Where do I begin

[Protege v2.5]

OK, I really enjoy photography. Well looking at the nice shots all of you take. I myself wanna try to get into it. Although I only have my girlfriends FujiFilm FinePix Z5 to do this. I'm looking to get something a little above a point and shoot camera. If any of you guys could give me some advice on a camera it would be appreciated. $350 would be the budget but If I need to I could spend more if thats not enough. Nothing to crazy.

Thanks

[Omar_MSP]

my advice would be to save those $350 for a DSLR. that way, even though you like photography, you will have the best equipment to take your shots.

just my advice, simply because i was in your situation, i bought a digital camera but it sucked. i returned it, saved up, bought me my canon rebel xti. never wanted anything else, and i love it.

save man, i understand you want it now, but just wait and you'll be happy.

[Protege v2.5]

Dslr?


Is this what you have?

[Omar_MSP]

yup, thats my baby

the Nikon D40 is cheaper and as good

so DSLR is what you want.

[i like rice]

$350 isn't much of a budget once you factor in all the other items that most will invest into a dslr (filters, memory cards, cambera bags, tripods, battery grips, lenses). Image quality will come mostly from the lens. If you use the kit lens forever, your images won't be spectacular since kit lenses aren't sharp, have a decent amount of vignetting and chromatic aberration on whites, slow at longer focal length (ie f/5.6 @ 55mm), poor autofocus system, and a few other things.

For your budget, you're better off with something along the lines of a Canon G9 or Canon S5 IS. Unless you plan on investing more in photography, stick with a good point & shoot.

[Protege v2.5]

Originally Posted by i like rice

your images won't be spectacular since kit lenses aren't sharp, have a decent amount of vignetting and chromatic aberration on whites, slow at longer focal length (ie f/5.6 @ 55mm), poor autofocus system, and a few other things.

For your budget, you're better off with something along the lines of a Canon G9 or Canon S5 IS. Unless you plan on investing more in photography, stick with a good point & shoot.

To be honest I don't undestand anything you just said..... remember I'm just starting out. I'm just looking to get quality photos for myself, friends..etc. Hence the $350 budget.

So no to the canon rebel xti?

[Omar_MSP]

Originally Posted by Protege v2.5

To be honest I don't undestand anything you just said..... remember I'm just starting out. I'm just looking to get quality photos for myself, friends..etc. Hence the $350 budget.

So no to the canon rebel xti?

what he's trying to say, unless your going to make it an official every weekend hobby and want nothing but perfection from your shots than get yourself a point and shoot camera.

but if you want something DSLR at a low price, the Nikon D40 and Canon Rebel XT (not the XTI) are a little bit more than $350 but nothing real expensive. maybe $100-150 more.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830113037

so that way, when you do have time to create a perfect shot, you'll have a camera to do so. because a DSLR can be both a point and shoot and something that will create an artistic photo.

ps. my avatar was made by using my xti, 10 sec timer, proper settings, tripod, no flash, patience and that picture came out crisp. a point and shoot would have distorted it with the flash and its weak settings.

[grimm]

You could probably find a used Canon xt or xti for around $400. I sold mine with the kit lens, a bag, a wide angle lens adaptor, and 2 memory cards for $370 Just look around.
be careful about which online stores you look at. alot of them advertise a crazy low price... those are scams...

I think there is an xt on sale in the classifieds...

[Omar_MSP]

i'm the weird type, this is something i would want brand new. but thats just me, i would buy a used lens but as for the body, the thing that makes everything happen, i would want that new.

[i like rice]

Originally Posted by Omar_MSP

so that way, when you do have time to create a perfect shot, you'll have a camera to do so. because a DSLR can be both a point and shoot and something that will create an artistic photo.

ps. my avatar was made by using my xti, 10 sec timer, proper settings, tripod, no flash, patience and that picture came out crisp. a point and shoot would have distorted it with the flash and its weak settings.

People knock on the point & shoot cameras but the high end P&S are more than capable when shot in manual/aperture/shutter mode.

Give me a G9 and I'll take a better photo than what is in your avatar.

[Omar_MSP]

Originally Posted by i like rice

People knock on the point & shoot cameras but the high end P&S are more than capable when shot in manual/aperture/shutter mode.

Give me a G9 and I'll take a better photo than what is in your avatar.

dude i know but since your an expert in digital photography, you can make something with very little.

compared to Protege v2.5, he's just trying to get by and look good.

[grimm]

the G series is pretty darn good for a P&S especially when used in the more advanced modes. I agree with i like rice...
I loved my G5 when i had it, used it for about 2 years, got the xt, used that for about 3 years, and now love my 40d.


But for the extra cash, the ability to change lenses would push me towards the xt.

[Omar_MSP]

i was told that the G series can make HD quality video. people where dibbing on them simply for that feature, so i think they aren't bad cameras.

[Protege v2.5]

Ok, I'll add this to the equation. I want a camera that in the future(after buying the right lenses etc) I could get that "perfect shot". Something I could start with and learn with. A good "foundation camera" so to speak. Does this help? Are the cameras already mention what I'm looking for?

What is DSLR?

[i like rice]

digital single lens reflex

to keep it simple, a mirror flips up to expose the sensor. It also allows for interchangeable lenses to suit what you're shooting (wide angle, telephoto, macro, etc)

[Protege v2.5]

Makes sense. What about what I was saying about a good foundation camera, sorry if I'm being repetitive.

[CleanNeon98]

Id save up a bit and get a DSLR, just remember that you might have a hard time finding it that cheap. Look into the Nikon D40 and Rebel XT as was said before, they can be had pretty cheap if you look around, just remember that as soon as you start buying more crap like memory cards, filters, lenses, etc. you are over your 350 budget.

I basically repeated what Ilikerice said haha

[Protege v2.5]

yeah I should have clarified that the 350 was for the camera itself not for the accessories.