** Official: New End all, Be all, Camera discussion thread ** - Honda-Tech

JakeB. · 02-25-2008, 05:50 AM

Since technology is constantly changing and there are new camera models all the time,
I created this new thread so people won't have to sort through 9 pages of old posts.

This thread will replace all future "which camera" threads.

There is a small write up on how to start your camera search in the FAQ thread.
Any direct comparison questions or camera specific questions can be asked and answered here.

Link to old camera discussion thread.

Ventolin · 02-25-2008, 06:13 AM

Luckily, with all this new "technology", good cameras are getting cheaper by the day.

Canon 350D + 50mm F1.8, and you have yourself a very nice starter DSLR for around $450 or so.

Same deal with a used Nikon D50 + 50mm f1.8.

Drft3rr · 02-25-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakeB.

Both of those are quite capable cameras... I started out with a D50 as my first camera and outgrew it in about 6 months.
Don't get me wrong, it takes great shots, but there were features I was interested in that it didn't have.

what features where you interested in? and is the d80 and XTi the newer models of the d50 and the 350d? sorry for newb questions

Doostur · 02-25-2008, 01:42 PM

Just traded my Canon EF 17-40 f/4 L + Cash for a Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS.

I just needed the 2.8 again while keeping a wide angle lens. The IS is a plus. We'll see if it works out.

JakeB. · 02-25-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drft3rr

what features where you interested in? and is the d80 and XTi the newer models of the d50 and the 350d? sorry for newb questions

The feature I was most interested in was the wireless flash commander that the higher models have built-in. But other notable features were the dual command dials and the back-lit top lcd.
I ended up just trading my D50 straight up for a D70. I had that for a few months then bought a D80 to go with the D70 for weddings.

Now I have a Canon 40D... I made the switch to Canon a few months ago because the high iso performance was much better, and my friends all use Canon. The New Nikon bodies do have excellent iso performance, but I couldn't see dropping the cash for the higher models.

The XTi is the current model of the XT, but I would say that the D80 is a model up from the D50.
The D40 is similar in features to the D50.

Drft3rr · 02-25-2008, 07:37 PM

hmm you have just made my descion harder lol but i think i want a nikon

Modified by Drft3rr at 11:20 PM 2/25/2008

.jacob · 02-26-2008, 10:26 PM

Hi,

I hope this is the right place to post this. I'm completely new to photography (aside from my Canon digital point and shoot) and I'm interested in getting a digital SLR camera. I don't need anything fancy, just something I can learn on and build a solid foundation. In about a year I plan on doing some serious traveling and I want to be able to document it well with photos. That's the main reason for wanting to upgrade. Additionally, most of my traveling will be backpacking so if there exists a relatively compact and lightweight SLR that would be great. I'd like to keep the camera and accessories under $500 (if that's even possible).

At my college there's a photography club which I plan to become involved in to help learn.

Thanks in advance,
Jacob B.

JakeB. · 02-27-2008, 08:33 AM

What P&S do you have Jacob?

The best way to go about this imo would be to join the club first (unless they require an SLR).
Go to a few meetings or shooting days or whatever they actually do and spend some time looking at the cameras other members have.
I'm sure they wouldn't mind you holding their cams for a minute or two. See what you like better and make your decision.

With the self imposed price and size limitations, there are really only a few cameras worth considering.
The Canon Rebel XT or XTi, and the Nikon D40 are the most popular.
You'll find both of these camera lines very capable of excellent photography and people that swear by both.
Really it comes down to personal preference and how far you seeing yourself going with the hobby.

You may find that you don't even need an SLR.
There are some very high quality prosumer cameras that, though not really any less expensive, would be better for a compact travel camera.
Consider the Canon G9 and the Panasonic Lumix FZ-50 and DMC-TZ3.

Feel free to ask more questions here and we'll do our best to answer them... Although, I'm not sure I like the idea of there being another JakeB around here.

ex1z7 · 02-27-2008, 08:49 AM

Jake just kill him, we'll hide the body in the sand man.. Nobody will know.

Though, getting into a club is a great way to learn and get advice.. And a piece of advice I would recommend is consider how hardcore you'll be with your SLR if you buy one - more pro-caliber lenses are in the thousand dollar range, upwards to 5 grand +.. A pro body if you want to upgrade is 2-5 grand.. You can do quite well with something like a Nikon D50 and an 18-200vr to cover 90% of your situations, the body can be had for 350 used, easily, and the lens can be had for 600 used.. Or you can get an 18-55 and a D50 for 400~ used - and add a 55-200vr for 200~ used.. There are so many lenses and bodies to chose from - you also have to consider you're buying into a system..

Unless you're a traitor like JakeB you should consider the price of switching systems if you decide to - none of your lenses, bodies, batteries, flashes (without sync adapters etc.) will work - and digital SLR pieces drop in value quickly, so you wont recoup much of your money if you sell..

A more serious point and shoot would be a Canon G7, G9, S5 IS, A650 IS.. Or Nikon's P50/P60/P5100 coolpix series.. Or if you can find an older Nikon 'bridge' camera, like a coolpix 8800.. They're awesome little things - although slow..

Some people don't want to be all hardcore with photography as some of the members on here, they want something they can travel with - upgrade from/to, get little accessory things like lenses and flashes.. Which the G9/G7 and P5100 etc. offer.. Fuji's S9100, S1000fd, s100fs, s700 etc. are also pretty slick...

You also need to consider what you're going to be spending, and if long term it's worth it - if you buy a Fuji s9100 - well they're $650 - you can get a Rebel or a D50/D40 Nikon for that - WITH a lens or two.. Plus upgrading to an SLR in the future is going to cost you another initial purchase for the body and whatever else you need at the time..

If you're serious, or if you even just wont something with some expandability and some versatility over a conventional point and shoot .. Consider a Nikon D40 - they're plummeting in price daily, and they're fantastic. They have limitations - obviously - but for an entry level amateur, the features they lack are hardly going to hamper your artistic ability.

.jacob · 02-27-2008, 10:04 PM

Thanks guys!

The P&S I have is a Canon PowerShot A80.

I think the prosumer route may be the best option for me. I want to take higher quality photos and have more control over the camera but I really can't see myself getting hardcore with different lenses and all of the other accessories necessary for a SLR. As a complete an utter beginner, a SLR may be too big of a step for me anyways.

ex1z7, what do you mean when you say the Coolpix 8800 is a bridge camera?

JakeB., don't worry - I go by Jacob B. so we're cool

ex1z7 · 02-27-2008, 11:47 PM

Bridge camera relates to an SLR like/looking camera, that isn't actually an SLR. usually it's a large sensor (not necessarily large in MP, more 2/3") with a large, short-to-long lens.

The 8700, 8800, 8900 are all beautiful camera's, a buddy shoots exclusively with an 8800 and the shots he pulls off are awesome.. The same to be said about any camera you handed him, but it makes it easier when your camera has some versatility.

.jacob · 02-28-2008, 06:57 AM

Does the 8900 exist? Is it out yet?

Jacob

solbrothers · 03-01-2008, 11:21 PM

what battery grip should i get for my rebel xt?

Doostur · 03-02-2008, 03:42 AM

^ BG-E3

.jacob · 03-02-2008, 11:00 AM

I've done some more reading and now I'm leaning towards to the D40.

It seems to be fairly compact and not a bad choice to travel with. I'd imagine myself only buying one additional lens (aside from whatever comes with it) and that would be a wide angle.

What do you guys think of the D40 vs. the D40x? Only difference is the megapixel number? For a beginner like me does that make a difference?

ex1z7 · 03-02-2008, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .jacob

Does the 8900 exist? Is it out yet?

Jacob

No, that was a huge lie on my part. I've only played with 8700 and 8800 coolpix's, and a friend of mine mentioned someone he shoots with often - had an 8900.

Though I'm sure he's now mistaken, there are a few "8900" pictures out there but I'm sure they're all bull. Nikon isn't going back to bridge camera's anytime soon - no need really with D40's and entry level stuff like that.. At the same price it's not worth while.

JakeB. · 03-03-2008, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .jacob

What do you guys think of the D40 vs. the D40x? Only difference is the megapixel number? For a beginner like me does that make a difference?

The D40 is an excellent camera for a light novice user. I think it produces some of the absolute best jpegs out of camera.
I would not recommend spending the extra money on the D40x... the extra resolution would be marginally beneficial for cropping, but you can easily print large pics with 6mp. I've done 24x36 inch prints from my D50 and D70 files (both of which are 6mp) with good results.

The lens that comes with D40 is generally the 18-55, which is considered wide angle.
A popular second lens for that camera is the 55-200 VR, which gives you inexpensive quality coverage from wide angle to telephoto.
(Think of the above zoom range of the combined lenses the same as a 11x zoom on a regular digital camera).

Obviously you have a bit of time before you head off on your trip, so you can just start with the kit lens and decide what you'll want to add in the coming months. But, be warned... this is an addicting hobby and you'll soon find yourself longing for a $2k camera and $10k worth of lenses.

solbrothers · 03-03-2008, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doostur

^ BG-E3

thx dude!

Doostur · 03-04-2008, 04:31 AM

Got my 17-55 today, and I am very very impressed with the sharpness. I think I'm already in love. Makes me wonder if the 16-35L or 24-70L can be better. The IS with 2.8 is just awesome.

solbrothers · 03-04-2008, 04:08 PM

so, with the battery grip, i can use my battery that came with the kit? and i can buy another battery also? where is teh best/cheapest site to buy a battery grip and battery>

JakeB. · 03-04-2008, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solbrothers

so, with the battery grip, i can use my battery that came with the kit? and i can buy another battery also? where is teh best/cheapest site to buy a battery grip and battery>

Check http://www.resellerratings.com for the best price from reputable sellers.
I like to buy my gear from bhphotovideo.com, or buydig.com if there's a substantial difference in price.

Doostur · 03-04-2008, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solbrothers

so, with the battery grip, i can use my battery that came with the kit? and i can buy another battery also? where is teh best/cheapest site to buy a battery grip and battery>

I would buy a pair of sterlingtek batteries. Keep the canon as a backup. Pick up a used but mint grip on POTN and save a few bucks. Everything I have purchased there has gone flawless and is exactly as described.

02-25-2008, 05:50 AM	#1
JakeB. Photography Pundit Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 4,265	Official: New End all, Be all, Camera discussion thread Since technology is constantly changing and there are new camera models all the time, I created this new thread so people won't have to sort through 9 pages of old posts. This thread will replace all future "which camera" threads. There is a small write up on how to start your camera search in the FAQ thread. Any direct comparison questions or camera specific questions can be asked and answered here. Link to old camera discussion thread. __________________ JD Fine Art Phototgraphy My Flickr

02-25-2008, 06:13 AM	#2
Ventolin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,683	Re: Official: New End all, Be all, Camera discussion thread (JakeB.) Luckily, with all this new "technology", good cameras are getting cheaper by the day. Canon 350D + 50mm F1.8, and you have yourself a very nice starter DSLR for around $450 or so. Same deal with a used Nikon D50 + 50mm f1.8. __________________ "Black holes are where God divided by zero" [b]\| Tennspeed.net \|

02-25-2008, 01:42 PM	#4
Doostur Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Far Away Posts: 15,245	Just traded my Canon EF 17-40 f/4 L + Cash for a Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS. I just needed the 2.8 again while keeping a wide angle lens. The IS is a plus. We'll see if it works out. __________________ AIM: Doostur or DoosturiPhone 2001 NBP IT<FONT COLOR="red">R</FONT> Turbo - 655 WHP Vouches In Bio.

02-25-2008, 07:37 PM	#6
Drft3rr Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brewster, NY, USA Posts: 142	Re: Official: New End all, Be all, Camera discussion thread (JakeB.) hmm you have just made my descion harder lol but i think i want a nikon Modified by Drft3rr at 11:20 PM 2/25/2008 __________________ H-T CROHNIES/COLITIS CREW MEMBER!!! Nikon D80

02-26-2008, 10:26 PM	#7
.jacob Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Fairfax, VA, USA Posts: 2,136	Hi, I hope this is the right place to post this. I'm completely new to photography (aside from my Canon digital point and shoot) and I'm interested in getting a digital SLR camera. I don't need anything fancy, just something I can learn on and build a solid foundation. In about a year I plan on doing some serious traveling and I want to be able to document it well with photos. That's the main reason for wanting to upgrade. Additionally, most of my traveling will be backpacking so if there exists a relatively compact and lightweight SLR that would be great. I'd like to keep the camera and accessories under $500 (if that's even possible). At my college there's a photography club which I plan to become involved in to help learn. Thanks in advance, Jacob B. __________________ Obama 2008

02-27-2008, 08:33 AM	#8
JakeB. Photography Pundit Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 4,265	What P&S do you have Jacob? The best way to go about this imo would be to join the club first (unless they require an SLR). Go to a few meetings or shooting days or whatever they actually do and spend some time looking at the cameras other members have. I'm sure they wouldn't mind you holding their cams for a minute or two. See what you like better and make your decision. With the self imposed price and size limitations, there are really only a few cameras worth considering. The Canon Rebel XT or XTi, and the Nikon D40 are the most popular. You'll find both of these camera lines very capable of excellent photography and people that swear by both. Really it comes down to personal preference and how far you seeing yourself going with the hobby. You may find that you don't even need an SLR. There are some very high quality prosumer cameras that, though not really any less expensive, would be better for a compact travel camera. Consider the Canon G9 and the Panasonic Lumix FZ-50 and DMC-TZ3. Feel free to ask more questions here and we'll do our best to answer them... Although, I'm not sure I like the idea of there being another JakeB around here. __________________ JD Fine Art Phototgraphy My Flickr

02-27-2008, 10:04 PM	#10
.jacob Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Fairfax, VA, USA Posts: 2,136	Thanks guys! The P&S I have is a Canon PowerShot A80. I think the prosumer route may be the best option for me. I want to take higher quality photos and have more control over the camera but I really can't see myself getting hardcore with different lenses and all of the other accessories necessary for a SLR. As a complete an utter beginner, a SLR may be too big of a step for me anyways. ex1z7, what do you mean when you say the Coolpix 8800 is a bridge camera? JakeB., don't worry - I go by Jacob B. so we're cool __________________ Obama 2008

02-28-2008, 06:57 AM	#12
.jacob Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Fairfax, VA, USA Posts: 2,136	Re: (ex1z7) Does the 8900 exist? Is it out yet? Jacob __________________ Obama 2008

03-01-2008, 11:21 PM	#13
solbrothers Soul Sisters Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hella, Ca Posts: 1,282	Re: (.jacob) what battery grip should i get for my rebel xt? __________________ -Matt ISK#Honda Fit /thread mahspace

03-02-2008, 03:42 AM	#14
Doostur Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Far Away Posts: 15,245	^ BG-E3 __________________ AIM: Doostur or DoosturiPhone 2001 NBP IT<FONT COLOR="red">R</FONT> Turbo - 655 WHP Vouches In Bio.

03-02-2008, 11:00 AM	#15
.jacob Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Fairfax, VA, USA Posts: 2,136	I've done some more reading and now I'm leaning towards to the D40. It seems to be fairly compact and not a bad choice to travel with. I'd imagine myself only buying one additional lens (aside from whatever comes with it) and that would be a wide angle. What do you guys think of the D40 vs. the D40x? Only difference is the megapixel number? For a beginner like me does that make a difference? __________________ Obama 2008

03-04-2008, 04:31 AM	#19
Doostur Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Far Away Posts: 15,245	Got my 17-55 today, and I am very very impressed with the sharpness. I think I'm already in love. Makes me wonder if the 16-35L or 24-70L can be better. The IS with 2.8 is just awesome. __________________ AIM: Doostur or DoosturiPhone 2001 NBP IT<FONT COLOR="red">R</FONT> Turbo - 655 WHP Vouches In Bio.

03-04-2008, 04:08 PM	#20
solbrothers Soul Sisters Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hella, Ca Posts: 1,282	Re: (Doostur) so, with the battery grip, i can use my battery that came with the kit? and i can buy another battery also? where is teh best/cheapest site to buy a battery grip and battery> __________________ -Matt ISK#Honda Fit /thread mahspace