Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with photo and SLR

What is a good entry-level DSLR camera model in 2012?

remi — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:57:12 -0800

I used Canon point-and-shoot cameras before my first DSLR camera, a Nikon D80, which just broke down. I'm interested in getting a new DSLR camera. Hi,

As I gradually stepped up in my hobby of photography, so did my camera models. I started with a Canon point-and-shoot. After my Canon PowerShot G10 (which was recommended to me by the readers here), I moved up to my first DSLR: a second-hand Nikon D80 I bought from a more-experienced photographer friend of mine.

I have asked for recommendations for a DSLR camera two years ago. But when I did, my life plans changed abruptly and couldn't purchase one right away, like I wanted to. I wonder if the advice given to me on that page still hold up today.

I took a break from amateur photography for a while as I settled with my iPhone for the casual photos. Although recently, I've been attending events which gradually pushed me to bring out my D80. Sadly, just two weeks ago, my camera broke down. The battery is charged, but one of the mirrors got really foggy, and the camera won't turn on anymore.

In no way I am a professional. My photo practice have been rusty as I got myself back into it. I still struggle with the manual settings (in other words, no more "P" mode), post-processing, and I lack in equipment (only one lens, no reflector, no flash). There are still times I get the technical terms mixed up. Likely, I didn't even know how to give good care to my DSLR camera.

I loved the Canon cameras I've used over the years, and my G10 is still working perfectly. Even if the Nikon navigation system can get me confused, it's still not a big problem, and I already have a lens for Nikon cameras anyway. Many things were told to me about Nikon vs. Canon, but I'm thinking it's mostly brand loyalty. I even heard some good things about Pentax and Sony (Minolta) cameras.

My budget isn't the biggest, but I know around how much I'll have to pay for a new entry-level DSLR body. I'm also aware that once I get into photography with a DSLR camera, money will easily be spent on maintenance, bags, equipment, lenses, etc.

So, today, I'm asking, what do you recommend for an entry-level DSLR camera nowadays? Should I stick with Nikon, go back to Canon, or consider other brands? Also, should I even bother trying to get my D80 repaired at a Nikon repair centre?

In advance, thank you for all your advice.

Help me take pretty pictures.

bondcliff — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 08:41:22 -0800

Relatively new Canon dSLR owner planning a trip to some Really Beautiful Places. Looking to invest in a lens that will help me take some amazing shots while I'm there as well as on future adventures. I’m not new to photography but this is my first SLR. I’ve just spent a couple months learning the camera and I think I have a good handle on it. I’m planning a big Southwest road trip in April (Grand Canyon, Zion, Page, Bryce) and I plan on spending a lot of time taking pictures. I hike a lot and generally travel to scenic places so whatever I get will be getting a lot of use through the years. I’m willing to spend a bit of money on something decent, though I’m not a pro and have no intention of ever going pro. Whatever I get will probably be my only lens purchase for a while.

What I have: Canon T3i (crop) with the 18-55mm kit lens and the “Nifty Fifty” 50mm f/1.8

I also have access to my wife’s 100mm 2.8 (thanks, AskMe!) and a Sigma 200mm zoom a friend loaned me. Between the two of us we’ll probably be taking those along, though I might leave the zoom at home since I’m not crazy about it.

I’d like something wide, something I can use to take beautiful sweeping vistas and sunsets, with and without people or other things in the foreground. It would also be nice to be able to zoom in a bit at a lizard or a mountain lion just before he mauls me. Something sharp and clear.

I’ve had some suggestions so far (17-40L, 17-85IS, Sigma 10-20) but would like to weigh some more options. Samples of shots taken with the lenses, and reasons why I should choose a particular lens would be helpful.

Bonus question: Should I get/do I need a tripod? What kind? I’m interested in taking waterfall shots in Zion as well as sunset and sunrise shots. I'll be getting one eventually, I'm sure, but is it worth it to have one on this trip?

Picking an affordable entry-level DSLR camera

remi — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 06:52:45 -0800

I've been using Canon PowerShot models for years. My current one is the G10. I think with my experience in amateur photography, I can finally move on to something more advanced. Do you have any suggestions for an entry-level DSLR camera? I have three Canon cameras of which two have been recommended by users on MetaFilter: a PowerShot SD960 IS, a PowerShot G10, and a
Vixia HFS100 for video. They have been very good so far, especially the G10 when it comes to taking great pictures.

Although I am not a professional photographer, I've been taking pictures for years and I think I'm ready to take the next step. (You can check my recent photos on my Flickr account linked in my MeFi profile to judge by yourself.) I know manually operating a DSLR camera is much more involved than the consumer-grade models I've been using, but that's a challenge I want to take.

I'm looking for something within the range of $300 to $500. Or rather, between 30,000 and 50,000 Japanese yen, as I live near Tokyo at the moment, where both brand-new and second-hand cameras seem to grow on trees. The Nikon D80 and D90 look interesting. Video is not important. (I'd love to shoot video with the 5D Mark II, but obviously, I can't afford it.)

One choice I have to make is whether to stick with Canon or to move to Nikon. I don't think I am interested in Sony. I have heard from some professional photographers using DSLR cameras that they love Canon bodies while they prefer Nikon lenses. They also believe that lenses are most important, which made them use Nikon cameras instead of Canon to avoid the need to purchase adapters.

Another word of advice I got is to buy second hand. Like I mentioned earlier, there is no lack of second-hand cameras in Japan. I think I'll buy a used camera to save some money, but if you believe I should do otherwise, please let me know.

I have also skimmed another thread on MeFi about purchasing a DSLR camera for beginners published last year, but there was almost no discussion about price.

Any suggestions on model of bodies and lenses someone who is just starting with DSLR cameras should buy?

Thank you in advance for your comments!

Cheap DSRL for low-light?

Monday, stony Monday — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:20:21 -0800

What cheap kit should I get to take relatively low-light photos? So I found out that shooting hockey indoors is out of my price/skills range. Still looking for a camera. My subjects would be people in low-light situations, at close range (players on the bench, people in the crowd). Later, I'd use that setup to shoot family gatherings. Ideally, I'd like to spend less than $1000. I own no lenses, or body. It seems that a DSLR with an APS-sized sensor + a fixed lens would offer me the best compromise in terms of low-light performance vs. weight vs. cost.

This leads me to:

This Nikkor lens + a D40 (or D60 if I should) seems like the cheapest/lightest setup with a "normal" (like a 50 mm lens on a 35 mm camera) perspective. Amirite? Is there a good reason to avoid the D40?
Should I step up to a Sigma 30 mm/1.4? Here in Canada it's more than double the price.

Fast 50 mm lenses are relatively cheap. Would putting one on an APS body be an hindrance, given that I intend to shoot in close quarters (e.g.: people in a living room)?

Finally, am I overthinking this? Would whatever cheap kit zoom be enough for my purpose? For "shooting around a hockey game", a zoom would be nice since I could get relatively "close" to the players on the opposite bench.

Oh, and should I care about stabilisation, since I'm shooting people?

Bad blue fringing from nowhere.

Jimbob — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:48:49 -0800

What might be causing the really bad (never before seen) blue-fringing around the guy on the left's shirt in this photo my wife took? This photo was taken on our Olympus E-500 DSLR in RAW mode, 14-50mm Zuiko lens, polarizer filter, with some simple exposure adjustment as the only post-processing. Other photos of this group of people have the same problem around this guy's shirt, but we've never seen any blue-fringing (common with point-and-shoot digital cameras) with this camera before, around anyone or anything, in the last 2 years / 60,000-odd photos. No visible fingerprints on the filter or lens.

What's the verdict - chromatic aberration from the lens / polarizer? Some encroaching problem with our camera? We've captured an aura? Or just bad luck?

Best low-light lens for Nikon D80?

bollockovnikov — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:03:51 -0800

I am looking for a lens for my Nikon D80 that works well in low-light conditions. Something relatively compact and not too expensive would be best. I already own a 18-200mm VR lens, which is OK in low light, but not very compact.

I would obviously like my new lens to be useful in a range of situations, but I am more interested in the portrait to 10 metres range.

I do not own a flash unit and don't intend to buy one.

Thanks

SLRockin

tmcw — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:08:26 -0800

My roommate's looking for a $4-600 SLR + Lens combo. That's pretty much it. He doesn't have any lenses that are worth porting over, so no influence on brand in that area. I have a Canon, though, and some good lenses, so I might lend one to him if he gets something similar. He shoots mostly daylight city, events, type of stuff: not as much landscape or low-light, but I'm sure he'll cover the range. I'm not sure what to go with at this particular time (with the seeming explosion of prosumer cams), but there must be something good to get at this price point?

Thanks for any info!

Why digital P&Ss suffer from shutter lag?

PenguinBukkake — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 11:21:16 -0800

Why do digital SLRs have no shutter lag and digital P&Ss (even expensive ones) have a bad case of it? What's the technical reason I mean (I am not an engineer)? In fact, most people who still don't like digital mention shutter lag as a major problem of digital photography. Thanks.

Getting images out of a DCS 330?

tommasz — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 15:27:23 -0800

I have the opportunity to buy an older Kodak DCS digital SLR (a 330) but I'm concerned about getting images out of it. It has a SCSI port but my G4 Mac doesn't have one, at least not without adding a PCI card. The storage medium in the camera itself is PCMCIA Type III which I don't have a slot for and for which I haven't seen any readers. Would I be better off passing this by and getting something a little more modern (and compatible)?