 - Susan Jane Allen  Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
EOS Digital Rebel 300D or what? Tonight I looked at Mike Carpenter's POTD, taken with an EOS Digital Rebel 300D and said, "Okay, that's it! Gotta get a new camera for what I want to do." I use a Canon Powershot SD300; my first digital camera bought 7 months ago. I have two questions. One: Could any kind soul look at my Gallery (I'll have a premium in a few days) and tell me whether they think the quality of my pictures doesn't match that POTD because I lack skill, or because my camera can't do it. True, I've only just learned that I really need to use a tripod, but I usually take shots through the grass with elbows planted firmly on the ground. I was just looking through the thread on tripods and saw that most professionals seem to snap their shots by remote so that the don't even press the shutter! Two: When I saw Mike's picture I investigated the EOS Digital Rebel 300D and found the reviews were mixed. The main complaint is that the LCD screen can't be used as a viewfinder (a big issue for me), though there were other serious complaints about a button sticking after a year of use and costly repairs, which I can't have done easily here in China, not to mention the cost on a local salary. Not only did I want something for supermacro work, like the bug in today's POTD, I also want something that will support telephoto lens, as my other goal in photography is street portraits in which I'd like to capture the spirit of the people here. Am way too conspicuous and if I get anywhere close, I end up capturing instead dropped jaws and wide-eyed stares. The problem is that in taking street photos of people, there is no time or possibility to set up a tripod---things happen too fast for one thing, and, of course, the other thing is you want to snap before people become conscious of your presence. What was so great about the EOS Rebel 300D is that it is an SLR and yet is within my price range, which is about $650 or so (better prices in Macau and Hong Kong than in the States). Okay, so second question: Are there any other SLR cameras in the same price range as the EOS Rebel now that has an LCD viewfinder and doesn't malfunction after a year? Would be so grateful for a reply...!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Michael H. Cothran |
I just want to clarify one thing for you in your camera choice dilemma - To my knowledge, there are NO DSLR bodies that allow the LCD panel to be used as a viewfinder. This seems to be a gimmick of the point & shoot variety only. Sorry. Michael H. Cothran www.mhcphoto.net
|
|
|
|
||
|
Pete H |
I will say this..I shot with a Nikon Coolpix 5700 (5 MP) for a few yrs..Great camera, lots of nice features, decent lens. I have since sold it and now shoot a DSLR. There is NO WAY I could go back to the 5700. Searching thru menus to change a setting, slow focus speed, missed shots etc are something I will not miss. The camera does not make the photographer. The camera sees nothing, we as photographers see. The camera does not create, we do. To echo Michael's response..DSLR's LCD screen can not be used as a view finder, the mirror is in the way..It is only to review the pics. Pete
|
|
|
|
||
|
Mike Carpenter |
Susan, First-I had that camera for about a year and never had a problem with it. I recently upgraded to the rebel xt (only because I won a photo contest and got a new camera for the prize) but the rebel is a great camera. The camera will do alot for you but your lens will make the difference always. Your looking at hand holding so get a good telephoto lens with IS or constant f stop. I really would never use a camera that uses the LCD for my view finder but that's just me. My next step is the 1d mark II but until then the rebel is a great camera. Mike
|
|
|
|
||
|
- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
Hi Micheal and Pete, Thanks so much for taking the time to repond to a real ignoramous! I, and I'm sure many other beginners, really appreciate this kind of thoughfulness and help from strangers. I guess the shock I read in reviews about the LCD screen not being a viewfinder was from those who were not used to high end cameras. As to the camera not making the photographer, I'm sure you must be right. Although I have been able to get well-focused shots in macro mode with my camera, I've never once come up with the quality I saw in Mike Carpenter's POTD with really tiny insects. I'm going to try much harder and try never to work without a tripod. And eventually, I might really try to go with the Canon EOS Rebel 300D, and accept the fact that to be professional you've got to give up the LSD screen as a viewfinder. Again thanks! Susan
|
|
|
|
||
|
- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
From the real Mike Carpenter... Thanks! I was actually going to contact you to ask about the camera and the drawbacks I read about. My next question was how much more would one have to invest to: Buy a lens to take superfine macro shots; Basically, I'm trying to ascertain whether, if I buy the camera, I can also afford in the near future, to pay for the accessories to make the expense of the camera worthwhile to me. Could you have gotten the shot of your insect without an extra lens? Thanks again! Susan
|
|
|
|
||
|
Robyn Gwilt |
Hi Susan, I've just converted to the Canon EOS 350D - what BLISS!! I don't know what the price diff is for u, but I would strongly recommentd the 350D. I'm using the Sigma 18-200 lens and have got some nice 'macro' shots, but can't afford anything more at the moment, so find this to be a great all-round lens. U have fantastic scenery & locations to take pix of, so go for it. I find with this lens, I can take pix of people without being in their face. I think all your pix would be greatly improved in quality with one of these camera's - as Pete says though, more than half the battle is in the 'eye of the beholder'. If you can't SEE the pic before u take it, no camera will improve a bad shot!
|
|
|
|
||
|
- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
Thanks so much for responding Robin! I'll check into the cost of the lens. I haven't read anything about the 350 as opposed to the 300, so will look at that too.
|
|
|
|
||
|
- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
Robyn, Thanks for all your information! I tried to answer your email but got a delivery failure notice. Not unusual for email coming from China. But it said something about a RCPT To notice---not sure what that is but do hope it's not those notices which ask for receipts for receiving mail---hope my computer is not automatically send such a thing out!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Andrew Laverghetta |
Hi! I just wanted to say that you can find other pictures taken with different cameras if you check out a review of any camera. At the top of the review page, there will be a small picture and something that says something like "View Images Made by This Camera" or something. If you've ever used a 35mm SLR (single lens reflex) camera, this is what the 300D and 350D are like. First of all, you're seeing the view through the lens. Not only is this a view through the lens, but it's actually an optical view. I have a cheap digital point and shoot and I know that sometimes it brightens up dark scenes, making me think that it's really a lot brighter, misleading if I should use flash or not (I don't like using flash unless it's bounced off a cieling or something). I like to think of the optical viewfinder on SLR's like looking through a set of binoculars as opposed to trying to see your picture through a small television. You can't use the LCD on the 300D as a viewfinder because there's a mirror and a shutter in the way. The mirror reflects the image up to the viewfinder prism and to your eye. I really think this helps stabilize your shots because of possibly low shutter speeds when you don't have a tripod. I think they have a version of the Canon 20D in Japan that can use the LCD as the view finder but it's designed specifically for astrophotography and isn't really color balanced for daylight shooting...I think. The lenses for SLR cameras cost a bit of money, but they are probably all better and will give you a better image than a point and shoot. Oh, the 350D is pretty much the 300D but with more megapixels. Others will probably object to that though. Depending on what photos you are taking and how formal they are, if you have a lens set at 200mm, you will have to set the shutter speed at 1/200 second or faster if you have a steady hand. Hope this helps too!
|
|
|
|
||
|
- Susan Jane Allen Contact Susan Jane Allen Susan Jane Allen's Gallery |
It certainly does help. I can see that BetterPhotos is really a community. I have learned an amazing amount in the little time I've become a member, as several people have contacted me with more and more info. In the past week, through thoughtful guidance from others, I've been directed to many sources where I can remedy my total ignorance at no cost at all, and am currently plodding my way through a free tutorial on Adobe Photoshop and have vowed not to edit another photo until I learn it to an acceptable degree (and they're piling up something terrible)!. Mostly, I see how hard it was for people to answer my questions because I clearly lacked any knowledge of the basics. I can't believe you all have had the patience to try anyway! Unless I get really stuck, I won't ask anymore until I've absorbed everything I can from the resources found on this site and in tutorials. Hoping the day will come soon when I can ask more informed questions! As to the 300D, or 350D for that matter, had no idea how much lenses cost and that there was no lens included in the price of the camera. It'll be some months before I jump. By the way, really like your music-related photos!
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||