Digital Camera: Photography Your Opinions

Soulprogression

I'm looking to buy a digital camera pretty soon, just been seeing too many things that I want to take pictures of and currently have no way of doing so. I have some experience shooting with my dad's Nikon D60 Slr. I'm not really sure what I want though, was thinking some of you might have some good opinions or personal preferences for good digital cameras. I want to be able to shoot a wide variety of things, riding, skating, portraits, landscapes, macro, surf, etc....

The biggest issue here is my budget, I really don't want and can't afford to spend more than like $400, absolute maximum. I have considered a high mp, point and shoot, and some cheaper slr's. But I really just want something affordable that is going to be reliable and be able to take pics of almost anything.

What are you shooting with and what would you recommend? Also, what would you advise staying away from?

Thanks

EJazzle · Posted: Oct 25, 2008 10:30 pm Post subject:

this is an amazingly good camera. you can find a decent lens for about 100 bucks for it too.

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140555

another good deal (this one is 10.1 mp)
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142598

can you get me this while youre at it?
http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142440

Nikon D40 is an awesome camera, I have one and love it, personally i would buy that.

But the canon rebel is really good too.

GOLD!en · Backside 180 Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 505 City: Edwards

I have a D40 as well and love it. It's cheap (for an SLR) and shoots great.

RUSSIAN · Posted: Oct 26, 2008 1:14 pm Post subject:

My opinion....
$400 isnt going to get you much in the world of slr's. Yes you can find older used bodies for that price, but then you need a lens and memory card at minimum. Your going to probably need atleast $600 to get started with dlsr's.

samgoskate · Posted: Oct 26, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject:

D40,

price.dan · Backside 180 Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 1404 City: Regina

u will want a camera with more fps!!!! dont get a rebel, ive got one and i want more fps. fyi

erikmonty · Backside 180 Joined: 21 Aug 2007 Posts: 845 City: jupiter

dont go out and blow a bunch of money on a camera, especially if your just getting into it. I shoo with a sony h5 with a fixed lens. The pictures it takes are perfect and the file size it shoots are huge. No multi shot but if your good at taking pictures your really dont need it, kinda takes the fun out of taking pics for me at least

Soulprogression · Posted: Oct 26, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the input everyone, sounds like the d40 is a good choice. Like I said, not a first time photographer, have had quite a bit of experience shooting with my dad's cameras, film and digital, over the past few years. So it's not like I'm just starting out. Just trying to decide how much I want to spend and I want to get my money's worth and want some good opinions on the good and bad.

I talked to my dad about it and we both thought it would be a good idea to go the credit route, get a nicer camera, probably a d40 or something comparable and a second lens, something around 300 to 400 mm for off the beach for surfing, decent range, and pay it off monthly, not only will I be able to afford a nicer camera to work with, I'll be building my credit for the long run.

erikmonty, was thinking about this as a good second option, really like this sony, http://www.butterflyphoto.com/prodinfo.phtml?id=353&ref=froogle
Think it's the one you were referring to, and a pretty reasonable price too.

cheapskate · Backside 180 Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Posts: 1424 City: Baytown

Soulprogression, Birthday

get that shooter and post some pics Smash

littleblightie · Pop Shuvit Joined: 25 Apr 2005 Posts: 133

Just so you know, D40's have no focus mechanism in the body... With anything apart from AF-S lenses, they are all manual focus... And possibly manual aperture as well...

EJazzle · Posted: Oct 26, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject:

Soulprogression, do yourself a favor and buy a decent DSLR, overall youll be happier.
if your worried about the internal focusing, the D70 has it. I think you might beable to find one for about the same price.

Canon rebel, 10d and 20d are really nice too. Research!!!

littleblightie, never heard of the aperature thing.

*Nate · Backside 180 Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 1230 City: Nokomis

mergeleft3 · Backside 180 Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 673 City: Orlando

Soulprogression, check out www.kenrockwell.com and read his reviews it will help, the guy has played with every camera out there.

cjbecker · Posted: Oct 27, 2008 7:01 am Post subject:

just stick with film.

Soulprogression · Posted: Oct 27, 2008 10:16 am Post subject:

*Nate, ebay?

mergeleft3, Thanks, that site helped out a lot, been on here a lot too http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/ good reviews and info.

skatewake41, 35mm film ftw, just stuck in this digital world.

After reading a little more, and looking around I think I'm gonna go with the d40, it has some really solid reviews, and it's is an impressive camera for the price. Really don't want to spend $350 on a p/s and have to upgrade in a couple months. Should be good for getting back into shooting, and learning some more. Kind of debating whether to go for the d40x? The 10.2 mp's and higher fps seem nice but worth the extra $?

Will I be happy with the 18-55mm lens for shooting riding for now?

Think I'll probably wait and ask for a 55-200mm lens for a christmas/bday present.

Soulprogression · Posted: Oct 27, 2008 10:20 am Post subject:

littleblightie, feel pretty comfortable with that, learned to take pictures with an old pentax 35mm manual focus so no worries

dscsk8er55 · Backside 180 Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 1030 City: Orlando

dscsk8er55 · Backside 180 Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 1030 City: Orlando

dscsk8er55 · Backside 180 Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 1030 City: Orlando

If you don't mind a refurb, here is the kit for less than $400

http://www.adorama.com/INKD40KR.html

scott a · "a" is for angel Joined: 17 Feb 2004 Posts: 4126

Ken Rockwell is a gigantic bag of douche. I honestly wouldn't bother with his website.