Post by: jrebel on January 01, 2010, 05:23:32 PM
Thanks in advance for any and all input on this info.
jrebel
Post by: boneaddict on January 01, 2010, 05:59:20 PM
Post by: jrebel on January 01, 2010, 06:46:51 PM
How do these slr's do in sub freezing weather? I will be taking pictures year around, but for obvious reasons winter seems to be the best time in the area I live.
Post by: boneaddict on January 01, 2010, 06:52:08 PM
Post by: jrebel on January 01, 2010, 10:19:05 PM
Post by: halflife65 on January 02, 2010, 11:27:15 AM
I'd buy a Canon. Have always loved it. Nikon is as good I am sure. i would look at a 40D. 20D would work as well and save you some cash, but really a 40D has really come down in price. bodies are the cheap part. Then I'd suggest the 300 F4 lens. its about a 1000 right now and I'd pick up a 1.4 extender. That will give you the reach you need. or the 100-400 lens.
I just did some searching for a new camera and ended up with a 30d. The 30d with a 18 -55mm lens was $422 out the door but the 40d (body only) was about $650. Mostly, I wanted to save my money for lenses. I found a couple of deals on fredmiranda.com and, if you're willing to take a little bit of risk (by that I mean that you don't know if the people are telling you the truth or not), there are a million of them on eBay. I just followed some of them on eBay so that I could get an idea of the average price that they were selling for...$600 to $650 seems right. I saw a couple of people getting in a bidding war and go a little higher, but that's foolish since it looks like it is pretty easy to buy one.
Post by: bucklucky on January 02, 2010, 12:18:46 PM
Post by: olsy on January 02, 2010, 12:24:46 PM
Post by: huntnphool on January 02, 2010, 12:42:29 PM
I prefer Canon as well and I know there are a few guys on here that prefer Nikon. Hard to go wrong with either but one thing you might consider is the feedback and help. Not a knock on them at all but for some reason the Nikon guys don't post as much as the Canon guys, again not a knock but its true. You are likely going to have questions answered quicker from a Canon shooter for the simple fact that there are more of us and we post more info and pics. Another factor you might consider is if you get together with a group from here for a photo trip, swapping lenses to try them out is nice. Sure general questions can be answered but when it comes to specific operation of your camera, its not as easy when not familiar with the brand/model.
Once you pic one up, try to get together with someone that is familiar with the workings, you will learn more in a day of shooting with someone like that than you will with a dozen books.
All this being said, dont be affraid to pull the trigger on a Nikon if its a good deal, there is a lot of nice glass to be had with either.
This is just MHO, YMMV. :twocents:
Post by: jrebel on January 02, 2010, 12:47:27 PM
Right now Costco has a cannon $669.99 after $100 OFF
Canon EOS Rebel XS
Up to 3 Frames per Second
Rechargeable Battery
7-point AF w/ Center Cross Type
Auto Lighting Optimizer
SD/SDHC Compatible
Plus Shipping & Handling
Come with an 18-55 lense and a 75-300 lense
10.2 megapixel and 2.5" LCD
They also have a Nikon
$649.99 after $100 Savings
Nikon D3000
Up to 3 Frames per Second
ISO up to 1600
11 Autofocus Areas
In-Camera Image Editing
Item # 448261
two lenses 18-55 and 75-200
The Nikon D4000 is about 200 dollars more.
Post by: halflife65 on January 04, 2010, 07:08:17 AM
Where did you buy your 30d, craigslist ? Ive been having a hard time pulling the trigger on a camera.
Just need to keep looking around - you'll find one. I just found this in Yakima:
http://yakima.craigslist.org/pho/1521175321.html
I have a Canon 20D in great shape with under 3000 actuations. It comes with the battery, charger, box, software, and Sigma 70-300 digitally stabalized lens. I used the camera to shoot weddings and portraits mainly. It is a great camera. I am only selling because I recently upgraded. Please email me if you are interested.
The guy wants $450, so I might work on the price with him a little bit. He is probably thinking that the lens is worth a few hundred bucks (brand new they seem to be around $200 if it is the same lens that I just did a quick search on.) Some others (good photographers on this site) have suggested NOT going with that particular lens, but if you could get the price down slightly, sell the lens, add a few hundred bucks, and buy a good one. After you sell it, if you want to wait a bit and collect some more money, just buy a standard 18 - 55mm to get you by for under $100.
Post by: halflife65 on January 04, 2010, 07:14:25 AM
http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/for/1536241582.html
Wants $350, body only, and has no charger but it does look like it comes with the box, manuals, etc. I looked to make sure that it had all of the original stuff when I bought one because I wanted to do my best to make sure that it wasn't stolen. This one is probably ok - maybe the guy wanted to keep an extra charger for his new setup.
Post by: Tom Reichner on January 04, 2010, 02:24:58 PM
I'd buy a Canon. Have always loved it. Nikon is as good I am sure. i would look at a 40D. 20D would work as well and save you some cash, but really a 40D has really come down in price. bodies are the cheap part. Then I'd suggest the 300 F4 lens. its about a 1000 right now and I'd pick up a 1.4 extender. That will give you the reach you need. or the 100-400 lens.
:yeah:
I prefer Canon as well and I know there are a few guys on here that prefer Nikon. Hard to go wrong with either but one thing you might consider is the feedback and help. Not a knock on them at all but for some reason the Nikon guys don't post as much as the Canon guys, again not a knock but its true. You are likely going to have questions answered quicker from a Canon shooter for the simple fact that there are more of us and we post more info and pics.
Another factor you might consider is if you get together with a group from here for a photo trip, swapping lenses to try them out is nice. Sure general questions can be answered but when it comes to specific operation of your camera, its not as easy when not familiar with the brand/model.
:yeah:
Couldn't have said it better myself!
Post by: elksnout on January 05, 2010, 08:06:04 PM
Post by: jrebel on January 05, 2010, 09:22:40 PM
Really good question...I get really nervous when I buy anything electronic used, especially something that is very delicate. I used to shoot with a nikon N65, I treated and carried that thing like it was my third child. I know a lot of people don't treat their stuff as nice.
Post by: boneaddict on January 06, 2010, 05:39:27 AM
Post by: wapiti hunter2 on January 06, 2010, 12:27:59 PM
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800673109-USE/Canon_7082A010_EOS_1D_Digital_Camera.html#features
I have used B&H for 15 years and I trust them completely.
Post by: elksnout on January 06, 2010, 08:08:15 PM
Post by: huntnphool on January 06, 2010, 08:52:43 PM
Quote
The few I've priced so far on Craigslist seem to be not much less than buying new.
Are you kidding me? My 20D was almost $1500 new when I bought it. You can pick them up for $300 all day now. 30D and 40D were the same but since they are newer they have not come down in price quite as far yet but even the 40D can be picked up for $600.
Post by: elksnout on January 07, 2010, 08:16:00 PM
Post by: jrebel on January 07, 2010, 08:34:19 PM
Post by: huntnphool on January 07, 2010, 08:37:02 PM
Post by: CastleRocker on January 19, 2010, 12:07:00 PM
Post by: whacker1 on January 19, 2010, 12:43:15 PM
50d can take picks at 6.3 frames per second where the others are slower.
these were the two main reasons I was looking at buying new. the 50d does have more features than the others, but these were the main reasons I was considering buying up.
With that said, I still haven't bought one, because I figure that I can buy a used camera body and put the extra $1000 toward a lens.
Should the used camera fail - well then you buy another used one for $300. $300 to put at risk for a 20d is not much in comparison to 4 times that for a 50d new ($1200).
When I do buy a camera body, I am going to buy a used body to save some coin for a lens. Several of the guys on this site have been extremely helpful in molding my opinions, based on the intended use of my camera. I picked up my father-in-laws 35 mm camera this year to see if I truly would use a $2000 camera at its full potential. I have taken about 6 or 7 roles of film, and decided that clarity is desired via the L series lenses, but I won't be using it to the extent that Bone or Huntnphool or Tom Reicher use their cameras. I don't have enough time to use them that much, which is another reason I will be starting with a 20d or 30d. If I use it to the extent I hope to.....then maybe 5 years down the road I upgrade to a newer camera. Ultimately I would keep the $300 camera as a backup or in teaching my son about nature.
Post by: huntnphool on January 19, 2010, 01:08:52 PM
40D has 10.1mp and the 50D has 15.1mp. Don't get all hung up on the pixels though, unless you are enlarging images up to poster size, or shooting pics from exteme distance and cropping way down to increase subject size, you won't see the difference. Even making images poster size, my images taken with a 20D have turned out very well.
The 40D shoots the same frames per second as the 50D, 6.5 ;) The 20D and 30D can shoot continuously at 5 fps for up to 23 frames.
Quote
I still haven't bought one, because I figure that I can buy a used camera body and put the extra $1000 toward a lens.
Sound advice right there, I would start with a 20D and put the rest of the money into quality glass. :twocents:
Post by: halflife65 on January 19, 2010, 04:19:02 PM
By the way, my lens choices are going to be 70 - 200mm L f4 IS and 300mm L f5.6 with a 1.4x teleconverter. I'm saving for them now. I'd be interested in seeing what you decide to buy for your lens(es).
There is a TON of stuff to learn to be able to take a good photo. I mean, you can take pictures within a couple of minutes, but to do it right takes a little bit of practice. Not to mention post-processing with PhotoShop. You'll have a big learning curve with a 20d or a 30d and the rest of the options you get with newer cameras aren't very critical at this point, anyway.
I do have to say that taking a bunch of frames/second is pretty funny, though. I have a couple of of things that look hilarious when you just go frame by frame. Wife running circles around the kitchen table, caught my dog puking, etc.
Post by: boneaddict on January 19, 2010, 04:21:11 PM
Post by: whacker1 on January 19, 2010, 04:34:03 PM
assuming less funds (which there are none at present, because I bought a 22-250 instead) then the 70-200 f4 IS or the 300 l f5.6 with a 1.4 leleconverter would be a lot more likely.
I was leaning on the 70-200 side vs. the 300 because it would be more versatile on the front end of learning and everday uses vs the strict telephoto uses. plus with the 1.4 teleconverter would buy me some time. and then the second lens would be the 300 direction
The majority of photography folks talked me out of using the 100-400 based on the other lenses being of higher quality glass.
Post by: boneaddict on January 19, 2010, 04:35:12 PM
Post by: whacker1 on January 19, 2010, 04:43:07 PM
Where with the 300 - eventually I would hope to upgrade to the 400 :dunno:
Post by: halflife65 on January 19, 2010, 04:43:48 PM
Post by: boneaddict on January 19, 2010, 04:46:32 PM
Post by: halflife65 on January 19, 2010, 04:54:29 PM
Post by: whacker1 on January 19, 2010, 04:55:40 PM
Post by: boneaddict on January 19, 2010, 05:04:51 PM
Post by: whacker1 on January 19, 2010, 05:05:42 PM
Post by: halflife65 on January 19, 2010, 05:07:43 PM
i need to get better at scrimping
Yes, my scrimper is malfunctioning.
Post by: boneaddict on January 19, 2010, 05:12:35 PM
Post by: whacker1 on January 19, 2010, 05:14:08 PM
I told you that I was very good at this scrimping business :chuckle:
Post by: halflife65 on January 19, 2010, 05:18:24 PM
Tax returns are always a good place to start. ;)
I promised my wife she could buy a new *$&*# saddle. Also, I'm in the process for putting in out of state, so I may be spending some money, too.
Post by: huntnphool on January 19, 2010, 05:31:52 PM
For starting out you will be far more adaptable to different situations with the 70-200 Vs. the 300mm and will be more likely to do more. :twocents:
Another thing to think about, if you buy a good quality used lens it will already have depreciated for the most part, odds of being able to use it for a year or two, before moving up, and retaining your investment when selling it are very good. I know Pope is moving up to a 300mm 2.8 IS and is selling his 70-200mm 2.8 IS right now and just dropped the price, its a very good deal for that lens. You could use it for a year or two and probably still get the money you pay for it when it comes time to sell it. As always YMMV.
Post by: whacker1 on January 19, 2010, 07:37:07 PM
But yes I was leaning to 70-200 as well. I just figured it would be a logical fit for a long time just based on its versatility and broad array of uses. I was thinking used as well. Out of curiousity what is Pope's lens going for?
Post by: boneaddict on January 19, 2010, 07:52:47 PM
Post by: whacker1 on January 19, 2010, 08:06:54 PM
I know the same is said for me when they see my truck parked at a gate. Something along the lines of "Is that a 97 F150" "Sure is" "Wow that looks like it has about 150,000 miles on it" "Maybe he has knock off, 1/2 drank coffee in the cab and some keystone lights in the cooler in the back" "Yeah, lets drive up the road until we find something worth stealling...."
at least that is how I play it out when I walk back to the truck laughin at myself and some of the pretty trucks that drive by.
Post by: kenbell27 on January 19, 2010, 08:13:03 PM
Post by: halflife65 on January 19, 2010, 08:18:16 PM
Wow, that lady has really nice...camera equipment.
Post by: CastleRocker on January 19, 2010, 08:32:10 PM
Post by: whacker1 on January 19, 2010, 08:36:54 PM
i have now compared the L series to stuff below and can tell the difference is worth the money
Post by: CastleRocker on January 19, 2010, 08:42:21 PM
Post by: huntnphool on January 19, 2010, 09:24:51 PM
Post by: boneaddict on January 20, 2010, 05:58:08 AM