 BetterPhoto Member |
What Camera to Buy? hello, I currently have $2000 dollars to spend on a digital camera. I have never used a digital camera so I do not know where to begin or what brands would be the best to look for. My main focus will be outdoor macro shots with the camera so something with fine detail would be excellent! Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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Ariel Lepor |
Nikon is a very popular company, and they also have excellent macro lenses. For $2000, I'm sure you could get a good model Nikon and a great macro lens.
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Ariel Lepor |
Canon is also very popular. As far as Nikon cameras go, the D80 might be right for you.
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robert G. Fately |
Cory, the advice I offer people who ask "what camera should I buy" is basically this: go to a store and handle a few different models that fit your budget. If you stick with the major brands - Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Pentax or Sony (nee Minolta) you should be fine as far as quality goes...all smilarly-priced models from these companies are more alike than different. Forget the marketing hype and spec sheets - the important differences are ergonomic - that is, how the camera feels in your hands, how the viewfinder appears to your eye, etc. These are things that you cannot learn from paperwork or tests or other people, since no matter how well meaning, other people are not you. When you hold a few models to your eye, you may find one balances better, or another has a brighter or more easily focused viewfinder, or has a display that you understand more readily. If you pick "brand 'x'" because someone else tell you it's the best, then you shortchange yourself. Unless you use your camera as bling to show off to others how cool or rich you are, the camera is just a tool. And if you have one that you find less pleasant to use, you will be less inclined to go out and use it. So again - go and handle a few models and see which you prefer. Now, you say you want to do macro work - this entails a lens designed to focus rather close to the subject. There are some zoom lenses with this capability, but these are not really as sharp as lenses designed for macro work. So while you might get a basic zoom lens with the camera, you may also want to consider a second lens specifically made for macro work. Each camera manufacturer offers a few, as well as Sigma, Tokina and Tamron - three companies that make lenses designed to work with various camera bodies. I hope that helps give you some direction. Enjoy the shopping!
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Bernard |
Hello Cory I was in your position about four month's ago, I did trememdous amount of research, and with the guildance I received from this site I feel I made some excellent choices, this advice will save you a lot of time. In March I purchased the Nikon D80 body only, (don't buy the kit lens, unless you need an extra paper weight) reputable dealers sell it for about $910.00, It's a very nice camera. I feel qualified instructing you to research the Sigma F/2.8 18-50mm DX Macro($360.00)an excellent lens, and excellent reviews at both popphoto.com/reviews, and betterphoto reviews.
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Bernard |
I must inform you of where thy choices I have made leaves me relating to my next lens choice. what I would prefer is that the Sigma telephoto f/2.8 50-150mm ($619.00) range be increased to 200mm, to bad for me, it dosn't. but it did received excellent reviews.
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