buying a new camera

[Senior]

so I'm in the market for a new camera and I'm looking at buying this Future Shop: Photo: Digital SLR: Nikon 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera With 18mm - 55mm Lens (D40)
my goal is to get a good entry level DSLR that I can grow into for maybe the next 2-4 years before getting something a little more serious. is this a good choice? does it have limitations that will hold me back?

also has anyone taken a camera course for beginners? maybe 1 day a week for like 4-8 sessions or something? community center or such?

thanks!!!

[b0ld]

dude that price is a steal... get it!. The d40 is an awesome beginner digial slr camera. and honestly there really isn't any limitations at all. You will have the option to purchase various lenses. Whether if it may be a macro, fisheye, 180 degree, 500mm lens and what not. If your wanting to take nice pictures.. (scenic, landscape, city scape, portrait, nature, etc) then get a digital slr. If you just want something to cherish the moment with a bunch of friends or what not just get a snap shot type camera.

Digital SLR's have preset modes as well as manual modes so you can adjust both shutter and appurature's. Really its just a matter of getting used to the where you should have the shutter speed for various exposure's... What I would often do is look at pictures taken with various camera's under various scenario's under Flickr. The images would normally have info as to what the exposure was and what iso... etc...

[ash1ee]

camera for xmas for me!
can't wait!

[Kandyapple]

Shaun and I have been using the Canon rebel's for the past while. I like them. I don't know a lot about the Nikon's though.

As for a beginner DSLR class though; Shaun and I took one on Seymour Street at a place called Vancouver Photo Workshops. Our teacher was Aura. She was a good teacher with lot's of energy. She also used interesting examples that helped you remember key points.

It's a 10 week class, once a week, and you can pick Mon, Tues or Wednesday to go to class. You may get the other teacher if you go on one of the other days. (Shaun and I went on Wednesday nights from 7-10) The class cost about $300.00 if you signed up early.

[Kandyapple]

Oh also if you are buying more lenses for your camera you should check out Sigma or Tamron.
They sell good compatible lenses but the prices are a bit lower. Lenses can really drain your money so they are worth checking out.

I would suggest thinking about what type of photos you want to take. Maybe pop into Leo's or another camera shop and ask them what the best lens would be for what you are thinking of shooting. You do have the option of buying just the camera body, and you may find that the pre packaged lens may be good, but it may not be good enough depending on what you want to take photos of.

PS: Invest in a half decent bag as well, you don't want to break that puppy.

[rustybob]

If you're going Nikon, you can find the D40X for as cheap as $670 these days. That's the 10MP version of the D40.

If you don't own lenses you want to use, you don't necessarily have to go Canon or Nikon (both are pretty much the standard for lenses). Pentax is what I own, and it's a great SLR. It is still compatible with 35mm lenses made by Pentax and Minolta.

What is probably the best all around deal, especially if you don't think you'll be using 35mm lenses, are the cameras made by Olympus. They use the digital-only standard of lenses that are 4/3 instead of a multiplier of 35mm. A 10MP with two good lenses can be found for under $700.

If you go Canon, the Digital Rebel XT (8MP) and XTi (10MP) have dropped in price. The XTi I've seen as cheap as $800 for the kit, and the XT as low as $650.

[mojo]

Senior, check out Digital Camera Reviews and News: Digital Photography Review: Forums, Glossary, FAQ

I am looking at buying a new toy myself, and found this site to be super helpful. I am torn right now between getting a DSLR and high zoom digital. I will be bring it abroad for a few months so size/ required lens, etc. is an issue for me.

I also suggest popping into a camera shop and questioning one of the employee's. They are very knowledgable, whereas the fools at futureshop know little to nothing about what their are trying to sell (IMO).

[rustybob]

I've never bought from them, but Broadway Camera has wicked prices on cameras. I just checked out their site right now, and the D40X kit with the 18-55mm lens is $689. The Olympus E-410 with two lenses is $629. Canon Rebel XTi is $739 with an 18-55mm lens.

[jenai]

even the lower end Olympuses are good, as i discovered at Shoppers Drugmart today. xD memory is cheap.

[galaxie]

The boyfriend (aka camera lover) says the Rebel XTI is the one worth the money. If you buy it in the States you'll save a lot of coin!

Edit: If you go for the Nikon, get the D40X rather than the D40!

[wishbone]

Originally Posted by Kandyapple

Shaun and I have been using the Canon rebel's for the past while. I like them. I don't know a lot about the Nikon's though.

As for a beginner DSLR class though; Shaun and I took one on Seymour Street at a place called Vancouver Photo Workshops. Our teacher was Aura. She was a good teacher with lot's of energy. She also used interesting examples that helped you remember key points.

It's a 10 week class, once a week, and you can pick Mon, Tues or Wednesday to go to class. You may get the other teacher if you go on one of the other days. (Shaun and I went on Wednesday nights from 7-10) The class cost about $300.00 if you signed up early.

thanks for this :) I'm hoping to pick up a rebel XT on boxing day/whenever with soem christmas money, and was curious about taking a casual photography class as well.

karma++

[Kandyapple]

No problem. :)

[wishbone]

^
so do you sort of learn theory/shooting techniques in a classroom setting, and then have "homework" to apply them and take photos over the following week and then critique them in the class the following week?

That's how I imagined it would go but I'm curious if it's different?

[Kandyapple]

I have a disk at home that has the course guide for each week.
I need to run so I'll post that and then talk about it more later. For homework on the first couple classes it was just to find some of the buttons for next class, and just practice what you learned that class. It is very casual, so we would discuss any issues people had with the homework.
We didn't really have the photos taken for homework put up on the projector and critiqued though until later in the class. We started reviewing photos after the Yale Town shoot, the night photography class, and the studio shoot. (But I'm sure if you wanted extra critique you could send it to the teacher outside of class to get feedback.)

Class 1 - Mostly goes through purchasing a camera, benefits and shortcomings.
Digital Camera Market Overview
Single Lens Reflex Cameras
Megapixels & Sensor Size
Noise & ISO
Benefits & Shortcomings of Digital
Cameras

Class 2.
Exposure
Histogram
Shutter Speed
Aperture
Measuring Light
Image Capture Modes
File Format

Class 3. Exposure Workshop
White Balance
Metering Modes
Exposure Compensation
Using a Grey Card
AE Lock

Class 4. Composition
Reading an Image
- Rule of Thirds and the Golden Mean
- Simplicity
- Lines
- Angle of View/ Perspective
- Avoiding Mergers
- Leading Lines
- Positive and Negative Space
- Breaking the Rules
- Shooting List of Fieldtrip

Class 6. field trip
Went into a park near Yaletown and practiced composition.

Class 7. Using Your Flash
Why use Flash
Flash Sync Speed Explained
Flash Modes Explained
How to minimize Red-Eye
Understand Rear-Curtain Sync Flash
Understand Slow Sync Flash
Metering Flash

We then had a Class where we did night photography, and another where we shot two actor/models in the studio. (I enjoyed the one in the studio the most)

The last class was spent critiquing the photos and going over anything people still had questions about.

[wishbone]

^
awesome, thanks so much for all of that :)

[ebbomega]

Waiting for thebobman to find this thread...

[ebbomega]

BTW, I actually just came across this on digg:
Master Your DSLR Camera, Part 1: Program Mode
part 2:
Master Your DSLR Camera, Part 2: Manual Mode and More

Some stuff about setting ISO speeds, shutter speeds, aperture, etc. There may be more in the series but I just found the two.

[thebobman]

Boo-giddy!

I looked at the uber-cheap Nikon, but there was a open box Rebel XT 8.0MP for $50 more available at the same time. Bought the Canon and never looked back. For an entry Level SLR you'll probably be more than satisfied with the Nikon. Having said that, the fact that its only 6.0MP will probably come back to haunt you when everybody's point-and-shoot cameras are rocking 8-12MP. For my money I'd wait for the post-xmas sales and get a Digital Rebel XT 8.0MP

EDIT: Forgot to add: Check out the image quality of each cam at dpreview.com. at the same resolution I think the Canon is sharper, but the Nikon has better saturation. Your dime, your call.

[Mr Ektion]

Nikon is a great brand as you prob. already know. one piece of advice is to pick up a photography book. As well, if it's an SLR camera, you're going to have so much fun interchanging your lens. However, they're pricey. So you may want to visit rental places to get a loaner lens if you want to experiment before you actually invest the $400 for a new lens.

I recommend Beau Photo which is on Granville just beside Long and Mcquade.

[mojo]

played with both the rebel and the D40x today...i liked the feel of the nikon more.

[thebobman]

Originally Posted by Mr Ektion

Nikon is a great brand as you prob. already know. one piece of advice is to pick up a photography book. As well, if it's an SLR camera, you're going to have so much fun interchanging your lens. However, they're pricey. So you may want to visit rental places to get a loaner lens if you want to experiment before you actually invest the $400 for a new lens.

I recommend Beau Photo which is on Granville just beside Long and Mcquade.

I'm sorry, did you say RENTAL LENS?!?!! *runs off*

[wishbone]

bobberman

if i get a rebel (xt or xti), i'm thinking of skipping out on the kit lens and grabbing a 50 mm f 1.8 instead to start off with. Wise choice to begin with? Or should i get the kit to learn with zoom first?

[ty:rone]

for beginners, the kit isn't as important as the lens
the stock lens sometimes not that great.
u'll end up shopping for better lens
don't forget warranty!

[Revolver]

im a die hard canon guy so i cant say about the nikons. i did play around with one entry nikon. felt clinky and cheap to me.

its ALL about the glass anyway.great glass along with a good working knowledge of ISO,basic metering and shutter speeds is what matters most.

IMO canon produces better glass.

senior whatever kit you decide to go for priority purchase afterwards would be to get high quality polarizing filter to protect your lense and to help saturate nice colour tones when shooting outside.

[b0ld]

Originally Posted by wishbone

bobberman

if i get a rebel (xt or xti), i'm thinking of skipping out on the kit lens and grabbing a 50 mm f 1.8 instead to start off with. Wise choice to begin with? Or should i get the kit to learn with zoom first?

Get the 70 mm f/2.4 . A friend of mine has it for his canon D40... What an amazing lens. It does wonders at capturing light. Its an expensive lens but its well worth it.