Need a good digital SLR - recommendations?
- Thread starter Jizzlobber
- Start date
Looks like my "whisker" criteria is out to lunch at my price point. We're talking lenses in the $5k range to do that job at 100yds for my tastes. Looking at the possibility of a cheaper lens with a converter...need to learn some lens math.
Visit Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing and do a search on whatever SLR camera/lens you are interested in and see first hand the the potential picture quality. There are a ton of "groups" as well you can ask questions.
You sound like a defeatist. There are plenty of options for the budget conscious shooter. You don't need to drop 5k to get into the 500mm+ range. Here, scope this site...
Nature's Pics Online
They talk all about equipment setups.
300mm lens won't perhaps let you see the details in the iris of their eyeball but it will still let you take some stunning pictures. A 400mm will do even better... and this is the 100-400mm lens the site above recommends which lists for $1800 and can certainly be had for less.
EOS (SLR) Camera Systems - Telephoto Zoom - Telephoto Zoom Lens - EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM - Canon USA Consumer Products
The other recommendation is this Sigma lens at 50-500mm for about $400 less...
Sigma - Lenses
Far less versatile (you really want to be in a position to grab closer shots if they should present themselves), but you could get a fixed 400mm L series for list price of $1300 and change.
EOS (SLR) Camera Systems - Super Telephoto - Super Telephoto Lens - EF 400mm f/5.6L USM - Canon USA Consumer Products
You can get a 2x extender for a couple hundred bucks.
Fatbat, correct me if I'm wrong, but there should be some entry level telephoto lenses that can be picked up in the sub-$500 range that will get the job done quite well but won't be national geographic quality.
For example:
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-70-300mm-4-5-6-Telephoto-Cameras/dp/B000ALLMI8%3FSubscriptionId%3D0PZ7TM66EXQCXFVTMTR2%26tag%3Ddpsfavlens-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000ALLMI8]Amazon.com: Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo[/ame]
For example:
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-70-300mm-4-5-6-Telephoto-Cameras/dp/B000ALLMI8%3FSubscriptionId%3D0PZ7TM66EXQCXFVTMTR2%26tag%3Ddpsfavlens-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000ALLMI8]Amazon.com: Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo[/ame]
Yeah, there certainly is! There are some 70-300mm Tamrons on there that can be had for even less. There's also a 150-500mm Sigma for less than $1000 listed. There's no end to the possibilities really. Good used gear can be had as well.
Might be worth trying out some of the cheaper options to see if the gear really sees enough use to warrant dropping serious cake on professional glass.
Might be worth trying out some of the cheaper options to see if the gear really sees enough use to warrant dropping serious cake on professional glass.
Yeah, my problem is that I'm currently at the low extreme with my gear. I do some research and see how shit get's done at the other end of the extreme and don't get that there may be a happy medium in-between (overwhelming possiblilty). I don't mind experimenting in the $2000 range as I can get some of my investment back if I am buying mainstream gear. However, if I ever think about going $5k on a lens, I better be going on African photo safari sometime soon.
I got $4k and I prefer Canon ( got a Canon HF S11 camcorder already and love it ), what should I get for SLR?
Im looking at EOS 5D MKII, but what kind of lens/glass do I need for those National Geographic type shots?
Im looking at EOS 5D MKII, but what kind of lens/glass do I need for those National Geographic type shots?
I think one thing people are forgetting is the real amount that equipment affects your photography.
Until you master proper composition, lighting, etc, you will never be able to shoot national geographic type photos.
Alternatively, if you have consumer level SLR gear in the sub-$1000 range (for your entire kit) you can take AMAZING photos if you are using proper technique.
My suggestion is to get a good body, like the XSi, and a $200-300 range telephoto, and play with that along with the lens that comes with your kit, until you get good and then decide if you want to move up into super-expensive lenses and such.
Until you master proper composition, lighting, etc, you will never be able to shoot national geographic type photos.
Alternatively, if you have consumer level SLR gear in the sub-$1000 range (for your entire kit) you can take AMAZING photos if you are using proper technique.
My suggestion is to get a good body, like the XSi, and a $200-300 range telephoto, and play with that along with the lens that comes with your kit, until you get good and then decide if you want to move up into super-expensive lenses and such.
alright, per Nicky's info.. Im gonna look at a T1i and XSi as it does seem like a smarter starting point.
People have already mentioned the Rebel XT/XSi. If money is an issue, get an older body and splurge on glass. Once you experience L glass, you will never use anything else.
Look at how creamy that bokeh is. That is a terrible picture of my awesome dog, but the lens makes it. The 70-200f4L is the cheapest L glass you can get, but is also one of the sharpest lenses. You won't regret it.
http://vgeek.net/d/6796-1/IMG_3948.jpg
That's a full size image from my 8mp Rebel XT. Unsharpened.
Look at how creamy that bokeh is. That is a terrible picture of my awesome dog, but the lens makes it. The 70-200f4L is the cheapest L glass you can get, but is also one of the sharpest lenses. You won't regret it.
http://vgeek.net/d/6796-1/IMG_3948.jpg
That's a full size image from my 8mp Rebel XT. Unsharpened.
They don't make the XSi anymore (450D), it's more than 2 years old. Its replacement was the T1i (500D). Each increment in the Canon family is (usually) significantly better so I would go with the T1i at the entry level.
I have the 400D, and while I certainly don't use it as much as I should, if I were upgrading now I would get the 7D body kit, or 5D MKII body kit, as I already own the lens that the 5D comes with, which is about $1200 retail.
The reason I would go to with the higher model is the ability to shoot 1080 video at 30fps which the T1i can't do (only does 20fps), not to mention the full frame sensor on the 5D.
The reviews on the 7D say it is a phenomenal camera. The DPreview folks could barely fault it, which is very unusual.
Yep, and it's why Flickr is so helpful. You can click on "more properties" on the right side under "Additional Information" and get all that info: stored information are shutter speed, date and time, focal length, exposure compensation, metering pattern and if a flash was used.
For example, click the pic of this deer and you'll get all the EXIF data
Flickr also keeps stats/graphs on the most popular cameras ... pretty cool.
Flickr: Camera Finder
Get the Olympus E-520. Great learner camera!
The whole lens system you will be buying into is amazing. I love my camera and the lenses I have bought/extras (control remote, extreme III memory cards, macro adapter, case, filters, etc).
I have put in about $2k worth of equipment into it, and plan on getting another $2k over the next few years (little bits at a time).
Once you go DSLR, you won't go back.
The whole lens system you will be buying into is amazing. I love my camera and the lenses I have bought/extras (control remote, extreme III memory cards, macro adapter, case, filters, etc).
I have put in about $2k worth of equipment into it, and plan on getting another $2k over the next few years (little bits at a time).
Once you go DSLR, you won't go back.
It's all about the AE-1 and the darkroom son. This body has turned out a lot of good black and white for me. Have an old minolta x700 body too with a 300mm zoom lens that was so goddamn heavy lugging it around europe.
Digital wise I have a canon xt, with nikon lens to canon body adapter, nikon 18-200mm VR DX lense, and the stock xt lens which sucks cock. I like nikon lenses better than canon's, it's a personal preference. Got a canonSD790 point and shoot which is better megapixel than my slr but the manual settings on it are kids stuff compared to an slr. I need to reup on equipment too.
Like nicky said you can have awesome equipment but if you don't know anything about composition, lighting, exposure values, fstops, shutter speeds, depth of field, colors, whitebalancing, etc your pictures will probably turn out like shit regardless.
For composition I like to stick to the rule of thirds and I use bracketing(-2 ev, -1, 0, +1, +2) of the same shot if it's a good one in case your eye deceives you of the lighting of that moment. You can also toy around with HDR, high dynamic range photography with bracketing and overlaying them on each other, getting all the possible ranges your camera can take of that particular frame.
HDR comparison
Digital wise I have a canon xt, with nikon lens to canon body adapter, nikon 18-200mm VR DX lense, and the stock xt lens which sucks cock. I like nikon lenses better than canon's, it's a personal preference. Got a canonSD790 point and shoot which is better megapixel than my slr but the manual settings on it are kids stuff compared to an slr. I need to reup on equipment too.
Like nicky said you can have awesome equipment but if you don't know anything about composition, lighting, exposure values, fstops, shutter speeds, depth of field, colors, whitebalancing, etc your pictures will probably turn out like shit regardless.
For composition I like to stick to the rule of thirds and I use bracketing(-2 ev, -1, 0, +1, +2) of the same shot if it's a good one in case your eye deceives you of the lighting of that moment. You can also toy around with HDR, high dynamic range photography with bracketing and overlaying them on each other, getting all the possible ranges your camera can take of that particular frame.
HDR comparison
Problem with getting a decent camera is you can only blame yourself for crap photos!
I have an old fuji 5600 (5 mp point n click slr wanabe with 10x optical zoom) and had been convinced i was a competent photographer with a crap camera.
Then i borrowed a canon 400D (old, but much better than my fuji) and the photos where just as bad!
I was much happier before hand.
I have an old fuji 5600 (5 mp point n click slr wanabe with 10x optical zoom) and had been convinced i was a competent photographer with a crap camera.
Then i borrowed a canon 400D (old, but much better than my fuji) and the photos where just as bad!
I was much happier before hand.
I've taken some great shots with my old Canon EOS 300D w/kit 55mm lens, but I'm eager to replace the lens with a 300mm one. Once you go SLR, you won't go back - trust me!
As for indoor shots though, I'd love to know more about what kind of flash was used to take those ASW Vegas party pics this year. Totally pro looking!
I think Nickycakes said the dude had used a Nikon D90, but with a special flash?
As for indoor shots though, I'd love to know more about what kind of flash was used to take those ASW Vegas party pics this year. Totally pro looking!
I think Nickycakes said the dude had used a Nikon D90, but with a special flash?