Which camera should i get?

roamer

I recently went through a phase in an overseas trip, where i took photo's with my older brother's Optio s4, I realized that I'm a natural, and im interested in photography, mainly because i enjoy taking beutifull nature shots and letting that breathtaking moment be enjoyed by others.

Now that i have a little bit of cash (us) 300, I'm interested in getting myself a decent SLR camera with the lens, i have virtually no experience with photoshot and sort of dont want to have to use it (for principal reasons), so i am really needing some help in #1 - finding an SLR for that price (if possible) and #2 knowing what type of camera i will be needing to be able to adjust its features to get the right contrast and colors before i take the shot.

I hope i posted this in the right place.

Any way i really do need a decent camera with the $500 au dollars i have to spend with, i know im a good photographer, i just need to learn the jists and technicalities, and i will appreciate any help i can get.

Peace. Musty.

OC ZOOM

roamer wrote:

I recently went through a phase in an overseas trip, where i took photo's with my older brother's Optio s4, I realized that I'm a natural, and im interested in photography, mainly because i enjoy taking beutifull nature shots and letting that breathtaking moment be enjoyed by others.

Now that i have a little bit of cash (us) 300, I'm interested in getting myself a decent SLR camera with the lens, i have virtually no experience with photoshot and sort of dont want to have to use it (for principal reasons), so i am really needing some help in #1 - finding an SLR for that price (if possible) and #2 knowing what type of camera i will be needing to be able to adjust its features to get the right contrast and colors before i take the shot.

I hope i posted this in the right place.

Any way i really do need a decent camera with the $500 au dollars i have to spend with, i know im a good photographer, i just need to learn the jists and technicalities, and i will appreciate any help i can get.

Peace. Musty.

Musty, Your are really in a good position right now. Everything is open. I was a beginner just over a year ago and had the same problem. The choice I made was a good one and would do the same again. I went with Canon cameras. They have the best camera and quality lenses IMHO. I started with the Canon XT-i which is near the bottom cost wise. For about 600-700 dollars you can get their new entry level XS-i that has a great kit lens attached (18-55mm). But just remember that Canon lenses don't work with Nikon bodies, so when you start buying lenses for your first camera it's hard to switch to a different brand camera. Canon also has a great web site where you can ask questions on everything about photography and get an answer within minutes. Good luck in your decision.

divamum

Hi!

I'm not one of the forum gear experts (I'm sure they will chime in), but having just recently done some shopping for a new camera of my own and done a LOT of price-trawling, I can tell you that US$300 isn't a huge amount to spend on a new digital SLR.

THAT SAID... you can probably do quite well with a second-hand dSLR to start with. You will need a lens to go with it but there are some affordable choices there, too. If you can stretch your budget to US$500-600, you can probably put together a very nice starter outfit to get you going.

There's a recent thread here http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=112292 which talks about how to get started on a budget. Worth a read!

Good luck!

roamer

divamum wrote:

Hi!

I'm not one of the forum gear experts (I'm sure they will chime in), but having just recently done some shopping for a new camera of my own and done a LOT of price-trawling, I can tell you that US$300 isn't a huge amount to spend on a new digital SLR.

THAT SAID... you can probably do quite well with a second-hand dSLR to start with. You will need a lens to go with it but there are some affordable choices there, too. If you can stretch your budget to US$500-600, you can probably put together a very nice starter outfit to get you going.

There's a recent thread here http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=112292 which talks about how to get started on a budget. Worth a read!

Good luck!

Thanks, yes you are right it seems all the choices im getting for my price range is the DSLR's.

And thanks much appreciated for the thread, i think i should be OK now with the info on getting an 18-200 lens.

Much apreciated thanks.

swintonphoto

You can get a DSLR setup for under $300! You just have to know where to look. Here are some good ones from a reliable safe seller:
Here is a setup I have - great quality photos - I love it:
http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/ProductDetail.aspx?groupsku=DO019991020390&brandcategoryname=Digital&Mode=Digital&item=0&ActivateTOC2=&ID=14&BC=DO&BCC=3&CC=1&CCC=1&BCL=&GBC=&GCC=


Another option is one of these camera bodies:
http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/ProductDetail.aspx?groupsku=DO029990922180&brandcategoryname=Digital&Mode=Digital&item=0&ActivateTOC2=&ID=14&BC=DO&BCC=3&CC=2&CCC=1&BCL=&GBC=&GCC=

or

http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/ProductDetail.aspx?groupsku=DO029990995220&brandcategoryname=Digital&Mode=Digital&item=0&ActivateTOC2=&ID=14&BC=DO&BCC=3&CC=2&CCC=1&BCL=&GBC=&GCC=

With one of these lenses:

http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/ProductDetail.aspx?groupsku=DO07999075593J&brandcategoryname=Digital&Mode=Digital&item=0&ActivateTOC2=&ID=14&BC=DO&BCC=3&CC=7&CCC=2&BCL=&GBC=&GCC=

or

http://www.keh.com/OnLineStore/ProductDetail.aspx?groupsku=DO07999093546J&brandcategoryname=Digital&Mode=Digital&item=0&ActivateTOC2=&ID=14&BC=DO&BCC=3&CC=7&CCC=2&BCL=&GBC=&GCC=

Here are a few samples from the E-500 with the 14-45mm lens (I should mention, the E-500 is one of my two cameras I use to run my professional studio. It is an amazing camera for the price):








You can also likely find them on ebay. For example: http://cgi.ebay.com/WOW-OLYMPUS-EVOLT-E-500-E500-8-0MP-KIT-14-42mm_W0QQitemZ250333477181QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigital_Cameras?hash=item250333477181&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1234|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/OLYMPUS-EVOLT-E-500-8MP-DSLR-14-45mm-LENS-USED_W0QQitemZ220319828956QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigital_Cameras?hash=item220319828956&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1234|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/OLYMPUS-EVOLT-E-500-8MP-DSLR-14-45mm-LENS-USED_W0QQitemZ220320139217QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigital_Cameras?hash=item220320139217&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1234|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

roamer

swintonphoto wrote:

You can also likely find them on ebay. For example: http://cgi.ebay.com/WOW-OLYMPUS-EVOLT-E-500-E500-8-0MP-KIT-14-42mm_W0QQitemZ250333477181QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigital_Cameras?hash=item250333477181&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1234|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/OLYMPUS-EVOLT-E-500-8MP-DSLR-14-45mm-LENS-USED_W0QQitemZ220319828956QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigital_Cameras?hash=item220319828956&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1234|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/OLYMPUS-EVOLT-E-500-8MP-DSLR-14-45mm-LENS-USED_W0QQitemZ220320139217QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigital_Cameras?hash=item220320139217&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1234|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

Thank you very much for the great advice, it seems the e-500 body is a bit tricky to find in aus price range, but i hav'nt looked hard enough yet, so ill put some time in homeworking that great suggestion of yours.

At the moment im looking for a used 20d after readin some good reviews and thumbs up on begginers.

Your samples (especially the first) is pretty convincing, i could settle with an E-500 just by the sheer quality, but the bad news is that the price is $1100 aud, and the US dollar is too strong for me to get your camera, so hopefully ill get the 20d as it seems the more sensible and even purchase.

The great news is I've found a 20d for $500 without battery&lens ($327US) and im hoping i can bump it down to $400aud, would that be an alright deal?

This is the cam.
http://melbourne.gumtree.com.au/c-Stuff-for-Sale-video-camera-digital-camera-Canon-20D-Body-Battery-Grip-STILL-AVAILABLE-31st-Oct-W0QQAdIdZ83324123

therustycameraman

So many choices
Sounds like you are really looking to start having a lot of fun with your photography. I am looking right now on upgrading to a DSLR fo some very specific reasons. With that said, the first thing I would say is that you can do some pretty awesome things with what are labeled as bridge cameras. I do all my shooting right now with a FujiFilm S5200. It has been an awesome camera. I bought my first one new for $225. When that one died a couple years later (long story) I went out and got another just like it from eBay for $70. Here are a couple shots I have gotten with it.

Took this one from top of arena!

<embed src="http://rustysphotos.smugmug.com/photos/419228123_yWnzb-M.jpg"&gt;

Here is one in the woods of one of my daughters

<embed src="http://rustysphotos.smugmug.com/photos/417358095_LFoga-M.jpg><br /> <br /> And a macro shot I got.<br /> <br /> <embed src=&quot; http:="" rustysphotos.smugmug.com="" photos="" 417358235_ydwyn-m.jpg=""><embed src="http://rustysphotos.smugmug.com/photos/417358095_LFoga-M.jpg"&gt;

and here is a macro shot

<embed src="http://rustysphotos.smugmug.com/photos/417358235_YdWYn-M.jpg"&gt;

The new FujiFilm S8100 is the newer version and very nice. One of the best things with the S8100 is that it is 18X optical zoom which is something like 430MM at the highest zoom. That is like amazing. And the macro is even better than my S5200. So in one fell swoop you can get a camera that you would need like at least three or four expensive lenses to get close to. And the S8100 runs like $267 US brand new from B&H Photo.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/543550-REG/Fujifilm_15823706_Finepix_S8100fd_Digital_Camera.html

If you want to go digital and stay within your budget (or close) what I am doing is planning on either a FujiFilm S2 DSLR or a Nikon D70 DSLR from eBay. I have been following them for a month now and if I am a little patient I should be able to pick up a really nice body for between $180 and $280. The Nikon and FujiFilm use the same lenses which is really nice. And both are high quality DSLR cameras. You should be able to get an entry level lens for it on eBay for like around $100.

See, here is the challenge with the DSLR is that you will start needing to buy lenses for different things and that is where it gets pricy. I would seriously think about looking at something like the FujiFilm S8100. Oh and Nikon has a very nice bridge camera that my brother-in-law just got that was not much more money than the Fuji. I had a chance to play with it the other weekend and really liked it a lot. I think it was the P80 if I remember right.

Oh, one other nice thing about the FujiFilm S8100 is they take just AA batteries, just like my S5200. So I carry around two sets of rechargables and the charger and in a pinch I can always stop at a store and grab some alkaline or lithium AA's and keep going. Although the battery life in mine has been phenominal.

My only two complaints with my camera are, first the manual focus is basically useless, and second shooting in RAW makes the camera really sluggish getting lots of repeated shots.

roamer

therustycameraman wrote:

The new FujiFilm S8100 is the newer version and very nice. One of the best things with the S8100 is that it is 18X optical zoom which is something like 430MM at the highest zoom. That is like amazing. And the macro is even better than my S5200. So in one fell swoop you can get a camera that you would need like at least three or four expensive lenses to get close to. And the S8100 runs like $267 US brand new from B&H Photo.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/543550-REG/Fujifilm_15823706_Finepix_S8100fd_Digital_Camera.html

If you want to go digital and stay within your budget (or close) what I am doing is planning on either a FujiFilm S2 DSLR or a Nikon D70 DSLR from eBay. I have been following them for a month now and if I am a little patient I should be able to pick up a really nice body for between $180 and $280. The Nikon and FujiFilm use the same lenses which is really nice. And both are high quality DSLR cameras. You should be able to get an entry level lens for it on eBay for like around $100.

See, here is the challenge with the DSLR is that you will start needing to buy lenses for different things and that is where it gets pricy. I would seriously think about looking at something like the FujiFilm S8100. Oh and Nikon has a very nice bridge camera that my brother-in-law just got that was not much more money than the Fuji. I had a chance to play with it the other weekend and really liked it a lot. I think it was the P80 if I remember right.

Oh, one other nice thing about the FujiFilm S8100 is they take just AA batteries, just like my S5200. So I carry around two sets of rechargables and the charger and in a pinch I can always stop at a store and grab some alkaline or lithium AA's and keep going. Although the battery life in mine has been phenominal.

My only two complaints with my camera are, first the manual focus is basically useless, and second shooting in RAW makes the camera really sluggish getting lots of repeated shots.

Thanks heaps, i did alot of research in the past few days on the body i should get, and i was thinking of getting the canon 10d or 20d, i initially thought these because canon and nikon are 'aparently' sturdier last longer and i guess just better parts and brands, but i had no idea that Fujifilm had some good camera's like the one you have.

So im leaning towards settling with your suggestion, #1 because my head hurts from so much research, and #2 its too confusing for me to start off with the canon d series and the whole lens issue. So you are definitely right with the lens that comes with the S8100FD, x18 optical zoom is great, and the camera looks good too.

Its in my price range and i think it will be good enough for taking shots of nature. Any way i gotta buy a whole bunch of other stuff i need so this camera is in my range and i am happy with it.

But there is just one thing, should i got for the 20d or the fujifilm..
And could someone explain to me that the

Thanks for the help guys i have learned more about camera's in the past 2 days than in my whole life, so much appreciated.

shooting in RAW makes the camera really sluggish getting lots of repeated shots.

Could you explain what the RAW issue is and what you mean by sluggish?
sorry but im a total noob.

As a thank you, here is a photo i took in Reggada, my home town in Morocco where my relatives reside .^_^. all the best.

swintonphoto

roamer wrote:

Thanks heaps, i did alot of research in the past few days on the body i should get, and i was thinking of getting the canon 10d or 20d, i initially thought these because canon and nikon are 'aparently' sturdier last longer and i guess just better parts and brands, but i had no idea that Fujifilm had some good camera's like the one you have.

So im leaning towards settling with your suggestion, #1 because my head hurts from so much research, and #2 its too confusing for me to start off with the canon d series and the whole lens issue. So you are definitely right with the lens that comes with the S8100FD, x18 optical zoom is great, and the camera looks good too.

Its in my price range and i think it will be good enough for taking shots of nature. Any way i gotta buy a whole bunch of other stuff i need so this camera is in my range and i am happy with it.

But there is just one thing, should i got for the 20d or the fujifilm..
And could someone explain to me that the

Those fujifilm cameras are great. My first major digital camera was a Fujifilm S7000. I loved it, and still have many great pix in my professional galleries I took with it. Here are a few:








There are some great similar cameras made by other manufacturers such as the Olympus SP series and the Panasonic and Sony offerings as well. However, I loved my Fuji and I am sure you will too. They make great cameras.

roamer

swintonphoto wrote:

Those fujifilm cameras are great. My first major digital camera was a Fujifilm S7000. I loved it...

Alright, I'm getting the fuji...

Thank you very much... you guys have helped a lot...

Fuji Film it is!! wooot!!