Best Camera

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HPDarkness




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Best Camera

Post by HPDarkness »

Well, I've gotten into photography over the past year and a half. Only problem is, my camera. It's a low end Kodak EasyShare, made for basic point and shoot photos, not really a photography camera.

If there are any photographers here... What camera do you use. I'm planning on buying one, I have a budget of $500, I could, possibly go to $600 if I have to.
Cameras I'm currently looking at are the Nikon D Series, and the Canon Rebel series. They are kind of expensive, but if those are my only choices then i might as well get them.

So please share your camera knowledge here! What is your choice of camera? Also if you can, please post a picture you've taken with your camera.

(Also just to be clear, I'm looking for a kind of High-End camera. Not more Kodak Easyshare crap.)
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Post by -Legendary- »

Heh, I just posted some photographs I just took.

I use a Nikon 18-70mm 1:3.5 4.5G ED

What ever all that is xD
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Post by shadowkhas »

Any Nikon or Canon SLR camera is wonderful. You get great quality, good ISO ranges, and interchangeable lenses. That's what I love the most about my Nikon D50. I just carry around a bag with a 25-80mm lens and a 70-200mm lens, and swap to whatever my picture needs.

http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/SLR1160.htm Is quite a good deal. The camera isn't super-high quality, about the same as mine, but it really is great.
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Post by Kirk »

I have a Canon 10D, excellent camera. Got it used from a friend of mine so I got a pretty good deal.

There are also the Rebel XT and XTi, which are basically like semi-pro cameras, they're smaller and aimed a bit more for the average user. I love my 10D, it's a big camera, and number one it's like a frickin tank. Metal casing, basically rain-proof (I'm never afraid to get it wet) and takes excellent shots. Can't say the same for the XT and XTi, I almost felt like they were a little flimsy when I used one, but that's mainly just because I'm used to how my 10D feels. To be honest I think they have higher megapixels, but that doesn't really mean much. They're also more in your price range than the more recent versions of the camera I have (30D or 40D, both are above $700)

Not saying much about the Nikon, as I haven't really used one. I just have used a lot of Canons (both high end video and regular picture cameras) and have found them to be very reliable and excellent.
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Post by SHOUTrvb »

I use a point and shoot camera as well, but if you're good at editing, you can get by with it. I plan to get a Nikon D50 or higher. They produce some pretty good stuff.
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Post by HPDarkness »

Thanks for all the replies guys. I'll definitely look into all of them =]
Especially that 10D Kirk. ;)
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Post by Kirk »

You should check out eBay as well, as I doubt you could find the 10D on sale anymore, if you were interested in it. But yeah, Nikon's are definitely a good option as well.

I don't know if I really should recommend actually getting it, though, as I might have mentioned that it is sort of an older camera. You could get the newest revision for $1,200 if you wanted, though :P (godly camera though)
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Post by Veegie »

Any Canon dSLR that can shoot in RAW will give you anything you've ever wanted. I love my XTi.
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Post by Kirk »

Yeah the bottom line is exactly that.. I doubt you're going to use this camera to do the super-pro work, and in that case cameras like vg's XTi or even the XT (8MP instead of 10, ~$100 cheaper, other slight things it doesn't have the XTi does) will work superbly.
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Post by shadowkhas »

My D50 is nice. I, in the same situation as Kirk, have only used Nikon cameras, save for my friend's Rebel XT. Both are nice, both have good and bad things about them. Find the camera with the best features, and get the best lenses you can for your budget, and you'll be happy.
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Post by latinomodder »

I used a friends d80, that camera is amazing I don't know the technical side but its great
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Re: Best Camera

Post by INSANEdrive »

HPDarkness1 wrote:Well, I've gotten into photography over the past year and a half. Only problem is, my camera. It's a low end Kodak EasyShare, made for basic point and shoot photos, not really a photography camera.

If there are any photographers here... What camera do you use. I'm planning on buying one, I have a budget of $500, I could, possibly go to $600 if I have to.
Cameras I'm currently looking at are the Nikon D Series, and the Canon Rebel series. They are kind of expensive, but if those are my only choices then i might as well get them.

So please share your camera knowledge here! What is your choice of camera? Also if you can, please post a picture you've taken with your camera.

(Also just to be clear, I'm looking for a kind of High-End camera. Not more Kodak Easyshare crap.)
And so three questions come to mind
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Post by HPDarkness »

Thank guys, I'm looking into the Rebel 8MP and the 10D. I'm probably going to decide on one soon.
Veegie wrote:Any Canon dSLR that can shoot in RAW will give you anything you've ever wanted. I love my XTi.
That's actually exactly what my friend said today, He showed me his XTi and I snapped a few pictures, it was really great.

Also @INSANEdrive
I just want really Hi-def nice quality, I hate distortion. Also really user friendly macro functions are a plus.

I an currently achieve this: (With editing)
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With my camera, but that is sized down, so the quality looks better. The full size of that was pretty damn ugly. I also had to tune the brightness and contrast because my camera's white balance is terrible. Everytime I take a picture int he light, it comes out extremely washed out and dark.
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Post by Veegie »

You will get a universal set of functions for all types of shooting on the XTi.
Whether or not you can take a macro shot derives from what type of lens you have. I personally use a 100mm. I only trust officially-made Canon lenses.

ex: http://HaloTech.org/Veegie/100.jpg - 1 inch tall Christmas ornament
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Post by HPDarkness »

Wow, Veegie that shot looks great. I think I've made up my mind...
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Post by Kirk »

I've been wanting to get a macro lens for a long time now, I just can't afford it (not that it'd be way too expensive, I just don't have any extra money at the moment) A regular zoom lens is all I have.

EDIT: Pic

That's about as far as I can go with my regular zoom lens. As you can see, it's not all that great. Picture itself isn't all that great, but it's sort of a good estimate about how close you can go. With a macro lens, you could like get, frickin close up to like, the individual little stems that are sticking out.
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Post by Veegie »

6in focal distance at 1:1 ratio.
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Post by shadowkhas »

Veegie wrote:6in focal distance at 1:1 ratio.
The low f-stop number is nice for that as well. Tell us what you decide on for sure, HPDarkness, and be sure to take some awesome pictures. :P
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Post by HPDarkness »

If I choose now I would go with the Canon Rebel XTi. I used it and it was great. I'm just going to wait until the end of the school year. There are more cameras coming out then, so prices will probably drop, or they may be some other great choices out there.

Thanks for your input everyone! I really respect it.
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Post by Kirk »

Good choice.
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