New to photography

flyin-lowe · Mar 22, 2011

Go handle a few different brands of cameras and get the one YOU like best. If you get a Nikon, Canon, Sony they will work. Just remember that the photographer is more important then the equipment. I guarantee the pros on here can shoot better with my entry level gear then I can shoot with the professional gear. In the mean time go get a copy of Petersons "Understanding Exposure". It will be a great refresher, especially since you already have a little knowledge from your high school days. If you were new I would tell you to wait until you had a camera to read the book so you could get a feel for things as you go. You will likely understand what he is talking about so you could read the book before you get your hands on a camera.

raphaelaaron · Mar 22, 2011

just to be thorough i feel i should make something clear. 500-600 is a lot of moolah. make sure you want to actually do this and invest in photography, because it will break your bank and burn your wallet many many times over. that 500-600 is just the beginning--guaranteed. when you finally attained the lenses you wanted, then you'll want to switch to a better camera body, when that comes around, you'll want to invest in lighting, more lenses again...the list can go on.

don't do it unless you're dedicated to do more than just mimic a picture you thought was cool.

learn the basics. if i was your sensei, i would make you start from the beginning and shoot with a canon ae-1. if you can't learn proper things like exposure, composition, then you shouldn't spend money on any dslr. you'll just be a point and shooter with a dslr.

if you ask me, i don't think anyone can just someday wake up, lay down some cash and decide to be a photographer. it's definitely a honed craft, and there's a reason why companies won't hire the next guy who walks out of B&H with a new Canon 5D Mk II (without a bit of experience).

socal82 · Mar 22, 2011

i definitely not doing just to mimic a picture. I have a little experence in photography and willing to put in the work to learn. I want to buy a camera I can grow into so when the time comes when im more experienced I wont have to buy another camera.

raphaelaaron · Mar 23, 2011

socal82 said:
i definitely not doing just to mimic a picture. I have a little experence in photography and willing to put in the work to learn. I want to buy a camera I can grow into so when the time comes when im more experienced I wont have to buy another camera.

here's the thing. while i said 500-600 is a lot, it's still not enough to be in that arena described. you won't compare to professionals who have spent more money to produce better images. you will end up buying another camera if you want to do any better. 500-600 is typical prosumer status, and will get you little if you plan to expand to weddings, and shoot models.

mikehaugen · Mar 23, 2011

if 500-600 is your budget, then I would definitely go used. Canon or Nikon, I don't think it matters much. They are like Ford and Chevy, constantly competing and while one might edge the other out with one generation, the next time will be the others turn to out-do them. It really comes down to (like another poster said) personal preference. I shoot canon, so am partial to them and I know the current market better, but with 600 dollars I would go with a 30d or 40d and look for like a 17-85mm f/4-5.6. I don't have personal experience with that lens but have heard pretty good things, especially compared with most kit lenses. They say it is about equal to if not better than the 28-135 that I use, but on a crop sensor body the 28mm is just not wide enough. You should be able to find that in your budget on craigslist. I don't like rebels because they are small and cheap plastic. The next step would be a flash, and that takes a lot of time to master but is one of the more useful skills to have if you can get it right.

Just my opinion and I am sure that there will be hardcore Nikon guys that will argue with me, and they will probably have valid points as well.

humburgphoto · Mar 23, 2011

If you could add like 300 to that I got an awesome setup for me anyways BRAND NEW from ebay with my Cannon T2i body, Tamron 28-80mm, Tamron 75-300mm (both with hoods), a HD x2 Telephoto lens, a HD .45x super wide angle lens with macro, filters, table top tripod, 52in tripod w/carrying case, and a ton of other little accessories for 981.50 shipped to my house but I did my research and was torn between the Canon T2i and Nikon D90 for a while but the Canon had features that I prefered right now for the way I shoot. Hope that helps out some the company I purchased from on Ebay was Digi bundles I cant complain I even got a backpack case and small travel type case.