I have a pretty nice little point and shoot but REALLY want to get a DSLR.
One of my husband's friends who works for the local paper has already offered me the chance to take pictures of sporting events, etc for the paper.... the money is pretty good so I wish I had the right equipment! He said he could let me borrow one of their cameras for the job but I do not know how to use a dslr which is part of the reason I want my own. I would also love to be able to take portraits for people as a side job and maybe as a full time job in the future. I LOVE taking and editing pictures and only wish I had more time for it.
So basically I need a camera that is not too expensive, easy to learn and takes professional quality pictures. I would love any suggestions! Thanks :)
I am looking at a Nikon or a Canon. Do not know the model yet, but I talked to a professional photographer at work, on taking pictures for our web site, and he told me any model will do. I am looking for a DSLR myself. I would say for what you are doing is that you should invest is a good lens. Sorry to be to vague but I only own a p&s.
If Sporting events are what you will be doing (action) you need one that has a good multiple Frame Per Second (FPS) ability, a good number of focus points, and a lens like a 70-300 zoom. The faster the lens the better. Unfortunately, the faster (example, a 2.8) costs money.
Honestly, if you want to save money, I would look for used versus new. I'm a Nikon guy, so I'll speak that. I can't speak for Canon, but that doesn't mean I don't like it. I just have Nikon stuff, so that is what I know. You can get a nice Nikon D200 body used for only about $500. It shoots 5 FPS and has 11 focus points. A lot of cameras may only have 5 focus points (like mine, but I don't shoot a lot of action stuff), and you may have a lot of crap shots because of it. Then, look for a perhaps refurbished 70-300mm lens. Yes, refurbished! I swear by it. Save lotsa money that way, and have had worry free results for years.
Surf places like B&H photo, Adorama, or Roberts Imaging. Those are the ones I look to.
My opinion, not fact: DO NOT get sucked into the "more megapixels means better images" sales game!
Keep us posted. Would love to know what you end up with!
Thanks Joe... I was thinking either Nikon or Canon as well since those seem to be the best. My point and shoot is a Nikon and I LOVE it, so I am leaning in that direction a little bit.
Chris, thank you for all of the info! I think I still have lots of research to do before picking one. Refurbished is not a bad idea :) Wow there is a lot to consider when buying one of these! lol
Chris made some excellent points. If you go with Canon or Nikon, you can't go too far wrong. I have a Canon T1i and I love it. I use it for shooting trains (similar to sports, moving targets) and it works well as long as I use the settings correctly. There is some investment in learning the features of the camera and how to use it correctly. For example, the Sports mode on my T1i works well but it only uses one focus point, dead center in the camera, and for composition I often don't want the subject dead center. Better to use shutter priority.
With an SLR it often comes down to the lens more than the body. You can get a great camera body for $600 or so but if you stick a $200 lens on it, you will get fairly mediocre pictures. Be prepared to upgrade from the kit lens that comes with the camera.
I'm a Nikon shooter too, but my partner shoots Canon...you won't go wrong with either camp! Right now a great bargain is the Nikon D90, as it is slowly being replaced by the D7000. What price range are you looking for? That will make a big difference in recommendations here. The D200 is a good camera no doubt, but it is quite noisy above iso 400 or so, not so good for shooting sports in my opinion unless they are in good light. I agree that the 70-300vr is a great lens for the price....amazingly sharp and quick focusing for such an expensive lens. you can find that lens for around 400$ (us dollars) in like new condition on ebay, or as Chris mentioned, the refurbs typically are just like new, and often carry a one year warranty (check Cameta Camera on ebay--a reputable company I've bought from many times). Nikon has a smaller entry level camera, the D3100, that is a around 650 with a kit lens (18-55vr)---i've read pretty good things about that one too, but I've never personally used it.
One thing I recommend is to go into a camera store and see how the different cameras feel! Some people really love one brand over the other, or a smaller form factor over a larger one.
The 70-300mm VR lens is only going to be good in good light. No night, no indoor... it's simply just not fast enough - and most sports take place indoors or in poor outdoor light. I know, I shot an indoor rodeo with it, and immediately came home and ordered a 80-200mm f/2.8 lens. It was a great lens for stuff in the daytime (I use it a lot for auto racing in daylight), but the f/4.5-5.6 is really limiting once the lighting isn't bright. If money is going to be spent, it's better to get a proper lens, IMO.
If you just want a DSLR to get use to using one, then by all means I suggest a basic entry level one. But if you want one you can shoot sports with professionally, I would steer away from the consumer bodies. Slower frame rates, slower autofocus... my D80 cannot keep up with my D300 when I shoot sports whatsoever. Focusing is laggy, off, etc. So if you want something to do sports with, try the more prosumer bodies (D200, D300, D700, D7000 - if you can find one in stock, etc for Nikon, dunno Canon). Or ask what the newspaper would provide you with... if they're going to loan you a pro body, get yourself something moderately priced to practice with and shoot portraits perhaps, and abused the crap out of their pro bodies for assignments :)
My two cents are that nikon are not the best... just the most advertised... Hasselblad and Leica are the BEST... but pricey... for more pedestrian cameras Nikon and Canon are ok if they fit your hand... but don't rule out Sony, Panasonic(4/3 system) or Pentax... unless you will be like a few of us who spend $1,000's on lens you will not be left wanting with anything outside the 18-55 and 55-300 range...
If I wanted a serious camera with only one lense right now I would look at the Pentax K5 with the 18-135 WR... the set-up is good from -20 - +40, dust and water resistant and got great reviews in testing.
But the MOST IMPORTANT thing is that as soon as you pick-up the camera it feels instintive in your hands... if you need to 'work' to get the shot... it may stop being fun and than you will not use it...
I also second what Heidi says... if someone else will give you a camera... run it into the ground until you know what you like...
£399 tonight only - that's a bargain! I shoot with Pentax - you can buy manual lenses and get really nice quality shots, and you'd have that auto telephoto for sporting events ^^
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Honestly, if you want to save money, I would look for used versus new. I'm a Nikon guy, so I'll speak that. I can't speak for Canon, but that doesn't mean I don't like it. I just have Nikon stuff, so that is what I know. You can get a nice Nikon D200 body used for only about $500. It shoots 5 FPS and has 11 focus points. A lot of cameras may only have 5 focus points (like mine, but I don't shoot a lot of action stuff), and you may have a lot of crap shots because of it. Then, look for a perhaps refurbished 70-300mm lens. Yes, refurbished! I swear by it. Save lotsa money that way, and have had worry free results for years.
Surf places like B&H photo, Adorama, or Roberts Imaging. Those are the ones I look to.
My opinion, not fact: DO NOT get sucked into the "more megapixels means better images" sales game!
Keep us posted. Would love to know what you end up with!
Chris, thank you for all of the info! I think I still have lots of research to do before picking one. Refurbished is not a bad idea :) Wow there is a lot to consider when buying one of these! lol
With an SLR it often comes down to the lens more than the body. You can get a great camera body for $600 or so but if you stick a $200 lens on it, you will get fairly mediocre pictures. Be prepared to upgrade from the kit lens that comes with the camera.
Good luck!
I'm a Nikon shooter too, but my partner shoots Canon...you won't go wrong with either camp! Right now a great bargain is the Nikon D90, as it is slowly being replaced by the D7000. What price range are you looking for? That will make a big difference in recommendations here. The D200 is a good camera no doubt, but it is quite noisy above iso 400 or so, not so good for shooting sports in my opinion unless they are in good light. I agree that the 70-300vr is a great lens for the price....amazingly sharp and quick focusing for such an expensive lens. you can find that lens for around 400$ (us dollars) in like new condition on ebay, or as Chris mentioned, the refurbs typically are just like new, and often carry a one year warranty (check Cameta Camera on ebay--a reputable company I've bought from many times). Nikon has a smaller entry level camera, the D3100, that is a around 650 with a kit lens (18-55vr)---i've read pretty good things about that one too, but I've never personally used it.
One thing I recommend is to go into a camera store and see how the different cameras feel! Some people really love one brand over the other, or a smaller form factor over a larger one.
Hope this helps a little. ;-)
If you just want a DSLR to get use to using one, then by all means I suggest a basic entry level one. But if you want one you can shoot sports with professionally, I would steer away from the consumer bodies. Slower frame rates, slower autofocus... my D80 cannot keep up with my D300 when I shoot sports whatsoever. Focusing is laggy, off, etc. So if you want something to do sports with, try the more prosumer bodies (D200, D300, D700, D7000 - if you can find one in stock, etc for Nikon, dunno Canon). Or ask what the newspaper would provide you with... if they're going to loan you a pro body, get yourself something moderately priced to practice with and shoot portraits perhaps, and abused the crap out of their pro bodies for assignments :)
If I wanted a serious camera with only one lense right now I would look at the Pentax K5 with the 18-135 WR... the set-up is good from -20 - +40, dust and water resistant and got great reviews in testing.
But the MOST IMPORTANT thing is that as soon as you pick-up the camera it feels instintive in your hands... if you need to 'work' to get the shot... it may stop being fun and than you will not use it...
I also second what Heidi says... if someone else will give you a camera... run it into the ground until you know what you like...
http://www.jacobsdigital.co.uk/s-33-black-friday.aspx?VectorIDs=1571
£399 tonight only - that's a bargain! I shoot with Pentax - you can buy manual lenses and get really nice quality shots, and you'd have that auto telephoto for sporting events ^^