Michelle L. L |
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What to buy?
Hi & thanks in advance for any replies!I'm going to buy a camera soon. I'm an artist with a very good eye. In high school, I took a photography class, and I've always loved taking pictures. They're pretty darn good for the equipment (hahaha) I have, too. Currently, I have a 35mm Chinon fully automatic "compact" camera. It's old & big & heavy by todays standards. It's about the size of both of my fists put together. It's great for point & shoot. The pictures always come out great, far superior than I would expect from a point & shoot. Anywho... This is what I want: I want a 35mm SLR w/ a manual focus and one basic lense that will be good for taking family photos, from portraits to candids. I'm not interested an another auto-everything camera where I have no control over whats going on in the picture. I don't want bells & whistles, but it'd be nice to have the *option* of bells & whistles purchase-able seperately. I'd like to spend $500.00 or less initially. Thanks a bunch! Michelle
November 09, 2004
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Alex Cabrall |
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Judging from the info you gave us, I can help you out with Canon products that would interest you. I'm sure somebody will know the Nikon side. If you want a camera made like a tank, with manual-only focus, with a choise of manual exposure OR automatic (including full auto, Aperture priority, Shutter speed priority), go with a used canon AE-1 with a 50mm lens. These are pretty plentiful nowadays, and go for about $150 at any place that sells used camera gear. Similar models that use the same lenses include the F-1, A-1, and T90. If you want a newer camera, A Canon EOS Elan 7n offers auto focus (swictable to manual), auto expusure (along with all sorts of semi-manual and a fully manual mode), and several metering modes. The body alone runs for $300, which leaves you with some choise for lenses. I would recomend the EF 50mm f/1.8 lens, so long as you don't plan to drop it. ever. The 50mm F/1.8 goes for $80. If $500 is the budget, get a nice tripod you would WANT to use with the left over cash, and you should be set. A few pointers: All SLRs have manual focus capabilities, no matter how new. It will be easier to focus older camera bodies without autofocus, because most have "split image focusing". In laymens terms: when you look through the veiwfinder at an out-of-focus image, it will appear "split" move the focus ring till you have only one image, and you're in focus. Manual focusing is different on New Bodies. To manually focus, swicth your len's autofocus off(with a clearly marked swicth), and move the focus ring 'till the "image in focus" light goes on in the veiwfinder. "bells and whistles": The AE-1 has no real bells and whistles to speak of. The A-1 and F-1 have a few, The T90 looks like a modern body (1986), so it has plenty of these "bells and whistles". The Elan 7n will have them readily availible should you want them, along with a complete line of accessories available in every well stocked camera store. Hope all that helps!
November 09, 2004
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Jacques G-L |
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Michelle Here I will try to surpass my french. Artist.Hummm. I like that, but let othe's saying that for now. The best suggestion I can do after 25 years in photo is trying frends camera to feel the "machine" and to see the result. If you'r lucky on eBay(i was) you can get a Nikkormat (also the EL) with 50mm 1:1.4 nikon"Kogaku"and the legend portrait 105mm Kogaku for less 250.00 . Those age camera are unexpensive and give (in good shape)exceptional results. Maybe in the future the other question will be the addition with medium format like a Bronica S2a with nikkor kogaku lens. Good luck (yes you are lucky)
November 09, 2004
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Michelle L. L |
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Alex, Thanks for the response. Do all newer camera's have lights in the viewfinder? Currently, my camera has a light that indicates if the flash will go off automatically, & it bugs the heck outta me! It's so darn bright it almost makes it impossible to see what your taking a picture of. Michelle
November 10, 2004
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Michelle L. L |
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Alex, I found Canon EOS Elan 7n 35mm SLR Camera Kit with 28-105mm Lens for $420 or just the body for $300 & purchase the lense seperate. It seems the more I look at product, the more confused I get. I'd like a new camera, for sure. I checked online & it seems that the Elan 7n has gotten great reviews. It seems that the kit for $420 would be the way to go, but I don't have experience or knowledge at this point. Nor do I have anyone to ask advice to, which is why I'm here :o) Thanks again, Michelle
November 10, 2004
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Alex Cabrall |
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Humm, I suppose I should have used some better wordage. When I said "light goes on in the veiwfinder", I should have said, "the 'image in focus' symbol illuminates'". There are no "lights" in the veiwfinders of modern cameras (in the sense of that word), but all sorts of easy to read info is displayed in the bottom of the Elan 7n's veiwfinder. Don't worry about it being too bright: I'm used to a older camera in canon's line (T90), and I'd say the info is a little dim. The good thing about it is: you won't have any more trouble with blindingly bright symbols turning on and making a mess. Just to head of some potential confusion: The following info is displayed in the veiwfinder: Exposure information(Shutter speed and aperture. having this in the veiwfinder is a blessing!), The "image in focus" symbol (disscussed earlier), along with some more advanced info (exposure compensation, some flash info, and yes, a flash ready light. It's small!). Also visible will be the 7 autofocus points, which don't impeed composition as much as one might think. In case you decide to use the autofocus instead of manual focusing, there are all sorts of automatic and manual ways to tell the camera what to focus on, a very nice system. As for lenses: I've been thinking about these for a while. That kit lens WOULD be fine until you could afford better....But manually focusing that lens is awkward and hard. Its because it doesn't have a dedicated focus ring, due to the lack of an UltraSonic Motor (Canon designates lenses with these motors "USM".) A USM lens offers a focusing ring for easy manual focusing, and a fast and silent motor for the autofocus. Sadly, the 50mm F/1.8 uses the same system as that kit lens, and is challenging to manually focus. So, we reach a turning point here. If you want to go autofocus, go with the kit, and buy the EF 50mm F/1.8 lens (or a tripod, whatever you feel would work best for you), and 'voila, a modern, autofocus SLR system, for close to $500 ( maybe a LITTLE over). HOWEVER... If you're set on manual focus (a perfectly OK thing!), you'll need something else. If the 28-105 lens length sounds good to you (I'd say it's pretty awesome for those new to SLR's: it goes from wide angle to moderate telephoto, which means you can zoom out enough to get the whole family, yet zoom in to make a great portrait.), You'll want the EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM lens. Not only is this lens faster than the kit lens, it has that USM with the manual focus ring. On bhphoto.com, it runs for $230, which would put you over $500. If you want, I can give more examples and explanations of pro-cons of more lenses, but most if not all are more expensive than the EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM. Hope this helps.
November 10, 2004
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Michelle L. L |
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Alex, this is what I did. I bought the body seperate & the recommended 50 mm lens. I think that will be good for now. The lens is limited to about 18 inches for a close-up? I'd love to do extreme close-ups of my daughters hands, feet, eyes, that kind of thing in black & white. Kind of artsy-fartsy, I know. I also love to take landscape pictures. I'm thinking perhaps I shoud have gone with the kit but I thought I could always ad. I can't wait to get my camera. I think maybe the 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM will be on my Christmas list. Thanks for your help. Anything else??? Michelle
November 10, 2004
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Jacques G-L |
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Michelle Glad you could make a choice, in that jungle. For your closeup interest, and yes it's facinating, I suggest To start, to put on your list the 3 closeup lens set+1 +2 +3 accordingly to your 50mm. Keep in mind the glare are image quality destructable, so think lens hood or better a bellow (lindahl kind) "...Anything else???" YES, A LOT of PRACTICE and reading!!! merry Xmass and good luck.
November 11, 2004
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