PLEASE Help a Student Out!

First of, my apologies for what I am sure is a redundant question. However with a little advice I can get shooting straight away and hopefully become part of this photography community.

I am a student who is going to begin courses in Photography with in this year. A digital SLR is required I have began to seriously think of photography as a career. I will be trying out many different styles and disciplines, photojournalism, fine art, portrait, commercial and weddings. With my main focus being in Photojournalism specifically Sports, Football and Mixed Martial Arts. I will be looking for a camera which would fit into a students budget with the quality of pictures that I could

a) Submit to the local Newspapers and magazines
b) Photograph some local high school football games and sell prints from my website
c) Be able to handle private modeling..etc
d) Not be too totally confusing me as it will be a learn as I go type of venture and I would like to have started on my portfolio before I start school.

I am a student so I don't have the megabucks but I have thought about this seriously enough to empty out my wallet for.

I have been looking at these various models


Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Canon EOS 40D (w/ 28mm-135mm lens)
and the Canon XTi and XSi digital rebels

However I am quite lost, please help! Any of your expertise and advice will be greatly appreciated,

I apologize once again for a question that I am sure is asked and answered every day, please see it inside of you to help out this eager student!

Thanks,
- OL

Get a canon eos 40D and skip that lens. Instead get a 85mm 1.4 and a 430 EX II

If you shop around you can often find all of that for under $1300.

Prepare to be bombarded, however, with opinions.

Honestly you can't go wrong. Any camera out there, nikon, pentax, canon, made after 2004 (preferrably not a rebel; just do yourself a favor and skip the whole series all together) will be optimal.

Also skip olympus.

IMHO.

Karl Johnston wrote in post #9663287
Get a canon eos 40D and skip that lens. Instead get a 85mm 1.4 and a 430 EX II

If you shop around you can often find all of that for under $1300.

Prepare to be bombarded, however, with opinions.

Honestly you can't go wrong. Any camera out there, nikon, pentax, canon, made after 2004 (preferrably not a rebel; just do yourself a favor and skip the whole series all together) will be optimal.

Also skip olympus.

IMHO.

What about Cannon 40d vs Canon XSI with the 85MM?

I'll second getting the 40D. Lens would depend on your shooting style so maybe getting a nifty-fifty (Canon 50mm 1.8 Mk II, $99US) would be a good starting point to help determine what you would want and then definitely go for the 430EXII at minimum.

tfd888 wrote in post #9663388
I'll second getting the 40D. Lens would depend on your shooting style so maybe getting a nifty-fifty (Canon 50mm 1.8 Mk II, $99US) would be a good starting point to help determine what you would want and then definitely go for the 430EXII at minimum.

I will be shooting Highschool Football games, well lit at night and Mixed Martial Arts events, Well lit inside stadiums.

I will also be doing portraits/modeling gigs.

OLC37 wrote in post #9663401
I will be shooting Highschool Football games, well lit at night and Mixed Martial Arts events, Well lit inside stadiums.

I will also be doing portraits/modeling gigs.

Then if you were to get one lens, I would say get the 70-200 2.8L IS since that would give you the length, speed, and versatility to shoot those sports and do portrait/modeling work in one lens but it is quite a hunk of change for one ($1500-$1800). You might want to look at the Tamron or Sigma 70-200 2.8 lenses (around $700-$900) as well if you can't afford the L or look at the non-IS version of the Canon 70-200 2.8 (around $1000-$1200).

Another good option if you're just starting out is to get the 18-200. There's nothing out there with a greater range. Plus, since you're trying so many different things, you'll need that range.

Even so, 200 will be a little short for football. For sports, you generally want something with a very low aperture and a really long range, so that you can get a tight crop with a clean background.

Either way, for a first lens, I highly recommend a zoom. Primes are (supposedly) better quality, but you don't need that right now - you're learning and you need to think about composition, composition, composition.

The 40D is probably your best choice. You wouldn't want to go lower, because if you have any aspirations in photography, you'll eventually want to upgrade. Even if you go full frame, the 40D will always be a great backup.

OLC37 wrote in post #9663401
I will be shooting Highschool Football games, well lit at night and Mixed Martial Arts events, Well lit inside stadiums.

I will also be doing portraits/modeling gigs.

If you think these events are well lit, I think you might find a problem.

Unless they are in a small minority, they will be lit well enough for normal viewing but for shooting at relatively high speeds (1/400 or shorter), most gyms are approaching borderline for shooting except for high ISO, wide open (f2.8 or wider).

I would agree with the 40D, its performance is way better than a T1i.

Lens wise, I would try the 85L and 50 1.8. You will need the wide apertures. IS is not worth having for sports (unless you get a lens with it for no more cost than the non IS version) because you need the shutter speed for freezing motion.

I would not go for the 18-200 as it is not normally fast enough for indoor shooting (both AF and aperture), however it would make a good lens for things other than sport.

Also look at buying your camera and lenses used - it will save a bundle of cash!

I would suggest the 40D as well.

Lens wise, how much are you willing to spend?

how is it that this guy doesn't even have a camera yet and people are recommending him 70-200/2.8 IS and 85Ls?

here is my recommendation:
40D ($600)
Tamron 17-50 ($325 used)
Nifty 50 ($99)

then worry about a football lens in the summer as the sport starts approaching.

Lighting is also very important.
For $250-$300 you can get some eBay flashes, triggers, stands and umbrellas.

XSI would suit you just fine too, though more FPS and better build in the 40D would suit you better.

XTI I don't recommend because of its light meter isn't as accurate as the 40D's is.

Though if you really work with any of them then you'll grow into using anything, no matter what it is. 18-200 is an excellent lens to have on there, too. I think Sigma may make a cheaper one than Canon...with or without IS I can't recall.

Went browsing around today couldnt find any canon 40d's locally but I did find this deal could any-one give me an idea if this would be suitable for my needs (photojournalism/sport​s/portraits)

Canon 50d with 28 - 235mm Lens also with 70 - 300mm IS telephoto lens plus backpack for $1859.97

Ok I just talked to someone at the school and they said a 40D might be a little much right now for someone starting out and lower models offer enough quality to put together a good portfolio and have submissions accepted in newspapers. With that said I think I am going to go for

Canon EOS Rebel XSi Digital SLR Camera (Body only)
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens
and...
This is where I ask of your assistance again, someone please suggest the final lens I need for shooting sports mainly Football/Mixed Martial Arts events. Please help me find the last piece of this puzzle as I am eager to get snapping away!

Well an original digital rebel or a 10d, coupled to the cheapest-lens-on-the-market - 50mm f/1.8 will likely give you more than enough firepower to take great photos. I'll respect you more for taking a great pic with that combo than the guy with a 1D and an arsenal of L lenses.

Put up a number on what you want to spend.