New to SLR and Photography, Support a New Face!

[GoldFISH_no641]

Anyways, I've been looking into getting a camera to compliment my creative side and I was torn between video and still, but I just cant afford the time and organization needed to get a whole video production together. Most of my friends seem to have lost interest in the films we used to make years ago.

I've decided to get into photography and flex my creative muscles. I think I've got a solid amount of potential, but I've also got a TON of questions.

I'm pretty sure that I want to pick up the new Canon DSLR Rebel XT(?) which runs for about $899 out of the box. Now, for the questions.

1.) What is the importance of lenses? This is probably a terrible question, and I kinda get the idea behind the way they work in general, but my knowledge is vague.

2.) What are the "L" lenses I keep hearing about as being the high end gear. What does the L stand for and what makes it better than the next?

3.) I'm really into macro shots and shoots from low angles and lots of light/dark contrast. Does this camera really suit me? I also want versatility, so I dont want to be narrowed down into that single category.

4.) I'm a photoshop wizard, or well... used to be. I've got alot to catch up on with color, curves, rgb balance, etc. Plenty of room to learn. Will images from this camera be prime for editing? I started off as a digital artist, manipulating friends photo's and creating textures from scratch... but I want to expand.

5.) Do I need to get a lens to get started? What sort of lens suits my style?(as noted earlier) They carry a hefty pricetag, especially after the initial $899 for the Rebel. There are some starter kits that come with a lens, is that an option I should choose?

6.) Anyone use Mac's with their digital photo's, or mostly PC users? How much functionality do I have with importing, storing, editing on a mac? I guess this is a dumb question ~lol~

7.) I really like high speed(?) shots like running water captured crisp and clear, moving objects captured as if they we're still, especially when you can really see the gritty details.

I'll continue to add to this list, but I think I got the basics covered. Thanks for any input, I'll be checking back often.

EDIT: Other than the obvious exposure to heat or water like normal electronics, is there anything I need to know that might save me some heartache? Like... Never shoot at the sun, or umm... Dont turn the lens x amount clockwise.... etc.

--GoldFISH_no641, respek'

[tim]

1) The lens is more important than the camera!
2) L stands for luxary, they're the best lenses Canon make, but they're kinda expensive. They usuall have wide apertures and fast focusing motors, good coatings, good build quality, etc.
3) Yes. Get a macro lens like the Canon 100mm F2.8 macro. It's around $450.
4) Yes. Take shots in RAW format for more control.
5) Yes, without a lens the camera doesn't do anything. Get the it lens, 18-55mm, it's cheap and will get you started. You have to buy it as part of a kit with a camera. Also the Canon 50mm F1.8 is cheap ($70 or so) and is great value, and will let you experiment with narrow DOF (ie out of focus) effects.
6) Both work fine.
7) No problem.

Best to post again rather than adding to the list. Once someone's read a post they assume it won't change and won't bother to read it again.

I highly recommend doing an "intro to photography/digital photography" course in your area before you spend much money on lenses. Mine really helped me. There are two books in the "talk about photography" section that are great, "camera raw with photoshop cs" and "the photoshop cs book for photographers", I highly recommend both.

Hope that helps :)

[IainB]

Got to make it two in a row from New Zealand! Welcome on the occasion of your first post. Lots pf super help in this forum. Some wacky, some weird, but all wonderful.

[Skip Souza]

I thought that the L stood for LOT$ of money :razz:

[chris.bailey]

Welcome to our little world. Its great place full of humour, information and 'bon homi'. If you have some money to spend you have come to the right place for advice on how to spend what you can afford and proably what you cant :-)


1.) What is the importance of lenses? This is probably a terrible question, and I kinda get the idea behind the way they work in general, but my knowledge is vague.

In simple terms the better the lens, the more and better information that can be recorded by the sensor, if it is able to make use of it. The two need to be in balance. A crap lens with a great camera = crap results but so does a great lens with a crap camera. The current range of Canon DSLR's are all capable of making use of the information a good lens can provide.


2.) What are the "L" lenses I keep hearing about as being the high end gear. What does the L stand for and what makes it better than the next?

Canons L series lenses go from reasonable expensive to very unreasonably expensive. They tend (but not always) to be sharper than the non L variety, faster in terms of aperture and focus speed and be more rugged and better sealed against the elements. Whether that is worth the cost is largely a personal decision, thouh that does not stop it being debated here on a regular basis.


3.) I'm really into macro shots and shoots from low angles and lots of light/dark contrast. Does this camera really suit me? I also want versatility, so I dont want to be narrowed down into that single category.

I would start with some Extension Tubes (cheap) and see how that goes. There are some truly amazing pics on pbase taken with some pretty modest set ups.


4.) I'm a photoshop wizard, or well... used to be. I've got alot to catch up on with color, curves, rgb balance, etc. Plenty of room to learn. Will images from this camera be prime for editing? I started off as a digital artist, manipulating friends photo's and creating textures from scratch... but I want to expand.

Our resident expert Scottes (bow bow) has a whole series in Post Processing and printing which should get you started and there are a load of book recommendations. I would suggest that Scott Kelby's book has a place beside everyones monitor.


5.) Do I need to get a lens to get started? What sort of lens suits my style?(as noted earlier) They carry a hefty pricetag, especially after the initial $899 for the Rebel. There are some starter kits that come with a lens, is that an option I should choose?

Depends a lot on how much you have to spend. I would be tempted to start with the kit lens and a set of extension tubes.


6.) Anyone use Mac's with their digital photo's, or mostly PC users? How much functionality do I have with importing, storing, editing on a mac? I guess this is a dumb question ~lol~

Another current debating subject. Personally I dont see a great deal either way (Mac or PC)


7.) I really like high speed(?) shots like running water captured crisp and clear, moving objects captured as if they we're still, especially when you can really see the gritty details.

No problems doing those with your proposed camera

[Maureen Souza]

I thought that the L stood for LOT$ of money :razz:
Honey, go to bed!!!!


Yes Goldfish, this hobby is potentially hazardous to your pocket book. Once you've entered, it is very difficult to go back......
Yes you ned at least one versatile lens to start with. I recommend the Tamron 28-75/2.8 XRDi. It is under $380 and there is a $40 rebate until April 5th. The lens is fast, sharp and not too heavy...you can also shoot Macro with it.
Welcome aboard and happy shooting!!!

[GoldFISH_no641]

What are "Extension Tubes"?

Also, what do the numbers mean that come with the lens? i.e. 18-35mm. I mean, I know that mm means millimeter, but what does that correspond to?

Further, are there any reasons to chose one color Canon DRebelXT over the other? Black seems to be the most common choice, is that because the way black affects light as opposed to silver?

Thanks for the responses, the answers have helped a ton.

--GoldFISH_no641, respek'

[eosster]

What are "Extension Tubes"?

--GoldFISH_no641, respek'

Used for shooting close ups.

[eosster]

OBTW, welcome to the forum.

[Deckyon]

The color of the camera does not matter. Some people prefer black, some don't. I think the reason Canon is offering 2 colors of the XT is so many people wanted a black camera. None of the Canon Film Rebel models (that I have ever seen) come in black. Guess people want to "look more like the other cameras" or something.

[DocFrankenstein]

Nah, that's just cause black looks cooler...

Don't get any more lenses. Ket the kit 18-55 and the 50/1.8

Use it and compare them. Soon you'll discover what it is that you need/want. Then post more Qs

Good luck, it's a cool thing. Hope you have a thick wallet. :lol:

[Pyromaniac]

What are "Extension Tubes"?

Also, what do the numbers mean that come with the lens? i.e. 18-35mm. I mean, I know that mm means millimeter, but what does that correspond to?

Further, are there any reasons to chose one color Canon DRebelXT over the other? Black seems to be the most common choice, is that because the way black affects light as opposed to silver?

Thanks for the responses, the answers have helped a ton.

--GoldFISH_no641, respek'

The extension tubes shorten the minimum focusing distance of a lenes, which is simply the closest you can get it to an object and still have it focus on something. The extention tube make that distance shorter. B&H has a set from Kenko thats about $130.

The numbers on the lens are it's focal lenth given in milimeters. That is how long the lens is from the objective lens (the one on the front) to the focal plane (the film/sensor) or in the case of mirror lenses of defractive optics lenes their equivelnt. The bigger the number the longer the lens, the smaller the number the shorter the lens. Long lenses like a 100-400mm let you be far away and magnify and object kind of like the way a regular telescope works. Shorter lenses don't magnify as much, more like a pair of binoculars. A telescope wouldn't be much use indoors and a pair of binoculars would be much good for looking at stars. You wouldn't use a 400mm lens for some thing thats only a few feet away, and you would want to use a 35mm lens for something several hundred feet way, normaly.

The color of the camera has no effect on how well it works, it's like the difference between a blue car and a green car.

Welcome to the forum and I hope that helps you out.