I ordered my DSLR Camera Today!!!!

Totally Judy

Totally Judy

Joined
Dec 3, 2000
Messages
4,347
I after much deliberation, research, reading of many different reviews, and multiple discussions, I have made the decision on my new camera. Whew. A 2-month ordeal and not an easy one.

The camera I ordered this afternoon is a Sony α550 DSLR Camera and Lens. The glass that comes with it probably isn't the very best one, but it will be my entry level lens and as I get more proficient with my camera, I plan to purchase better glass.

Pictures:

DSLRA550L.png


DSLRA550L_1.jpg


DSLRA550L_2.jpg


I did the tinyurl thing (below) because the link was about 4 lines long! Take your pick of either of the links below to check out my soon-to-own camera if you are interested in more details and the cool video they show.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/yl4tow9

http://tinyurl.com/yl4tow9

The Rebel Series was a contender. The Sony came into play based on a recommendation of an acquaintance who is a cinematographer in Hollywood. He strongly recommended the middle level Sony Alpha's - but no particular model. So I compared the Sony Alpha's to the Nikon's and Canon's and then called and spoke with a guy at Sony to ask questions about several of the different Alpha Series Sony's I was considering.

It was a tough decision and I experienced major stress this afternoon after ordering it. Thank goodness for Xanax to help me make it through the day without slitting my wrists! Hopefully my decision turns out to be a good one.

Many thanks to SharpbyCoop and Evolute for their advice and input. It was very helpful to me.

I am feeling like a VW Bug owner who just bought a Ferarri and doesn't have the slightest idea how to turn the dang thing on!

Since my new camera isn't even available on the market yet, or even to ship from Sony, I will be one of the first people to get one when it ships next week. Lucky me!!! There was no price shopping, as all sellers are only taking pre-orders and all were asking the exact same price - so I went ahead and ordered direct from Sony.

Sheesh - I couldn't believe that Sony doesn't even include a Memory Stick in the box. Not even a teeny-tiny one. The sales guy gave me a discount and I went ahead and splurged on a 16GB Memory Stick PRO Duo™ Media - $76.

I expect that I will have a major learning curve with my new camera and there will be lots of "do-over" pictures. This should keep me out of trouble for a little while.

Wish me luck!!!
 
Good Luck, and have lots of fun learning! :D

The stress levels should drop once you actually have it to experiment with.
 
Thanks, Esav.

I think you're right. Once I have it and can start using it, I will feel better. I am just doubting myself as to whether it was the right camera.:eek:

But sheesh..... there are a gazillion good cameras to choose from. I belive this one is very good.

Sigh.
 
Once these toys get complicated, they are much harder to learn, even to learn how to do simple things with them. But that's all the early part of the learning curve, and once you are past that quickly enough, it's all a matter of increased performance. You will soon be taking pictures of details that you never realized you could see before.
 
Are you kidding? You got the Sony a550, even though it has the messed up, retard.....













Just kidding. Now you can get on to taking pictures. :D I am still on the learning curve, with around 4K pictures on mine since I got it. At least it is getting easier.
 
One thing I did just find out recently, when I couldn't figure out why my pics weren't as sharp as they should be, is that when you run the full image size, most cameras use Bayer Interpolation to produce it. If you run a smaller image size, it doesn't do that, so the resulting image is much sharper. I have been running mine at 3MP, and it is super sharp and crisp now. Something to keep in mind.
 
I am in the process of trying to decide which one to buy. I'm heavily leaning towards a Cannon at the moment. I'll be very interested in seeing what you think of yours.
 
Any Cal. said:
One thing I did just find out recently, when I couldn't figure out why my pics weren't as sharp as they should be, is that when you run the full image size, most cameras use Bayer Interpolation to produce it. If you run a smaller image size, it doesn't do that, so the resulting image is much sharper. I have been running mine at 3MP, and it is super sharp and crisp now. Something to keep in mind.
Click to expand...

What camera are you using? And what you just said does not compute in my Sony Cyber Shot brain. I don't know what a Bayer Interpolation is. Are you saying that I should set my 14.X camera to shoot at 3mp? huh?

I guess I need to get my digital camera glossary out and read it.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Once these toys get complicated, they are much harder to learn, even to learn how to do simple things with them. But that's all the early part of the learning curve, and once you are past that quickly enough, it's all a matter of increased performance. You will soon be taking pictures of details that you never realized you could see before.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on the first part. And I hope you are right about the second part! If I'm not taking better and sharper pictures than with my Sony DSC V-1 5mp, then I've got really really really deep blonde roots. ;)
 
Totally Judy said:
I after much deliberation, research, reading of many different reviews, and multiple discussions, I have made the decision on my new camera. Whew. A 2-month ordeal and not an easy one.

The camera I ordered this afternoon is a Sony α550 DSLR Camera and Lens. The glass that comes with it probably isn't the very best one, but it will be my entry level lens and as I get more proficient with my camera, I plan to purchase better glass.

Wish me luck!!!
Click to expand...


Congratulations! As you have found out, there are many different cameras out there and many different opinions as to which is the best.

The Sony looks to have quite a few new features that aren't on the older models. That's one great thing about buying the latest and greatest. You should have a ball playing with it and learning all the ins and outs. Don't worry about it being a good camera. Any of the ones you looked at would have been fine and this one appears a step ahead.

Let us know what you think after you get it and maybe you can share a few interesting pictures with us.

Lamarr

(oh yes, GOOD LUCK)
 
Gosh Judy,
That one has too many buttons for me, good for you being so brave. My camera usually has one button on top with a winder on the other side. The box is usually yellow. :)

Seriously, Good Luck and have a great time learning, I am just too old to do that. :eek:
Jim
 
I believe that many of us lurking here who are not ace photographers would welcome another thread in the weeks ahead to see how you handled the learning curve on your DSLR.

I have a nice higher end "point and shoot" digital camera (Olympus sp 550) and I like to experiment with pics of outdoor stuff like insects and flowers and interesting compositions like old wood posts and barbed wire fences, but I feel that DSLR would open up the horizon a lot more.

A bit like how the 80's "do everything" Case Stockman morphed into a Sebenza in 2007.

There is always something just a little better out there, and don't we all love new stuff?

Good luck with the buy Judy, you only feel the price pain once.
 
I am hoping the camera arrives before I leave to visit my mom in Oklahoma on Nov. 8th. She just recently moved to Vian, 30 miles from Tahlequah, home of the Cherokee Nation, where she was born. I'll be sure to check her out for tomahawks, and leg and boot knives before I start pissing her off! :eek:

There should be many good photo opportunities as we take our daily Girl's Road Trips. I will see if I can download an owner's manual now and start learning what some of those bells, buttons, and whistles are all about.

Wish me luck!
 
TJ...When you receive your new Sony camera, don't spend too much time in trying to figure out how to load 35mm film in it.:D.:D.
 
Congratulations on your choice, it looks to be a fine one. Keep us apprised of your experiences with your new camera.
 
This seems like a good decision to me.:)

Just relax now and get ready to enjoy a massive 'orgy' of picture-taking when it arrives. Learn by doing.:D

I am preparing myself for a massive influx of Judy Pics.:thumbup:
 
Congrats Judy we look forward to seeing your pics.......:)
Don't worry....If I can figure out how to use a digital anyone can :o
 
Totally Judy said:
What camera are you using? And what you just said does not compute in my Sony Cyber Shot brain. I don't know what a Bayer Interpolation is. Are you saying that I should set my 14.X camera to shoot at 3mp? huh?

I guess I need to get my digital camera glossary out and read it.
Click to expand...

I am not saying you should shoot at 3MP, just telling something I just learned, which I thought made a big difference in the way my pics came out.

I am shooting a D40, which is a 6mp camera. I couldn't figure out why my pics weren't as clear as my P+S, no matter what I did. Then I read this:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bayer.htm

After I read that, I changed the menu option for file size from "Large" to "Medium". You can keep the quality at High or Superfine or whatever they call it. After this change, the pictures came out MUCH sharper, like I expected them to be. At this setting though, the image size is like 25-30% smaller.

I just tried to put together an image showing the difference, but I couldn't get it together. Maybe I am just full of crap?:foot: If you end up with the same thing I did, maybe see if it helps. I only noticed because I hate things being slightly soft when they should be sharp.
 
Sorry, AnyCal. Unless you have Judy's current camera, and are SURE hers will not be sharpest at a higher resolution, I would refrain from generalized tips. She didn't buy a D40. Sony may surprise ALL of us with the latest technology.

She's the first to point out she's a newbie. Let us see her work first. That was a confusing link and not relevent to her needs. Yet.

That said, you ARE correct in not needing full resolution on all shots. But I would recommend this for entirely different reasons: Storage, memory, editing all have larger requirements at the highest resolutions. The learning curve is going to include a gazillion deletes, so run somewhere in the middle of the resolution range instead of taxing the systems.

See? We all want to help you, Judy. :D

Coop
 
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