 Debra L. E. |
Advise on Digital Camera Purchase I am an amateur photographer who pleases her family and friends immensely with free photography of events! Personally loving it! I started with a Panasonic FZ20, now have the FZ30. I would very much like to leave the Panasonic brand. I just read a review of the Nikon D40. Over all the ratings, I think, look impressive. Especially in the image quality,resolution, and color accuracy at the varying ISOs. My question is do you feel I would be happy with this camera as my first true Digital SLR? The Nikon has 6.1 MP, my Panasonic has 8Mp, does that compute as a major drawback to the "Upgrade" for me? I need some of your expert advice to convince my husband, as I have had the FZ30 about 8 months and he just bought me the SunPak auto 383 SUPER Flash. I can not thank you enough for your help. I most often monitor this sight, quietly gleaning from your expert advice and truely admiring the beauty of your photos. Thanks, Debi
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Who Me? |
5D
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John Nunziato |
The Canoon 5d is one of the best cameras out there for your needs for weddings and events.Even to start out as the 12.8mp is needed for desirable quality.You might need to use these photos for a portfolio some where down the road.Although this Camera is not inexensive.. jn
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Raymond H. Kemp |
Let'see, she wants to start into DSLR and she does not do weddings (although there are other camera's other than the 5D that do a great job with weddings) and someone here suggests pro line camera such as the 5D? A $1700 body vs a $500 body. Real smart Derek, talk about taking a Howitzer to a turkey shoot. Ray
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Debra L. E. |
Ray, I'm with you. One of my step daughter's just got married at an expensive elegant affair. I did not take her wedding pictures. But, at her request I did shoot her engagemet pictures and a session, (all over the town of St. Augustine) in her wedding dress several weeks before the event. They loved all of these photos and used maany of them for gifts to their families. I can't afford the big gun, don't want to settle for a turkey. Could I have your opinion?
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Raymond H. Kemp |
If you're looking to get a decent start into serious photography then the Canon 30D or Nikon D80 are great starts in my opinion. Both are fairly close in price and specifications although the D80 does have a little more mega pixels. Do a google search and you can easily compare the camera specifications. Either one is a good choice for a mid range pro-sumer camera. Ray
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Jenny D |
Hi Debra, I don't know anything about Nikons, but I have a Canon Rebel XT and I LOVE it. I shoot weddings and do portraits with it & I'm very happy with it's performance. It's not very expensive anymore either. Might be a good starting point for ya. Just a thought. Check out www.steves-digicams.com, they have reviews of all kinds of cameras. Have fun!! JD~
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Pete H |
Hello Debra; All the advice you are receiving is good; with the exception of this Derek person. I might add, if you are on a tight budget, there are plenty of used digital SLR's out there starting around 350 bucks with a lens. Oh, by the way, don't get caught up in the megapixel war, it is enough to know that a 6 MP DSLR will produce far better images than the smaller 8 MP sensor Point & Shoots. All the best, Pete
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robert G. Fately |
Debra, once you figure out a general budget then the best thing you can do is go to a store and handle some cameras from different makers in your price range. Well meaning though they are, the folks who just say "get a so-and-so" are basing their opinion on their own experience, which probably won't be of much help to you. Let me explain. The cameras offered by Canon, Nikon, Olumpus, Pentax and Sony (used to be Minolta) st a given price point are more similar than different in terms of technical features. The important differences lie in their ergonomics - how they feel in YOUR hands and how the viewfinder apears to YOUR eye. If you havdle a few, you might well find that one camera balances particularly well in your hands, or the controld fall naturally under your fingers. Or you might consider the viewfinder of a particualar model is too dark to focus effectively. The point is that these are impossible to determine based on reviews or articles or certainly the thoughts of others (including myself). Don't be sucked into the marketing hype - a few megapixels here or a slightly different sized CCD thre mean much less than the comfort you have with the tool itself.
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Irene Troy |
Hi Debra – as the proud owner of the Canon 5D I can say that it is an amazing camera! However, this amazement comes with a hefty price tag. I would advise being absolutely certain that you need all the features before investing in a pro level camera. As others have already said, there are many good cameras out on the market priced closer to the cost that someone fairly new to photography might want to pay. I have read great reviews about the newer Canon Rebel and also the 20D and 30D by Canon and the Nikon D80. I looked at all that was available at the time that I was in the market for a new camera before deciding on the 5D. I choose this camera because it best fit my needs and felt the best in my hands. As Pete says, do not allow yourself to be sucked into that line about how you have to spend mega dollars to get quality or the other line that a pro camera makes you a pro! Even a cheap camera can make good images if the photographer knows what she is doing. Good luck! Irene
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Who Me? |
Real smart Derek, talk about taking a Howitzer to a turkey shoot. I'm just say'n. Its the best thing out their for the price and you won't ever need more pixels then that. You can buy and trade till get there, but if you have good equipment, it'll help you raise your prices really quick and take alot of stress off youself.
What are your parameters for your 5D? sharpness, contrast and saturation
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Debra L. E. |
Thank you to all that responded. Again, you all have come through for the amateurs that pick your brains everyday. Now, I know that in the end right or wrong it is going to be my decision. One that, even at the lowest possible price, could be a costly one. Oh well, can't blame me for trying to get out the easy way. I did get some great pointers and for that I truly am thankful to you all.
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Diane Dupuis |
Take a look at the rebel xti
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