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Beginner digital SLR advice please

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naturegirl74
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Joined:	Fri Nov 3rd, 2006
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Posted: Fri Nov 3rd, 2006 10:22 pm

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I am about to purchase my first SLR camera. I have been taking pictures with regular digital cameras for the past 5 years and now I am moving up. I know what I want to take pictures of. I am serious about the picture I do take. The sun has to be in the right place at the right time to make the leaves on the trees glow. I want to take breathe taking pictures of nature: trees, leaves, tree bark, rivers, creeks, waterfalls, birds, wildlife, dogs, cats, the night sky, stars, nebulas, galaxies, the moon and the sun and the planets. My goal behind all this is I am going to eventually try to get my photos published in Nature Photograher magazine or some the like. I am looking for advice on the type of camera I should look at. I am trying to stay under $900.00 for camera body and lenses. I have one in mind. I found a brand new Nikon D80 with 18-50mm and a 55-200mm lenses for around $700.00. I will be purchasing a macro lens set as well and I am looking into the lens adapter for the telescope. I do plan on doing some black and white photos of some nature and stars as well. Do you think this set up would be good for what I am thinking of doing? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

admin
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Posted: Sat Nov 4th, 2006 04:55 am

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the nikon D80 is a fine camera here is a review http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond80/

Canon olympus sigma pentax and sony (now) all make some fine cameras which are worth considering - i think for the most part there is not much difference between these brands when you are comparing similar level cameras - you maybe need to think about what type of photography you may do the most of work out what sort sort of features you may think you need to get the best images - eg if you are interested in macro you might think mirror lock up is important - if you are shooting action shot then the camera with the least noise at the highest iso may be more important - its always horses for courses

i alway like to have a feel of the cameras - make sure the weight and layout & menus suits the way i work

make a list of the important things you need in a camera - compare the different brands - identify suitable models and then go to a camera store and try them out have a play with all of them see how they feel - this approach always helps me make a good decision.

good luck

Forsh
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Joined:	Sun Nov 26th, 2006
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Posted: Mon Nov 27th, 2006 09:16 am

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We publish photos in our magazine monthly and we mainly use photos taken with:

*D2X
*Pentax67/FujiProvia
*Kodak 14n
*Canon 1DS MarkII

But, we have another photographer/designer who submits stuff she shoots with her Canon 20D, and I really have to say that camera is pretty kick-butt for what it does. The pixel density is amazing! We used her stuff for A3 spreads and regularly for simple half-page stuff.

If it were up to me to recommend a camera that's worth it's money in the "entry-level" pricerange I would say the 20D (Now 30D) is not only a step in the right direction, but a step in a great direction.

Just grab a used one that's in prime condition and only has a few thousand actuations, and you're gold.

V/r,
John
okinawa japan

Last edited on Sun Oct 26th, 2008 12:28 am by Forsh

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