https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 14 May 2026 08:09:23 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556414 Wed, 25 May 2016 14:56:25 +0000 stiletto_mom 2556414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the info guys!</p> <p>I'm thinking maybe I should look into taking some classes, too, or if DH might want to get in on it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556249 Wed, 25 May 2016 12:51:38 +0000 sunny 2556249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@stiletto_mom: I would recommend going to Henry's and having a chat with one of the sales people. IIRC they were pretty knowledgeable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556242 Wed, 25 May 2016 12:48:06 +0000 Adira 2556242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@stiletto_mom: Standard dSLRs have a mirror so that what you see in the viewfinder is a reflection of what you're actually seeing through the lens. Mirrorless don't have this, though that's all I know about the difference.</p> <p>And a kit lens is just the lens that comes with the camera. Usually it's an 18-55mm lens (meaning you can zoom in and out somewhat. There are other kit lenses too, but 18-55mm seems to be the standard. It's an okay lens, but it's lowest f-stop is only f/3.5, which won't give you as much bokeh (fuzzy background) or let in as much light as a prime lens.</p> <p>The nifty fifty is a really common lens that a lot of people like. It's the 50mm f/1.8 lens. That means it's focal point is 50mm and it doesn't zoom at all and it's lowest f-stop is 1.8 which gives FANTASTIC bokeh and lets in lots of pretty light. Plus it's only ~$150.</p> <p>Once I got used to my camera with the kit lens, I got the nifty fifty and I never went back to the kit lens. Now I use a 35mm f/2.0 lens for indoors, but I still think my best pictures were with my 50mm f/1.8 lens. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556228 Wed, 25 May 2016 12:42:33 +0000 avivoca 2556228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@stiletto_mom: the kit lens is the one that comes with the camera. It's not terrible, but there are better lenses out there for what you might need. I have the kit lens and a macro lens (since my husband shoots small bugs and butterflies up close). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556224 Wed, 25 May 2016 12:39:48 +0000 stiletto_mom 2556224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure what mirrorless means? </p> <p>And what's bad about kits? I don't know what a "kit" is either? LOL </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556192 Wed, 25 May 2016 12:08:31 +0000 catlady 2556192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am not a great photographer by any means but I use an old Canon rebel (I think t2i) with a 50mm lens ("nifty fifty"). It's not appropriate for every situation but my photos look SO good with that lens. For a long time, DH and I were just using the kit lens and our photos really didn't seem to look all that much better than with our iphones. DH broke the kit lens by accident one day and we always joke that it was the best thing that happened to us because it forced us to get a new lens. </p> <p>Another option to consider is a mirrorless one. My friend got a Sony Alpha and she loves it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556183 Wed, 25 May 2016 11:58:02 +0000 sunny 2556183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@stiletto_mom: consider getting a mirrorless camera. A friend has the Sony a6000 and he's been taking some great photos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556163 Wed, 25 May 2016 11:36:40 +0000 BSB 2556163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: Yeah, for the limited pictures I take I like the kit lens. I don't think I could go back to a point in shoot. Though nowadays, my iphone camera is the one I use. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556161 Wed, 25 May 2016 11:34:01 +0000 BSB 2556161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I used something like this site to help me narrow down our first DSLR. </p> <p><a href="http://www.cnet.com/topics/cameras/best-digital-cameras/dslr-for-beginners/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cnet.com/topics/cameras/best-digital-cameras/dslr-for-beginners/</a></p> <p><a href="http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-budget-dslr-camera/" rel="nofollow">http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-budget-dslr-camera/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556156 Wed, 25 May 2016 11:28:40 +0000 sunny 2556156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: I would call them low quality because the lenses are not very good. The maximum aperture value doesn't stay constant through the whole range of the zoom lens. I started with a kit lens and quickly outgrew it and haven't used it since.</p> <p>Good lenses tend to be expensive. This is why people recommend the nifty fifty. It is a fairly large aperture lens for ~$100. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556075 Wed, 25 May 2016 10:25:01 +0000 MamaG 2556075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I believe Canon and Nikon bodies are similar in quality it just comes to preference. I have a Canon t3i that I've been using for about 3 years now. I don't feel like I've outgrown my camera. I do have the kit lens and the nifty fifty lens. I'd like to get another lens but have had a hard time justifying the $500'ish price tag. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556069 Wed, 25 May 2016 10:18:55 +0000 Adira 2556069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While I rarely use my 18-55mm kit lens anymore, I definitely think it was a fantastic lens to learn on. I was used to a regular point-and-shoot and being able to zoom in and out was my norm. Going to a prime lens was a HUGE change for me, so I think starting with the kit lens isn't a bad idea, especially if you can get a good price for the body+lens.</p> <p>If you're going for just value, then definitely skip the kit lens and get a body and a prime lens. But as a newbie to dSLR, learning on the kit lens (18-55mm) was great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556065 Wed, 25 May 2016 10:12:23 +0000 BSB 2556065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: Thank you. That explains more. Yeah, I knew you were in the photography field and that's what you do. My one photography friend (now professional) gradually got a better and better camera buy reselling his last camera. I do agree with you that he would never buy a bundled kit. It's very piece meal for him. But I can't say for sure if he started out with one. He would buy used cameras on CL and clean them and resell them for more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556057 Wed, 25 May 2016 10:05:56 +0000 youboots 2556057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: their resale value is very low. It's certainly an easy option. You can get a lot more for your money by getting a setup that is specific to the needs of the photographer. And streamlined and less bulky. But I'm just picky. I've been shooting weddings for almost 10 years and teach photography as a volunteer - I see my students quickly outgrow Costco bundles. Just my .02. They are completely sufficient for some. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556044 Wed, 25 May 2016 09:52:49 +0000 BSB 2556044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: I think you need to clarify more on 'not good quality' on the bundled kits. The bundled kits that I've seen are quality and authentic canon or nikon lenses. So they aren't cheap and not a no name random lenses. I can agree with you that the lens that come bundled kits are a bit generic and if you are a more skilled beginner (novice) photographer that the lens (18-55mm) is just okay. I'm not a photographer (my husband is the one that grabs the camera 95% of the time and we do have a few professional photographer friends). For me, still a beginner and will probably always will be, I like the bundled kit. It came with everything we needed to dip our feet into the DSLR world. I don't think I would know what to buy if I had to buy everything individually. Also, the Canon camera is handed down to me because DH has already moved onto his Nikon. But, yeah, I think you need to bit more info on why you think it is 'not good quality'. A lot of my professional photographer friends rent or invest in better lenses that don't come in kits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556031 Wed, 25 May 2016 09:42:17 +0000 youboots 2556031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nice fuzzy backgrounds are known as bokeh or as shallow depth of field and that is controlled by the aperture or f-stop. I agree with others that ap mode is a good way to start but you still are not in control of shutter speed.</p> <p>You may want to consider reading your manual in depth and taking a beginning photography class. </p> <p>Those kits are not good quality (sorry) I would invest in a body and one prime (fixed focal length) lens. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556024 Wed, 25 May 2016 09:27:55 +0000 BSB 2556024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our first DSLR was the Canon EOS Rebel series (or something similar). It's a budget friendly camera. It was about $500 is new. Costco has a few great bundles kits. We have since upgraded to the Nikon D3200. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556012 Wed, 25 May 2016 08:59:49 +0000 avivoca 2556012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use a Nikon 3100 at work and a D40 at home. I love both of them (the 3100 has more bells and whistles) and find them easy to use. Regardless of which model you choose, it's definitely worth it to take a class to learn how to use it properly and to the best ability. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556007 Wed, 25 May 2016 08:57:18 +0000 lilteacherbee 2556007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first DSLR was a Nikon D3100 and it was great for learning! I agree with @Adira: about using aperture priority mode to help you get started. There are tons of resources and videos out there that explain the exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, ISO). Keep at it and you'll get the hang of it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2556004 Wed, 25 May 2016 08:55:49 +0000 josina 2556004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gotcha. I have a Canon T5 DSLR which I LOVE. It's not a point and shoot but you could use it as one with the Auto modes like Adira said, and then slowly work your way towards Manual. I still use Aperture priority mostly but am starting to dabble in Manual.<br /> And with a 50 mm f1.8 lens you will get awesome Bokeh shots (blurred background). I got the camera + lens for right around $500.<br /> No advice on the Nikon D3200 or anything similar though... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2555995 Wed, 25 May 2016 08:46:44 +0000 Adira 2555995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@stiletto_mom: You know, you can play with the settings on your powershot to change modes, which will help you get used to how things work on a dSLR.</p> <p>I have a Canon T2i for my dSLR, though there are definitely new models. I LOVE it. I started just using it on Auto, which is similar to just using it as a point-and-shoot, and then upgraded to Aperture Priority to get used to changing that and getting fantastic bokeh! Now I use it on Manual, but a lot of people stay in Aperture Priority forever so they don't have to deal with shutter speed and ISO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2555991 Wed, 25 May 2016 08:39:29 +0000 stiletto_mom 2555991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have an oooollld Canon Powershot that I got about 8 years ago. It's like 12mp (my phone is better than that lol). I'm hoping for an upgrade. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2555989 Wed, 25 May 2016 08:33:34 +0000 josina 2555989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What kind of camera do you have now, I just caught that it was a Canon? I'd say don't give up on it! I really struggled when I got mine but have gotten so much better just by using it often! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/mommy-photographers-please-recommend-for-a-newbie#post-2555976 Wed, 25 May 2016 08:13:41 +0000 stiletto_mom 2555976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I mentioned on another thread that my kids will probably miss out because I have a hard time grasping aperture and shutter speed. But I'm not giving up!!</p> <p>Could you recommend a good point and shoot DSLR that does nice focus (fuzzy background types) but at the same time will let me explore the aperture and shutter speed functions?</p> <p>I was walking around Best Buy and was looking at the Nikon D3200. Does anyone know anything about that?</p> <p>Also hoping to stay under or close to $500.</p> <p>Thanks! </p>