What's the cheapest digital camera I can get with interchangeable lens?

Riley

I'm kind of interested in photography right now, but I don't want to spend much on it because every time I bought a camera in the past it ended up in the back of my wardrobe never seeing the light of the day.

Now I've learned a bit more about it and I'd like a camera with interchangeable lens to play around with, but I want one that is as cheap as possible, since I'll probably forget it soon enough.

Answer
I've had interchangeable lens cameras for 35 years and I am still waiting for a digital camera with interchangeable lenses worth investing in. The market is moving so fast that in three years you would have a hard time using the lenses on a new body or vice versa.

Unless there is a specific function like fisheye or perspective shift a fixed wide range zoom is a much better buy, and then you would have few choices. KODAK EASYSHARE Z981 for $250 has14 megapixels and 26-676 mm lens (35mm equivalent). You can't buy two lenses for that price. Just about every camera maker makes a similar model, just make sure it has manual focus, aperture and other settings.

Need help selecting a interchangeable lens camera?

Amber

I am looking at purchasing an ILC and want suggestions. I haven't looked at very many, but am hoping you might have some suggestions. I will talk about 2 that I have researched a little bit and why I like or dislike them.

Sony-NEX f3... this camera has a slightly higher price tag than the other one I reviewed, but has a better sensor as well. It takes better pictures at higher ISOs.

Panasonic Lumix GF3... this camera has more lenses available, and has a cheaper price tag. It doesn't do so well in low light situations.

Does anyone have any comments on either of these cameras? Or like I said can you recommend a different one?

I am looking for a camera for a hobbyist that I can get professional-like pictures from. I plan on printing up to 11x17 pictures.

Any advice would be great!

Thanks
I apologize as my lack of correct terminology has insulted some people. I am not trying to go professional and I never will. I appreciate the art, but it just isn't for me as a career. In that sense I am a newbie and always will be :) Anyway, for those of you who don't understand what I meant about "professional-like" I wasn't referring to composition, white balance, depth of field, or exposure. Rather I meant crisp, sharp, and etc photos. I know the photographer can influence these results as well, but some cameras can do this better than others. I am not naive enough to think that I can just pick a certain camera and be awesome at it.

I genuinely appreciate the other answers I have gotten thus far.

Answer
Both cameras will produce good 11x14 prints. Don't get hung up on the NEX having fewer lens options when buying new lenses. The NEX mount can accept a host of older manual focus lenses (like M42) via adapters. There's a link in my source that covers the various adapters available for the NEX.

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Right lens for disney world vacation?

tvxq

I'm taking my 18-55mm lens and 75-300mm lens for our vacation to disney world. I just want to know your opinion if I will need the 75-300mm lens at Magic Kingdom? I'm positive that I will need it at Animal Kingdom. I don't want to take my bulky camera bag with me in the parks. How about Epcot and Hollywood Studios? And also is it fine to use tripod inside the parks? I'm traveling with my husband and I'm hoping to get few shots together. Thanks!

Answer
Stick with the 18-55 and forget about the tripod. You can get a little GorillaPod if you want to use a tripod, or just hand your camera to any of the 1000s of people who will be in the park. Generally, I look for people who have a dSLR of he same brand around their neck, because they are most likely going to be able to shoot the photo with minimal oversight. You would have a hard time swinging your camera around you by the strap without hitting at least 1 or 2 people with a similar camera anywhere in the park.

How do you protect your camera from theft at Walt Disney World?

question

I am a high school student who has to take photos of the upcoming field trip to Florida.We will be flying from TEXAS. I will be bringing a EOS digital Canon Rebel with lens. I am worried that since the camera is so big, that somebody will try to steal it! Any Suggestions? Also, if I want to go on a ride, and I have my gigantic camera with me, what do I do with the camera? Do I hold on to it during the ride?
Finally, is there any gear that I can get that will prevent me from losing the camera? The camera is quite expensive.

Answer
I wouldn't worry about it. As long as you're not leaving your camera completely unattended, I'm sure it won't get stolen. As others have mentioend, since it's a school trip, if there's a teacher or chaperone not going on the ride maybe they could hold it for you. All of the rides have baskets or holding areas anyway, though. For example, on DINOSAUR there is a pull out basket that can hold a large camera. On Kali River Rapis there's a compartment in the center of the raft to hold everyone's bags and belonging so they do not get wet or damaged. I imagine you could probably have a Cast Member look after your camera as well. There are Cast Members at the loading areas for each ride. Explain to them that you have a large, valuable camera that you're worried about, and as if they'd be able to keep an eye on it for a few minute while you're on the ride. I'm sure mothers carrying larger items like diaper bags do it all the time.

Hope I could help! Have a great time!

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Is a Canon EOS Digital Rebel T1i 500D SLR Camera +5 Lens Kit a quality camera?

suesdiscov

Answer
Hi Sue,
Actually, the Rebel XSI was rated higher in Image Quality compared to the T1i - by Digital Photography Review. Not sure what you're referring to with the "+5 Lens Kit", but that sounds like an eBay thing, and most folks believe that we should stay away from eBay when buying a camera.

The Canon Rebel XSI (EOS 450D) is really a fantastic camera for the money, especially with the 18-55mm Kit Lens.
Have taken thousands of pictures with the XSI while traveling abroad. It takes excellent pictures, itâs relatively light in weight, easy to use, and has amazing battery life. The number and type of camera settings really provide as much or as little control (automatic) of the camera as desired.

The XSI received great reviews from Digital Photography including a higher rating for Image Quality (9.0) than the successor Rebel T1i (EOS 500D), whose image quality was rated at 8.5.

There are more expensive cameras that have not achieved this 9.0 Image Quality rating .

Rebel XSI = Imaging Quality = 9.0
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneosâ¦

And a 4.5 Star Rating (out of 5.0) from 496 Rebel XSI owners on Amazonâ¦
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012YAâ¦

And of course sample photosâ¦
http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/canoneosâ¦

Hope this helps, good luck! :-)

Digital Cameras?

Anita

What is your favorite digital camera. I would just like to know because I'm getting a new one for my birthday.

Answer
Whatever kind of digital camera that you get, please keep in mind that high megapixels aren't everything. I have seen better pictures from a 2 megapixel Canon than a 6 megapixel Vivitar -- I think this is because the Canon had better optics (higher quality lens glass, more light sensitivity, etc).

I would stick with the big names in cameras, like Canon, Nikon, Minolta, etc. But for a non-traditional camera manufacturer, Sony makes some nice stuff, too.

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what is the best walk around/portrait canon L lens for the 50d? I mostly take pics of kids!!?

Kitty

My camera is about 2yrs. old and I mostly take pictures of kids but I do both indoors and outdoors.......I have read numerous reviews and even called Canon to ask their recommendation
24-105mm f/4
24-70mm f/2.8
I don't understand the difference between f/2 or 4 and all reviews seem to say something different!!! I know what end result I am looking for---sharp crisp images without hours of editing which I haven't totally learned yet either!
One more thing.....my daughter is very sensitive to light and squints before the flash if she is expecting it!!
Please HELP!!!
I do thank everyone for their wisdom and time! We live in a VERY small rural area so really internet classes are my only option, our local library is very small as well so not much to pick from! I do agree that I need to learn all I can on my own to totally understand.......I'm trying!

Answer
Let me first say that L-series lenses do not take inherently better photographs and most people can't tell the difference between images shot with L verus non-L lenses. These are great lenses but, it may not be necessary to spend so much money to get the results you want. FWIW; between the two, the 24-105L is significantly lighter and easier to walk around with. It also covers a wider range of focal lengths than the 24-70L and is image stabilized. Having said that, the 24-70L shows less distortion at its wide end and is one stop faster. You've already mentioned you don't understand this key difference so I'll cover that.

The difference between f/2.8 and f/4 is one stop of light. In practical terms, this can mean the difference between a blurry shot at 1/30th of a second and a relatively sharp shot at 1/60th of a second. It might also means the difference between a realtive clean shot at ISO 800 (@f/2.8) or a noisy shot at ISO 1600 (@f/4). Those are the simplest examples to illustrate what 1-stop means but the bottom line is that if you don't already fully understand this, you are about to spend a great deal of money on a lens that by itself, will not improve your images.

Another note, your 50D is a 1.6x crop body. In simple terms this means your field of view with either of the lenses you've asked about will be fairly narrow and not necessarily ideal as a walk around lens but, they'll be just fine for portraits. The 50D and similar Canon cameras are typically sold with with 18-55mm or 17-85mm lenses that are nearly perfect as walk around/portrait lenses for 1.6x crop bodies. Alternately, the 50D was sometimes sold with a 28-135mm lens which was designed for 35mm film and full-frame digital cameras. Most people find the 28--135mm lens really isn't wide enough when they are out, walking around and may opt to replace it with an 18-200mm super zoom for that allows them to do almost everything with just one lens.

If you are seriously considering spending the money to buy a 24-70L or 24-105L for your 50D but don't plan to upgrade to a full-frame camera like a 5D/5DmkII, two additional lenses you should also consider are the EF-s 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM and EF-s 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM. These are not "L" lenses because that designation is exclusive to full-frame Canon lenses but, they are as good a any L as far as optical quality is concerned. The difference is that EF-s lenses are designed specifically for 1.6x crop-bodies like your 50D with smaller sensors. When I shot the 40D (almost identical to the 50D, just a year older), my walk around/portrait lens that said on my camera almost all the time was the EF-s 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM.

One final note, your daughter is likely blinking because of the pre-flash that tells her to expect the main flash. Consider half-pressing the shutter to focus/meter and then waiting a second or two before you actually take the picture. If you don't already have one, also consider a shoe-mount flash like the 430EXII.

Canon lens for wedding?

Missy C

I got a canon xsi with the kit lens for christmas and I am getting married this summer. I have a friend that takes really great pictures and she is going to take my wedding pictures (we are on a budget). I like the kit lens, but it doesn't zoom in very far, and I know she will probably need a lens that will zoom more... do I need another lens and if so, which one.

Also, I was reading something about a wide angle lens... what is this and why would you need one? I just dont see how you would carry all of this stuff around with you...

Please dont talk down to me because of my choice not to hire a professional, or my ignorance on this topic. Please only reply if you want to help me.. Thanks in advance

Answer
What lens you need depends a great deal on the venue and where she will be allowed to be. Also how much light you have. A 200mm at f/5.6 (as most consumer lenses are) is not going to be of much use if you need f/2.8 @ 1/10 and ISO800 just to get the exposure. If you need a fast lens, I would buy the Canon 50mm f/1.8. Nice portrait lens on a crop sensor. Fast enough for dark conditions. Sharp. Relatively cheap. Easily available. *But* wide open or near maximum aperture will leave no room for focus error.

Why wide angle? WA is where about 80% of my wedding coverage lands. I use a 50mm f/1.4 and a 17-50 f/2.8 a lot in digital wedding coverage. (For film, I prefer a 24-85 and the 50mm.) The 70-200 not as much. Most of the getting ready, formals, groups and reception shots will probably require wide angle. Your kit lens (is it 18-55 or so?) will cover the that end adequately if you have enough light, either ambient or by using flash or off camera lighting. If you don't have a flash, get one. Yeah, a flash and a 50mm lens will be the most bang for your buck. The 580EX is what the Canonites use frequently for weddings, I believe. (Sorry I am not sure, I use Nikon, so not positive on the model number.) Get a diffuser of some sort and practice using it. The Fong Lightsphere, Demb, Stofen and Bounce card are commonly used and not that difficult to learn. If you are familiar with manual flash output you will do fine after a few weeks practice. You will have to modify your flash output for the light loss, but your flash photos will be vastly improved. If the surroundings are fairly dark, you will want to drag the shutter to avoid the deer in headlights look.

Don't forget to have a backup camera of some sort. I have three, sometimes four camera bodies with lenses and flashes at every wedding. As an amateur of course you probably won't have access to or need that much. But do get a second camera of some kind, film or digital, and have it primed and ready to go with fresh batteries and memory or film.. When I am shooting, I usually have two setups around my neck, one with WA lens and one tele, or sometimes one film and one digi. Things can and do break, balk or fail so be prepared.

Here is the lecture portion of my program. Being "ignorant" of various lenses and camera gear is fine. I am ignorant about a lot of things. If I need to know, I ask, or more likely do some research, just like you are. Here is my caution to you: Be very **very** VERY sure the photos do not matter that much to you. Your friend may be a good photographer of her kids in the park, landscapes, bugs or pets etc etc etc, but has she shot weddings before? She may do a fabulous job, if the photo gods are smiling and the light is perfect and everything goes to plan. But what is her plan using the kit lens from 300 feet away in a dark cave of a sanctuary trying to capture the vows when she needs ISO 4000 at f/5.6 and 2s? (OK, I am exaggerating, but not by much.) Can she cover several different happenings at once? Weddings are sorta like little mini plays with several different stages. It is hard to make all that flow until you have done it quite a bit. If you miss something, it is gone. There are no excuses and very few do-overs. That is why we are always advising new wedding shooters to assist with a pro for some amount of time. Takes the pressure off and allows one to learn, but not at the expense of mucking up a couple's wedding photos. The point is, you don't have an ideal setup equipment wise. Combining that with an in-experienced photographer might mean you get less than good images of your once in a lifetime big day. So be certain it is OK if you end up with a bunch of mediocre snapshots, and be sure your friendship can stand that strain if it does happen. And if the pictures are great, you can be thankful and relieved (and uncannily lucky) and get your friend a nice gift for performing like a champ.

Best wishes on your upcoming nuptials.

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Finding a replacement kit lens for a Canon EOS 400D DSLR Camera?

Jessica

Ok, so I recently smashed the kit lens for my camera because of a faulty tripod - camera's ok but now out of warranty so I can't get it replaced. I need a lens, just the same as the lens I originally had, which comes with the camera - 18-55mm focal length. I know it's not an amazing lens but it did the job for about two years and I'd like to still have it for the future! They seem to be very difficult to source online. Any chance anyone knows of anywhere selling them on?

Thankyou!
Thanks for your help so far! I'd love to upgrade to one of those lenses, but i simply don't have £300 to spend on one, never mind £500 :(
Also, Fishmeister - any suggestions? I know it's not a great lens but it would do the job for £30 til I save up enough for a better one.

Answer
If you are talking about the 18-55mm (non IS) lens then good riddance, don't buy another one!. They are considered the worst kit lens Canon have even produced. I sold mine unused for about £30 buy it now on eBay and I consider that a good price. Don't waste your money and time on another piece of crap lens like that, save your money and buy a proper lens.. The fact that it broke is a blessing in disguise.

Now go buy a good quality real lens.

+++

Additional: I understand that money can be an issue. If however you were happy with the lens and happy with the images it took then you have no reason to buy a more expensive lens, the 18-55mm (non-IS) is on ebay frequently for very little money.

If however you can stretch your budget to £90-120 then you could look at buying the 18-55mm IS version which is a very nice lens!..
http://the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-18-55mm-f-3.5-5.6-IS-Lens-Review.aspx

You may also consider looking on eBay for one of these ..
http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/ef_35-135_4-56_usm

I bought one of eBay for £55 and it is a great lens. Distance window, metal mount, USM, great image quality. I do recommend looking out for one on eBay, I use this as my 'walkabout' lens frequently.

Also consider the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II (about £80-90)
http://the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-50mm-f-1.8-II-Lens-Review.aspx

.

Canon rebel t3i, good camera?

Ariah

I've heard it's a good camera, but I want to hear some reviews/opinions on it. Where did you get it? How much was it? Do you recommend it? Any extras I should consider buying with it?
I'd like to order it with my Christmas money online, so if you have any recommended sites to order from, please link them in your comment!

Answer
I have owned the Canon EOS Rebel T3i since the month that it came out. Of course when it came out it was much more expensive, now since it has been updated by the T4i and the T5i; it's much cheaper. You can find it as of the time I am writing this for $437 with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens. I am a reviewer on Amazon.com and wrote a review on this camera when it came out, but I will update my review as of today with a much more detailed review; I will include a transcript below and include my reviewer page for you to visit and confirm this. In plain and simplistic approach though, I highly recommend this entry level DSLR.

Review:

The Canon EOS Rebel T3i/EOS 600D/ EOS Kiss X5; a truly fantastic entry level DSLR for the price it's available at after being replaced by the Canon T4i & T5i. Featuring an 18.0 megapixel APS-C CMOS Sensor and a DIGIC 4 image processor it packs quite a lot of power in a small body. The camera is capable of shooting continuously at a maximum speed of 3.7 Frames per second; which isn't bad. It can also shoot in Full HD at 30 frames per second or 24 frames per second; or 720P at 60 frames per second.

The Drawback with video:

There is one thing that might make you avoid this camera if you want it specifically for video. It doesn't have the ability to focus automatically when recording a video. It is per say, possible; however, the time it simply takes to automatically adjust the focus takes way too long and is very noisy when using any lens that doesn't have USM (Ultrasonic Motor). This is not a bad thing though if you plan on shooting video in manual focus, it takes a while to get used to it, but the video quality that is produced with this camera is simply superb!

The camera features a 9 Point AF system which for the most part in my uses has proven to be decently accurate for the most part. Considering this is an entry level DSLR, it is more than enough for the average user. You can always just manually focus on your subjects and avoid being mistakenly focused on something that you don't want to be emphasize.

One of the most useful designs of this camera is the Vari angle LCD display it offers. It is what made the camera unique when it came out and it introduced a wide variety of possible shots without the discomfort that you would have had to go through before. Let's say that you want to take a photo from the bottom up, at a bug's eye perspective; before, you would have had to either lie down on the floor to look through the viewfinder or struggle by looking at the display that was only viewable at a certain spot. Now you can simply take a knee and flip the display in order to compose your shot with ease. The complete opposite of this scenario is also applicable, taking a picture from top to bottom you simple flip the display and adjust to where you can see your environment and subject perfectly.

Low Light shooting with this camera can be a struggle, at least with the stock lens that is usually bought with the camera (18-55mm). Pictures begin to look noisy reaching about ISO 1600. They are however still usable. When at ISO 6400 it can be pretty noisy, but any other camera would struggle here as well unless it is a true professional DSLR that reaches extremely high ISO sensitivities. The ISO on the camera is expandable to 12,800, but at that sensitivity pictures are pretty much useless. They will look as if they were taken with a cell phone and noise is observable everywhere even without zooming into the picture. If you want to take pictures in low lighting conditions you have two options: A) You can always use an external flash if possible, or use the pop up flash that is integrated on the camera. B) You can purchase a separate lens for the camera that a wide aperture; such as f/1.2, f/1.4, f/1.8
Some of these lenses can cost a lot of money, some more than the camera it's self. Remember though that the overall quality of an image can usually be a lot better with a great lens that an excellent camera with an average lens. The f/1.8 Canon lens runs you about $100, the f/1.4 about $300, and the f/1.2 for either $1,400 for the old version and $2,000 for the newer version.

How does this camera compare against a normal point and shoot camera?

A main concern by many is if having a DSLR like this will make a vast difference than the average point and shoot camera or high quality cell phone camera. The answer to this question is a simple yes. You will notice the difference with just the first time that you take a picture with this camera. 18.0 megapixels is a lot! There are other camera's in the market such as the Nikon D3200 with a 24.2 megapixel sensor, but in reality... you will never have a need for such a plethora of megapixels unless you are going to be printing out billboard sized photos. 18.0 megapixels is already enough and megapixels isn't always everything. The truth with megapixels is that sometimes too many of them can degrade the quality of a picture. In low lighting conditions a camera with a lower amount of megapixels will out perform the one with a higher amount of megapixels. This can be proven even with the simplest of camera's such as a webcam. The less the megapixels, the more light enters due to the pixels being larger.

The body of the camera is tough and is sure to last a long time if taken care of. I have owned this camera since the month that it came out and I don't regret purchasing it. It has never failed me in any occasion. One thing you should note though, if you want to record video with this camera; make sure you purchase a good memory card that is capable of processing the data quickly or else you will find the camera automatically stopping video recording. I would recommend a memory card such as the PNY Elite Performance SDHC memory card. It features 90 MB/s read speeds and won't let you down when recording video. It is also enough to capture continuous shots when shooting in RAW which extends the usefulness of a picture when editing them. The advantages of editing when you take a picture in RAW are simply amazing and is something that no normal point and shoot can offer.

Overall I rate this product a 5 stars out of 5 stars!

I hope this review has helped you out!

My Sources: Head Photographer for a High School Yearbook, Amazon Reviewer, Owner of the Camera, Experience in Photography

Camera on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-T3i-Digital-Imaging-18-55mm/dp/B004J3V90Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387151246&sr=8-1&keywords=canon+t3i

My Reviewer Page on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2Z9S2RQD542CP?ie=UTF8&ref_=ya_your_profile

My Review on the Product:
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1XVKM5R1AK4ZF/ref=cm_aya_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B004J3V90Y#wasThisHelpful

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Canon T3i Rebel 600D Square Lens Hood?

Andrew

i have a Canon T3i Rebel (600D) with a 50mm f/1.8 lens , I would really like a sqaure lens hood but having no luck finding one , do they even exists for this DSLR with this lens? i found some on eBay but they probably wont fit , i mean i could tape it to my lens :/ any help would be greatly appreciated http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/58mm-Hood-Shade-Square-Canon-18-55mm-75-300mm-lens-/320759527712?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aaec1f920

Answer
Except for certain video camera lenses and Cokin P series filters system, the only square lens shades were Leitz Summaron 28mm Soobk lens hood used on the M series rangefinder cameras. There may be others, but those are the only ones I have ever used.

I would be skeptical of any one selling a lens hood that is supposed to provide coverage on to such divers lenses, the 18-55 (wide angle to medium telephoto) AND a 70-300 mm medium telephoto to long telephoto lens ... if you just think about it, it will make sense to you.

NOTE: Unless the camera has internal focusing, the square lens hood would rotate as the lens focused.

I suggest you just buy the lens hood made for your lens by Canon. Canon ES-62 Lens Hood with Hood Adapter 62 for EF 50mm f/1.8

Canon Rebel T3i/600D lens?

Joe

I'm gonna get my first DSLR soon, which is going to be the Canon Rebel T3i.

The whole kit for $899.99 comes with the kit lens which is the (EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6) lens.

I was looking into it and I saw this really nice lens on amazon, which is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II for $125. I was wondering if I should get the body of the T3i only for $799.99..

So basically, should I get the Full Kit for $899.99 or the T3i and the EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens 924.99? Which do you think is a better deal? Or should I get the full kit now and then get the EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens later on..

Are the kit lens any good? I really like the focus on the 50mm lens after I saw some test videos on YouTube.

Answer
Get the kit lens and stick with it while you learn how to use a DSLR. The kit lens is a sharp lens, covers a very useful focal length range, and has image stabilization. Trying to decide on a different lens without having a good amount of experience with a DSLR is like worrying about car tires without knowing how to drive.

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Question about Nikon DSLR camera lenses?

Jen

Can every model of Nikon cameras fit every type of lens? sorry if that doesnt make sense but say you have a Nikon D800 and a Nikon D90. Can the lens on one of them fit onto the other camera?

Answer
Yes. All AF, AF-I and AF-S lenses will fit both the D90 and D800.

Because the D800 is a full frame camera, it automatically crops the image frame if you use one of your DX lenses. FX lenses can be used on both cameras.

Camera lenses?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Victoria

Hi. :) I am purchasing a Canon 5d Mark iii, and would like to get a few lenses for this camera. I think it would be a good idea to get around three, maybe a simple 50mm, a zoom lens and/or telephoto, and possibly a portrait lens. What three canon lenses would you suggest? I have having difficulty choosing which lenses I want. So basically my question is, what three canon lenses do you think would be most necessary and appropriate for a DSLR? If you had to have only three lenses for your DSLR, what would they be. Thank you! :) Also, I have a budget of around $2,500-$3,000 for these three lenses. I was thinking about getting a relatively inexpensive telephoto for around $1,500 then using the remaining budget for the two other lenses.
HOW on EARTH "Selina" are you a "top contributor?!" That baffles me.

Answer
Before buying any lens you must first determine what kind of photography you do the most and then buy the lens that best suits that type of photography. Buying a lens based on someones recommendation in here will likely result in you wasting your money. Also, only Canon's EF lenses can be used on a full-frame Canon DSLR.

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I need advice on what DSLR camera to get?

Muggles

I'm looking into a camera that would be great for portraits, landscapes, action, and possibly spontaneous and indoor pictures. I cannot spend too much money- nothing over a thousand. Some features I'm looking for are:
-Fast multipoint autofocus
-Image stabilization
-Live view LCD (possibly one you can flip 180degrees)
-Extended dynamic range
-Low noise at high ISO settings
-Image noise reduction for slow shutter speeds

Some not so important, but prefered features would be:
-Color control
-Reduced crop factor
-Dust control system
I'm looking for a semi-professional or professional camera.

Answer
Hi,

All DSLRs are good for portraits etc.

- All have 9 and more points
- IS depends on lens
- Live View is there but a useless gimmick for now, viewfinder is the best
- Extended...lol, that's just marketing
- Many models have low ISO now
- That's there on every model too

- Color control - nope, if any filters at all, they aren't for controlling but for fun
- You can't change the size of a sensor
- All have it now

Nikon D3100, D5100 and Canon EOS T2i and T3i would be the best.

Here's a DSLR Buying Guide - http://www.the-dslr-photographer.com/2009/11/which-dslr-to-buy/

What DSLR camera should I buy?

e.starkim

Hey I've been wondering which Nikon camera I should buy. Preferably lightweight, but I really don't care. I am a big macro photographer and I want a camera that has really, really close up macro functions. It should have auto-focus, video-recording, in very high-quality range, and ability to change amount of light. I'd appreciate if it's a camera from Nikon but Sony is alright too. I have $1500 to spend and no more. If there's a camera that you thought was really great, recommend it here, please!
Thanks ^-^

Answer
All DSLRs have auto focus (well it depends on the lens but all today do it), all latest have video and high quality range is also there, but buying the camera doesn't just mean your pictures will look amazing.

What's wrong with Canon? With Nikon, these two are on top, Sony is the new dog.

Canon EOS T2i, T3i, 60D, Nikon D3100 and D5100 would be the best. Since you are into macro, you should buy a macro lens, there are no functions that's just horrible marketing tricks.

Here's a DSLR Buying Guide - http://www.the-dslr-photographer.com/2009/11/which-dslr-to-buy/

The site also has lens guides.

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New camera or lens?

jeepnsurf

I have a nikon D50 which is my first slr and I've been shooting with it for about a year and want to upgrade. I want to get a D80 but also want the 70-300mm vr lens...I found a website which has both brand new for about the same price...I don't know if I should go ahead and just buy the new lens for my d50 first or upgrade the camera and get the lens later

Answer
Lens first. Otherwise, instead of shooting with your D50 and it's kit lens, you'll be shooting with a D80 and a kit lens.

The strength of an SLR or DSLR is the ability to change lenses to fit the assignment, mood, or challenge.

If you've already outshot your D50, (and be honest, have you?) then move on up. It's the glass that makes all the difference.

The D50 has the same resolution as my D70. I just toured China with my D70 (my daughter used my D50). The only optic I brought for myself was my Nikon 18-200mm VR. I could have bought a D80, but I preferred getting the versatility of this great lens.

Read this (be sure to click on the link for the first David Pogue story):
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/dslr-comparison/index.htm

And his most recent followup:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/00-new-today.htm

Remember, your 70-300mm VR can follow you when you upgrade.

Can I get the glass on a camera lens replaced?

lilmissboo

I want to buy an Olympus Pen F but unfortunately the glass on the lens is missing. The person is asking for practically nothing if you consider the cameras now for for £100+. So I was wondering if I could get a new glass fitted or would it be just better to get a new lens?

Answer
If the camera has been subjected to enough abuse as to 'lose' the lens what other damage is there? Steer clear. It will cost a lot more than £100.00 to repair the lens, where would they source another lens from? Only from another Olympus Pen F lens. You'll be lucky to find one with damage, but an intact front glass.

If the vendor is selling it cheap then even the Pen F body in good condition is a collectors item, with collectors condition is everything, one scratch can make the difference from £100.00 or so to less than £10.00. Cosmetic condition matters more than working condition, a lot of these cameras will never see another film.

Having said that does the meter still work? Does the film advance and shutter sound solid? If so then buy it, lenses do turn up (often in excess of £100.00 for a good specimen), bear that in mind when offering a price. I've seen mint ones, fully working with new light seals and recent service change hands for less than £200.00.

Chris

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Sigma 35mm lens/flash compatibility with DSLR cameras?

meece88

I should have asked this in the correct format the first time. I am getting conflicting stories in regards to the compatibility of older SIGMA 35 mm camera lenses and flashes with the newer DSLR cameras. Does anyone know of any newer DSLR cameras that ARE compatible with 35mm SIGMA lenses/flashes that are NOT SIGMA cameras? I.E. Canon or Sony/Minolta, etc. I don't want to sell my lenses if I can use them but am having troubles finding out WHAT camera to buy that is compatible with them if any. If it is helpful, these are the following lensesand flash I do have:

SIGMA EF 430 Flash
SIGMA Aspherical IF 28-105mm
SIGMA Aspherical 28-80 mm
SIGMA High Speed Pro Spec Zoom AF 28-70mm

Answer
It depends.

All dSLR's but Sony use an ISO standard hot shoe
Only Sigma dSLR's are compatible with Sigma lenses designed to fit Sigma cameras
Canon dSLR's hot shoes can only tolerate 6v or less trigger voltages without damage to the cameras electronics.

As you can see, there are some issues.

If you don't mind buying the Sigma dSLR, then all is well.

If you want to start a dSLR system, you will have to start over buying new lenses that fit Nikon, Canon, Pentax or Sony systems.

If that is what you decide to do, take your time before you buy a new system.

You will either be married to it for the next few decades or find yourself in the same boat, buying all new lenses and cameras if you decide to switch systems.

Are lenses on Nikon DSLR cameras interchangeable?

yodasminio

I've been looking at a bunch of different Nikon lenses and am wondering if they are all interchangeable? Amazon has certain lenses suggested for certain cameras, but then with other cameras they aren't suggested. Will this lens:

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-70-300mm-4-5-5-6G-Digital-Cameras/dp/B000HJPK2C/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1290920320&sr=8-6

which is suggested for the D90, work on my D3000? All the lenses I'm looking at are new on Amazon, so I'm talking new lens to new lens comparison...

Answer
Yes, they are interchangeable. Such is the problem with Nikon. They have some cameras that do not autofocus certain lens models. Check out this page for reference.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm

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What's a good zoom lens for Canon 500D?

Nanananana

I would want a zoom or telephoto zoom lens for my dslr, but I can't decide on what model is best for me. My budget is at least $800. Do you have any suggestions? I'm just a beginner that's why I wouldn't exceed $800. Thanks!

Answer
you can consider buying Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007Y794O?ie=UTF8&tag=bestdeals-y-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0007Y794O

Canon Rebel XSi & lenses...

bry1105

I'm thinking about purchasing my first DSLR; the Canon Rebel XSi. From what I know from research and have read in reviews, it seems like a lot of camera for the money / a lot of bang for the buck. Also good for a beginner with DSLRs. Say I get one. Lets talk lenses.... Would a Tamron Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto AF 28-300mm fit onto the Rebel? (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=347531&is=REG&si=rev#anchorToReadReviews) I'm thinking of getting this lens to cover all my lens needs (wide angle all the way to telephoto) with only one lens. Why? Because it would be convenient to have only one lens and also there would be less chance for dust to enter while changing lenses. Is this a smart idea? Or should I get the kit with the standard 18-55mm lens and buy a separate telephoto lens?

Answer
Yes, it seems that lens will fit on the XSi.

I'd be wary of that lens due to its huge zoom range. That lens has a zoom of about 10x (300/28 = 10). *Generally* lenses with over 5x zoom range make compromises in image quality in order to accommodate the extra zoom. That can be seen in this lens with the f/6.3 at the long end - that's slow. It may be convenient to have that range but it comes at a cost. Also, as previously mentioned, with the 1.6x crop factor the 28mm becomes 44.8mm which isn't really covering the wide angle anyways.

If I were you I'd go with the kit and then get a separate telephoto. The newest version of the 18-55mm (the IS) is supposed to be a pretty decent lens for the money. One think I'd look out for when choosing your telephoto is the 75-300mm that they sell at all the big electronics stores. It's a pretty crappy lens, especially for what they charge for it. If you can find it used for $100 I'd go for it. Otherwise I'd get the 100-300mm or the 70-300mm.

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Help me! Sony A77, Nikon D7000 or Canon 7D?

Blake

Hello,
I've been thinking about upgrading to one of these three cameras. They're all within 200-300 dollars of each other in price, so I need to decide which one. I'm going to go to my local camera store soon and hold them, but I still want y'alls opinion.
I love the Sony's 24mp and 12fps, for only $1400! But is there a reason that it isn't as popular as the other two?
I love the D7000's dual memory card slot, and the fact that the lenses are cheap. But I'd sacrifice lens price for a better camera.
The 7D is probably the least favorite out of the three, but that could change possibly!
Help! Thanks for any and all answers.

Answer
You need to decide what your priority is going to be. All of these cameras are fine tools, but each one has strengths that the other does not have.

Overall when you look at features and price, the Sony A77 blows the other cameras away, but that doesn't mean it's the best dSLR of the three.

Sony A77 pros would be the fast phase auto focus when shooting video. Canon and Nikon do not offer this at any price. Check out the youtube videos showing how fast the sony is and how slow the other two are. The Sony has anti shake built in so all of your lenses (and primes) will be anti shake. Not all Canon and Nikon lenses are anti shake, and neither has anti shake primes.

The A77 swivel screen moves around in ways the other two don't. You can actually turn and lift the screen so that you can see yourself if you shoot a self portrait. It has GPS built in, no need to buy something extra. 12 fps max is nice, but honestly, it's not going to make you a better photographer, or make your photos look any better. Only someone shooting sports can make use of it.

24 MP sounds great on paper, but image quality takes a hit at high ISO/low light photography. By ISO 1000 things start to get rough, and 1600 is terrible, I've downloaded many, many RAW files and seen this for myself. 12fps is actually a bit ridiculous, and you have to shoot wide open to make it happen, this causes all kinds of other problems, better to shoot at the 8 fps mode, and even then that's probably too much in most cases

In good light, shooting at ISO 800 and below, it's a great shooter, and yes it does have more dynamic range than any sensor in and out of its price class, but that's at the lowest ISO only. Also, the RAW files are huge, you need a smoking hot/fast memory card (more money) and a large hard drive to deal with all that data.

If you are a video shooter first, then the A77 is the best choice.

Moving on... Canon and Nikon have more lens selection and more third party stuff like wireless flashes, video lights, brackets etc. The Nikon D7000 uses the superior Sony sweet 16 image sensor that blows both the Canon and Sony A77 out of the water when it comes to shooting in low light or at night. The RAW files from the Nikon D7000, Sony A580 and Pentax K-5 (all using the same Sony image sensor) are yummy for the price. You could shoot RAW at ISO 3200 all night and not worry, they will clean up very nicely in lightroom 3.

The Canon 7D would be my last choice. It's getting old already, and Canon made the same mistake that Sony did with the A77. Instead of going for better image quality, they went for pixels and it shows at high ISO. Other than that, there are lots of Canon shooters that love this camera for all it does, but in my opinion, it's about as worthless at high ISO as the Sony A77. One final thing to remember when comparing cameras, and pixel counts.

The image sensor isn't getting any larger, these are all APS-C sized image sensors. So the more pixels get packed in, the smaller the pixels must become. Smaller pixels gather less light, and noise gets worse. While improvements are made with each new sensor to combat noise, sometimes the extra pixels can erase the improvements. The Sony A77 24MP sensor and Canon's 7D are examples of this. The current Sony 16MP sensor is an exception, with more pixels it easily beats their last generation of 10,12 and 14MP sensors. Good luck.

Canon T4i or Sony A65?

Mike

Which camera is better for low light pictures? I want to shot at weddings and church events.
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-REBEL-Digital-Camera-18-135mm/dp/B00894YX2U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353043319&sr=8-1&keywords=canon+t4i

Or:

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Translucent-Mirror-Digital-18-135mm/dp/B00836H3M6/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1353043425&sr=1-2&keywords=sony+a65+camera

Please help decide.

Answer
You need to do more research. both are poor choices for low light. When you can't flash, the image sensor performance is crucial because you will be shooting in low light at very high ISO.

Strike all Canon dSLRs off the list, they are in last place when it comes to image sensor performance across the board. Sony Exmor sensors have been pounding Canon since 2007. So go with a Sony Alpha, Nikon, or Pentax. They all use Exmor sensors. But there are some duds, and right now, those duds are the dSLRs that use the APS-C 24 megapixel sensors. Skip the Nikon D3200, D5200, Sony A65 and A77. In this price range, you can go cheaper, with the Sony A57 that actually beats out the A65.

But better choices are the new Pentax K 30 and K5 II, nothing can touch them for the dollar at high ISO, they both feature the new updated Sony sweet 16 image sensors, so they even beat out by a hair the Nikon D7000. You can also look for a used Sony A580, it easily beats out the A65 in low light. A used Nikon D7000 or Pentax K5 are good choices too.

If you need to buy right now, and want a semi pro body, and consider yourself a more serious user, the Pentax K5 II is what I would be looking at. The follow up to the 2010 Nikon D7000 would be nice, but it's not here yet, and no word on when and if it's coming.

You lens choice is poor. the 18-135mm is a good all around good light lens, but in low light, it's going to force you to jack your ISO to 3200 and even 6400. You'll need primes to keep that ISO down if you want clean looking shots in low light. You will need primes if you don't want to spend thousands and thousands on large aperture zooms. You will need fast primes like a 35mm f/1.8 and a 50mm f/1.8 depending on whether you go Nikon, Sony or Pentax, you will need to research what wider angle primes will cost.

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Best DSLR camera for under $1000? Macro lens?

Robbie R

I'm new to photography, so I'm thinking something fairly basic, but still enough bells and whistles with which I can play. I'd also like to know what a decent Macro lens would be, preferably something like 100 mm (I don't know the lingo or anything, I just want to be able to shoot things real up close without actually being so close) and not too expensive (hopefully under $200? I have no idea what this stuff goes for). I'd also like to know what would be best to take large landscape photos? Any kind of input will help, thanks in advance!

Answer
I've yet to see a macro lens that isn't good. The only one I've seen the last decade or so was an old 100mm phoenix that sounded like a coffee grinder when focussing. I'm shooting a 100mm tokina myself and I'm really fond of that.

Camera.. Canon's T3i is an obvious choice. Nikon's D90 is a steal at the moment and the 5100 is also an option.

Landscapes you can do with the 18-55 kit lens. A decent tripod would come in handy.

What is a good macro camera?

Hannah

I want a camera with great macro capabilities. High quality. But I'd like a camera with some versatility too. I like landscape/wildlife/bird shots too. Any suggestions? I currently have an Olympus SP-590UZ, but I'd like something a little higher quality.

Answer
A DSLR is all but required, as it must have manual exposure and manual focusing capability (most Macro is done with manual focus). Also the camera must have the ability to work with an off-camera flash.

My setup consists of:

Nikon D90
Tokina 100mm f/2.8 1:1 macro lens.
Nikon R1 close-up flash system.
Induro AX114 tripod.
Smith Victor BH2 ball head.
El Cheapo made-in-china focus rail (not everything needs to cost a lot).

If you go with Nikon, be aware that if you go with anything less than a D90, you might be limited in your selection of macro flashes, and perhaps lenses. If you go with a D3100/D5100, the Nikon R1 or Metz M15 macro flash will not work. But a Nikon R1C1 or Sigma EM140 will.

Since the lower end Nikons don't have autofocus motors, lenses like the Tokina 100mm won't autofocus.

This is not a problem with macro as you will be manually focusing anyway, but the Tokina (like many macro lenses) can be used for a dual-purpose lens for portraiture. For those times you are not using the lens for macro, you would want autofocus.

In my view, the extra cost for outfitting a D3100/5100 justifies buying a D90 or D7000. The end cost will be about the same, as the D90/D7000 can use less expensive lenses and flashes (as the cameras have more capability). I know this might be confusing, and to be brief, I won't go into any more detail, unless you need more info in this area.

Canon might be a bit cheaper, so look into that brand as well.

A macro flash is very important, even in bright daylight. Since macro has a very limited depth-of-field, sometimes only a few millimeters, you need to use apertures in the f/22 to f/64 range (yes, some macro lenses go to f/64). For that reason, you need a flash in daylight to get proper lighting.

Beware that macro lenses are not cheap. While many general purpose lenses claim to have macro capability, they are not as good as a true macro lens.

Look for a lens that gives you 1:1 magnification. General purpose lenses with "macro" capability don't go that far. Only true purpose built macro lenses can usually achieve that degree of magnification.

To have a decent macro setup, in addition to your DSLR, you'll need a true macro lens ($500~$1,000), a ring flash ($400 and up), a good tripod with an articulated center column ($100 and up), and a micro focus rail if it is in your budget ($100).

But don't let me scare you off. Macro can be done a lot cheaper with a set of extension tubes, which run around $100 or so. And you don't need a dedicated flash - but your photo opportunities will be limited without one.You can buy cheap LED ring lights for under $100, but they are not as good as a ring flash. A tripod is just about essential.

I make these statements as you should know that macro photography can be very expensive, so you need to know what you are getting yourself into.

Macro photography is also a very challenging - but rewarding - activity. Macro photography is technically challenging, and you will need to learn a lot about how your camera works, how to shoot in manual modes, and so on. But again, the result is you will learn a lot about photography, and it opens up a whole new world.

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Help me select an extra lens for a DSLR camera!?

Cheryl W

I bought a Nikon D7000 camera bundle that came with a VR 18-105mm, f/3.5 zoom lens. I am wanting to add a lens, should I get the VR 55-300mm, f/4.5-5.6 or the VR 18-200mm, f/3.5? I want to learn landscape (especially waterfalls, running water) and astro-photography mainly, hopefully some wildlife too. I can only afford one additional lens for a while, which is the best choice between these two? And what lens should I save for next?

I asked this question before but from reading some of the responses, I wasn't too clear about my situation. So thank you if you answered before, and feel free to give me any more insight. I really appreciate any help or advice you can give!

Answer
ask the same question twice, get the same answer twice

A 18-200 is way too short for wildlife, a 300mm is barely enough

What are some good lenses for making good videos for a Nikon D7000?

Josh e

I'm trying to get into the video business. And I've got a stock lens 18-105mm, and I was curious as to what other lenses would be good for music videos, or any other type of video.

Answer
You should sell the 7000 and get an actual video camera. Despite popular belief, DSLRs are not good for video and are not replacements for actual video cameras. DSLRs = meant to shoot stills, video cameras = meant to record video.

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Help finding an Interchangeable lens digital camera?

Madison

I want to buy an interchangeable lens camera (possibly point and shoot) for under $300. I have several lenses that i got with a canon T70, they are; GEMINI 1:4.5 80-200mm macro mc zoom 55, GEMINI 28mm 1:2.8, canon lens fd 50mm 1 1.8, and a GEMINI AUTO 2X tele converter C/FD.

So my question is what 14 - 18 megapixel interchangeable lens cameras can I get for under $300 (preferrably 200-250) and can use my lenses with? I'm probably going to do a lot of macro photography or closeups of various textures etc.

My last camera was a Casio Exilim 14 mp digital camera which worked fine but I could never get the shots I wanted. One camera I was looking at was the Olympus E-PM2 Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera. I would also like a camera with a detachable flash.
I didn't mean Point and Shoot (I'm not an expert obviously...) I'm looking for a Compact Interchangeable Lens digital camera for $300 or less, If I need to buy new lenses then I could sell the old ones to help pay for new ones.

Answer
You are out of luck.

The old Canon system that used FD and FL lenses was made obsolete with the introduction of the Canon EOS system in 1988

Thus the only older Canon EOS lenses that will work with Canon's digital SLR cameras

As far as P&S cameras are concerned, NONE of them use interchangeable lenses.

To get into the digital SLR arena, you are going to have to budget for at least $550 unless you are willing to buy a used one.

Professional digital cameras?

Drizzle

Hello, I was wondering about professional cameras. Instead of taking photos of people, it would be used to take pictures of hand-made art to post to DeviantART and I was wondering which cameras would be best.

Thank you!

Answer
Well if you want the "best" quality for big enlargements of say 16x20, then DSLR or digital single lens reflex is the type of camera to get. For instance my DSLR is a Pentax K30 and runs about $600.00 if you need a macro lens for close-ups of small objects add another $850.00

Or your could go the "bridge' camera style. This camera DOES NOT have interchangeable lenses like the DLSR type. The bridge camera comes equipped with a permanently attached zoom lens that is capable of everything from macro to distant scenes. Quality bridge cameras go for about $424.00 TOTAL! Canon makes the Canon Powershot SX50 IS for about this price. You can effectively also get excellent results with a Fuji Finepix S4500 @ $150.00 or the Fuji SL300 @ $199/00.

The "professional" results are a result of your applied skill, not the camera per se. As far as sharpness and good color are concerned all of the cameras I mentioned will be relative easy to achieve excellent results!

Good Luck!

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Best way to clean a camera lens?

Alie

I have a Canon Rebel, and the lens is dirty and I don't have a lens cleaning kit yet, whats the safest way to clean it?
DUHH I don't have a lens cleaning kit!!

Answer
A lens cleaning kit - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EF3YQI/ref=pd_cp_p_title/104-4597660-7495121?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_r=0Q15QXW7ACG94RRB668M&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=250314001&pf_rd_i=B0001006CQ

or a lens cleaning pens - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006JN3G/ref=pd_cp_p_title/104-4597660-7495121?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_r=16JECAC7HA5YCYZ29QPH&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=250314001&pf_rd_i=B000EF3YQI

having a problem with Canon Rebel T1i?????????????????????????????

Biatch!

it comes with a kit lens. when i try to shoot with the AF selected on the lens, the camera always say "busy", the flash keeps on flashing and it keeps on focusing and won't shoot.

but when i shoot with the MF selected on the lens, it shoots normaly and also the flash.

any help?

Answer
It cant be a problem with the camera because I read someone on YA who said
âCanon has never given me a problem quality wise.â

Kidding aside it could simply be dirty electrical contacts on the lens mount or camera body. Clean the contacts using a cotton swab LIGHTLY wetted with rubbing alcohol and try again. If this doesnât work try cleaning the contacts with a pencil eraser followed by a cotton swab lightly wetted with rubbing alcohol. You may not see dirt or corrosion but even amounts not visible to the naked eye can interfere with the low current.

Be very careful no rubbing alcohol or eraser dust gets into the camera. The lens mount and camera opening should face down when doing this. Wipe all eraser dust off the lens and body while they face down. If youre uncomfortable at all trying this take it to a shop and pay for the cleaning.

If cleaning doesnât work youâll need to contact Canon if youre certain youre following the users manual properly.

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DSLR Cameras, recommendations?

Senor Me G

I would like to get any advice from more serious photographers out there who own a digital dslr, I am an aspiring photographer and I'm unsure what to look for in cameras. I could do the typical person thing of going on some electrical store website and looking up the more expencive cameras but I know that there are older models from Canon etc that are used by professional photographers as their number 1 choice. My price range would be around £200 (330 USD).

I am not necessarily looking for any extra features such as HD video filming (as most of the newer models seem to have) etc.

Any additional advice would be very welcome.

Answer
the most popular makes are Canon and Nikon. I will assume your gonna pick one between these 2.
people in these days talk a lot about the pros and cons about these 2 makes but honestly speaking, you can adjust the style and colour depth of your pictures within the camera settings so I dont think there is big differences.
so i will talk about it in real life.
a camera body wont cost much but good camera lens costs a lot. when i purchased my first dslr 4 years ago, my friends around me used Canon so i bought a Canon 350d, so that we can share all the lens we have and save a lot.
2nd point to be considered is, short range lens for canon is cheaper than nikon and long range lens for Canon like 70-200 F2.8 IS USM is more expensive than Nikon.
hope this could help you.

Camera recommendations?

Li

What would you recommend that you have used and been satisfied with, based on the following requirements?

-Clear, crisp images and colors, even in movement
-Something with a larger view (that could also be reduced) to capture a landscape for example
-No delay
-Great zoom
-Something that is automatic enough to adjust to various types of lighting for example but that also allows you to adjust settings manually for desired effects
-Price under $1000 if possible
-For personal and possibly professional photography
-Decent size and weight

Thank you.

Answer
The first three are easy. Buy a DSLR .. you can bright a great zoom as well as other lenses. Complete control and some automatic features are also available on DSLR's. You can get started with as little as $470 buying a Nikon D40 with 18-55 mm lens on Amazon. While the D40 is a good personal camera, the lenses can later be used when you eventually buy the professional D3 body.

Decent size and weight .. now that is where you will have to explain what you mean by that. Shooting professional assignments, the heavier the better. A heavy camera like the Nikon D3 or Canon 1Ds Mark III helps when shooting handheld exposures, its size can make it easier to hold and control.

Here is a link to the latest Nikon professional DSLR

http://www.rangefindermag.com/magazine/Feb08/108.pdf

http://www.jdpower.com/electronics/ratings/digital-camera-ratings/dslr

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Good Nikon camera, flash and lens for event photography? 10 Points!?

Q. I'm photographing a party that's going to be outdoors in the daylight for a couple hours and then the rest will be at night. I want to do something with a little bit of a wide angle but normal perspective as well.

I am not a beginner photographer, I just know nothing about Nikons and have never shot with an external flash before.
You'll have to be a little more specific... I haven't worked with a lot of equipment.

Answer
The new Nikon D3100 with 18-200 mm VR would be a good camera/lens setup.

Add a Nikon SB700 electronic flash and you should be set.

Buy both the camera, lens and flash soon enough ahead of time to learn how to use it so you do not have to learn while shooting your party

Telephoto lens for indoor sporting events...?

cerbberi

Can you recomend a good lens for capturing high-speed action in a gym? I have a film Canon Elan. I'd like pictures of high enough quality to hang on my wall, but I don't want to break the bank. It seems that lenses are either several thousands of dollars, or cheap junk. I'm not sure what exactly I'm looking for so any suggestion is welcome. I'm thinking, it would be ~f2.8 and >50mm. I don't know what a good length would be. The action will probably be about 30 - 50 feet from me, and I want the competitors to fill the frame. It needs to have an aperature large enough to compensate for gymnasium lighting.

Is there a good lens under $400 (better under $350) that will fit my Elan and produce great sports pictures?

Do I just need to be a better photographer???

Answer
The Elan 7E is a decent Canon EOS film SLR capable of handling any of the Canon EF lenses, but not the EF-s lenses made for "crop" dSLR cameras. For indoor sports photography, you're going to need fast film (ISO1600 at least) and fast lenses to get the required shutter speeds.

(A quick aside about shutter speeds: For capturing "action" shots where the subject will fill a reasonable amount of frame, you're going to need at least 1/500th of a second or faster shutter speed. If you have to do 1/400th, you'll see some motion blur, but that might be acceptable to you. Even at 1/500th, you'll relatively freeze the players, but any ball may show motion blur.)

For indoor sports (I'm assuming basketball, volleyball, maybe wrestling), you're going to want a fast focus and wide open (f/2.8 or better, with f/2 preferred) aperture. This means mostly prime lenses, except for expensive zooms.

A bunch of choices, in increasing focal length:

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II (AKA "thrifty fifty") is a lightweight, inexpensive ($80!) lens that can really help out if you have a low budget. I own this lens, and it's nice to carry in a jacket pocket "just in case." However, it has a standard autofocus motor, so it's not all that fast of focus, but good enough for slow-paced action like free-throws or a volleyball serve. It's a bit short, but doable in a pinch. It's an all-plastic body and feels flimsy, so don't give it too hard of a time. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM (AKA "nifty fifty") is a great lens with fast ultrasonic motor (USM) focusing and an all-metal body. Heavier than the f/1.8 above, it still suffers from a short focal length. You can get this for around $300 usually. Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM is a pro-series "L" lens that you'd think would be great for indoor sports... except that it's not all that fast of a focus and not made for sports. For over $1000, I'm including it just for completion. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM is a fantastic lens with fast USM focusing, a decent focal length (perfect for portraits, btw), with a nice, fast aperture. I know several professional photographers that shoot basketball (HS, college, and some NBA) with this lens on their main camera (HS, college) or backup (NBA). I own this lens, and it's on my camera 70% of the time for indoor soccer. It is, however, a bit too short for my soccer fields, and a longer lens is planned. You can get this for around $350 usually. Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM is another pro-series "L" that sounds great, but WAAAAY too slow to focus. At over $1200, you'd think it'd be good for sports, but alas, it's not. Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM is a fantastic lens, but is often either too short or too long. At $460, it's close to your budget, and may work out.
Canon EF 135mm f/2.0 L USM is a pro-series "L" lens that is reputed to be one of the best lenses ever made by Canon. For $900, it doesn't meet your budgetary requirements, but I would be amiss not mentioning this. If you want one of the best indoor sports lenses, this is on the short list. Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM is another pro-series "L" but more reasonable and a staple of indoor sports shooters. New, this lens is around $650, but attainable used for around $500. At f/2.8, it's a bit slower than the previous lenses, but doable. If you really like the 200mm focal length and really really REALLY want a faster lens, you can always attempt to find the... Canon EF 200mm f/1.8 L USM lens, which has been out of production for years, and used lenses go for over $2500 last I checked. The price is simply supply and demand. There is a heavy demand (professional NBA photographers, gymnastics photographers, etc.) and not much supply. This is a dream lens for me, but I can't rationalize the purchase at this time. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM is a zoom lens that is reported to be one of the optically best zoom lenses in the history of Canon. At $1100, it's a bit out of range, but well worth looking at. If you have $600 more available, look at the IS version with Image Stabilization. Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO HSM is Sigma's entry similar to the Canon zoom above. At $900, it's $200 cheaper and still a very nice lens. The images tend to run a bit cool, though, so you may need your lab to provide some slight color correction.
I recommend using your current zoom to figure out at what focal length you're more likely to need by just framing the shot and taking a note as to the focal length. I'm sure you'll see that you're often close to one of the prime lenses listed above.

I hope that's a good list for beginning. If you want to talk lenses more, drop me a private message.

As for buying lenses, take a look here (Amazon) which really is a portal for www.adorama.com, which is a very reputable camera store. Also, check out www.bhphotovideo.com which is another top-notch store with often the lowest prices around.

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DSLR or fixed-lens digital camera?

G

I've been considering either the Nikon D5100, or Fujifilm Finepix HS20,
the photo quality on both seemed nice, and while it would be nice to have interchangeable lenses, cost is also a factor...? ideas?

Answer
What do you want to do with your photography?

Take control and produce high quality images, you will need a dSLR and the D5100 is an excellent one.

The Fujifilm HS20 takes the control from you and has a sensor that is over 15 time smaller, thus lower possible quality, once you develop the skills using a fully adjustable camera like the D5100

Digital Camera Question?

BabyItsThe

Ok, so i am planning on getting a camera pretty soon, and I was wondering what the cheapest camera that I could get ($100-$250) that would be compatible with a fish-eye lens. Let me know if you have any suggestions. Thanks
Also, if there are any digital cameras that take video and create this effect, let me know. and i know, technicallt SLR's cant take video, i was referring to that general style (look) of them, but i also want to take nice pics

Answer
For clarity, some dSLR's can shoot video. For more clarity, only dSLR's use interchangeable lenses and can use a fisheye lens. And for sure, none of them (the cameras) cost under $700 and fisheye lenses cost far more than that.

You may want to do some research and see what it might cost you for such a setup.

Cheapest video producing dSLR.

http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Digital-SLR-Cameras/25472/D3100.html

The fisheye it uses.

http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/2148/AF-DX-Fisheye-NIKKOR-10.5mm-f%252F2.8G-ED.html

As you can see a fisheye is more than just a lens that causes extreme barrel distortion, it also covers 180 degree coverage.

The $100 to $200 you have saved will buy a P&S camera, but none of the new ones can use a fisheye lens

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Camera Quetions-- Safari-- How big should the lens?

tigersnw86

I'm going to Kruger National Park in South Africa, how be should my zoom lens be for it? I have a 300mm one. Do I need a 500mm? I have no idea how close they get to animals...... Also the bigger the lens, does shaking affect it more/ Do people use a tripod with the 500mm and 300mm

Answer
The problem of shaking as you know is amplified by several factors. The first as you mentioned is longer telephoto lenses. The next factor would be the size of aperture, the smaller your apertures the slower your shutter speeds will be i.e., smaller apertures = less light and longer exposures. The last thing that can amplify your shaking is what ISO film or setting you choose. The lower your ISO the longer your exposures will be simply due to the fact that lower ISO films don't react as quickly to light. Of course in many cases it is more ideal to use a lower ISO film because of the grain, and lack there of, however with some action photography this just might not be appropriate and you may have to go with a higher ISO film or setting especially when lighting conditions are poor and the use of a flash is just not effective because your subject is too far away.
So as you learned from the previous post fixed focal length 500mm lenses are not cheap and can run several thousands of dollars. Of course you can go for off-brand fixed focals or zoom lenses but quality is always a concern and especially with these long focal lengths you may run into things like chromatic abberation. However I have to say that with most of your major non-mfg lenses this isn't the case.
I am not sure if you are on a budget or not but if you are then my solution is this, buy yourself a 2x converter for your lens which would make your 300mm lens a 600mm lens. Check with the manufacturer of your lens to make sure this is possible. The only drawback of course is that these 2x converters will affectively reduce your minimum aperture, usually by 1 stop or so, so that if your minimum aperture is 5.6 then it will be 8. This of course can be offset by using a higher ISO setting. I would suggest that you take a look at keh.com if you are considering purchasing a lens or lens converter. Furthermore if you are worried about stability and shake, then purchase yourself a monopod as tripods are too much of a pain in the field when you are photographing nature and have to move a lot.

help with lens and camera?

Christophe

hello i want to get the canon rebel t2i and i was wondering if http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=canon+t2i+wide+angle+lens&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=8153805409731932107&sa=X&ei=U9qWTrjBEKH10gH7y_TBBA&ved=0CGsQ8wIwAQ#ps-sellers fits the canon rebel t2i ? and is it good ? i can't get a fisheye or wide angle lens and soon as i buy it ..but it will take time for me to get a good 200$ one so I'm going to need one ...and i know nothing about lens sizing etc and filters if you can leave me some information about lens sizing and stuff please ..1 thing i know is that cheaper lens will lower the quality but i don't really care as long as its good and hd i don't need top resolution
i will be using this for skateboarding so yes it is in a specific field

Answer
The T2i is a good camera and usually comes with the wide angle lens, the fisheye lens is something that will not be used very often unless your in a very specialized field.

As long as the lens has the same common mount you can use it on your camera I would suggest you just buy lenses that fit, the adapters don't work well they throw off your F stop settings.

If your looking to save money look into Sigma lenses they are less expensive and just as good and will fit your camera.

A wide angle lens and a zoom lens would be a good start and when you get more into photography a macro lens but the fisheye lens will probably be a waste of money and they are more expensive then the others and won't be used much.

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Whis is the best overall SRL digital camera, lens combo for picture clarity under $600? Sony, Nikon, Pentax?

Mark's Min

Which is the best value among these 4 SRL camera and lens combinations. I'm looking for a camera a lens combination which is clean, crisp and sharp. I will be using a tripod. I know that the lens are the most important thing but I'm torn between these 4 combinations and don't know which one to buy. My hunch is Nikon is best but I've heard good things and some gray things about all of them. Can you help me pick the right camera? I shoot people, animals and landscapes. I'm not a beginner but I've never owned a SRL.

These are the cameras I'm torn between for my budget.

1. Sony Alpha DSLRA300K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization with DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens

2. Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

3.Olympus Evolt E510 10MP Digital SLR Camera with CCD Shift Image Stabilization and 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 Zuiko Lenses

4. Pentax K200D 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens

Answer
Picture clarity using any of the listed cameras is totally up to the skill level of the user.

The Nikon AF-S (called USM on Canon's) 18-55 mm ED (called "L" on Canon lenses) VR is one of the sharpest standard zoom lenses made today ...

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/18-55mm-vr.htm

The drawback with Olympus is the small sensor ...

Don't be too concerned with the pixel counts:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm

This is one of the reasons many of us suggest buying the D40 with 18-55 mm lens (VR is not really necessary for lenses under 60 mm) and use the saved money to buy the 55-200 mm VR lens and expand your system

Sony, Olympus and Pentax are small systems, very few good used lenses are available for these cameras.

Best camera for video recording under $1,000?

Michael Ca

I make short films and also want to have some fun directing music videos with a professional look.

What is the best overall camera for this that I can buy for $1,000 or less?

As of right now, I'm looking at the Canon Rebel t4i, but is there something better than that I should be looking for?

Also my price of $1,000 is not completely unmovable, if there is a camera a little bit pricier, I might be willing to budge. Any suggestions?

Answer
HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras interpolate the video, which means of every 25 frames of video, 4 or 5 frames are taken by the lens assembly; the other frames in between these are filled in by the camcorder inner circuitry, thus giving you not true video. It looks like this -one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, from front to back of the video. Near impossible to edit, even when you have the Multi port processor computer with the big 1GB Graphics card and a Sound card that is required to edit, view, watch and work with the files these camcorders produce.

DSLR Cameras, all Makes, all Models, all have the same problem when video taping some long videos, all overheat at the 13 to 18 minute mark, depending on the Make and Model. This is unavoidable, it all has to with the fact, video is an afterthought in DSLR camera production.

Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras have 4 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording Consumer Level HD Camcorder and DSLR Cameras, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different times advertised as maximum record time for some Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders and DSLR Cameras or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

MiniDV is currently the most popular format for consumer digital camcorders. MiniDV camcorders are typically more affordable than their HDD and DVD counterparts. Each MiniDV tape will typically hold an hour of footage at normal recording speed and quality. MiniDV tapes are available for purchase at not only electronic and camera stores, but also at drugs stores and grocery stores, making them easy to find while your on vacation. There are literally hundreds of MiniDV camcorders available; both in standard and high-definition. And add the fact that to get a HD camcorder that could produce better video quality footage, one would have to spend in excess of $3500 for that camcorder that could produce higher quality video

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part1_camcorder_choices.htm

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part2_connect_camcorder.htm

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/consumer_camcorders/vixia_hv40#Overview

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which camera lens should i bring for travelling?

tidy mess

i just got a sony nex-3 with a wide angle lens and a normal lens that has zoom. i'm going on vacation to tokyo tomorrow and i can't decide which lens to bring with me! i'm trying to pack lightly, so i definitely don't have room for both.

the wide angle lens is great because it's much smaller than the other lens and i love the wide angle pictures.

the regular lens with zoom takes better pictures than the wide angle because it has a built in image stabilization, and its nice to be able to zoom (whereas everything looks so far away with the wide angle lens). but the lens is really a lot bigger than the wide angle lens, which makes it harder to take with me in my day bag and makes me more nervous about breaking it.

any advice? i'm tempted to take the regular zoom lens because it takes better pictures. but i'm extremely hesitant because its large size will make me less mobile.

thanks!

reference images:

nex-3 with wide angle lens:
http://www.crunchgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/NEX-5-Blk+SEL16F28-R3Qtr.jpg

next-3 with regular zoom lens:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/NEX3/ZBEAUTY.JPG

Answer
Take the wide angle lens. You can always crop the shots if you want to emphasize detail. Wide angle lenses are easier to focus and if you know how to use depth of field, you can do away with focusing by just leaving the focus to manual with a certain aperture. You can make up zoom by walking nearer to your subject but it is harder to go wide specially in cramp spaces like in Japan. You'll love the wide angle. It'll give you more elements in your shots.

What camera lens is ideal for travel?

nora_l_rin

And not too epensive

Answer
It depends on:
1. Where are you going?
2. What do you want to photograph?

A good walk around lens is 18-55 on a crop body and 24-70 on a full frame for just everyday shooting. If you're doing portraits you'll focus on something longer. If you're doing landscapes you'll focus on something wider.

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