Hello there, fellow 365ers! My 18th birthday is coming up at the end of this month, and that makes me think the time is ripe for me to upgrade my equipment. But I'm a bit of a noob in the fancy-camera department, so I thought I'd ask your advice.
I currently have a Nikon COOLPIX L20 that I got for Christmas a couple of years ago, and don't get me wrong - it has served me valiantly. But I feel like its technical limitations are holding me back a bit... So here is what I am looking for in a new camera:
-DSLR
-a screen for previewing photos
-ability to adjust the various settings manually (how exactly does this usually work?) OR to allow the camera to automatically choose settings
-compatibility with my current "PNY OPTIMA" 4gb memory card if possible
Also, I like to do a lot of "macro"-type photography; do I need to get a special lens for that? Any you recommend?
i have a nikon d5000, and i love it! i'm sorry i can't really help you with the technical stuff, but there's a bunch of other 365ers who can. good luck!
ps it might be helpful if you let us know your price range, there's so many different cameras out there!
@rleonard I'm not looking to spend more than $300-$400 at the very most, which probably isn't that much in the world of fancy cameras! But I'll see what I can do, eh? ;)
you are probably going to be looking at second hand for your budget and probably an older model like the nikon d40/60 ranges(for example) but they are great for starting out with dslr cameras as they aren't too fiddly with hundreds of extras on them.
for the macro a lens would be ideal but again pricey, you can get some good adaptors though to get you going, all my macro shots are taken with an adaptor
you may want to look at advanced point and shoots that are in that range that have a strong optical zoom. I have had a canon powershot for years and just got a replacement in that price range. I would say one thing, make sure it has a macro setting.
If not used would be the way to go, but macro lenses are not inexpensive.
For that budget I doubt you'll even get on the SLR ladder at all, in terms of brand new ones. Fairly sure you'll have to hit eBay and the like to find them in that range.
have a look on google for a Panasonic FZ40 or FZ45 depending on where in the world you are (same camera, different name). I was looking to buy a new camera and had my heart set on a Nikon, but it was going to cost me so much, I felt like I was saving for ever! Then, after researching new cameras for what felt like an age, I found the Panasonic FZ40, it was aboiut a third of the price of the Nikon. I got it and have not looked back. It has a huge amount of features and programmes, I figured it was good enough for me until I decide that I can justify spending so much more money. To be honest, the Nikon didn't have enough extras to warrant the extra money for me at this stage. Good luck with your decision! Remember, as I read here somewhere, owning a Nikon doesn't make you a photographer, it makes you a Nikon owner.
If you do stick with Nikon, one feature to take into consideration is whether the body has an autofocus motor. If it does not, you'll only be able to use lenses with the motors built in (AF-S). The bodies that do NOT have the AF motor are D40/40X, D60, D3000/3100 and D5000/5001. All the newer lenses are AF-S and will work on those cameras, but the non AF-S lenses are generally cheaper - for example the 105mm AF-D macro is probably half the price of the AF-S version (and half the weight).
For macro, you can buy a macro lens, or you can buy close up filters and screw them onto say a 50mm lens and get pretty good results at much lower cost.
In Arpil my mom got a Nikon D3100 and I got a Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS both have a screen for previewing your pics, the ability to adjust madually and auto adjust, both are DSLR. I've always used a Nikon but in all honesty I like my Canon Rebel more than my mom's Nikon. You just need to get your hands on diffrent kinds to decide which you prefer :) good luck
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hope it will help you.
ps it might be helpful if you let us know your price range, there's so many different cameras out there!
@rleonard I'm not looking to spend more than $300-$400 at the very most, which probably isn't that much in the world of fancy cameras! But I'll see what I can do, eh? ;)
for the macro a lens would be ideal but again pricey, you can get some good adaptors though to get you going, all my macro shots are taken with an adaptor
If not used would be the way to go, but macro lenses are not inexpensive.
For macro, you can buy a macro lens, or you can buy close up filters and screw them onto say a 50mm lens and get pretty good results at much lower cost.