to DSLR cameras, Canon hasnt changed their lens type since 1985, and that there are over 200 lenses total for the Canon SLR/DSLR family from the Canon/Aftermarket side).
My questions are as follows.
1. Is a 400D a good camera for a beginner?
2. Will I have to sell it and get a new one shortly after because of the features/lack thereof?
3. Is it a good value for the money?
4. What are other alternatives in the same price range?
Also, I found some XTi packages on eBay. In the store, the 400D with a Canon 18-55mm lens for 699.99. On eBay, I found a similar package for a total of 570 shipped, and it comes with a Tamron 28-80mm lens, a CF card, cleaning kit, and some other stuff. My questions are as follows for this set.
1. Is buying on eBay a good idea when it comes to something like this?
2. Do these seem like reasonable prices?
3. Is Tamron a good company?
4. What is a better starter lens for "all purpose" shooting, the 18-55 or 28-80?
I will also get a MACRO attachment and a set of filters for the lens I start with, and more if needed for later/larger lenses, I hear the filters are a great tool when shooting in certain conditions.
A side question. I have noticed this "f/3.5-5.6" on lenses. The guy in the store explained it to me but it slipped my mind..what does it mean?
Anything else I should know perhaps, please post up. Here are a few of my pictures with each camera, and yes, I used editing to get them where I want, I would like to get a better picture from the start rather than edit the life out of it, and I need to get a bit more creative.
Kodak Point-and-Shoot
1.

Fuji Finepix S5200
1.

2.

3.

Any advice/info apreciated, thanks!!!
--Alex