Since nesting isn't all about interior design, I thought I'd stretch the scope of Wednesdays to encompass some lifestyle nesting posts, too ... Some will inevitably deal with J&I's impending move to Germany and you can consider this the first! :o)
For the past few years, I have loved my Nikon Coolpix S550 dearly ... it's always been dependable {We scooped it up w/no research at the nearest store after I dropped my old beloved Canon in the ocean on our honeymoon! Ooooops!! ...} and taken great photos but I'm finally feeling ready to make the transition to a DSLR and I thought now would be a great time to get comfortable with one ... you know, before we're back in Europe and surrounded by such insane beauty that somehow {in my mind} deserves more than what a point-and-shoot can deliver.
And because I plan on sharing so many of our experiences {Read: LOTS of photos} abroad, I thought I would ask for your opinion! So if you're a photographer, amateur or professional, and have had some great experiences with your DSLR, please tell me what you think I should try! I've only ever taken an intro class to photography during college so I'd prefer a DSLR tailored for the super amateur. ;o)
Thanks bunches!!! xox.
{Image by Stacy Able Photography via Rock 'N Roll Bride - Don't you wish cameras still looked that cool?!?!}
Wednesday Nesting: Help! Camera Shopping {Need Your Advice!!!!}
Mar 10, 2010 |
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I'm sure you won't get many recs for it, but I love Pentax. It's a great camera company, and I love mine. I'd recommend the K200D or the K20. All the cameras have built in Image Stabilization so the lenses will be cheaper. It uses SD cards and I've never had a problem with mine. If you're okay buying used I'd check out http://www.pentaxforums.com/ their marketplace normally has quite a few bodys listed.
ReplyDeletei bought my first dslr on 'black friday' in 2006 - a canon digital rebel xti - and have loved it ever since! the kit lenses are not the best quality, but you can upgrade as you see fit. she has been very good to me as i have learned more and more about photography and i am now eager to upgrade to a new camera body and take my lenses right along with me. the rebel is a great place to start! i would whole heartedly recommend her! :)
ReplyDeletegood luck on your search! what an awesome next step!!
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I'm also a cannon fan, but remember that the rebel is not a full sized sensor. I just upgraded from the 30D to a 5D mark II and it's out of this world. I told myself that I'd "upgrade" once I'd used the 30D for a while, and I really wish I'd just gotten the best right off the bat. And for someone who really has an eye for detail like you- I have a hunch you'll be happier with clear sharp beautiful images like that one takes. It's more of an investment, but worth it. The 5Dmark II comes with an L series kit zoom lens which is VERY good. Glad to be able to offer a little advice - I've gotten so much inspiration for my June wedding from your beautiful site! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI would recommend a Nikon D90 for you since it is versatile enough to grow with. Don't spend 3K on a camera. and remember it's the lenses that are so important with cameras since the body will wear out. Pick a brand and stick with it since you can always reuse your lenses.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.steves-digicams.com/best-cameras.html
This is the best website that reviews digital cameras at all levels- I would go for something prosumer for you since you probably want to grow into it.
I have two point and shoot digital cameras and one DSLR- Nikon.
Pick something with a very large MP for the price. Because 12 MP can be found on a point and shoot these days. The higher the Megapixels the larger the print. Let's say you want to retouch something that is *almost* perfect, the bigger file allows you to be more detailed in your retouching.
Will you travel with the camera? be prepared to pack and lug an SLR with lenses. Do you want something that allows you to just have great photos at a birthday party? Consider the weight and size of the camera.
Really check out the steve's digi cams reviews. You will pick the camera that is right for you.
I'm moving to Germany in a couple months and have also convinced myself its time to upgrade to DSLR to capture the beauty there. Anyway, I've just begun the research myself so I can't really contribute but thanks for starting this thread! It will help me a lot!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a big change for you! Where are you going to live in Germany? If you need any help over here just let me know, I know quite a lot people in the wedding industry.
ReplyDeleteAs to the cam: I would also recommend a Nikon D90 or D5000. Love Nikon, cannot do anything wrong with that.
If you're set on a DSLR, I'd suggest starting with the Canon Rebel (whatever the latest version is). I don't know Nikon but I'm sure their equivalent is just fine. The 5D Mark II is excellent (I have one), but unless you're planning on going pro, I wouldn't bother.
ReplyDeleteAnother camera you might want to check out is the Lumix LX3. My fiance has one, and we absolutely love it. It's a point-and-shoot, but the quality of the images is soooo good. Plus, I don't like carrying around my DSLRs if I don't have to- they're bulky and heavy. The LX3 is light, fits in your purse, and takes lovely pictures.
I got a Nikon D40 for my birthday, and I love it. It's an affordable option for your first DSLR and it's been a smooth transition for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Canon shooter, so that's certainly what I'd recommend. Choosing the camera that's best for you depends first and foremost on your budget. The Rebel is great as are many of their non-SLR cameras. Folks are right, the lenses are the most important part, so if you can afford it you may get the Rebel body but upgrade the lenses. Also, you might want to consider the size of the camera. Sometimes you want a lighter weight camera when you are out and about! The non-SLR's that have optical zoom of 5x are pretty great!
ReplyDeleteI love my Nikon D300. It's a semi-pro body, so if you aren't going for something so rugged and amazing (hey, I love my camera so much I named her Lily), I would go with the D90 or D70. You want to buy a Nikon that has the focusing mechanism in the body, not in the lens (D40, D60, D80, D3000, D5000 all are this way). In the end you'll be able to buy lenses that are less expensive and higher quality if you go with the D70, D90, D200, D300, and more expensive ones. Also, I bought mine used for $1100. You can check out different photography forums for "For Sale" sections!
ReplyDeleteI hope this helped and didn't confuse! If you have anymore questions, feel free to pop on over to my blog and ask 'em!
Canon Rebel XTI.... it is AWESOME! So easy to use and the photos come out amazing.
ReplyDeleteI just bought the new Nikon D5000 over Christmas and have been thrilled with it - a step up from some of the older models, but you don't end up paying for a lot of things on the D90 that you might not use as an amateur. I've heard it described as a blend of the best of the D60 and D90. I, too, had only taken an intro to photography in undergrad - I feel like that gave me enough background to not feel completely LOST with the features, but there are still plenty of bells and whistles to learn and play with. Our main objective in buying ours was also to use when traveling abroad - and I can't wait to play with it in Rome in May. The D5000 has video - while not the best quality, it does the trick. Plus, you're not buying a DSLR for the video anyway - but it is a nice plus. Also, the screen flips down and swivels which is great for getting lots of cool angles - and it flips all the way around! Know what that means? Much better framed self-portraits haha It also flips around and closes so that it doesn't get scratched as easily when you're carrying it.
ReplyDeleteWe ended up getting it for around $650 - before you buy from nikon, check amazon, and even Walmart (online!) sells upper end DSLRs for an unbeatable price.
Thank you all for your advice - I really appreciate it and I'll make sure to share what I end up going with ;o) Thanks again xox.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of people are missing the most important thing: the lens. It doesn't have to be crazy expensive but the best to probably have is a 50/1.8 or a 50/1.4 if you can afford that (i.e., a 50mm F/1.8 or 50mm F/1.4). It really doesn't matter what brand the camera is either. Do a search on flickr or wherever for pictures taken wide open with a 50mm lens that is either a F/1.4 or F/1.8. This is probably the most used lens for food blogs and will definitely give you the most bang-for-the-buck.
ReplyDeleteAs far as cameras, make sure to look at a micro four-thirds like a olympus pen EP2 or a panasonic GF1. They have large sensors like a DSLR, and most other benefits but come in a lot smaller of a package. You'll get the same image quality for the same price range (although you pay a little more for a M4/3rds just to get the size benefit). Also, because of the smaller size, you're more likely to carry it around with you.
You should seriously consider one of these.
Second I'd recommend the pentax KX. It has good features for an awesome price and pentax makes a nice fast 50mm lens. You can also buy used manual focus lenses for the pentax on ebay or a used site like keh.com