Buying a new camera. Suggestions?

[Scranton Tiger]

Define "a lot." The D40 is a good starting DSLR.

With the case, a 4GB memory card and tax, I spent a little over $650.00. That's not alot in the grand scheme of things I know, but considering that I'll probably only use it 10 to 15 times a year plus the fact that I am absolutely an amateur, it's more than I wanted to spend.

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

Well, I made my choice. It's a Nikon D40. Came with something called a **-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II. I have no idea how to work it yet so I'll have to watch the video to learn. It was also alot more than I wanted to spend.

So what do you guys think? Is this a good choice?

http://www.kenrockwell.com/index.htm

Check out that site. Tons of info to help you learn how to learn your new camera. This guy is pretty smart. In addition, he highly recommends using the D40 and saving the $ to invest in lenses which will last a lot longer.

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

With the case, a 4GB memory card and tax, I spent a little over $650.00. That's not alot in the grand scheme of things I know, but considering that I'll probably only use it 10 to 15 times a year plus the fact that I am absolutely an amateur, it's more than I wanted to spend.

Once you start using it, you'll get the bug and find all sorts of excuses to use it more often.

 

[Scranton Tiger]

Thanks for the link. I'll definately check it out.

 

[vta]

Well, I made my choice. It's a Nikon D40. Came with something called a **-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II. I have no idea how to work it yet so I'll have to watch the video to learn. It was also alot more than I wanted to spend.

So what do you guys think? Is this a good choice?

Good choice, it's a good camera and you'll get good results with it. Canon and Nikon are both making great equipment and you wouldn't be lacking whichever way you went. The lens is fine for every day pics. After you get the hang of it you might find yourself wanting to expand on what you're doing and get something faster, with an f stop of 2.8 at least, for low light shots.

Good luck!

p.s. Read the Rockwell site concerning DX and FX format lenses and cameras before you invest in lenses.

 

[Warick]

I'm going to buy a new digital camera before the season starts. I would like to get one that can zoom in on the field from the stands so I can take decent photos of the players in action during the game or cars on the track/pits when I go to the races. I would also like to keep the cost below $300.00 if possible. I'm looking for suggestions from camera folks on which model is the best for what I want to do. Thanks.

If you are wanting a point and shoot camera, Canon just announced a Powershot X20 IS superzoom 20x (28-560mm equiv.), which will probably retail for around $399. You can read about it here. http://www.dpreview.com/news/0908/09081904canonsx20is.asp

Someone said the Nikon P90, which might be a good option also. I would go to a few different stores, and try a few of them out, and see which one is more comfortable for you.

I used to sell cameras at Best Buy. I'm not familiar with what's out now, but I would go with the highest megapixel and most optical zoom for the lowest price.

Don't let large number of megapixels fool you... More megapixels does NOT equal better photos, especially in point and shoots. Point and shoot cameras have very small sensors compared to DSLR cameras, and the more pixels you cram on those little sensors, the more noise your pictures will have, especially at high iso. Canon just announced a new Powershot G11 High end point and shoot that has 10 megapixels... The camera that it's replacing, the Canon G10 has 14.7 megapixels.. Here's a quote from www.dpreview.com.

"Professional photographers will benefit from the G11’s greatly expanded dynamic range. Canon’s new Dual Anti-Noise System combines a high sensitivity 10.0 Megapixel image sensor with Canon’s enhanced DIGIC 4 image processing technology to increase image quality and greatly improve noise performance by up to 2 stops (compared to PowerShot G10)."

I'm planning on getting a Canon G10, to use when I don't want to lug all my dslr crap around.

Bump your price range up to 500-600 and get a Rebel Xsi.

I do recommend a dslr because they are easy to operate once you learn how, better image quality, especially at high iso, and lightning fast. However, if you are on a budget, or you just aren't really into photography, the original poster might not want to go that route, especially for what you want it for.

To take the pictures you are wanting to take, you would have to buy long telephoto lenses that can cost anywhere from $500 - several thousand dollars. You can get the 70-300mm Nikon lens, but shooting indoors, you might not get sharp pics due to insufficient lighting, and slow shutter speeds.

Another thing to think about also is, if you plan to take pics at a Cowboys game, you might have a hard time getting such a large lens in the door. Security people told me yesterday that I probably wouldn't be allowed to take my Nikond D50 in the stadium, because it's considered a pro camera (LOL). My sister carried my camera bag in the door like it was her purse, and nothing was said. Another thing also, a lot of the newer dslr cameras have HD video capability, which may be banned from sporting events all together.

I'd like a 300mm f2.8 for my Nikon D50, but it's a $5,000 lens.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/364708-USA/Nikon_2154_300mm_f_2_8_G_AFS_ED_IF.html

I also want this lens.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/274780-USA/Nikon_2139_70_200mm_f_2_8_VR_G_AFS.html

 

[YosemiteSam]

Don't listen to these guys mumbo jumbo. This is what you want.

 

[theogt]

Another thing to think about also is, if you plan to take pics at a Cowboys game, you might have a hard time getting such a large lens in the door. Security people told me yesterday that I probably wouldn't be allowed to take my Nikond D50 in the stadium, because it's considered a pro camera (LOL). My sister carried my camera bag in the door like it was her purse, and nothing was said. Another thing also, a lot of the newer dslr cameras have HD video capability, which may be banned from sporting events all together.

Ugh...on the walk to the stadium I was taking pictures outside and some guy was walking back to the parking lot with his camera and said that they were checking for and prohibiting ALL cameras with detachable lenses. So, not wanting to walk all that way and have to turn around I just left my camera in the car. Then I get to my section in the stands and see a couple people with nice cameras with detachable lenses. By then I was too lazy to head back out to the parking lot.

I'm certainly risking it from now on.

 

[Chinfu]

Well, I made my choice. It's a Nikon D40. Came with something called a **-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II. I have no idea how to work it yet so I'll have to watch the video to learn. It was also alot more than I wanted to spend.

So what do you guys think? Is this a good choice?

My wife has one and loves it. Great choice sparky

 

[Scranton Tiger]

My wife has one and loves it. Great choice sparky

 

[Warick]

Ugh...on the walk to the stadium I was taking pictures outside and some guy was walking back to the parking lot with his camera and said that they were checking for and prohibiting ALL cameras with detachable lenses. So, not wanting to walk all that way and have to turn around I just left my camera in the car. Then I get to my section in the stands and see a couple people with nice cameras with detachable lenses. By then I was too lazy to head back out to the parking lot.

I'm certainly risking it from now on.

I was parked in lot 14, and did not take my camera back for the same reason you didn't want to go get yours. That was a pretty long trek to get to the stadium, I didn't feel like walking it 2 more times. I brought the thing this far, I'm at least going to try to take it in. Besides, I didn't want someone to see me put my camera back in my truck, and risk having someone break in after I left.

The guards that inititally told us we couldn't take the camera in said that the order came straight from Jerry Jones. A guy right in front of us had a really nice Nikon D3, with an 24-70 f2.8. He turned around to take his back.This doesn't make sense to me. Let fans take pics of the game, they post them on their web sites, message boards, blogs, etc., fans see the pics, and maybe make the decision that they want to go see the venue for themselves versus not wanting to.

 

[theogt]

I was parked in lot 14, and did not take my camera back for the same reason you didn't want to go get yours. That was a pretty long trek to get to the stadium, I didn't feel like walking it 2 more times. I brought the thing this far, I'm at least going to try to take it in. Besides, I didn't want someone to see me put my camera back in my truck, and risk having someone break in after I left.

The guards that inititally told us we couldn't take the camera in said that the order came straight from Jerry Jones. A guy right in front of us had a really nice Nikon D3, with an 24-70 f2.8. He turned around to take his back.This doesn't make sense to me. Let fans take pics of the game, they post them on their web sites, message boards, blogs, etc., fans see the pics, and maybe make the decision that they want to go see the venue for themselves versus not wanting to.

Yeah, I don't really seen any argument for preventing fans from taking nice pictures. It's not like anyone could even sell their pictures if they wanted to. To me, that's part of the real joy of going to games -- I love having the pictures to look at for years.

 

[Viper]

Bump your price range up to 500-600 and get a Rebel Xsi.

Don't take Jon88's advice (no offense, Jon).

I think you are right theogt, it is a very good camera for the price. Although I do believe Nikon is better, it is also more expensive. The Rebel is a very good middle of the pack camera. I highly recommend it. Anything less and you might regret it. Especially for what you want to do. The Rebel will give you multible options with lenses.

 

[CliffnDallas]

Nikon is releasing the new D3000 a entry level 10MP DSLR with a kit lens for about $600.00. Adorama camera in NJ is taking pre orders. Check it out.

 

[Kangaroo]

Best site I ever found for reviews he covers everything including shutter speeds etc and post samples of the pics taken from the camera and video. The site just got a new make over to so just another source of information

http://www.steves-digicams.com/

 

[Warick]

Good site Kangaroo. I'll add a couple more.

www.dpreview.com is a good site for reading reviews, and they have forums where you can learn a lot about photography, learn about the particular camera you want, or just bought, and you can see samples.


www.pbase.com is a good site to check out sample pics take with a certain camera you may be interested in purchasing, and you can also search by lens, in case you want to see if that lens that cost $1500.00 is really worth it to you.

 

[Phrozen Phil]

Good site Kangaroo. I'll add a couple more.

www.dpreview.com is a good site for reading reviews, and they have forums where you can learn a lot about photography, learn about the particular camera you want, or just bought, and you can see samples.


www.pbase.com is a good site to check out sample pics take with a certain camera you may be interested in purchasing, and you can also search by lens, in case you want to see if that lens that cost $1500.00 is really worth it to you.

I've used dpreview and found their information to be quite helpful. There's a lot of technical information , but don't let that deter you from a lttle learning. If I could recommend an accessory that won't break the bank, consider a monopod, as it can steady the camera without the bulk of a tripod, and it will allow you to be more creative with some of your shots. I applaud your choice of camera. At some point you'll want to consider a longer lens and a few of the guys here are well versed in that area.
Most of all, take plenty of pictures, turn off the automatic settings and have fun!