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Digital SLRs...

A

Auryg

Platinum Member
I have some extra christmas dough (i think, better check out what's put on the credit card..hah), and I've always wanted a really good digital camera, as the one we have right now is crud. However, I know nothing about them..at all. I don't know much about SLRs themselves, actually, other than a little class I took a few years ago in HS.

I see people talking about lenses and the such, and buying the body..etc..

How much can I expect to spend? I don't need (or atleast I don't think I need) much for lenses..I'm not all that much of a photographer, I just like the stuff I have to be *good.* I hear people talking about the Canon Digital Rebel XT a lot..is that good?

I'm just..lost..any newbie articles on this sort of thing?
 
Wow, sounds like you really do NOT need an SLR. You can get a GREAT camera for much less. Try a Canon S2IS.
 
Originally posted by: dawks
Wow, sounds like you really do NOT need an SLR. You can get a GREAT camera for much less. Try a Canon S2IS.
Click to expand...

Shutter lag realllly gets to me..how bad is it on that model?
 
You can get an Olympus Evolt E300 with the kit lens for less than $600 at Dell. Not as cheap and flimsy as the Digital Rebel, although the DR isn't a bad choice...
 
you'll probably spend more on lenses than the body.

even if all you have are normal, wide, and telephoto primes. of course, you can get used lenses for digital SLRs pretty easily, and can save yourself some good money.

however, if all you're going to do is use the slow zoom lens that comes with the kit, or upgrade to another slow zoom lens, you might as well just buy a p&s anyway.
 
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Get the Canon EOS 20D 😛
Click to expand...

Waaay too expensive.

I said "some" extra dough 😛

That olympus might seem OK...on digital SLRs, is the zoom in the body or does it have to do with the lens? I'm assuming the lens..if so, how exactly does that..er..work? Do you still zoom using something on the camera body or do you do something with the lens?
 
Originally posted by: Auryg
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Get the Canon EOS 20D 😛
Click to expand...

Waaay too expensive.

I said "some" extra dough 😛

That olympus might seem OK...on digital SLRs, is the zoom in the body or does it have to do with the lens? I'm assuming the lens..if so, how exactly does that..er..work? Do you still zoom using something on the camera body or do you do something with the lens?
Click to expand...

it's dictated by the lens, and you have a zoom ring you turn. a good one is very very expensive. those 10x things in the prosumer digicams are a steal pricewise IMO. Of course there are some huge trade offs.. but for what it is.. it's damn nice.
 
Originally posted by: Auryg
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Get the Canon EOS 20D 😛
Click to expand...

Waaay too expensive.

I said "some" extra dough 😛

That olympus might seem OK...on digital SLRs, is the zoom in the body or does it have to do with the lens? I'm assuming the lens..if so, how exactly does that..er..work? Do you still zoom using something on the camera body or do you do something with the lens?
Click to expand...

zoom is always a lens function. integrated cameras usually put the controls on the camera body. but the ring type control found on the lens barrel is far more precise, and the lens is usually calibrated to tell you how wide/tele the lens is.
 
Hmm..alright.

So the kit lens on most DSLRs don't usually include a zoom?

How much would a lens with a big zoom cost?
 
Originally posted by: darkxshade
ok, let me try again...

GET THE CANON EOS 20D!!!
Click to expand...

are you trying to be funny or something? that's a stupid suggestion for a newbie in the SLR field. there's no need to waste the money on it.. a rebel .. hell, a used rebel would be better, and invest in lenses if he REALLY wanted to persue it.
 
Originally posted by: Auryg
Hmm..alright.

So the kit lens on most DSLRs don't usually include a zoom?

How much would a lens with a big zoom cost?
Click to expand...

most kit lenses do come w/ one... something like 18-55mm (~2-3x equiv from what you normally see on p&s) .. very short range. say you want a good 70-200 mm (~5x or so) one.. $500-$1500.. heh.. in canon world anyway. You can get some basic 70-300 lens for under $200 too actually. that would be a much better start.. i just have this attachment to the 70-200 range right now.. heh
 
Originally posted by: Auryg
Hmm..alright.

So the kit lens on most DSLRs don't usually include a zoom?

How much would a lens with a big zoom cost?
Click to expand...

Yes the kit lens does have zoom.
Again, as elfenix said, if you just want a big, slow zoom for your DSLR, then might as well get a P&S. The quality won't be much better.
A cheapo 28-300mm(11x zoom), costs $250. The quality won't be too good though. A 50mm F/1.4 lens costs $200-$300, or $50 for a used one, and will beat the quality of any lens, not to mention the amazing low light capabilities.
Basically quality over quantitiy. Get something that does the one thing very well, or get something that does everything, but none of them very well.
 
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Originally posted by: Auryg
Hmm..alright.

So the kit lens on most DSLRs don't usually include a zoom?

How much would a lens with a big zoom cost?
Click to expand...

Yes the kit lens does have zoom.
Again, as elfenix said, if you just want a big, slow zoom for your DSLR, then might as well get a P&S. The quality won't be much better.
A cheapo 28-300mm(11x zoom), costs $250. The quality won't be too good though. A 50mm F/1.4 lens costs $200-$300, or $50 for a used one, and will beat the quality of any lens, not to mention the amazing low light capabilities.
Basically quality over quantitiy. Get something that does the one thing very well, or get something that does everything, but none of them very well.
Click to expand...


how in the world did you go from $200-$300 for a new 50 f/1.4 to $50 used ... please tell me where to buy 🙂
 
Ok, origionally i would have said get a rebel, however reading what you've said so far and how little you know at the moment, can i throughly recommend the S2IS or the S1IS. Either of these cameras will really help a beginner start to learn the basics. When you learned to swim did you really jump straight to the deep end? If you really take to the photography lark just sell it and upgrade later!
 
The Digital Rebel XT kit is $999 at the store I work at. It comes with the body and a 18-55mm lens. If you really get into it you may need to buy extra lenses which start at $150.

The EOS 20D is a little cheaper, I think about $150 cheaper. The Nikon Maxxum is also very good, I think $750.

Of course, you can probably find all of these cheaper online. SLR's are great cameras but you may need to spend some time learning how to produce a great camera. I would suggest the Canon S2IS, its got a great zoom and produces awesome pictures. Also its shutter speed is fast.

Just remember, with SLR's you will have to invest a lot of time and especially money.
 
Originally posted by: randomlinh
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Originally posted by: Auryg
Hmm..alright.

So the kit lens on most DSLRs don't usually include a zoom?

How much would a lens with a big zoom cost?
Click to expand...

Yes the kit lens does have zoom.
Again, as elfenix said, if you just want a big, slow zoom for your DSLR, then might as well get a P&S. The quality won't be much better.
A cheapo 28-300mm(11x zoom), costs $250. The quality won't be too good though. A 50mm F/1.4 lens costs $200-$300, or $50 for a used one, and will beat the quality of any lens, not to mention the amazing low light capabilities.
Basically quality over quantitiy. Get something that does the one thing very well, or get something that does everything, but none of them very well.
Click to expand...


how in the world did you go from $200-$300 for a new 50 f/1.4 to $50 used ... please tell me where to buy 🙂
Click to expand...

eBay for an old Pentax prime. 😉

Here's an example of a really nice 50/1.4 for $50...
M42 screwmount Pentax Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm f/1.4. This is one of my favorite lenses, in fact. Its results can be simply gorgeous.....An engineer at a Japanese camera company told me that if this lens were manufactured and marketed today, it would most likely have to sell for $1,200 to $1,500. I got mine for $60. (Well, okay, I actually have six of them, to be honest.)

 
Originally posted by: aiex
Ok, origionally i would have said get a rebel, however reading what you've said so far and how little you know at the moment, can i throughly recommend the S2IS or the S1IS. Either of these cameras will really help a beginner start to learn the basics. When you learned to swim did you really jump straight to the deep end? If you really take to the photography lark just sell it and upgrade later!
Click to expand...

I'm kinda leaning towards that too, mainly for zoom reasons. The shutter lag though..the shutter lag 🙁
 
Originally posted by: Auryg
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Get the Canon EOS 20D 😛
Click to expand...

Waaay too expensive.

I said "some" extra dough 😛

That olympus might seem OK...on digital SLRs, is the zoom in the body or does it have to do with the lens? I'm assuming the lens..if so, how exactly does that..er..work? Do you still zoom using something on the camera body or do you do something with the lens?
Click to expand...


Cant tell if this got answered yet for you. Look like it, but...

You wont get zoom on the body itself. What you have to do is actually put your hand on the lens and actually move it. It helps get a more precise zoom, but it may take a while to get the hang of it. Considering that you dont know a lot about SLR's I guess I would really suggest the S2IS becuase it does not require lenses and the zoom buttons are right on the body.
 
Originally posted by: Auryg
Originally posted by: aiex
Ok, origionally i would have said get a rebel, however reading what you've said so far and how little you know at the moment, can i throughly recommend the S2IS or the S1IS. Either of these cameras will really help a beginner start to learn the basics. When you learned to swim did you really jump straight to the deep end? If you really take to the photography lark just sell it and upgrade later!
Click to expand...

I'm kinda leaning towards that too, mainly for zoom reasons. The shutter lag though..the shutter lag 🙁
Click to expand...

From testing it out at work, I havent really noticed shutter lag. Not as good as SLR's, but better than most other cameras.
 
One final (I think) question..

What exactly will I get out of a digital SLR that I wont get out of the Canon S2IS?
 
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Originally posted by: randomlinh
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Originally posted by: Auryg
Hmm..alright.

So the kit lens on most DSLRs don't usually include a zoom?

How much would a lens with a big zoom cost?
Click to expand...

Yes the kit lens does have zoom.
Again, as elfenix said, if you just want a big, slow zoom for your DSLR, then might as well get a P&S. The quality won't be much better.
A cheapo 28-300mm(11x zoom), costs $250. The quality won't be too good though. A 50mm F/1.4 lens costs $200-$300, or $50 for a used one, and will beat the quality of any lens, not to mention the amazing low light capabilities.
Basically quality over quantitiy. Get something that does the one thing very well, or get something that does everything, but none of them very well.
Click to expand...


how in the world did you go from $200-$300 for a new 50 f/1.4 to $50 used ... please tell me where to buy 🙂
Click to expand...

eBay for an old Pentax prime. 😉

Here's an example of a really nice 50/1.4 for $50...
M42 screwmount Pentax Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm f/1.4. This is one of my favorite lenses, in fact. Its results can be simply gorgeous.....An engineer at a Japanese camera company told me that if this lens were manufactured and marketed today, it would most likely have to sell for $1,200 to $1,500. I got mine for $60. (Well, okay, I actually have six of them, to be honest.)
Click to expand...

so what would you need to buy to mount it on a canon dslr?
 
Originally posted by: Auryg
One final (I think) question..

What exactly will I get out of a digital SLR that I wont get out of the Canon S2IS?
Click to expand...

Interchangeable lenses and a lighter wallet. And slightly better in terms of shutter lag. But, I definitely recommend the S2IS.
 
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