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35MM SLR Camera advice EDIT-> Gonna go with the Nikon N80

G

gittyup

Diamond Member
I am looking into getting a good 35MM SLR camera. Does anyone have any recommendations. I was just at my daughters school for a indoor play they put on. I have one of those Elph economy 35MM cameras I was trying to use. Anyway, from about 25 - 30 feet back, it wasn't working very well. I see there are a ton of models available. Suggestions? Thanks....
 
if you want a fully automatic SLR, check out the olympus is-30. i have had it for a few months now. it is good, but obviously doesn't compare to any of the nikons. the n-65, n-80 and n-90s are very good, but pricey. get a good nikon lens with that and you are all set. with an autofocus lens, the camera will work like a full auto SLR and pick the right exposure, shutter speed etc. and you will have full control over all the settings, should you choose to run it in manual mode. but be prepared to pay a lot of money. just the body of the n-80 is close to $400. canon, minolta etc. have similar equipment, but i trust nikon the most when it comes to SLR cameras.
 
i'd go with the nikon n-80.

awesome body with awesome features for a good price.
Though your lens is really what makes images incredible quality, a good body allows for better maneuvaribility in taking the pictures you want.

Best of luck!
-M.T.O
 
I really don't know much about the settings. Is there a good 35MM SLR camera that a novice photographer can use? Would it be the same ones already mentioned? Thanks...
 
Another vote for the Nikon N80.

I purchased mine about 6 months ago, and it's a great camera, especially for people just starting out. It has quite a few advanced features, but if you like, you can also use it as a point and shoot.

If you buy the kit, it comes with a 28-80 mm lens which works very well. Start with that one. Don't buy a new lens until you're ready for it, because 'really' good lenses are very expensive.

Hope that helps,
blues
 
I think it comes down to "how good a camera?"

You mean for like everyday just snap pictures here and there at parties, reunions, vacations etc?

Or

Amateur photography. Works that you want to show friends families and others. Photography for the art as opposed to the occasions only like above.

That makes a difference between 100-200 and 400- ?0000

Photography can be very very expensive.

-M.T.O
 
"If you buy the kit, it comes with a 28-80 mm lens which works very well. Start with that one. Don't buy a new lens until you're ready for it, because 'really' good lenses are very expensive."

I'd actually see if you could return that lens and if you could afford a little bit more, buy the 28-105mm nikor af lens. Much sharper, better quality, and much more versatile. The 24-120mm is too slow in its autofocus so don't get that one even though its tempting. Plus also the image quality declines more with that lens.

Just my opinion.

-M.T.O

 
Buddhist is right. It all depends on what you're looking to do. If all you want to do is point and shoot, then buy a point and shoot camera. Most professionals take a point and shoot with them as well as their other camera equipment.

If you want the ability to use different features and lenses, then a 35mm SLR is definitely for you. But, it's not cheap. You also will be carrying around a heavier camera along with extra equipment if needed: Lenses, filters, etc.

Most people can't tell the difference between photos taken with a point and shoot and a 35mm SLR.

I like the N80 because it's significantly lighter than other camera bodies. And it's about $450 for the kit. And it's a Nikon. Whenever I travel abroad, people always try to steal it from me 🙂

PM me if you have any questions.

Hope this helps,
blues
 
You mean for like everyday just snap pictures here and there at parties, reunions, vacations etc?

Yes this kind. I have 2 daughters. One of them is in K-3 school. They have events all the time that the kids put on. I would really like to be able to take some great shots of her. 🙂
 
I agree that I am really looking for a nice point ans shoot camera. I don't necessarily need a bunch of stuff. I would like ot be able to take nice pics in most environments. Closeups and also from a distance, maybe 20 - 30 feet. Since that seems to be the line the school is drawing that the camera crazy parents need to stay behind.

How about the Nikon - N65 SLR Camera with Quantaray 28-90 AF Zoom Lens . I see Ritzcamera has it for around $349.
 
Yes this kind. I have 2 daughters. One of them is in K-3 school. They have events all the time that the kids put on. I would really like to be able to take some great shots of her.

How far away will you be sitting when you watch the events? That's why there's always a rush to be up front 🙂

How's the lighting at these events? That's really the most important thing.

My advice to you is to get a tripod if you're buying a 35 mm SLR. They come in very handy.

You may also need to get a separate flash if the theater is incredibly dark and you're far away.

But you should remember that you've got to lug the equipment around.
 
blues008

The events are indoor. The lighting is pretty good. It's basically inside a chapel. It's not really dark. The distance is about 20 - 30 feet.
 
My choices all in the same price range:


Minolta - Maxxum 5 SLR Camera w/ Quantaray 28-90mm Zoom Lens

Canon - EOS Rebel 2000 w/Canon 28-80mm EF Lens

Minolta - Maxxum STsi QD Camera w/Quantaray 28-90 AF Zoom Lens

Nikon - N65 SLR Camera with Quantaray 28-90 AF Zoom Lens

Pentax - ZX-30 Quartz Date SLR Camera Outfit w/28-90 AF Zoom Lens
 
There are quite a few differences between the N65 and N80. Go to a camera store and check them out. You'll see that the N65 is made with more plastic than metal. Same goes for the Canon Rebel. There seems to be an ongoing debate on who has the better lenses: Canon or Nikon. See if the camera store has photos for you to look at. And some are even willing to pricematch.

Also, check out:

Camera Review
Photo.Net

Hope this helps,
blues
 
i have the canon rebel 2000 w/the 28-80mm lens.
It's light enough to carry around and i remember it was voted best
beginner/low end 35mm slr a while back in one of the popular photography magazines

m00se

 
Well, I have narrowed it down to these 3. Decisions decisions.


Canon - EOS Rebel 2000 w/Canon 28-80mm EF Lens

and

Nikon - N65 SLR Camera with Quantaray 28-90 AF Zoom Lens

and

Minolta - Maxxum 5 SLR Camera w/ Quantaray 28-90mm Zoom Lens 😕
 


<< Well, I have narrowed it down to these 3. Decisions decisions.


Canon - EOS Rebel 2000 w/Canon 28-80mm EF Lens

and

Nikon - N65 SLR Camera with Quantaray 28-90 AF Zoom Lens

and

Minolta - Maxxum 5 SLR Camera w/ Quantaray 28-90mm Zoom Lens 😕 >>






Skip the Quantaray lenses. Scrap up a bit more cash and get brand name lenses, you will thank yourself, not only in quality but in resale value.

I say this not because the quantaray lenses are so much optically inferior, because in this price class, there truthfully isnt much of a difference. Construction-wise, however, the quantaray lenses suck pretty bad. This comes from a professional photographer who used to work at Ritz Camera for about 4 years. 🙂 Quantaray lenses are a Ritz house brand, usually the source being Sigma lenses but occasionally tamron. I've seen waaaaaaaaay too many of these lenses stop working or break too easily to recommend them to someone. While admittedly the low-end nikon lenses aren't made of titanium either, they are a bit better, and you will certainly have an easier time getting fast service from nikon than from ritz.

Just $.002 from a former ritz employee. 🙂
 
Watch out for the Canon 28-80 and 35-80 lenses. I got a Rebel SLR kit for my middle school graduation about 6 years ago. It came with a 35-80 with plastic lenses. Needless to say the pictures aren't nearly as sharp as they should be. Compared to my 75-300 lens with glass elements the pictures aren't very good. If you go for the Canon, which I still recommend, make sure you are getting glass lenses, not plastic. My choice for a lens would be a 28-105 lens from Canon. The only thing with this lens is that it cannot be used with the built-in flash on the camera body, I think.
 
IF you are gonna get a SLR for around $350 you might as well spend a little more and get a Canon Elan 7. I got mine for around $400, and it is a great camera.

I got mine from abesofmaine, not grey market either. I had a salesman call me up after I placed an order online to confirm it, good customer service.

My camera came with a 28-70 lens which is perfect for everyday situations.

Make sure that if you do buy a Canon to buy the USM lenses so if you want to take automatic pictures you will be able to with that lens.
 
skip all those lenses and get a 50mm f/1.8 lens. i see you're going to be taking pictures inside. what you might consider doing is renting an 80-200 f/2.8 and sticking it on whatever body you get. those cheap zoom lenses are far too slow to be used indoors with the body's weak built-in flash.
 
I would go with the Minolta. I have the XTsi and it is fantastic. I do alot of skiing and rowing shots and it is great. It has a fully automatic mode so you can use it like a point and shoot.
 
You should go look at the Canon Elan 7 and the Nikon N80. Then choose whichever one feels better to you. If you do take my advice and RENT a good lens instead of getting a piece of junk slow consumer zoom then you need to stick with Canon or Nikon.
 
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