Photography buffs....questions!

mommy~to~a~bunch wrote: Dh & I want to get a GOOD camera, that will last a LONG time. But we know nothing about them. We've seen kits like this one: Canon EOS Digital Rebel and we were wondering if these were any good? What does SLR mean?

We'd mainly use it for taking pics of the kids, maybe holiday pictures, wildlife, the kids' sporting events, etc.

TIA!!

A&A'smommy replied: SLR means "single lens reflex"

Its a professional camera (photographers like me use those) anyway thats a GREAT camera and would last you a VERY long time!!!

mommy~to~a~bunch replied: Thanks Jessica! Good to know!! I'm so sick of the one we have now. When you click to take a picture & before the shutter clicks, Abby is all the way across the room! It SUCKS .

Kentuckychick replied: Yep, that's a great camera
I wish I could afford one like that. I have a nice Nikon, but it's not digital and it's a manual focus so it's not as much for taking photos of the kids.

I got an HP digital camera for Christmas just to take casual photos but I still need to practice with it.

A&A'smommy replied:
oh yeah BTDT sucks too!!! It really is a great camera and I'm not going to lie it might take a few days to get use to it (maybe longer) because its a LOT different than a regular digital camera. But totally worth it!!!

MommyToAshley replied: I have the XTi version of that same camera. I LOVE IT.

The biggest advantage of having a SLR is that you can take pictures much faster. That was my biggest frustration with my other digital... by the time the camera takes the picture, Ashley had moved and the shot was over. With and SLR you can take several pics per second (depending on which camera you buy). There is also less time from the time you turn the camera on to when you take the picture.

mommy~to~a~bunch replied: Thank you for all of the info! I'm really excited about it. I'm sure I could get it figured out eventually!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I just got my XTi in the mail today!! It is AMAZING!!!!! I had the 35mm version which is very similar, so I already knew how to use it. But seriously, it's so easy to use. Canon is a great brand for beginners. You will not be disappointed!

CantWait replied:
That's the one I plan on getting!! Good choice.

DVFlyer replied: Good choice. You will probably see the term DSLR being used instead of SLR. They added the "D" when cameras went "digital".

SLR (as stated above) means Single Lens Reflex. What that means is that when you look through the eyepiece, you see through the lens of the camera. So wysiwyg (what you see is what you get).

MommyToAshley replied:
This is another aspect that I love. Because you are not looking at the LCD, you look through the view finder, the photograph is going to be exactly how you frame your photo.

DVFlyer replied: Being able to view things through the LCD is not too bad; MUCH better than trying to look through the little eyepiece, but it uses up batteries, I hear. Plus I always felt goofy holding the camera out in front of me trying to frame the shot....

MommyToAshley replied:
The Canon Rebel XT/XTi does not give the option to view through the LCD. I like it better this way as it is more reflective of the actual photograph.

grapfruit replied:
My vote is also for Nikon


we have a Nikon D80 (digital) but we started out w/a Nikon F20 and it STILL takes awesome pictures (and it's 21 years old)

Keep in mind w/an SLR you also have the ability to change lens! Our lens that we had w/the F20 fit the D80. So it's nice to be able to interchange.

Also, before making the purchase check reviews on everything. Just so happens the Nikon typically gets better reviews (and that's not just b/c I'm bias ). Tim's brother JUST purchased the Rebel, and although he likes it, he agrees our camera takes a little better pictures. One cool thing about the Cannon though, it cleans the interal lens everytime you turn it off.

Here's a few I took w/my "film" camera (the F20):







Edited to take siggie out

mommy~to~a~bunch replied: Thank you, thank you, thank you! All of this info is extremely helpful!!

Can someone explain the different lens to me? I'm assuming to take photos from far away. And filters; what are those for?

Or is there a beginner's website or something ?

grapfruit - those are really cool pictures! I love the old fashioned trike one!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Most every professional photographer I know uses Nikon. They are better, they just aren't for beginners. They are a little more difficult to use. Canon is more user friendly.

Mollie, learn to use the camera first and then you can buy some filters. I have a filter from my 35mm (I, too love it that the lenses are interchangeable and I'm able to use all of my stuff from my 35mm rebel.) It's basically just to filter glares, etc.. It's simple, cheap stuff. But I wouldn't worry about it right now.

lovemy2 replied: I have a question - is there something along those lines that might be cheaper? Like $300? We too have the problem of the kids being in the other room by the time the picture is taken..but $500-$600 is a bit steep right now.....

mommy~to~a~bunch replied:
Yeah, don't want to overwhelm my mind! Thanks Aimee!

grapfruit replied:
Thanks!


If you have a Cord Camera or Click Camera near you go and ask! (about filter) This website talks about filters and what they're used for.

Lens have a host of different uses. The "main" one you'll want is a 50 mm lens. This gives you the most versatility in shooting close up (not super close) and "far" (but not super far).
Here's a website that explains lens. There's a useful chart about midway down. This site happens to be pretty wordy and technical. You could probably find something a little more "beginner" friendly.

If you REALLY want to learn how to take great pictures, you may want to audit a photography class at your local college. I know ours allows auditing, so you'd basically be paying just lab fee and equipment fee.

grapfruit replied:
I have a "good" point and shoot Nikon that was about $200. You might invest in one of those for the time being. OR keep your eyes open at auctions and stuff like that. We picked up our Nikon F20 (film SLR) w/3 lens and a camera bag for $30 at an auction!

DVFlyer replied: For most people, the kit lenses are what you will use. They are typically "zoom" lenses like 18mm-55mm. A "prime" lens is a lens that you can not zoom. i.e. the 50mm mentioned above. I would have to disagree with the above statement about a "main" lens being a prime lens. Prime lenses are not ideal for the casual user simply because most people will need/ want to zoom v.s. physically moving closer. Most people want a "walk around" lens which would be a multi-focal point lens like the kit lenses or various other "Xmm-Xmm" lenses.

There is nothing wrong with the 50mm (I have one), but not for a main lens for everyday use for the average person.

I don't think one can say Nikon is "better" than Canon or vice versa. Nor do I think one can say one is easier or harder to use than the other. If you look at most wedding/ portrait/ landscape photographers, they seem to use Nikon more. If you look at sports photographers, they seem to use Canon more.

Good websites are: www.dpreview.com and www.fredmiranda.com

MommyToAshley replied:
I did a lot of research and decided to go with the Canon. I am extremely happy with my decision. However, it seemed to be a 50/50 split when I was doing research and reading reviews ... Nikon users preferred Nikons and Canon users preferred Canons. You will want to do the research because deciding on the body is the most important purchase. Once you start buying lenses, you are pretty much stuck with that body. You can upgrade the body, but you will most likely stick with either Canon or Nikon... There are some lenses that are more expensive than the camera itself.

As for you question about the extras, I would get used to the kit lens first. If you decide to purchase any add-ons, I'd start with an external flash before buying any lenses.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
This is true. Clearly I have no idea what I'm talking about.

I just remember when I took my photography class a few years ago he mentioned that Nikon was a little more difficult to learn. He said Canon was a good starter camera, but still an excellent camera. I prefer it, but all the photographers I know use Nikon. I guess there isn't a difference other than preference then?

grapfruit replied:
I don't know. When we bought our Nikon (of course we were "locked in" since we already had 3 lens, but we happen to prefer Nikon, so it worked). I had to take it back b/c it appeared that it was damaged in shipping (that's all we could figure). They were SPEECHLESS when I brought it back, they said they've had Cannons come back (not often), but NEVER a Nikon. And I actually had to get a replacement at a different store and they were EQUALLY as shocked.

BUT I think either is a good buy. Cannon are usually cheaper. I really don't think the Nikon is hard to use. It has a great instruction manual and there are lots of forums of "experts" that can help. Really it's just getting used to your camera and learning what settings work in what situation. It's really trial and error.

Once again, I HIGHLY recommend taking a class. I did and it was AWESOME!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Yes, I highly recommend the class, too. I need a refresher, I think. I was going thru all my paperwork and it's just not clicking.

holley79 replied:
I have a Canon Rebel Ti 35 mm and would have loved the digital version but not in the budget. There is a Kodak Z712 that DH got me for Christmas that I LOVE it is a 7.1 and has tons of bells and whistles. There is no reason to dump 500-700 for a digital camera for person use. JMO

Calimama replied:
Casey you're SO good!!

mommy~to~a~bunch replied: I've seen photography classes offered through Community Ed; I'll have to sign up for one sometime .

You guys have been a great help. Thank you so much again!

grapfruit replied:
*kicks toe on ground sheepishly* Thanks, the class helped me a lot. It was hard work but nothing feels better then people that visit my office and see my pictures and think I bought them

I have one that I'm sure you'll recognize:


Santa Monica Beach (my favorite)


Santa Monica Beach


Walking on Santa Monica Beach (I love the concept, but I wish I had more time to set up the shot)

Calimama replied:
Oh it's GORGEOUS!!! You need to come back out here and do family pictures on the beach for us!!!

grapfruit replied:
What a GREAT idea!

I actually would LOVE an excuse to go back to California. Right now, it's just a bit too expensive for the flight. Although Skybus is pretty cheap (about $100 one way).

My friend would have to "approve" of course, since I'd have to stay w/her. LoL. I don't know how ready she is for me to crash on their couch yet

How is the weather in March/April? I know they say June is "gloomy June"....

How far are you from Sherman Oaks area? (That's where she lives)

Calimama replied:
If you book it early enough you can find one for like $300-400 sometimes! Plus we'd pay you for the pictures! June is kinda gloomy so was November this year. But March/April is sunny, and still not that hot! I'm in Oceanside/Carlsbad area but I think Sherman Oaks is only like an hour drive from me, so it'd be nothing for me to make that drive.

It'd be a blast to hangout with you!

Crystalina replied:
I soooo love film. Digital is great but I love b&w's in film.

DVFlyer replied:
I know a photographer local to you if you need one.

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: it's only an hour or so from me...santa monica is 45 minutes (no traffic) my mom and sister both live in SM so we drive there frequently I am however partial to Seal Beach...not great for getting the perfect shot but I can throw the stuff (and Johnny) in the wagon and walk there.

MyLuvBugs replied:
Actually that's untrue. The split is about 50/50 amongst pros as to whether they use Nikon vs. Canon. Both types have pros and cons to them, and both are excellent brands. Hasselblad is also an excellent brand used by several film professional photographers.

As a "professional" photographer myself, I use Canon only b/c I like their style & feel. Nikons aren't any better or worse, just a different brand, style, feel. They aren't difficult to use, just when you're used to something...it's different to switch.

SLR's aren't just for pros anymore, and that's GREAT! But sometimes I wonder how many folks purchase an SLR camera and actually learn how to use all the feature that go along with it.

mommy~to~a~bunch replied:
I'd love to get into photography as a side job, so I'd like something I can practice with on the kids & such. It's finding something that would be easy for a beginner to learn on. I'd definitely take a class as well.

Any other tips Erika ?

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
Hi Erika! I was thinking of you when this thread started.

I know I was wrong. That was a pretty blanket statement. I just remember my photog instructor comparing the two cameras and he let me check out his Nikon and to me it was more difficult. Only b/c I'm more familiar with Canon.

Anyway, I'm getting pretty serious about learning how to use all the settings on my new camera. I think I was just afraid to play around with it before. Now I realize I can't hurt it. I'm reading up on a lot of things and I'm not so intimidated. I would like to get to the point to where I can take really good pictures of my kiddos and go from there.

MommyToAshley replied:
I also happen to like the way the Cannon is made, it's easy to grip and light. I think that is a good point that some people overlook. Even if you order the camera online, you should go into the store and hold the cameras you are considering. They all have a different feel to them... some are easier to grip, some are heavier, some have different places that you would hold the camera, etc. My DH is picky about any kind of gadget, and even the noisiness of some cameras bother him.