Camera Help

[Key]

Ous! Sashiburi! Workloads, actually...

Anyway, my class will be having a field trip soon. But before that, I need suggestions on buying a camera.

I know I have a camera already...which is OLYMPUS FE-230. But this camera doesn't have any of these mode: M, S, A, P. I don't really have the opportunity to experiment it. All I can do is all angles and compositions, with exposure. So that's why I need an SLR digital camera.

Hmm...borrowing from my friend is not really a good idea...I might break their cams...

Suggestions, opinions...especially people who loves photography.
(my lect. suggests Canon or Nikon. I know why. Already learned the basics. ^_^ )

[Kaitou Ace]

Hm, well I'm a Canon guy, so thats my recommendation ^_^ Look at the just released Rebel XSi (450D) or the previous model, Rebel XTi (400D), both great cameras, and a solid upgrade path to the xxD models (2/3/40D, etc). Canon is fairly popular, so there are a lot of lenses out there, and their glass tends to be very good. You can't go wrong with Nikon either, of course.

[wizz-o-matic]

450D is expensive >__>;;

[overwatch]

Well I will throw my support behind the cannon 400D - a recent begginer myself, I have found it easy to use and even though the lens that comes with the body is not the greatest, it still takes decent pictures.

[Key]

Er...urm...I'm only a beginner...don't think I need a really expensive camera, or any latest... ^^;

Lower than 1K is what I'm looking for, just for the body...I think...
I'll try to save the money to buy the lens. Said it's quite expensive...
I only need a cheap camera body, then later on buy the lens.

Hmm...lens would be at least 28mm and above.


Edit:
Question here. What's C mode? I checked my friend's camera (Canon), and there's the C mode on the switch-like thingy.

[wizz-o-matic]

C is probably some custom stuff

All you need to know are the
- M (manual)
- P (program)
- Tv (shutter priority ... sometime labeled as S)
- Av (aperture priority ... sometime as A)

Canon SLR have an additional one
- A-DEP (auto depth-of-field)

At the beginning you'll probably use only P and Av

[MuZ0NaZ]

Avoid Nikon D40/X. Everything else either new or used (Canon 20D/300D/350D/400D/etc., Nikon D50/70/etc.) should be good enough.

[Kaitou Ace]

The Rebels are great begginer cameras. However, if you are used to working with film SLR's, there is something you have to keep in mind. You have to multiply the focal length of the lens by 1.6 on the Canon cameras, and 1.5 on the Nikons, to get the 'actual' length the lens will provide.
So generally a "wide-enough" 28mm lens becomes a much more telephoto 45mm with the 1.6x factor.

Thats not as bad as all the other dSLR makers out there, who use the 4/3 sensor format, and for that you multiply the focal length by 2.

For canon, good starting lenses are:

Canon EF 28-135 3.5-5.6 IS
Canon EF-S 17-85 4-5.6 IS

you can find good deals on the Sigma 18-125 3.5-5.6 lens also, which while not as nice/fast to focus as either of the canons, and lacking IS, gives you more range, and is cheaper.

A "must-have" lens is one of the 50mm lenses, with the 50mm f1.8 being the cheapest (~70$ USD in the states)

And C mode? Like C1 C2 C3? Those are custom modes, where you can register your favorite operating settings, for quick access. I think only the 40D, 5D and all the 1D(s) models have that though.

[Key]

Some difficult words I can't catch up... xP
I'm not even sure myself if I'm gonna use film SLR... (my mistake...should be DSLR, not SLR... xP )

I did some window shopping a few hours ago. Went to the camera shop. And it seems the only cheapest camera is this Canon 400D, selling RM 1899. Whereas Canon 40D selling RM 2K.

Might be buying the RM 1k Canon camera. But I'm not sure about the others. Because I haven't seen every cameras yet, plus the prices. Only this 400D and 40D. Nikon is also really expensive. Changing the lenses are also limited.


Thanks for the help. I might ask again if there's anything I dunno. ^_^


Ah, forgot about this. Which should I choose the tripod? The ball head or the normal ones? Because I heard the ball head is quite expensive.

[overwatch]

ball heads don't come with legs - they come only has a head and you have to get the legs separate. I have not used one, but I have heard that they are easier to use than the normal ones; but saying that it might be best to get a semi decent cheap tripod with a head attached to start with - you can still take good shots

[Kaitou Ace]

Hm, well tripod-wise, I'd say you can get the simplest and cheapest kind to start with, and see how/how often you end up using it. I have a ball-head tripod, and a basic one, but the one I use most is a tiny portable one, so you never know O_o; thats why its good to figure out what your needs are first, before spending money on something as specialized as a specific tripod.

[International 4-8818]

Do you want one that can have interchangeable lenses? Like the canon eos 40d? If you want that, well it's expensive like the 1000 + range. It is around 10.2 MP. But i have the canon Powershot A650 IS. It has 12.1 MP with a 6X zoom. It has the M, P, S, and A modes and plus more. It comes with a panoramic feature and is able to take movies. You can ajust the camera so you can buy a tube adapter and buy the telephoto lens or wide lens attachment. This guy cost 400$ and it works great.

[Kaitou Ace]

I'm pretty sure the point is to get an expandable camera system, so that does mean an SLR.

While yes, you can get telephoto and wide-angle attachments for the A650 (a good camera all in all), you still have to deal with a lot of the limitations of the form factor.
The smaller censor pretty much removes all creative control for depth of field, and the quality of the lens, is nowhere near the level of even the basic SLR glass. In addition, the attachments go over the existing lens, compounding vignetting, and lowering image quality, and available light.

The 40D is a great camera (I have one) but it's not a starting camera, thats what the Canon Rebel line is for (350D, 400D, 450D) and you can get them for a fair amount under a grand. While you get some good things from P&S type cameras like the A650, the smaller censor size, higher noise, and lack of creative options, pretty much demand a dSLR for more serious photography.

[Key]

Maybe I'll just buy the 400D. As you said, it's a start.

I don't really need a camera that shoots videos. That, I'll just buy a cam corder. For me, it's really no use if there's video function. They only gives you limited time to record, i.e. 15 mins.

I'll think about buying lenses some other time. IF, it's necessary to buy. Right now, I'll do it one step at a time.

[Kaitou Ace]

400D is a great start. You can get it with the basic 18-55 kit lens, and add the 50mm f1.8 lens for about $80 (aka the 'thrifty fifty') which should let you experiment with the wide aperture.

[Key]

Hmm....changed my mind. Or should I say, I've been invited to use Nikon (by my friends: photographers)... ^^;;

Hee, still looking onto cameras. Haven't bought one yet. My friend suggested Nikon D40X. But I think my dad wants me to buy D40. I think the shopper said something about image quality having too much noise, on one of the camera.

D40X, D40...er...megapixels? What I know is that D40 a bit similar to D50 (read dpreview.com). Though I'm just not good in differentiating camera models. ^^;;

So, maybe I'll be buying Nikon D40, and not Canon 350D...
Sorry!! I'm talking too much!! >.<

[ZeianStar]

I don't know much about cams but, I got one I think it's a samsung or something. I got it for Christmas last year but.....My dad always keeps in in his draw he thinks I'll break his cam. Anyway you should buy a camera phone I had one but It broke. When I grow big I'm going to buy myself a good cam.

[Kaitou Ace]

Zeian, read the thread before replying, or I will warn you next time, your comment has absolutely nothing to do with the thread.

Key, Nikon is a good company, but stay away from the D40/D40x. They make too many compromises, and will only autofocus with certain lenses, limiting your selection greatly. The D70/80 models are much better if you are set on Nikon.

[MuZ0NaZ]

Yes, don't buy D40 unless you plan to rely on zooms *only*
If you are bent on getting Nikon, get used D50/D70. Lenses are much more important than camera. A collection of fast primes is very, very useful and completely irreplaceable in low light, but manual focus with them on D40 is impossible. And to be honest, in my opinion you should be looking first at the lenses each system offers (i.e. Canon and Nikon), only then at the cameras - however the lens compatibility issue with D40 is kind of a show-stopper if you'll grow out your kit zoom fast. So if you're only buying D40 for a year or so and then you'll upgrade, go for it.

[Key]

Hurm...well, my friend did suggest Nikon D80, so I don't need to upgrade until when I need to. (He's also using D80, with BIG lens!! Sugge!! >.<)

But it's quite expensive, compared to D40. Plus 18-135mm lens...I think I'm gonna considered it as a pro cam...

I'll have to let my parents know then...see if they wanna change their mind.


Edit:
I think I'm only using it for my photography class. I'm not sure about myself...

[Kaitou Ace]

If you get a D80 or similar, you can invest in lenses in the future, without needing to upgrade the camera, while with a D40/x you will have to get a new camera much earlier.

As MuZ0NaZ said, you're buying into a camera system, as much as getting a camera, and if you do plan on expanding your skills and pursuing photography more, expandability is key, you need a camera that will let you use any lens from the system on it, whether you buy, rent, or borrow the lens. Doesn't mean that the D40/x cameras don't take good pictures, they absolutely do, but they will start limiting your creativity much faster.

Thats about the main thing to keep in mind for this ^_^;

[DarkMoonPrince]

I'm more of a Canon type person and a Casio type person. i use Canon EOS 400D Rebel XTi and Canon PowerShot S5 IS, and with Casio, i use the Exilum Optical 3x, something simple. I would refer the 400D Rebel XTi, it's my fave. i like it because of the High-precision 9 point AF system and its dust reduction to the lense. I just like to be more of a two handed person for difficult pictures in scenery or unexpecting events to take them.

~ DarkMoonPrince

[omniking3]

Well, M is Manual... i think P is for PHocus...and A and S are used together for *** mode. But I'm not sure, I could be wrong.

[Kaitou Ace]

Omniking3 was banned for 3 weeks for the post. Hopefully I won't have to make many more such examples.