Wife says $1,500. What do I do?

nightowlcat

http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=85138

Those are shots with the D1h that I got used, along with the used lenses I got, these shots are with the 20mm.

d1h $249

zooms
18-70mm $180
70-300 $200

primes
20mm $229
50mm $ 80
85mm $225
180mm $379

Total: $1542 <-- a couple of the lenses can even be found cheaper than what I paid, but that will give you a really good running start on lenses while you play, if you're willing to get used instead of brand new. <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/thumb.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" >

Have you gone in the camera store (not a big box place) and actually held cameras from each brand in your hands yet and run through the menus?

len20

I've made the order
I just put an order in with B&H. With all of your input, here's what I decided on:

• Canon 40d
• Canon 50 mm f/1.8
• Tamron 28-75 mm f/2.8
• 2 UV filters
• 4 Gig flash card

Total = $1,665.80 + shipping

Slightly overbudget, but I was able convince my wife that I needed to get the filters and flash card which put me over. "Don't plan on getting any other photography stuff for a very long time," says my wife. Sorry B&H.

Thanks for all of your help. I'll be eager to post some photos with my new camera next week!

ziggy53

Looks good. Tell your wife "I'm" proud of you. Take plenty of pictures of her and, eventually, see if you can turn her into a photographer so she can understand your (both of you) photographic needs.

pyry

len20 wrote:

I just put an order in with B&H. With all of your input, here's what I decided on:

• Canon 40d
• Canon 50 mm f/1.8
• Tamron 28-75 mm f/2.8
• 2 UV filters
• 4 Gig flash card

Total = $1,665.80 + shipping

Slightly overbudget, but I was able convince my wife that I needed to get the filters and flash card which put me over. "Don't plan on getting any other photography stuff for a very long time," says my wife. Sorry B&H.

Thanks for all of your help. I'll be eager to post some photos with my new camera next week!

Congrats! I bet you can't wait for the package to arrive

Looking at that list, I fear you'll start wanting for a wide-angle lens, but take your time and practise with what you've got.

And when you decide to go wider, we'll be right here to give you another gaggle of choices

nightspidy

Woo-hoo
Yeahhhh, another Canon user!!!! Lets see those pictures....

claudermilk

evoryware wrote:

I do believe I have some more 3200, again I haven't uploaded much from my 40D lately. Definitely have more 1600 shots.

This was taken my first day really sitting down with the camera...

handheld live view, 24-70 @ 70mm, f/2.8, 1/50, ISO 3200, high iso NR, straight out the cam jpg.


Even though I can get some good shots out of my XTi above 400, there are a lot of times where I have to run NR and Despeckle in PSE or the results are unacceptable and I have to trash the image.
My XTi is not as reliable regarding grain and red noise above ISO 400 as my 40D is at 1600, that's for sure. In other words, I would not second guess shooting at ISO 1600 on the 40D, but I always second guess going above ISO 400 on my XTi, and I actively try to keep my ISO between 100-400.

Thanks. That looks perfectly fine to me. The settings are about where I'm at with a lot of my shooting--though my subjects are a bit more active. So now I have to ask, what are people talking about with noisy images at that speed on a 40D?

Ozone

Len20, the following is a true story:

Around the middle of 2005, I started looking at the Rebel XT at Wally world. I would go and check it out every time I went there with the wife, or by myself, etc. Xmas of '05, my wife got the XT with the 18-55 lens kit. I immediately told her that I needed the Telephoto 70-300, and got the lens within a few weeks. I was basically told not to expect any more photo equip for a while.

Fast forward to June of '07: I found out that I had a few firearms that I wasn't using but that other people wanted very badly, and with some judicious overtime at work, was able to buy the 30D and 3 "L" lenses by August. Wife was not overwhelmed, but I think she understood. She now loves to look at the pictures I take.


Moral of the story: keep taking the pictures, learn the camera and lenses, check on an inexpensive telephoto for the time being, and then a few years down the road, you can probably get the glass and camera you want, based on your own experience. I ain't saying it will be easy, but an addiction like this one requires patience at times!

evoryware

len20 wrote:

"Don't plan on getting any other photography stuff for a very long time," says my wife. Sorry B&H.

If she only knew it was just beginning!

claudermilk wrote:

So now I have to ask, what are people talking about with noisy images at that speed on a 40D?

I've gotten some grainy images, but red noise is mostly absent. Now if you get an image where you have to adjust by raising exposure, you may get more red noise and grain. So get it right in camera. Sorry I haven't had a chance to go through the images.

Ric Grupe

Here is the advice I would give my son based on my experience and your budget.

30D

17-85 IS

You would have a couple of bucks left over, and a great starting setup that you will love. Time for fiscal responsibility...PAPA!:D

oops....too late

len20

nightspidy wrote:

Yeahhhh, another Canon user!!!! Lets see those pictures....

I must say... I feel strangely guilty about going Canon after having a Nikon mindset for so long. I feel like I need to apologize to the Nikon people here. I still love my Nikon friends at the newspapers! Is it possible to sit on both sides of the fence in this debate?

evoryware

I shoot with Nikon'ers and we don't even get into that debate.
Just shoot and have fun.

dejan80501

Nikon D200
Why not consider the D200. It is inexpensive these days, weather sealed, produces great images, etc...Read the reviews. As far as lenses, you can get a third party lense, such as Tokina 28-80/2.8 and the wide angle 14-18/4.0. I own a D200 w/a wide assortment of nikon lenses and a few Tokinas. Just my take...Good luck

Dejan

len20 wrote:

I'm a newbie around here and I apologize if this question has been answered somewhere else.

My wife says that I can spend $1,500 on a camera and lens(s) when we get our tax return. I'm looking hard at the Nikon d80 and the Canon 40d. Do I get the Nikon d80, a cheaper body and spend more money on the lens(s); or do I spring for the Canon 40d with a lens kit, and buy a good lens next year?

We have a 4 month old baby, so I'll be shooting portraits. But I also like shooting landscapes and outdoor photography. What do you think?

(I made a pitch for the Nikon d300. That's when she started throwing things.)

claudermilk

len20 wrote:

I must say... I feel strangely guilty about going Canon after having a Nikon mindset for so long. I feel like I need to apologize to the Nikon people here. I still love my Nikon friends at the newspapers! Is it possible to sit on both sides of the fence in this debate?

Sure you can, just get yourself into the mindset that they are tools, not religious convictions. It's all about perspective. Heck, I shoot Canon & my sister shoots Nikon--we're both happy with our choices & get good results. The only downside is we cannot share gear other than system-independant accessories.

ziggy53

len20 wrote:

I must say... I feel strangely guilty about going Canon after having a Nikon mindset for so long. I feel like I need to apologize to the Nikon people here. I still love my Nikon friends at the newspapers! Is it possible to sit on both sides of the fence in this debate?

I am a Canon shooter, my father is Nikon and one of my best friends is Pentax. I honestly think I could be happy with any modern dSLR from any manufacturer.

I see many more similarities than differences in the quality from most dSLRs. Starting with 5MP imagers, quality at 8x10 (A4) is consistently good with almost any subject. Some subjects hold up to a much greater magnification. ISOs to 800 are almost indistinguishable between cameras and brands.

I remember seeing a magazine advertisement with a 2/3 page image from an Olympus C-2500L and thinking what a landmark that was. (The Olympus C-2500L was a true dSLR with a fixed zoom lens and 2.3 MP resolution. 1999-2000)

The age we live in has never provided a better choice of quality imaging equipment. Make the best purchase decisions you can and then use your equipment to the best of your abilities and you will be rewarded.

Great images know no brand.

pyry

ziggy53 wrote:

Great images know no brand.

Word.

len20

It's here...
...and I'm totally stoked!

I can't wait to post some photos.

claudermilk

ziggy53 wrote:

I am a Canon shooter, my father is Nikon and one of my best friends is Pentax. I honestly think I could be happy with any modern dSLR from any manufacturer.

<snip>

Great images know no brand.

Oh yeah, my grandparents were Pentax shooters (so now my cousin is, having been the one to inherit all the gear). My closet holds gear from Canon, Nikon, Mamiya, Minolta (before it was Konica-Minolta or Sony), Olympus, and Casio. Brand fanboy? Who? Me? Nope.<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/mwink.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" > I think there's even a Polaroid & Argus floating around the house somewhere. And I'm looking at Agfa, Zeiss Ikonta, Voightlander, and some LF manufacturers for future expansion. Who cares what name's on the body? So long as it helps make those great images.

miss5pink

ArfArooo wrote:

Lots of people act as if your only options are Canon or Nikon - the power of saturation marketing, I suppose, and they are good products. But don't overlook the Olympus line. Look at the E-1 system or the E-510 and by all means get yerself informed about the 4/3rds lens system. They're shorter and lighter than standard equivalents and ... unlike when they first came out, these lenses are now affordable. I did a lot of work (for $$) with my first Oly, the E-10 (pre-4/rds system). At 4 mp, when new, it was almost the biggest sensor out there and it did very very good work. I now have an E-500 and three 4/3rds lenses (and a LowePro shoulder bag that holds it all) and am quite happy.:ivar

Finally another Olympus user!!!!! I use the E330 .... I LOVE it! I have 3 zuiko lenses and a bunch of old OM lenses that are super cool with a screw on adapter. LOVE MY OLY.