Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with dslr and camera

First-time DSLR buyer looking for advice

kampken — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:46:36 -0800

What camera and lens combinations would you suggest for a DSLR for macro/indoor photography (without flash) for a newbie? Price range around 1200 USD. I'm looking to buy a good DSLR camera (not exactly pro but not too cheap either) but I'm fairly confused as to what to choose. Mostly because i don't know exactly what values i should look for and also lens incompatibilities (really don't wanna be stuck with a model where i can't get any proper lenses) - A fairly easy to use and light camera would be preferred, but i am willing to study the user manual or other instructions for as long as it takes.

I am planning to do macro-photography with it, so i guess i need something with live-view, so i can check the focus before taking the photo. I can't find anything about macro-specific cameras as such, so i guess it's just about finding a good lens?
Also i plan to do much indoor photography without using a flash, so i will need a good light-strong lens of a sort, however these are quite expensive so a wrong buy would be costly.

And what about the new 4/3 cameras? I like their size and design, but would they be any good for my purposes?

So in short, what camera and lens combinations would you suggest for a DSLR for macro/indoor photo for a newbie? Price range around 1200 USD.

I need a 102, 103 class in photography. Suggestions?

GilloD — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:35:23 -0800

Where do I go for my 102 on photography? I took a couple of photo classes in high school and know my way around an SLR/DSLR pretty well. I'm at about 102- I understand an Shutter Speed and an Aperture and I understand the trade-off between the two, but I'm not always sure what I'm looking at when I see my photos, i.e. this photo looks great, but how'd I get there?

Now that I've gotten a bit more serious, I'm interested in how lenses interact with that process. I understand what's different about an 18-55mm lens and and 28-200mm, but I'm not 100% sure what those terms mean, in terms of being useful for me, and how they change the photos I take beyond "Well, this one can zoom farther than that one". I'm also looking for clarification on things like AE, and the various forms of AF and why one matters more than the other and... phew!

I got myself a copy of Understanding Exposure, but that's much more about picture taking than the complicated technical world of equipment. I'm really looking for a 102-103 class: "Okay, you're comfortable with the camera and you understand what the aperture and shutter speed are. Let's go farther.".

Suggestions? Books are fine, but I have limited access to English language books. Web tutorials are better and I don't mind shelling out for something I can DL. FWIW, I'm shooting on a shiny new Nikon D90 with 28-200mm Nikon lens.

DSLR n00b

chrisinseoul — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:00:36 -0800

New to the DSLR world, and I need the hive mind's help with a couple questions. I recently picked up a used Nikon D70 body (decent older DSLR, decent enough for the purposes of picking things up anyway) and a couple lenses (a 28-70mm and a 70-210mm lens, both Nikon). Over the past couple days I've spent free time reading through a manual that seems almost incomprehensible in places. I come from a fairly advanced point-and-shoot type camera, so I'm familiar with most of the terms like white balance, shutter / aperture priority, and the like. The advice of 'just shoot stuff' is certainly good, but a few things are bugging me.

#1: The longer lens (70-210mm AF 1.4-5.6 D) has one area to turn for manual focus and an aperture ring closest to where the lens hooks up to the body. There's no way to zoom in / out though - am I missing something here?

#2: I know the D70 has a crop factor of 1.5x. When I take a picture, it looks nothing like what I saw through the viewfinder. It's a *much* tighter shot than expected. Is there a way to adjust this, or is it just a mental adjustment?

#3: Looking to buy one more lens, primarily used for landscapes or macro. Is it possible to get wide angle and macro in a single lens without the cost breaking the bank?

Thank you O hive mind :)

Transition Lenses: SLR to DSLR

yamel — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:10:20 -0800

When is an old camera lens good enough to influence which DSLR body to purchase? I never had an expensive kit, but have one prime lens used on my Yashica FX-3 Super 2000 that I quite like. It's identifying marks include Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1,7/50.

So, I went from really liking photography to moving to digital point and shoots and am now ready to move back to enjoying photography with a DSLR. Is this lens, along with a so-so telephoto, enough to influence what to buy? There's so much confusing information about adapters that I'm not quite sure if this is even possible with the lenses I already have.

By the way, I do understand that this would limit me to manual focus. I'm completely comfortable with this unless you can tell me there are other features other than autofocus I'd be missing out on.

Thanks!

Help me choose a DSLR.

biochemist — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:13:56 -0800

Can anyone recommend a good action, landscaping, and travel DSLR in the $~1000 range? I tend to travel around and take pictures of nature, which include landscape as well as fast-moving animals. (Low light would be nice too, but I won't hold my breath.) I have read this, but it's from '07. I'd like updated recommendations.

Cheese! Wanted a Sigma DP2 but having doubts, recommendations?

doctor.dan — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:54:12 -0800

I've been thinking of buying a new point-and-shoot camera for a while. I've had some lame experiences with previous point-and-shoots (blurry photos, bad colour balance, etc), so I'm asking the green for some advice. I initially had big hopes for the Sigma DP2 because of its SLR sized sensor, but have been reading some very mixed reviews.

Any recommendations for a small-factor camera that shoots gorgeous pictures, as the DP2 does, but without the supposed downsides?

I've had a read through a similar previous question, but don't really know what I'm looking for.

In the works Canon DSLR features?

albernathy0 — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:23:33 -0800

Does anyone know if Canon has plans for releasing a consumer DSLR that will have Multi-Aspect Ratio Shooting, as Olympus has done? Thank you!

Pentax DSLR vs Nikon vs Canon

mikepop — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:21:07 -0800

Digital SLR - does anyone have experience with the Pentax K2000 (comparing with the Nikon D40) This recent DSLR question was timely, as I'm looking to buy one as a gift soon and I was looking at entry-level Canons and Nikons.

However, the giftee has a Pentax film SLR and along with it a couple of lenses - a basic lens and a telephoto/zoom lens (sorry, I don't know what they are exactly). From what I'm reading in the other thread, it makes sense to buy the camera you already have lenses for, so I'm taking a look at the Pentax K2000.

A lot of people I know have a Nikon or Canon, but I don't know anyone with a Pentax DSLR. Is it just as good, generally speaking, as an entry-level DSLR? Any warnings?

And if I do decide to go with the Pentax, would it make sense to buy just the camera body (vs a kit) and save some money, since she already has a couple of lenses?

camera recommendation for graphic designer?

MaddyRex — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:13:52 -0800

What's the best camera for a cash-poor graphic designer? I'm making my big camera purchase & I realize I'll have to compromise on something. I don't know too much about cameras but I know a lot about graphic design & I'm looking for something that will basically help someone with currently minimal photo skills (I promise I'll work on them) generate clean, high resolution images. My price range is around $400. Ideally I'd want something that's at least semi-portable.

How important is it to have a dSLR? One photographer I know recommended the Canon Powershot g10 for a graphic designer. Another told me this was a total waste of money & that I should go straight to a dSLR. Thoughts? Help! Thanks!

Where can I send/take my camera for sensor/internal cleaning?

atayah — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:52:03 -0800

Where can I get my Canon d40 cleaned? Due to a smudge of dust and then a very, very stupid insistance on my part of, "Surely I can just wipe/blow that off," borne out of frustration, I've got dust on my d40 sensor and one or two "swipes" (ie, I wiped something off on the clear plastic sensor cover that shouldn't have been wiped off.) -- or at least, on the plastic cover "drop-down" that covers the sensor. Excuse my lack of knowledge here.

That lack of knowledge is exactly why I don't want to attempt another do-it-yourself and want to send the camera off to be cleaned (with the knowledge I might need that plastic part replaced? I don't know.). The camera still works well -- most of the dust doesn't show up on final pictures, but there are one or two spots that do, and I know it's affecting my camera's performance (and just a continual source of disappointment at mucking up my pricey pride and joy.)

Any recommendations/ideas/experiences on dSLR cleaning would be appreciated. Again, I'd rather not DIY. The camera's primary use is recreational (mostly nature & portrait photography) and I'm willing to pay for my mistake at touching the plastic part in the first place.

Thanks in advance.

DSLR or Point and Shoot?

carterk — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:31:41 -0800

Should I buy a low end DSLR or a high end point and shoot? Yes, this has been asked before, but not this month.

So my wife is pretty happy with her point and shoot compact camera, but has recently expressed two dissatisfactions with it- she’d like a bigger zoom and she’s frustrated with the shutter lag. I figured a nice valentine’s gift would be a second camera, one that would not replace the compact but supplement it. I started researching high-end compact ‘superzoom’ cameras, and I figure she’d be real happy with a Canon SX10 IS (about $350).

I got very close to ordering when I noticed that I could get an entry-level DSLR (Canon Rebel XS) for about $460. The big attraction of the DSLR is the greatly reduced shutter lag, a real frustration for my wife. It would also take better pictures, tho this is not actually a real big deal- we’re quite happy with the pictures the little compact takes. It comes with a 18-55mm zoom lens, which of course isn’t as exciting as the 20x lens on the SX10 IS, but if that was a big issue I could always buy a bigger zoom lens when we had more funds.

So I can afford the extra ~$100, but I’m not sure which camera would fit her needs better. She’s a point and shoot picture taker and would be quite happy, I’m sure, with the pictures taken by the cheaper camera. OTOH, she’d just love to capture our kids’ expressions without the frustrating shutter lag she’s had to get used to. With either camera, she’ll be using the automatic settings and is unlikely to spend much time learning how to take advantage of more advanced features or manual settings. So I guess my question boils down to this: assuming a point and shoot attitude, which camera will take better pictures?

Incidentally, weight is not a big deal, since she’ll not be carrying this camera except when we specifically want to be taking pictures- the compact camera will be the default for spontaneous shots. Recommendations for alternatives to the Rebel XS are welcome, but understand that spending $600+ for this purchase isn’t really an option.

Best camera setup for geo fieldwork?

fermion — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:46:58 -0800

What's the best digital camera and equipment to use for high-quality photography during geophysics fieldwork? I'm responsible for writing a proposal asking for more cameras for graduate student use, and I want to know what kind I should ask for. Is the image quality of a DSLR worth the extra expense and complexity, or would a high-quality non-SLR camera be better? What equipment will help make the best use of the camera in field conditions (e.g. carbon-fiber tripod, specialty camera case, additional lenses)?

Budget-wise, value-for-money is more important than hitting a specific number, although I think it would be difficult to get approval for more than a few thousand dollars.

Should be reasonably durable and low-maintenance, though it may not need to be actually "ruggedized." Should take good pictures in a variety of lighting conditions and not require too much fiddling. Probably does not need to be good at action shots.

Canon of love

mippy — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:32:14 -0800

So a while ago I was wondering whether to get a Canon 1000D (Digital Rebel XTi) or the 450D (Digital Rebel XT). Now, thanks to a Christmas bonus, my choice has widened - 450d or 40d? It's going to be my first DSLR and I want something I can learn on. I've looked at specs for both on DPReview.com and as I have only used a compact (Powershot A710IS) so far I'm finding it a bit overwhelming. I'd like to know people's experiences on both. FYI, I'll be buying the body only as I'm going to be given a kit lens to start off with; the price difference is £450 (450d) vs £550 (40d) on amazon.co.uk, although this isn't enough of a difference to be a serious factor. And I'd rather take a new body than a used one.

Do ye ken Canon?

mippy — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:42:52 -0800

Help me decide which Canon DSLR to save up for as my first DSLR. I've been using the A710 IS for a couple of years now and, having also used a friend's 350D, am very impressed with the quality of Canon cameras. I've reached the point now where I need to have a DSLR to be able to progress with my photography. I'm torn between the 1000D and the 450D - the price for the 1000D is more realistic for me (I would really like to get a camera before the beginning of April if possible) but the 450D isn't much more, and I'm wondering if that indicates a better quality.

Other relevant info: I have the option of getting the body only as SO's dad has offered to give me the 18-55 kit lens that came with his to start with. I mainly shoot macro shots and want to move from observing to creating my own views. I also really want a Lensbaby, which will be my next purchase after the camera. I am lacking in technical knowledge - one of the reasons I want to upgrade - so something with a good Program function would be good to start off with. The IS in my compact is a godsend for me. And I'm unlikely to want to upgrade my camera for quite some time.

any advice on where to purchase (in the UK) and where to get a case for it that won't look like an old man's fannypack would be useful for the future too!

Good still camera tripod under $150?

cahlers — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:22:59 -0800

I'd appreciate recommendations for a good still camera tripod for under $150. I'm looking for a good tripod to use with my DSLR. I'm an amateur planning to use the tripod for family photos and nature stills. I'm looking at the Manfrotto 725B Digi Tripod. Any other suggestions? I saw a similar question for a video tripod, but, as mentioned in that thread, apparently still and video camera tripods differ in the head mechanism.

Which camera should I buy?

sliderjc — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:55:57 -0800

Which camera to buy? Canon 40d or Canon 50d? I'm having difficulty deciding which camera to buy. On one hand the 40d is 300-400 pounds cheaper than the 50d but then the 50d is far superior in terms of specs.
The key to this question is timing, I would like the camera before christmas, but I'm worried if I buy either of them now that I will lose out and they will be cheaper in the January sales.
Has anybody experienced Canon sales techniques? Does anybody have any idea if they reduce the prices of their products over time?
For what it's worth, I'm living in the U.K so that may have some bearing on things.

Pokémon Snap was about as far as I got with photography.

joshrholloway — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:13:58 -0800

What are some absolute beginner DSLR tips and tricks my wife can pick up on quickly and start using today? My wife has recently become interested in photography as a hobby or potential career, but has always been a point-and-shoot person. Instead of sinking money into a nice camera and lenses, I decided to borrow a nice DSLR from a friend and let her use it for a day or two to see if it's something she would like.

I know about ISO and white balance and shutter speed in the sense that I know what they are, but not how to utilize them effectively. I want to help her be able to maximize her experience of using the camera, but neither of us have ever really used a DSLR before.

I know that these days you can set a camera to auto and just snap away, but are there any absolute beginner techniques to make your pictures pop like the pros? I know she's not going to be an expert in a day or two of using a DSLR, but is there something that would just take here a few minutes/hours to "get" to really see some results and room for potential growth?

(If it matters, the camera she was looking at buying is a Nikon D40, and the one I was able to borrow is an Olympus E-410.)

Old Lens with New dSLR?

awesomebrad — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:41:32 -0800

dSLRfilter - What will a dSLR think about my 30 year old lens? I've recently started photography as a hobby, and have been using a very old Nikon EM from 1979 that my parents had lying around the house. It only has one lens, a 50mm f/1. Series E, which I quite like. My limited but growing understanding of dSLRs tells me that because I won't be getting a full frame camera, the image is going to be different in some way because the lens is designed for film. What is that something? Is there anything else that will prevent it from working with a new camera?

Bonus: thoughts on Nikon D40 v. D60? I'd go with the D40, but I'm a bit concerned about not having a dust removal system...how big of a problem is that?

Guides/tricks for my new DSLR?

meerkatty — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:55:24 -0800

Please help me use my new DSLR camera. Are there guides/tricks for specific cameras online? I took a course today on how to use my new Canon Rebel xti, which came with a handy password protected guide online. (The guide was far superior to the camera manual - with explanations of when and why you would use a certain function, complete with photo examples.) The course was a little basic for my needs but I can't take the more advanced part of the course for a few months. Are there guides along these lines available online?

Big bonus points for anyone who has the password for Henry's School of Imaging Canon xti Part 2 guide.

Inexpensive, basic lens for a Nikon D40?

The corpse in the library — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:33:53 -0800

Inexpensive, basic lens for a Nikon D40? I am overwhelmed by my options when it comes to lenses for my Nikon D40 DSLR. I have the 18-55mm it came with, but I would like something less bulky -- and less eye-catching -- for carrying around with me.

I see the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor lens, and it sounds great -- but I don't want to lose the autofocus.

I also see the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM lens, and it sounds glorious -- but too expensive.

Is there a basic lens out there, around $100, that will work with my D40, including autofocus?

What entry level DSLR + prime lens to get?

rsanheim — Wed, 21 May 2008 07:57:32 -0800

I'd like to get an entry level DSLR with *only* a basic prime lens for under $600. Is this doable? My wife and I own a crummy Pentax P&S, and we would like something better. She has shown a pretty good eye for photography, so I'd like to get her something to help her develop her skills. Most of our shots are of people, in low light conditions and with moving subjects.

I've been thoroughly convinced that getting a fixed focal length lens is the way to go when moving into DSLR, and just avoiding the kit lens if at all possible. So my question is what DSLRs should we look at getting, and are there any nice combo deals that have just the body + 50mm prime lens we should look at? Is this possible to get while staying under roughly $600?

How useful is a 80-300mm lens for a DSLR?

unless I'm very much mistaken — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:52:28 -0800

Upgrading to a DSLR camera for the first time: how useful will an additional lens be? I want to buy an entry-level DSLR camera. I'm a keen walker, most of my photographs are landscapes and I don't want too much extra weight to carry if it can be avoided. For this reason, I am tempted by the Olympus E-410, shortly to be replaced by the E-420, but available in my budget range bundled with the 14-42 and 40-150mm lenses (it's a 4/3rds camera, so my understanding is that this means 28-84mm and 80-300mm in normal language).

This is the only DLSR deal I can find where I can afford the additional lens. I'm not likely to be able to be able to afford additional expenditure for at least 12 months. Am I likely to use the extra lens enough for this to tip the deal? (UK based, if that makes a difference)

Will a Pentax lens fit a Canon camera?

Grither — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 14:56:30 -0800

I can't seem to find this online anywhere, and it might be such a stupid question that is should be obvious, but I thought I'd ask anyway: Will a new pentax lens (75-300mm) fit on a slightly older Canon Rebel SLR camera? I received two of the same lens for xmas, and am trying sell one on craig's list, but so far the only buyer is someone who has a Canon Rebel SLR (that's all the info I've got from him so far) and my lens is a Pentax FAJ75mm-300mm lens, as seen in this link from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009XVQR/ref=s9_asin_image_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1YVDVJ8EE2JVT99SZE3P&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=278240301&pf_rd_i=507846

Is there any chance this will fit his camera?

invest in a new camera or a photo class?

slow graffiti — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:53:48 -0800

What to spend my money on- a new camera or a photography class? I currently have a Canon Powershot S45 that's 4 or 5 years old and has a laughable 4 megapixels. That said, I've still taken great shots with it, and lately I've been so into it that I want to invest a little money in improving. I know you don't need a fancy camera to take a good picture, but I'm starting to notice the noise in my shots versus those taken with a better camera (or just by a better photographer?). Given that I have a budget and I can't go for both at once, what is the better investment now- a DSLR or a class? Will I get more from a class with a better camera, or will taking the class with the bad camera help my technique and help me make a better choice of DSLR later? Will a teacher laugh at my old camera and not take me seriously? I'm looking at classes that don't necessarily require specific equipment, but even so, is my camera just embarrassingly old? I already know my way around the manual settings of my camera and I have a basic understanding of composition.

Also, I'm the kind of person that listens to vinyl, so I understand the appeal of film and I know a film SLR would get me a big quality improvement for a much lower price, so I could possibly have my cake and eat it, but I'm not sure it would be the best way to get myself out taking all kinds of pictures with the quick feedback of digital. If you think the way to learn the most on the smallest budget is to go film, I'll listen.

Broken D300 or just bad design?

AstroGuy — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:26:59 -0800

Should the release mode wheel on a Nikon D300 (or D200) just spin or should there be click stops? Just got my new D300 a few days ago and I'm loving it. But I wonder if something is broken on my new camera or if this is a design flaw.

The release mode dial (to change between S, CL, CH, LV, and MUP modes) spins freely when the lock button is depressed. I would expect there to be click stops at each position on the dial to provide tactile feedback and ease making setting changes by feel. The D200 has the same control (minus the LV=LiveView, setting) but it's been about a year since I handled a co-worker's D200 for all of 15 minutes and I can't remember how that control felt on his camera.

If this is by design, that's cool, although I think it's a bad design, but I'm afraid something is amiss on my new $1800 camera body.

I've googled every search phrase I can think of and found nothing describing this and the manuals for both cameras don't say one way or another. What say you, MeFi shutterbugs?