Photography: Help me buy a camera - Page 4

ChipWrecked · #31 04-17-2006, 03:40 PM

I'm kind of out of the loop when it comes to digital, but here's what I'd do:

Hit a few camera stores. Not mass merchandisers. Chain camera stores ala Ritz get very close to the price of the big box joints.

Talk to a few sales folks until you hit one who you mesh with.

Then, buy their box outfit with a Rebel, the short range 'S' zoom (you can jump to the big stuff later if you get really serious) and a case. IMO the box outfits Ritz or Wolf (where I worked, but they got swallowed by Ritz) sell are perfect for a beginner. You get the control necessary to learn some photography w/o getting reamed.

I'm not even sure these 'box outfits' still exist, but I'd be willing to bet that they do. Good for Canon, good for Ritz (markup wise) and good for you.

Also, the sales person will be a huge asset to you as you progress. That's why it's worth the time to hit the same store on different shifts, and different stores to sort them out up front.

talentdeficit · #32 04-17-2006, 03:41 PM

get a 5D for your serious cameraing, and an SD30 to keep in your pocket at all other times. the SD30 is tiny, high quality and has ridiculously long battery life. the 5D is huge, high quality and does pretty much everything you could want.

gusmahler · #33 04-17-2006, 03:55 PM

[ QUOTE ]
get a 5D for your serious cameraing, and an SD30 to keep in your pocket at all other times. the SD30 is tiny, high quality and has ridiculously long battery life. the 5D is huge, high quality and does pretty much everything you could want.

[/ QUOTE ]

OP is a complete camera novice. A 5D would be wasted on him. (Not to mention the fact that it is over $3000). He should get the Digital Rebel XT. By the time he outgrows the Rebel, the 5D will be replaced by a newer, better model.

ChipWrecked · #34 04-17-2006, 04:01 PM

OK, after some quick research:

Rebel XT it is. I see a lot of the old Wolf stores are still around Dallas. Ritz owns Wolf.

Like I said before, if you can get a relationship going with one of these folks w/o taking too much of any one person's time, you are gold. The personal help factor in photography is huge. You should be able to tell if you like the person you're dealing with in a few seconds, you know how it is.

Rebel XT w/ 8.0 Mega Pixels
18-55mm F/3.5-5.6Zoom Lens
1.8" LCD

Sold.

gusmahler · #35 04-17-2006, 04:02 PM

[ QUOTE ]
CW,

What are some good SLR's then? Any links? Just curious...this isn't to say I won't buy a PHD.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here are the ones mentioned above:

Canon 30D
Canon Rebel XT

The 30D is almost twice as expensive. It's a better camera (bigger, probably more durable, faster (both in terms of frames per second and in shutter lag), slightly more pixels), but for $700, you can get the lens kit that fiske suggested, which would be a better place to spend the money.

EDIT: Whoops, underestimated the price of the 70-200/2.8L, which is actually $1100.

Jerkoff · #36 04-17-2006, 04:07 PM

B&H > Ritz and/or Wolf

ChipWrecked · #37 04-17-2006, 04:38 PM

[ QUOTE ]
B&H > Ritz and/or Wolf

[/ QUOTE ]

Camera snobs are worse than audio snobs.

"B&H: the Professional's Source"

OP = noob.

Relax, jerkoff.

He can shop 47th Street Photo when he grows into it.

offTopic · #38 04-17-2006, 04:42 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
B&H > Ritz and/or Wolf

[/ QUOTE ]

Camera snobs are worse than audio snobs.

[/ QUOTE ]

...but are they worse than coffee snobs? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

tdarko: Grind your own lenses out from beach sand. Get on it.

Jerkoff · #39 04-17-2006, 04:47 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
B&H > Ritz and/or Wolf

[/ QUOTE ]

Camera snobs are worse than audio snobs.

"B&H: the Professional's Source"

OP = noob.

Relax, jerkoff.

He can shop 47th Street Photo when he grows into it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Who cares about "The professionals source..."?? (sounds like you do though)...

They have the best prices, best availability, best support, best return policy and, if you do not live in NY, the best price since you will not be paying sales tax.

You: "Can I speak to a manager?"
B&H: "Sure, one minute Sir..."

You: "Can I speak to a manager?"
Ritz/Wolf: "Uh huh....I am the manager dude!"

ChipWrecked · #40 04-17-2006, 04:49 PM

Basic SLR accessory package:

Spare battery (s)

Memory (once again I'm not that up on digital, but I would imagine 'out of the box' memory will be lacking)

Strap (if the box strap is a half inch wide with the rubber pad, forget it, spend the twenty bucks or so on a strap)

Filter (UV or 1A protective filter. You need it. Also, if it's packaged with a polarizer for a decent price, do it. These two are probably all you'll use unless you get into black and white, and even then, hell, it's digital, you can create those effects later... polarizer is basically sunglasses for your camera.)

Bag: a must.

Flash: you will need a flash. The built - in one = suck.
Get a flash that will bounce, meaning you can angle the flash head upwards. Rotate is nice if it doesn't cost too much more. You will proabably spend $100 or so on this.

I don't know that much about paper and printers etc. I take my CD's to Costco and bang out prints on their machine... but remember this is with the scans I made, so I don't have to tweak on the machine. For family stuff this is fine for me.

What you do not need: An extended warranty. Not no way, not no how. Whomever you buy from, even *herm* online places, are under intense pressure to sell you this. You do not need it.