What camera to get

[ScootsMate]

I've been a bmx rider and Scooter rider for a year or so now, Ive become interested in photography and am interested in getting a serious camera and equipment i would need to be able to film at skateparks for action shots. I currently use a little olympus thing, dont even know what type it is just this tiny one, i would like to know the best camera for beginers but would be excellent for action shots at skateparks or beaches (not waterproof though) Also if i would need any equipment and if so what type. Thanks for any help. Matt

 

[Cfitz]

Canon 600D? The screen tilts and flips so you can get weird and cool angles and it shoots 1080p movie, which you may find useful. Also it has a great metering system, same as that of the 7D.

Or the new Nikon D5100, which also has a tilt flip screen and shoots movie at 1080p.

 

[WesternGuy]

What sort of a budget do you have? Are you looking for a high-end Point & Shoot, or a DSLR? From the Canon side, the higher-end P&S cameras are the SX30 IS and the G12. For a DSLR, you can consider the Rebel XSi, the T2i, the T3i and the T3, which would be good entry-level cameras. A little higher up the scale would be the 60D and the 7D. As far as lenses go - difficult to advise without knowing your budget - you will need a fast lens for the "action shots", so maybe something like the EF 70-200 mm, or the EF-S 55-250 mm. For the beach shots, maybe something like the 40-70 mm, the 24-70 mm, or the 24-105 mm. None of these lenses are cheap. If you do not have a great amount to spend, then maybe you would want to look at something that has been refurbished - again, let us know.

Cheers,

WessternGuy

 

[Village Idiot]

Canon 600D? The screen tilts and flips so you can get weird and cool angles and it shoots 1080p movie, which you may find useful. Also it has a great metering system, same as that of the 7D.

Or the new Nikon D5100, which also has a tilt flip screen and shoots movie at 1080p.

600D = T3i? If so, the T3i is the tits.

I personally don't like the rebel body because of the lack of the thumb wheel on the back, but it shoots 1080p at 30, 25, and 24fps and 720p at 60 and 50 fps, which means it can do smooth slow motion and is a killer deal if you want to do video. Nikon's D5100 is limited to 30fps.

If the OP isn't doing video, then any camera with decent lenses and a bit of light would work wonders once they learn how to use it.

 

[KmH]

I've been a bmx rider and Scooter rider for a year or so now, Ive become interested in photography and am interested in getting a serious camera and equipment i would need to be able to film at skateparks for action shots. I currently use a little olympus thing, dont even know what type it is just this tiny one, i would like to know the best camera for beginers but would be excellent for action shots at skateparks or beaches (not waterproof though) Also if i would need any equipment and if so what type. Thanks for any help. Matt

Video, stills, or both.

There are no beginner DSLR cameras, that would also be excellent for action shots. Plus, what lens(s) to get is also critical for shooting action sports.

 

[analog.universe]

600D = T3i? If so, the T3i is the tits.

I personally don't like the rebel body because of the lack of the thumb wheel on the back, but it shoots 1080p at 30, 25, and 24fps and 720p at 60 and 50 fps, which means it can do smooth slow motion and is a killer deal if you want to do video. Nikon's D5100 is limited to 30fps.

This ^

If you shop carefully, the 60d is like 10% more expensive than the 600d (T3i), and will allow you much more room to grow before you need to replace it.

 

[analog.universe]

Afterthought....

the best camera for beginners, is the one you'll still be using when you're not a beginner. otherwise you're spending money on something you know you're going to replace. Pretty much every dslr has the same set of variables the user needs to think about... the difference is how easily the camera lets you manifest your ideas once you've figured your way around the variables.