Cameras

[Ryan]

Hey guys, I'm pretty sure some of you are photography gurus, or at least know more about cameras than me...

Me and my gf (although she doesn't know it yet) are looking to buy a camera.

I really don't want a point and shoot because all the ones I've seen/used are s---.

I need a viewfinder, I simply CANNOT take a picture from looking at a display, it drives me insane.

Our pricepoint is around $500.

The camera will be all purpose, scenery, portraits, low and high lighting, stills and motion shots...

I took a year long photography class in high school, so I get the basics, but I'm no photographer. I know what AV and TV does, rule of 1/3's, how DoF works, what types of lenses are out there, white balances, and quite a bit of photoshop....


Anyhow, any suggestions?

[SuperK]

You'll find both Nikon and Canon fans that swear one is better than the other.

Well, I'm here to tellyou, Canon is the best!


Heh! I would recommend going with Canon's Digital Rebel series, obviously the latest model is going to be the best, but get whatever BODY is within your price point. The Rebel XSi is amazing!
THE most important part of your camera is your lens. The BEST workhorse lens you'll get for a canon for a decent price is this:

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens

Image stabalizer, great focal point, and very crisp clear pictures. There is a huge difference between lens so do NOT purchase an offbrand lens just because it's cheap! lenses will have different speed focus, distortion, etc.

I, by the way, use this lens

I also recommend purchasing your lenses used. Most professional photographers buy their camera, which usually comes with this lens, purchase their thousands of dollars L series lenses, and sell off these midrange lenses for a great price. I purchased mine for 250 or so dollars which is a good price to look for. Mine came with a lense hood and a very high quality UV filter (both which are musts!)


My current setup is the ORIGINAL Digital rebel 300D (Old school!) with the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens, and the 18-55mm kit lens, for wide angle. It's a really cheaply made, but does decent pictures on a budget.

[marcdh]

I've a nikon d80, but I'm not going to tell you to buy nikon. I bought nikon because I had a nikon lense for my 35mm film slr. With the way things are right now, I'd choose the best canon setup you can get for your money. I'd consider second hand too if you could get a thorough test first, check how many shutter actuations etc. The amount of people who take notions for DLSRs then sell them off is ridiculous, that's the deal I'd be looking for.

[_-Night-Shade-_]

I've a nikon d80, but I'm not going to tell you to buy nikon. I bought nikon because I had a nikon lense for my 35mm film slr. With the way things are right now, I'd choose the best canon setup you can get for your money. I'd consider second hand too if you could get a thorough test first, check how many shutter actuations etc. The amount of people who take notions for DLSRs then sell them off is ridiculous, that's the deal I'd be looking for.

+1 I got mine used.

[Hoodzy]

I found that around xmas you'll get the best sales on cameras. When you buy try and find a combo pack you'll save a ton on the lenses.. if you aren't going to buy them used.

I find the Canon's have a better interface to just run the camera. I believe the lens compatibility is much more broad across canon then it is nikon??

I would find a canon and a nikon in your price point and compare them. See what features you are wanting more and some reviews.

[Ryan]

http://winnipeg.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sel ... Z302242393

Thoughts?

[DeadMaker]

Olympus also makes great cameras..

[Hoodzy]

Looks like a pretty good deal.. I'd just search around and see what the average price of those are going for..
Just make sure you thoroughly test it out. Make sure all functions are working. No dead pixels showing up in photos. (Take photos of something black/dark).
Hopefully he's had lens filters on them and there will be no scratches on the lenses.

[SuperK]

dead pixels don't occur on the image sensor. only on the LCD screen on the back... but the picture is not affected.
that doesn't seem like a bad deal at all. The lenses as far as DSLR lenses goes is low quality, but as far as non DSLR's are concerned, ANY dslr lense will kick the pants off a basic camera.

[Hoodzy]

Well my canon t1i had to have the image sensor replaced because a white spot was showing up in the photos.

Also on my olympus digital I had a dead pixel showing up on the lcd screen that would also show up on the images.

[SuperK]

That is strange that the white spot doesn't go away. Usually, at least, to the extent of my knowledge of DSLR's and image sensors, there might be a pixel, or pixel group that get's stuck on. obviously a white pixel would be multiple colors on. Usually if you put the camera in manual sensor cleaning mode, it shuts off all pixels and eliminates the issue with a "stuck on" pixel/s.

By the way ryan, if you haven't purchased a camera, I am selling off my digital rebel. It's obviously not cream of the crop or anything, but I'm looking to sell it for 200 dollars with the 18-55 IS lens/body/2 batteries/charger/Sandisk Extreme III 2gb card.

[Ryan]

Haven't bought one yet, still shopping.

We went to Future Shop just to browse and actually hold the cameras, and we are both really interested in the T3.

Still shopping though.

[SuperK]

If you find a camera you like, I'll have a couple lenses actually if you'd like a nice zoom lens then for cheaps. I'll have two of them I needs to move.

[Ryan]

We're more interested in a wide angle before a telephoto

[Ryan]

Tonight we bought a Canon Digital Rebel T3.

Came with the regular 58mm lens and battery and charger and neck strap for $520.

We then got the $120 package that included, that I remember
-Lifetime tune-up
-2 year warranty
-120 free prints
-8gb fast card (forget the lingo)
-USB card reader (that we don't need)
-any case we wanted ($60 value)


And then we bought a protective filter for $20.

We have 30 days to price match the camera, but its the best price we found in town.

We bought it from Blacks.