So Many Camera's, Please Help me Pick! =D

[JDM555]

Hey, I've posted a couple of times before on here. I previously have a normal Sony P&S, and ever since I've gone to Photo II class, I got to use some of his SLR's. It's a night and day difference, and now I'm convinced to get one. But all the ones I tried were Nikon. The Nikon's I tried were:
Nikon D40
Nikon D50
Nikon D100

The D40 was nice, small and easy to use, but the D100 took great shots even though all three camera's are 6.1 mp. I didn't like the huge battery on the bottom of the D100, but I'm sure you can take that off, (hopefully) and the D50 was similar to the D40.

I liked them all, but I searched a bit, and I know Canon has some really nice cameras too.

Canon Rebel XT and XTi

I'm not sure which to get, I'm sure the XT is better then the D40/D50, and the XTi should be better then the D100. They are all in my price range, and I found them on newegg, so I'm really interested and want to buy it soon.

I'm interested in photography people, objects such as animals, insects, flowers, trees, car, and sunsets. I also LOVE taking macro, so I assume the lenses included, which is an 18-55mm, would a macro lens add-on work fine?

The List for Cameras and prices are: (Most Expensive to Least)
Olympus E-510 14-42mm and 40-150mm Dual Lens Kit-$675
Canon Rebel XTi 18-55mm Kit-$639
Nikon D40x 18-55mm Kit-$629
Canon Rebel XT 18-55mm Kit-$529

These are the cameras I would buy, but used:
Nikon D40
Canon 30D
Nikon D50/70/80
Nikon D100


Also, with one of these cameras, I would probably want a 70-300mm Lens. I can't afford a $600 lens, so I might settle for something a little less. I wanted to ask, is Sigma/Tamron any good for lenses? I found a lot of kits on ebay for really cheap. (28-80mm and 75-300mm for $160 New BIN) Is sigma any better or same? Do you guys just recommend me getting a Canon Lens for Canon Camera, and Nikon lens for Nikon Lens?

Thanks a lot for reading this.

-- John :D

[pos]

john, I think the XTI will make you happy and the kit lens should do you fine. First learn the camera and just shoot away. In time you will have a better idea of what lenses you will need. I have the canon 60mm 2.8 macro and the IQ is great, i don't remember what i paid for it. Google the lens and you will fine a good price. Have fun with it. pos

[JDM555]

Hey, Nice Name. When I read your post, I didn't look at your username, then when I got to the end, you put "pos" and I thought you were calling me that, and then I see your Username is pos, hehe.

Thank you Piece of Sh...Nvm =D LOL I AM leaning towards the XTi, the way it looks, and material, and the lens, everything looks really nice and it's very well known. I'll search canon 60mm 2.8 macro.
John

That lens is $400+...Uhhh, I guess I'm not taking any macro shots soon, lol. Are there any other nice, but under $300 macro lenses out there? Is it fine to buy these used?
John

[Livinthalife]

XT!!! Just put on e on ebay here is the lionk if interested.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190179871728

[JDM555]

No Thanks, I'm trying to look for new, and I think the XTi is going to be the one I choose. Looks really nice.
John

[JeffreyG]

JDM555,

New is fine and all, but I'd be cautious after your comment on a $300 lens seeming expensive. That is actually a pretty affordable lens.

Once you get into dSLRs you will find that there are always more and more expensive things you can get pick up. Or you might not, you might just find that a couple slow zooms and a Rebel body fit your needs. If anything though, on a tight budget I'd be looking to save on the body by getting an older generation or a used model (or both) so I could spend more on lenses. Higher cost bodies often have a faster user interface and are better at challenging AF / burst shooting work, but for the most part an XT will deliver the same shot as a XTi, 30D or 40D.

I think the kits you are looking at are a good place to start. You might want to check the sell forum here at POTN, used Rebel XT's (often with the 18-55) can be found for a couple hundred bucks less than those new kits.

Some other gear you might want to at least consider in the near term agaist the budget:
Memory cards
tripod
and perhaps a fast prime. A fast prime is an excellent instructor for newer photogs. Look at the Sigma 30 f/1.4 or Canon EF 28 f/1.8 if you can swing it or the Canon EF 50 f/1.8 if you can't. These are a nice compliment to the slow kit zoom lenses.

One last bit of gear that is really indespensible for anybody who wants to take family type shots is a hotshoe flash unit like the Canon 430EX that can be bounced on the ceiling. Getting, learning and using a bounced flash will do more for your family snapshot quality than almost anything else.

[JDM555]

Couple hundred bucks less than those new kits? I can't seem to find a used Rebel XT or XTi with just that lens for $400 or even $500. The body is like $615, so this lens is $15-20. I never said the $300 lens is expensive, I said the $400+ lens was expensive. I'm young, so Having a $1000 to spend on a camera isn't easy. I will really look into a VR lens a couple of months down the road, I have a photo II teacher, so I'll ask him about all this also.
John

[JeffreyG]

Couple hundred bucks less than those new kits? I can't seem to find a used Rebel XT or XTi with just that lens for $400 or even $500. The body is like $615, so this lens is $15-20. I never said the $300 lens is expensive, I said the $400+ lens was expensive. I'm young, so Having a $1000 to spend on a camera isn't easy. I will really look into a VR lens a couple of months down the road, I have a photo II teacher, so I'll ask him about all this also.
John

I think (from personal experience) that you can get a Rebel XT with EF-S 18-55 kit lens and all the original software and cords for less than $400. Otherwise I got ripped off when I sold mine.....

So a good quality / low cost kit for the aspiring amatuer:
Rebel XT kit w/18-55 $400
Canon EF 50 f/1.8 $80
2 1 gig cards $45
430EX flash $240
Total $765

Upgrades to mull:
Trade the 50/1.8 for a wider prime (better on the APS-C sensor) like the 28/1.8 or Sigma 30/1.4 for another $250.

Or skip looking for the XT with an 18-55 kit lens and get the new 18-55 IS (image stabilized) for another $175.

Finally, you might want a telephoto....best bang for the budget buck is the Sigma 70-300f/4-5.6 DG APO for about $200.

As for Nikon, I'm sure they are nice but I suggest skipping the D40/D40X if you interests in learning photography go beyond family snapshots. An older D50 would be better. The problem is that Nikon deleted the focus motor in the body on the D40 to save cost and this means all of the older Nikon prime lenses will not autofocus on the D40. If you grow into photography and want to move from just new zooms you will find the D40 limiting.

[Tumeg]

Hey, I've posted a couple of times before on here. I previously have a normal Sony P&S, and ever since I've gone to Photo II class, I got to use some of his SLR's. It's a night and day difference, and now I'm convinced to get one. But all the ones I tried were Nikon. The Nikon's I tried were:
Nikon D40
Nikon D50
Nikon D100

The D40 was nice, small and easy to use, but the D100 took great shots even though all three camera's are 6.1 mp. I didn't like the huge battery on the bottom of the D100, but I'm sure you can take that off, (hopefully) and the D50 was similar to the D40.

I liked them all, but I searched a bit, and I know Canon has some really nice cameras too.

Canon Rebel XT and XTi

I'm not sure which to get, I'm sure the XT is better then the D40/D50, and the XTi should be better then the D100. They are all in my price range, and I found them on newegg, so I'm really interested and want to buy it soon.

I'm interested in photography people, objects such as animals, insects, flowers, trees, car, and sunsets. I also LOVE taking macro, so I assume the lenses included, which is an 18-55mm, would a macro lens add-on work fine?

The List for Cameras and prices are: (Most Expensive to Least)
Olympus E-510 14-42mm and 40-150mm Dual Lens Kit-$675
Canon Rebel XTi 18-55mm Kit-$639
Nikon D40x 18-55mm Kit-$629
Canon Rebel XT 18-55mm Kit-$529

These are the cameras I would buy, but used:
Nikon D40
Canon 30D
Nikon D50/70/80
Nikon D100


Also, with one of these cameras, I would probably want a 70-300mm Lens. I can't afford a $600 lens, so I might settle for something a little less. I wanted to ask, is Sigma/Tamron any good for lenses? I found a lot of kits on ebay for really cheap. (28-80mm and 75-300mm for $160 New BIN) Is sigma any better or same? Do you guys just recommend me getting a Canon Lens for Canon Camera, and Nikon lens for Nikon Lens?

Thanks a lot for reading this.

-- John :D

I was in the same exact situation as you....
For the first decision (Nikon or Canon) it all comes down to the way they feel to you, it is all personal preference.
Now for the camera, I went with canon rebel XTi with kit lens.
I also got the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6, which was $190. This is a VERY sharp and nice lens, it is my most used lens atm. After seeing the shots from the sigma, you will throw away your kit lens. (The quality is that of a point and shoot) I would say, buy the XTi body, Sigma 70-300mm (acts as macro and telephoto lens) and the nifty fifty (50mm f/1.8) and you should be set for a while,
I spent a total of $1k on my setup, and if I was smart I could have spent a bit less...
XTi, kit lens, sigma 70-300mm, 50mm, 28-80mm, + bag and accessories.

[JDM555]

Ok, I was wondering about the sigma and tamron. Thanks for telling me about the 70-300mm and how its a good lens. I will try to find a used XTi body and buy a new/used 70-300mm sigma, I will also get 2 1GB cards or 2 2GB cards, nice tripod, and that will be fine for me. All I need from there is photoshop,photomatix, camera/lens and battery, charger, usb cable and im GOOD! Thanks for the help guys, I'll try looking for used body.
John

I also realized how the D40 wasn't autofocus when I used it, thanks for the heads up.

Rebel XTi
Sigma 70-300mm
Nice Tripod
Memory Card

:D

[JDM555]

Also, do these filters work? Or just lame and crappy way of macro?

http://www.users.qwest.net/~larrywalker/3CloseUpFilters.jpg

Also, Since I will be buying a Rebel XTi, I will get the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 lens, but should I also get a SIgma 28-70mm f/2.8-4 lens? I remember using my teachers camera's, the d40 lens was a Nikkor 18-135mm, and then on his D100, the lens with 80-200mm, and I can imagine the 70-300 being similiar to his, and his was way to zoomed in, I can't stand that, but then again, the the 70-300mm has like a macro setting or whatever? How does that thing work? Or should I just get two? I found a 70-300mm brand new for $130 shipped, and 28-70mm lens for $75 Shipped. It should be about $650 total for my camera/lenses/2gb memory card.

Also, I found a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 III up for auction, If that goes under $300, should I get that? Or just stick with the sigma f/4-5.6?

[Tumeg]

I haven't tried them,
and I haven't read about anyone who has.
They look like they work, but I would suggest saving up and getting the $160 kenko macro extension tube set.

[JeffreyG]

A better way to shoot macro on the cheap is with an extension tube. This fits between your camera and lens and increases the relative magnification of the lens. They are cheap and very functional, especially with prime lenses. An extension and a 50/1.8 is a very cheap setup for macro.

Another path is a reverse coupler, with threads into the filter threads of a lens and allows you to mount it backwards. This again works with prime lenses.

These low cost options will not autofocus (not a big deal at macro range in general) and they do not provide the absolute flat plane of focus that true macro lenses do....but they are quite good for casual use.

Something like my own EF 50 f/2.5 compact macro is also pretty OK for cheap casual macro work. You can find them used for about $200.

Visit the lens forum here at POTN and ask about cheap approaches to macro using extension tubes etc and some of the very knowledgable folks here can guide you.

[JDM555]

What about the lenses I posted? And where can I find this extension tube? Can you tell me a name or something so I can search for it. I'm getting really interested with this camera deal, can't wait to take some HDR photos!
John

[JeffreyG]

What about the lenses I posted?

No idea really, I just know the most common path for macro on the cheap is to use an extension tube. My guess is that the extension will give much higher quality (no cheapo glass elements involved) for less money.

And where can I find this extension tube? Can you tell me a name or something so I can search for it.

Just go to B&H photo or Adorama and type "extension tube" into their search. I think a perfectly usable Kenko 25mm extension (this is what you want with a 50mm prime) will set you back about $70. The 50mm + extension combo will give you macro to about 1:0.68 magnification...which is pretty good.

[JDM555]

Ok, Thanks a lot JeffreyG. I am looking at a couple of auctions on ebay. There is a new Sigma 70-300mm going, Canon 70-300mm lens going, couple of used XTi's, D80's, and D100's, and the Sigma 28-70mm lens. Hopefully I get this camera/lenses before Christmas. I just love photography!!!...but i'm cheap lol

[GTriever]

An inexpensive lens in your price range to consider is the Promaster 70-300mm Macro, which is actually made by Tamron and is under $200. It's not the best lens by any means, but it is adequate as a beginner zoom telephoto lens and the 180-300 Macro function works well. The main problem I had with it was the color fringing, which made it inadequate for birding.