What kind of Set up do i need?

[huntinkid20]

I have wanted to get a camera for sometime now and am more inspired every time i check out photos of Bones' buck pictures and other members'. I spend a ton of time in the woods all year round and want a good camera/lens to take pictures with. What is a good set-up that is "reasonably" priced (i don't mean cheap, but not extremely bank breaking) camera and lens that i could take quality pictures of game up to 300 yards +/-. I'm looking for something that is somewhat durable, and reliable. I know i would need a tripod and all that. I just don't know how big of lens i would need and what a good camera to pair it with would be.  Thanks!

[whitey]

Canon EOS Rebel.XSI..Not going to be cheap but not breaking the bank.
I think I paid like $600.00 for mine.Love it and it takes great pictures.

Now if You want a point and shoot this one worked great for Me until I left it in the rain for a week.
Its the new canon 1100.Takes great pictures.
Alot of these guys have a bunch of money in their gear.
Nikon is also good.
Do a search on here it has been talked about in the past.

[Decker]

Anything in the Canon Powershot SX lineup is danged impressive for the $$$.

I found this one on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Canon-PowerShot-SX130-NEW-BOX-12-1-MP-/300483051372?pt=Digital_Cameras&hash=item45f62f7f6c

Before I bought my expensive DSLR equipment, I would use my buddies SX (which is cool because you can get 2x teleconverters for them and really reach out there and take good photos). We got amazing shots of bucks over 600 yards away.

The DSLR is great fun, but SO limiting if you have a budget. My Canon G10 was WAAAAYYY more versatile than my SLR, including a 20x zoom (you have to pay big bucks to get an SLR lens with that performance.) So what's the hype about with DSLRs then? The ability to shoot in manual and semi-manual modes and much faster speed. Now the G-series is what I learned on, and it's a great way to go because not only does it have EXTREMELY good build quality but they allow for full manual operations settings (to learn with) and...AND you can even shoot in RAW format, which is what the majority of all pros shoot in. That, in and of itself, makes the G-series the choice pocket/backup of MANY pros. I will post a few shots I have taken with my G10 for your reference. (BTW, the G-series also has an interchangeable lens mount, allowing you to add 2x doublers and/or fisheye type distorters. They are not the greatest, but they sure are fun!

Feel free to PM anytime.

Good luck,

-Decks-

[Decker]

Meant to post these ones also to show it works well underwater if you purchase the dive housing. It costs some money, but these are all fun, versatile accessories to slowly acquire to upgrade your cameras "arsenal" as you learn and grow in the sport.

*all images shown were taken within the first six months of buying my G10, the first decent camera I ever bought.*

(Be sure to click these two photos to view the full size version which shows the detail and sharpness that can be obtained with an "amateur" camera.)

[Woodja]

Real Nice photos! That first one looks like shots I have seen taken in Belize (?)

[Decker]

Woodja, it was taken about 125 miles NW of Tahiti on the island of Bora Bora, during my honeymoon.

Thanks for the kind remarks.

-Decks-

[Woodja]

Thank you for sharing the shots!

[MeAndMyRemmy]

Wow Decker, those turtle shots are amazing, thank you for showing those.  It never crossed my mind that I could get dive housing for those cameras.  I'm definitely going to have to look into getting one now, especially when I start diving again.  Something to keep me somewhat preoccupied until next hunting season.

[Decker]

Wow Decker, those turtle shots are amazing, thank you for showing those.  It never crossed my mind that I could get dive housing for those cameras.  I'm definitely going to have to look into getting one now, especially when I start diving again.  Something to keep me somewhat preoccupied until next hunting season.

Thanks Remmy. How cool to have the underwater capabilities now with the all the HD video being offered on small cameras!?!? This camera will be my next purchase, particularly to use while kayaking, but it has SO many great uses; the wide angle HD video is out of this world:

http://www.goprocamera.com/ Be sure to watch in 1080p and fullscreen. I have spent hours watching the clips on this website. GoPRO!

[MeAndMyRemmy]

Wow!  Those videos were amazing to watch!  Definitely next payday I'm going to start getting into photogrophy as my next hobby.  I can't believe the amount of detail some of those cameras produce. 

Can't wait to get the dive housing, then I can finally show my family what the bottom of redondo looks like.