WTB: Entry-Level DSLR

[R12ax7]

Hey guys:

I know there are a lot of knowledgeable people on here on the photography front.

I am looking to get a DSLR. I am coming from mostly mediocre point-and-shoots. I have been planning on investing in one for some time now but I am going to Hawaii in November and figured there's no way even a decent point-and-shoot is going do some of the sights there justice.

I'd like to spend in the $500-$800 range. Obviously I have no need for a true "professional" level camera, but I would like something that will be expandable and last for a decent amount of time.

So far I have looked at the Nikon D3000 and D40 and the Canon XS, XSi, T1i and T2i.

At the moment I am leaning towards the T1i but I cant decide if even that is overkill for my needs. I like the idea that the T1i has HD video but is this a feature that is really any good on DSLRs anyway? I dont plan on buying any sort of camcorder any time soon (or maybe ever) so if the video is good enough maybe that is a worthwhile feature.

My main question is this: aside from the video and obvious resolution differences between these lowest end (D3000, XS, XSi) and mid-low end DSLRs (the D40 and T1i) cameras what separates them? For a newbie like myself am I even going to be able to take advantage of the added features (or even resolution) of the T1i over the XS?

Thanks for any input.

[sb335is]

T2i

do it, you wont regret it.
a D3000 is good but nikons irritate me.

its a little out of your price range but consider the T2i shoots full HD video without chop so you're basically getting a nice movie camera too. the iso range is the next greatest thing to the 7D.

But remember, its not about the camera, its about the lens.
For your use you might be better off getting a 400$ mint XTi like me, and then drop 400 on a nice EF lens!. A much better choice to many than buying a 1000 dollar camera and having a shit stock lens.

I myself have an XTI and just bought the new 70-200 2.8, which costs about 5x my camera itself. Also remember canon lenses depreciation is crazy in the matter I can probably resell the lens in 6 months for what i paid.

[khaye1]

D3000 is the crappiest of the bunch, opt for the D5000 if you're going with Nikon. The D40 is good but it's pretty much outdated. I had the XS and it's nice, even had better reviews than the XSI...I traded up to the T2i when it first came out, it's really nice for the price and matches most of the features of the 7D for far less money.

Bodies are pretty much disposable invest your money on quality lenses and pick whatever body you want. I do want a full frame next though.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by khaye1

D3000 is the crappiest of the bunch, opt for the D5000 if you're going with Nikon. The D40 is good but it's pretty much outdated. I had the XS and it's nice, even had better reviews than the XSI...I traded up to the T2i when it first came out, it's really nice for the price and matches most of the features of the 7D for far less money.

Bodies are pretty much disposable invest your money on quality lenses and pick whatever body you want. I do want a full frame next though.

Agreed. But for some reason the D5000 looks soooo small. My buddy got one about a month ago and it looked so tiny (even compared to a rebel??). Like everyone said, go with a T2i or if you want, wait for a good deal on the newly released 60D.

[Trijicon]

Originally Posted by twoturboz

T2i

do it, you wont regret it.
a D3000 is good but nikons irritate me.

its a little out of your price range but consider the T2i shoots full HD video without chop so you're basically getting a nice movie camera too. the iso range is the next greatest thing to the 7D.

But remember, its not about the camera, its about the lens.
For your use you might be better off getting a 400$ mint XTi like me, and then drop 400 on a nice EF lens!. A much better choice to many than buying a 1000 dollar camera and having a shit stock lens.

I myself have an XTI and just bought the new 70-200 2.8, which costs about 5x my camera itself. Also remember canon lenses depreciation is crazy in the matter I can probably resell the lens in 6 months for what i paid.

to you motha

[R12ax7]

Wow I had no idea the lens that big of a factor - shows you how little I really do know. I dont know that I can justify the T2i price. Maybe I could get the T1i (also does HD vid but slightly slower frame rate) body and get a better lens - any recommendations?

I guess depreciation wasnt all that much of a consideration. So do brands other than Canon make lenses for Canons, or does Canon just make various quality lenses all of which are better than the stock lens?

I feel like other than the Vid frame rate, resolution and the ISO (which incidentally I dont really understand), the T1i is almost as good as the T2i. Am I missing something?

[sb335is]

Originally Posted by R12ax7

Wow I had no idea the lens that big of a factor - shows you how little I really do know. I dont know that I can justify the T2i price. Maybe I could get the T1i (also does HD vid but slightly slower frame rate) body and get a better lens - any recommendations?

I guess depreciation wasnt all that much of a consideration. So do brands other than Canon make lenses for Canons, or does Canon just make various quality lenses all of which are better than the stock lens?

I feel like other than the Vid frame rate, resolution and the ISO (which incidentally I dont really understand), the T1i is almost as good as the T2i. Am I missing something?

ISO is extremely important
Im about to leave to go shoot football, ISO is the image sensor, most cameras only go up to 1600, but even at 2.8 aperture, youll struggle. What you'll need if you plan on shooting night sports is 3200 ISO.

I'd buy a Canon lens, yes they're expensive, but they're the best. And who cares really. I just bought this lens for 2300, but I know in two years I'll probably get 2000 for it. Or you can get a Sigma for about 850 bucks, and turn around in a few months and sell it for 450.

Resolution isn't very important in camera speak as your megapixels. I took a camera with 10.2 megapixels, took a shot in L in the mode menu, and now the picture is sitting in a perfectly clear 20x30 frame. I probably could have made it 1/3rd bigger even.

If you're not doing night, or sports where you need a high ISO range or FPS, just pick up a used XTI for a few hundred bucks and get yourself a nice wide angle (EF or a used L maybe)

[khaye1]

damn twoturboz, you're a lens snob...lol. dude is a beginner, let him get a feel for the hobby first before jumping head first into an L lens. Tamron/Sigma/Tokina are nice quality lenses for a fraction of the cost, the depreciation value is not as severe as half the value of the lens...I do agree, if you have the money then go for the L. But get a feel for the hobby first then if you like it get an L, either that or rent one.

[remmib]

Nikon has has announced their new D3100, might check that out.
Their new entry model.

[immiketoo]

What's wrong with being a lens snob? Besides the money, I mean?

[khaye1]

^ nothing...i'm just hatin' cuz I don't have the funds for an L lens.

[sb335is]

Lol sorry.
You can make fun of me for using a 350$ body. >.<

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by remmib

Nikon has has announced their new D3100, might check that out.
Their new entry model.

I just read about this as well. Seems like a good camera for beginners.
I personally would go for a camera that allows me to grow into. Now if you are not sure if you're going to like photography or not then an entry level camera is fine. However, if you know you like photography then you should buy something that you can grow into. Right now the T2i goes for about $800-900 with the kit lens. For about $900 or so you can buy a 50D (less if you go with a 40D) which is more of a pro-sumer camera (no video though).

I don't know about Nikon but for Canon cameras you can go to www.photography-on-the.net and check out their for sale section to pick up a nice camera while saving a couple of benjamins. My advice is to go to a store and try out some of those cameras and see which one fits you best and then decide. I mean the T2i comes with video and is a very good camera but its smaller size might not fit your hands well.

[immiketoo]

Originally Posted by twoturboz

Lol sorry.
You can make fun of me for using a 350$ body. >.<

Ha ha!!! Na na na na naaa naaaaa!

JK buddy. L lenses are the shit though

[khaye1]

Originally Posted by twoturboz

Lol sorry.
You can make fun of me for using a 350$ body. >.<

that's alright bro, body's have a limited lifespan and L lens are forever...but damn bro, that like rockin a presedential in a pinto

[sb335is]

Originally Posted by khaye1

that's alright bro, body's have a limited lifespan and L lens are forever...but damn bro, that like rockin a presedential in a pinto

you're tellin me.... it looks ridiculous looking over at a little rebel attached to that monster.

But its a lot nicer weight wise than the MK1 70-200 and 1D MIII last year

[Chewy734]

Well, I'm thinking about maybe selling my 20D camera body if the offer is right.

[R12ax7]

Thanks for all the input guys (and reading this long-ass post, if you do). I swear my head just keeps spinning faster with all the info out there. Hopefully this will be my round of questions and the next post can be of some first shots of the e90 after a nice pre-winter detailing (hopefully the limp mode I got last night wont result in a 3rd trip to the dealer in 3 weeks).

I dont specifically anticipate doing a lot of "night + action" photography, but I take your point with the ISO (I think) that would be a really frustrating if it didnt shoot that scenario well.

Canon:

I am hoping to keep this investment at around $1,000 and was looking to do the T2i (body only) and find a single decent lens that could be versatile enough to be my only lens for starting off see.

Before reading the last few replies (and looking at specs of some other cameras only further confusing myself) I was leaning towards one of the following three options:

(1) the T2i (body only) and the Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC AF OS (Optical Stabilizer) Zoom Lens
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B000NOSCGM)

(2) Getting the T2i with the kit lens plus the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens
(http://www.amazon.com/Canon-55-250mm...8/ref=pd_cp__2)

or

(3) or this package which has the T2i coupled with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens: (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Rebel_T2i.html)

Is the Sigma lens that much better than the EF-S? Am i limiting myself too much by having just a single 18-XXX lens?

Nikon:


Just when I thought I was understanding Cannon's lenses/terminology this D3100 seems pretty close to what I am looking for. It seems to be right there with the T2i and clearly better than the T1i and all for a good bit less. I have no basis for feeling this but going into this purchase i preferred a Canon, everything I read seems to say more people use Canon but Nikon is just as good - thoughts?

This deal for the D3100 seems good - are these 18-55mm & 55-200mm NIKKOR VR Lenses? I am kind of assuming its their entry level lens. (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...LR_Camera.html)

There is also this deal for the D5000 at costco (or is the D5000 old now?) with I believe the same 2 lenses as the D3100:

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...-Cat83&topnav=

Thanks again for all the input!

Ron

[Buegie]

Originally Posted by R12ax7

There is also this deal for the D5000 at costco (or is the D5000 old now?) with I believe the same 2 lenses as the D3100:

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...-Cat83&topnav=

Thanks again for all the input!

Ron

you can try to pick this up, goes on sale at 1:00pm...good luck

https://dailywish.amexnetwork.com/de...ellmemore&ct=2

[R12ax7]

Originally Posted by Buegie

you can try to pick this up, goes on sale at 1:00pm...good luck

https://dailywish.amexnetwork.com/de...ellmemore&ct=2

Woah awesome heads up that could be a steal