<-->Noob who needs help<-->

XJBaylor · Aug 21, 2007

I am in the minority here most likely, but if your goal is to improve quickly, I recommend getting a body that can use non AF-S lenses such as the D70 or D80 and getting a 50/1.8 lens to start with. This will do a few things for you.
1. Give you a lens you will never need to upgrade from
2. Force you to learn composition
3. Keep you from starting off as a lazy, snapshot taking photographer

If your goal is to pursue photography as a profession, you might as well develop your skill as quickly as you can, and shooting with a fixed focal length lens and leaving the camera in manual for a while would go a long way towards that end.

Best of luck whatever you choose to do.

Keith

WonderWoMom · Aug 21, 2007

OK coming from someone who has both a nikon d40x AND a canon rebel xti Get the rebel. I am highly disapointed in the fact that the d40x does NOT have a motor built in for lenses. If you want to expand then it makes it more pricey. It has LESS lenses available and you have to pay more for the lenses it does have. Plus the Canon Rebel has a ton of added features that are NOT advertised. They both are superb in picture quality but if you are looking to eventually expand get a rebel for about the same price

jmo

Mike_E · Aug 21, 2007

Get The D80 and 1 lens. You are going to have enough on your plate just learning your craft with out having too many variables and as stated having just one lens will lend concentration.

As to the lens, I'd suggest Nikon's 18-70. Some call it a kit lens but it's not really, it's sharp and fairly fast at f3.5-4.5 and is an S type. You can pick one up used for around $250 because people believe what others say instead of what their eyes tell them. This range will cover relatively wide angles to moderate telephoto (a nice range for portraits

) which will be a fine start on your stated goals.

mike

DSLR noob · Aug 21, 2007

WonderWoMom, you DEFINITELY have too large of a signature. They have to be 60 pixels or less tall. Yours is 536 pixels tall. Mine is 55pixels tall. You'll have to change that. Cute kid, sorry to have to downsize, I had to with my original sig:

Groupcaptainbonzo · Aug 22, 2007

Canon (my personal favorite) and Nikon are about as good as you'll get anywhere. BUT to be picky. I would avoid the D40s. as they don't have a focus motor inside. so you will have serious probs with SOME lenses.

JIP · Aug 22, 2007

One_Look said:
I have a Canon, but I wasn't on abudget. If you're going to do it, do it right. I think Canon and Nikon are both really great cameras but Canon is extremely reliable, its been around forever and you don't really hear many bad things about Canons. And about enlarging pictures...I have a 10mp Canon Rebel XTi and I just recently printed out family portraits from an online site at the size of 20x30 and they turned out great. They weren't grainy or stretched/skewed at all. I think if you're going to invest in a camera such as the ones mentioned, I based my decision off of how it felt in my hands, and the easy to follow instructions...not the price.
Good Luck finding your camera, I truly believe when you start looking, you'll know when you pick one up which one is best for you.:mrgreen:

(Just one of the many)

I cannot find in the op where he was asking what brand of camera to buy. The guy/girl just asked if they should buy a D40 or a D80 if this is the brand choice let it go and give you ropinion within the choices. I am a Nikon person but I do not find it necesarry if someone has a question like this about Canon cameras to say "you should get a Nikon". I just don't think it is helpful to throw out other brands when someone is asking about one model over another.

lostpuppy · Aug 22, 2007

I alright I just order the D80 from amazon with two lens, 18-55 and a 70-300 and few other things.

1 of Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm II DX Zoom Lens
[Outfit] + Nikon 70-300mm G Lens + Transcend 4GB 150x SecureDigital (SD)
Card + High

Groupcaptainbonzo · Aug 22, 2007

for what it's worth. I think you made the right choice. Much better range available when it comes to choosing lenses.

sabbath999 · Aug 22, 2007

I think you will be quite pleased by your purchase. I have a couple of D80's and they totally rock. I also have a D40 (purchased after the D80's to give me a cheap third body as "carry around" camera and I also really like it... but it simply is not nearly the camera that the D80 is).

lostpuppy · Aug 22, 2007

Thank you all for your help. Because of this I will be staying on theses forums and help others... well once I learn :lmao:

Thanks again I owe you all:hail::hug::

MurWin · Aug 22, 2007

I have a D70s, but I have the same lenses that you ordered... I think you'll be pleased with all of it!

Nix · Aug 22, 2007

i have a rebel xti... but the nikkon makes a SEXY camera

my buddy and i take darn near identical pictures... so both cameras rock

One_Look · Aug 30, 2007

JIP said:
(Just one of the many)

I cannot find in the op where he was asking what brand of camera to buy. The guy/girl just asked if they should buy a D40 or a D80 if this is the brand choice let it go and give you ropinion within the choices. I am a Nikon person but I do not find it necesarry if someone has a question like this about Canon cameras to say "you should get a Nikon". I just don't think it is helpful to throw out other brands when someone is asking about one model over another.

For the record:::: Yeah this person didn't ask about Canon's but there is absolutely nothing wrong with throwing something out there for them to think about...maybe he/she didn't know anything about a Canon. And I believe I ended my post with "You will know which camera is right for you as soon as you pick it up." :wink:

Iron Flatline · Aug 31, 2007

lostpuppy said:
I alright I just order the D80 from amazon with two lens, 18-55 and a 70-300 and few other things.

1 of Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm II DX Zoom Lens
[Outfit] + Nikon 70-300mm G Lens + Transcend 4GB 150x SecureDigital (SD)
Card + High

Good for you, you're going to love it. All the brands (esp. Canon and Nikon) can do 99% of what the competitor can, and you will never hit the limitations in the next few years. Congratulations, have fun, post some pictures, and leave some comments for others!

Jon, The Elder · Aug 31, 2007

For the record:::: Yeah this person didn't ask about Canon's but there is absolutely nothing wrong with throwing something out there for them to think about...maybe he/she didn't know anything about a Canon. And I believe I ended my post with "You will know which camera is right for you as soon as you pick it up."

There are anywhere from 2 to 6 threads like this one that pop up here every day or so. Some are in the vein of the OP, where he/she have done some research on brand and related gear.
I must admit that I (like many others) often have to "bite-my-tongue" to keep from interjecting other options or brand names/models to consider.

Now, if a 'noobie' has questions regarding 2 different brands, I offer my opinion and the reasoning behind it. I only comment on things that I have first hand knowledge or experience with.

The above quote does end with a very true and powerful comment. I have seen (many times) the final 'hands-on' response being the determining factor in a purchase.

I certainly can't fault the above quote in principle and thought, maybe not the best place to use it.