So I think I'd like to actually spend my christmas bonus this year on myself / something fun for once. I've wanted an slr camera forever!
I have some experience with some of the SLR settings, as I took a photography class in college, but no experience with different lenses.
I currently use a nicer (old) sony but what do I buy for a DSLR that fits my budget (and it would be nice to have $ leftover). Canon Rebel? Other suggestions? Must-have lenses?
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I have no advice but for as a newbie I had/have the Canon Rebel series too and it has worked out nicely! I use past tense b/c I haven't touched it in forever haha. DH is bigger photograph nut and has a much nicer body/lens (my Rebel is his hand me down haha).
But yay for treating yourself
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NICE!! What a great way to treat you! My suggestion is to buy the best camera you can afford. Figure out if you want Canon or Nikon and get the best camera you can afford. I suggest buying used just because you can typically get a good deal on a used camera and/or lens.
An example:
Body: http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20741111.html
Lens: http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20741058.htmlDo you have a camera shop near you? If you go in and tell them your budget, they can help you decide on the best body and lens for your money.
I have the lens I linked to above and the 50mm 1.4. I use the linked one way more than the 50 right now with a child who never stops moving.
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I love my canon rebel t3. Super easy to use and I have no clue what I'm doing!
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I have a Canon T2i and I LOVE it. I'd definitely recommend one.
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I have a T2i as well. I think getting an older body may not be a terrible idea and then saving some money for a lens.
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@mediagirl: I googled and found a nearby camera shop, that's a great idea AND they sell used.
@Adira: @snowjewelz: @Adira: @T.H.O.U.: Any suggestions as to the lens I should have for shots of my LO?They have this one used: http://everyphotostore.com/collections/used-gear/products/canon-rebel-t1i-18-55-55-250-kit-used
Good deal or no? Do I need a different lens than those 2? -
@josina: The 50mm is a great $100 lens that everyone recommends.
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@T.H.O.U.: @Adira: I have the T1i and wish I had bought a better body!!
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We love our Nikon D5100. It's so worth it to have a DSLR even if you aren't a pro at using it manually, even the crappy photos it takes are a million times better than the phone pics. We keep ours sitting out on the coffee table all the time so it's handy whenever LO is doing something cute.
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@josina: The 50mm f/1.8 is a great lens! I used it almost exclusively until I got a 35mm f/2.0. If you get a crop sensor camera (like the Canon Rebels), the 50mm is more like an 80mm and the 35mm is more like a 50mm. I LOVED my 50mm, but the 35mm is easier for me to use indoors since I don't have to back up as much to get a good shot. But the bokeh is better on the 50mm, in my opinion.
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@Adira: Thanks! I just took a crash-course online so I can understand what the difference is in regards to mm.
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If you can find one in your budget, I'd recommend a mirrorless system over a DSLR -- theyre smaller and lighter but take just as good photos and have interchangeable lenses, too. I would carry my camera a lot more if it wasn't so darn heavy, and I don't even have a big lens on it most of the time (my main lens is a 50 mm prime, though I think a 35 mm is better with toddlers...). I'm not sure what the best mirrorless systems are currently because I haven't looked into them for awhile, but I know Sony and Fuji have been recommended in the recent past.
ETA: are you near a camera store? I think the Nikon/Canon difference is mainly about how it feels in your hand and which menu/button setup you like better. Personally, I like Nikon but they're both solid options. But it's also kind of amazing to feel the difference in size and weight between DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. Just hard to say what you'd prefer without actually being able to hold and play with them.
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I have the Canon t3i and love it. I also use the 50mm lens mentioned a fair amount, but am very tempted to get the 35mm or the one that @mediagirl posted. I also have my kit lens that I use but don't love. I've had mine for 3 years now without issue and don't feel like I've outgrown the camera.
I've seen your photos and you take some great ones already, I don't think you will regret taking a step up.
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Something to keep in mind is going to the store and holding the cameras. I was shopping about 5 years ago for DSLR and I went and held them all and took some photos in the store. I was able to eliminate a couple of my choices based on how the camera felt in hands and the easy of holding it. I can't recall models or anything; and they've changed by now but that helped me narrow down my choices!
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@PurplePeony: I've seen the mirrorless camera's... I'd def. have to do some more research!
@MamaG: Thanks! I'm long overdue for a DSLR. -
@RKitty: I think I'm going to purchase from a local camera store so I can do that! I saw they run some great rebate specials and offer a free workshop which would be great!
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@Adira: Crap, I didn't realize the price difference in that 35mm lens vs the 50mm!
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@MamaG: Yeah, that's why I stuck with the 50mm for so long!!
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I'd get the best lens you can afford and a fairly good body. Maybe a year old canon rebel. And pair that with a tamron17-50 2.8 or a (used) canon 17-55 2.8. Those two lenses are fantastic. That might bust your budget though. If you don't mind buying used I go with b&h photo. Their used department is fantastic. I've purchased several lenses through them and sold also. For what it's worth I used the lowest end canon rebel for 5 or so years and upgraded my lenses over those five years. Only recently did I upgrade my body to the canon 70d. The lense is going to make the biggest difference in your ability to capture low light pics or fast moving kiddos without blurry images. 50mm or the 40 mm pancake is a fine choice as well to start and the price are bang on. (Less than $100). But you have to be willing to "zoom" with your feet when using a prime.
My most used lenses are the canon 17-55 2.8, canon 35 mm 2.0, and canon 10-22 wide angle. -
I have the T3 for 4 years now and it's been great. Can't go wrong with a Canon Rebel imo. Personally, I'd skip the nifty fifty 50mm 1.8 though and splurge on a 30mm 1.4. I got the 50mm exactly cause of what everone was saying, it's a great lens for $100, but I discovered within a day of trying to use it that it's just much too zoomed to do me any good. Try to take a picture of my dog or a moving kid, they take two steps toward you and all you have is half a face in the frame. With the 30mm 1.4, it has a larger apperature for better low light shots and is much wider to capture moving targets better. My 50 just sits in a draw now while my 30 stays on the camera.
For my next camera though, I'm personally looking into mirrorless Sony since it's so much more compact and just easier to lug around. -
@Littlebit7: @PurplePumps: Thanks for the tips guys! I will look into the lenses you recommended instead of the 50 mm...
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I have a Nikon 5100. We originally bought an 18-200mm zoom lens but now primarily use a 35mm lens. We also bought a speed light flash to attach to it.
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Just got my new Canon T5 last night! Soooo excited to start using it! I also went with the 50mm f1/8 to start since it's more budget friendly.
Thanks again for all the advise! -
Congrats! Have fun! Photo.net is a great tool; they have (or used to have) a lot of guides. I utilized it a lot when I was starting out. Take the time to learn about iso, aperture, shutter speed to get the most out of the dslr. They take fantastic pictures but it helps to get them off of auto to really take advantage of their capability.
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@josina: Oh man, I LOVE the 50mm f/1.8 lens - I use it all the time (actually I almost literally use it all the time because I'm too lazy to carry the other ones around). Have fun!
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@josina: Yay!! Great choices!! I LOVE the 50mm f/1.8, so I hope you enjoy it!
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@Littlebit7: Thanks, I'll check it out! I started with the manuals that came with it and I'll work up from there, its only been 10 years
since I took a photography class in college!
since I took a photography class in college!
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