skinsfanusa
join:2001-03-09
San Marcos, CA
 ·Cox HSI
| [Advice Needed] Interested in a new hobby
Hello,
I'm interested in buying a DSLR camera and need any advice you think is helpful for a newbie.
I got my hands on a Nikon D90 a few weeks ago and loved the picture quality and, I'm embarrassed to say, Auto Focus.
I've been looking at different options and reading different reviews but I just can't get a clear idea of what I need.
I want a good quality DSLR that has a solid upgrade path if my skill improves. Most importantly, I want stunning and vibrant pictures if at all possible with my skill level(no skill at the moment).
The cameras I've been interested in so far are the following:
Nikon D90 and D5000
Canon 50D and T1i
Any other recommendations at this level?
Is the performance on the D90 worth the price increase over the D5000? What about the 50D and T1i?
Which do you feel is best out of the box and has the best upgrade potential? If you are a fanboy, Explain why.
If I can decide on a camera, Do you recommend buying a kit with a lens or two?
Or is it better to get just the body and buy a high quality lens? Keep and mind I am on a budget and it's probably not beneficial at this stage to pay an extra $400 for a minor increase in image quality.
What accessories are needed right away and what should I not worry about till my skill level rises?
My immediate goal is to create a wallpaper for my computer desktop (1920x1080) that I can be proud off.
I would probably spend most of my time outdoors at sporting events or public locations( THE BEACH!  ). I would also like to take pictures of friends and family indoors at parties.
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
Rocky |
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skinsfanusa
join:2001-03-09
San Marcos, CA | one more question:
Where is a good place to try the equipment and any online store recommendations? |
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Dexter
Premium
join:2003-08-07
Beverly, MA
| reply to skinsfanusa
This post has been here 5 minutes and no one has recommended a Pentax yet?
Seriously though, try them out at a local camera store.. see what you like.. Every brand is quite capable. None will produce a superior picture right out of the box. Image quality has more to do with the lens than the camera.
Once you choose a camera, I highly recommend B&H: »www.bhphotovideo.com/
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pog
Premium
join:2004-06-03
Kihei, HI
 ·Hawaiian Telcom
1 edit | reply to skinsfanusa
All modern DSLRs are capable of doing what you need.
Most of us aren't actually fanboys... but, in practical terms, we aren't brand-neutral since most of us don't own multiple systems and don't really know the ins and outs of each. So, when I recommend Pentax, it's not because I think they're the only game in town worth a damn, but because that's the system I know. 
Not sure what you mean by upgrade potential but all current brands are still producing new bodies. The only clear hiccup may be with Olympus which may be putting more eggs in their micro 4/3 system than their larger 4/3 system. I'm only guessing. IOW, if you buy a Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus today, there will a newer body to buy later on.
If you mean upgrade to another class of camera, though... Nikon and Canon (and Sony?) are clearly the game. I use the word "game" only half-seriously. Seriously, because they have very expensive "pro" level bodies. Not so seriously because most of us will never spend that much on a body... so it's kinda silly for that to be a criteria (usually, at least), IMO.
What is your overall budget? The basic kit you need is body+lens+flash card. Add on a flash and you're done until your own needs/interests/skill tells you otherwise.
In the end, I think you should add Pentax to your list of alternatives:
»www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk200d/
»www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk20d/
»www.dpreview.com/previews/pentaxk7/
edit: sorry Dexter  , I'll try to be a bit quicker about things in the future!
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Jodokast96
R.I.P Bassman442
Premium
join:2005-11-23
Erial, NJ
·Verizon Online DSL
2 edits | reply to Dexter
said by Dexter :This post has been here 5 minutes and no one has recommended a Pentax yet? I thought I'd give it 15.
Seriously though, Pentax is a viable alternative, but yes every brand is quite capable. Their main selling point over the others is more features at a better price. This really becomes apparent further down the line as you expand your lens lineup. A few things Pentax offers that the others do not:
In-body Shake Reduction (also on Sony and Olympus) - All lenses become stabilized lenses. No need to buy specialized lenses.
Weather-sealing - All but their lowest offering (K-2000) are fully weather sealed. The others don't offer it until you hit nearly $2000.
Legacy lenses - Nearly any lens ever made to fit on any Pentax camera ever made will work on their DSLR's. And there are a lot of them out there that can be had for cheap.
Olympus makes very compact DSLR's, and the bodies are reasonable priced, but their lenses, while often getting high marks, are just too expensive. Not sold on the longevity of their choice of sensor (smaller than the rest), and hence the lenses made for it.
Sony, to me, just seems like the make them now just to say that they do. Didn't always feel like that about them. But if there are any Sony users out there, please throw some selling points out there.
Canon and Nikon you know about. The one thing I will say is that any Nikon below the D90 does not offer an AF screw, so screw driven lenses do not auto-focus. It's one thing that really ticks me off that they force you to upgrade to get something that should be on all models IMO.
pog makes a lot of really good points (though he left the K-2000 out of the list ), and my reasons are the same for pointing out Pentax. If I were to look at another brand it would be Nikon first, Canon second, and a tie between Sony and Olympus for third. |
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Dexter
Premium
join:2003-08-07
Beverly, MA
2 edits | reply to skinsfanusa
LOL pog you're slacking!
I agree though, there will always be a new camera from any brand right around the corner. You're better off investing in the glass, you'll have it much longer than any body.
I've bought 5 Canon bodies & sold 4 of them, but I still have & still use the first lens I ever bought.
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Hayward
K A R - 1 2 0 C
Premium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
4 edits | reply to Dexter
said by Dexter :This post has been here 5 minutes and no one has recommended a Pentax yet? And as much as he mocks that.... very capable cameras.... internal IS/SR so works with ANY lens, even an atique manual one.
No investment in lens from the film era (C or N) the Pentax is one you really should take a good look at, for value and low cost for HIGH capability.... where and an N you are talking bottom intros.
Nothing wrong with Canon or Nikon, but IS is only the newest and greatest lens, you must pay premium for buying the IS over and over again with each.
And also both have very bottom end cameras (like the Canon XT or no lens drive D40)... N only specific lens that work where as Pentax has placed themselves in the upper mid range and modest cost and work with ANT SLR lens they have ever made. The K10 and 20D very much semi pro level and many pros use them. NO Pro uses a XT or D40 And eevn their one other model the 100 and 200 are very capable on the amature end.
C and N do many all very proprietary in ways.... Pentax is into everything works... on amature and really PRO though even at mid level price.
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UnaFragger
Hi There
Premium
join:2002-03-05
Richmond, VA
clubs:
 ·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | reply to skinsfanusa
I was in your situation too, and went with the Nikon D80 (older version of the D90) and I love it. I would suggest something like a D40 as well, but the reason that I went with the D80 over the D40/60 was because the D80 had much more manual control, many more autofocus points, and the Autofocus motor.
The "Big" difference that I see between 90/5000 is the D90 has the autofocus motor in the body and the D5000 does not. This just means that more lenses will autofocus on the D90 than on the D5000 (that was another factor for me in getting the D80). Check this out, good side-by-side factoid sheet on the D5000, D90, and D60.
»www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond5000/
Finally, my MAIN recommendation, find out what your budget is, and shop a good 300 dollars under it. :P That way, when you realize that you need another lens after about 2 weeks of playing with your shiny new camera, you'll have the budget for it. I wish I'd done that. Hehe.
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mromero
Premium
join:2000-12-07
Los Angeles, CA
2 edits | reply to skinsfanusa
Try to take a trip to a Samy's Camera to hold each camera brand in your hands. You can read all the reviews in the world, but nothing beats holding the camera in your hands and testing it out in person. Looks like the one in Santa Ana is closest to you (about an hour's drive) but if you can stand the extra miles I'd go to the one in LA. That store has everything on hand.
»www.samys.com/stores.php
Calumet is also a nice store and only a 10 min drive
»www.calumetphoto.com/locations |
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skinsfanusa
join:2001-03-09
San Marcos, CA
·Cox HSI
| reply to skinsfanusa
Thanks to the advice in the thread and PM, The Pentax K20D has jumped to the top of my list.
»Pentax K20D 14.6MP Digital SLR Cam w/18-55mm Lns $669.88
From what I understand, It blows the D5000 and T1I out of the water for the same or cheaper price.
I'm still interested in the D90 and 50D but the price point if almost half of those two.
I will try to get my hands on one and go from there.
My next question:
What do you link for in a lens?
I would like to take photos at sporting events so a telephoto lens would be great, Any recommendations for the Pentac? |
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mromero
Premium
join:2000-12-07
Los Angeles, CA
| said by skinsfanusa :My next question: What do you look for in a lens? Do I need fast glass (2.8 or faster)?
Is it sharp wide open?
At what apertures is it sharp? Sweet Spot?
Does it CA or PF badly?
Build Quality: Does it feel cheap and poorly made?
Metal or Plastic?
I usually look at samples of the lens on pbase.com
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Jodokast96
R.I.P Bassman442
Premium
join:2005-11-23
Erial, NJ
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to skinsfanusa
Budget is always at play here. There are lenses offering good IQ at at all price ranges, but the cheaper ones are almost always slower than the higher grades.
On a budget:
Pentax DA 18-55
Pentax DA 50-200
Pentax DA 55-300
Pentax FA 50
Pentax or Tamron 18-250
Sigma 70-300 APO
Sigma 28-105 f/2.8-f/4.0 (discontinued, but available used)
And I'm sure some others, but those are the most common, AF lenses. There are also some good MF lenses out there, but we'd be here all day getting into that.
If you are looking at the top-notch stuff, there is the DA* line of lenses from Pentax. There have been some quality issues on some of the earliest versions on a few of them, but as a line are all good lenses. A few of those are:
16-50 f/2.8
50-135 f/2.8
200 f/2.8
300 f/4.0
60-250 f/4.0
There are also Sigma and Tamron lenses in these ranges that are good as well. For example, I'm currently renting the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8, and so far, so good. |
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robar
Premium
join:2002-12-04
Mesquite, TX
1 edit | reply to skinsfanusa
i'd also suggest the pentax k20d. you can pick one up new for $580-680 with an extra 2 years pentax warranty.. not a third party..
that's half price from last year.. i'm always a model 2-3 times from whats being offered new..
the k20 is equal to CANIK's $3000 cameras..
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robar
Premium
join:2002-12-04
Mesquite, TX | oh!
forgot to say that i sold a 27' sail boat and thought photography would be less expensive..
little did i know!!!
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skinsfanusa
join:2001-03-09
San Marcos, CA | reply to skinsfanusa
Im amazed at how many people like the K20D.
I tried a few camera stores by work but couldnt find any that had one in stock.
I will try the store someone posted a link to earlier and see how that goes.
Thanks everyone! |
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Jodokast96
R.I.P Bassman442
Premium
join:2005-11-23
Erial, NJ | That is one of Pentax's biggest shortcomings. A lot of shops and none of the big box stores usually stock them. |
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robar
Premium
join:2002-12-04
Mesquite, TX
| reply to skinsfanusa
bestbuy $499
»www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp···89166618
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