What do you carry for a camera?

I've been researching the "entry level" DSLRS.... I'm a little leery of buying used but I admit the old manual Pentax I bought at a pawn shop served me well for several years (and taught me the basics) and then I sold it to an art student...

Anyway.... As someone above said, the Canon T3 and the Nikon D3100 appear like peas in a pod in most categories... I've read several comparisons and they all say that maybe the Nikon has a slight edge in picture quality but that the Canon has better controls.
I've always found Canon layouts to be very sensible... I've had a couple of their point-n-shoot models.
 
I've been researching the "entry level" DSLRS.... I'm a little leery of buying used but I admit the old manual Pentax I bought at a pawn shop served me well for several years (and taught me the basics) and then I sold it to an art student...

Anyway.... As someone above said, the Canon T3 and the Nikon D3100 appear like peas in a pod in most categories... I've read several comparisons and they all say that maybe the Nikon has a slight edge in picture quality but that the Canon has better controls.
I've always found Canon layouts to be very sensible... I've had a couple of their point-n-shoot models.

I think nikons glass and build quality even in entry level cameras exceeds canon. I like nikons layout as well, both
Are easy to navigate.
 
The reason I recommended used D200, is you get a pro level camera with a ton more control and just as much idiot-proof auto as the new consumer level dslr's. Also, the D200 has an on-board flash, which really comes in handy if you eventually get a SB-800 or SB-900 speed light. I can make the onboard flash become th master controller of the flash, completely wirelessly and control the speedlight directly from the camera. So coupled with my SB-800 I now have a very portable studio light for great lighting options.

I know that's a bit advanced for general shooting, but you seem to have the interest in learning. Also, KEH has a warranty on all items they sell, and greatly undergrade their used products. I bought my "nifty-fifty" from them in "good" condition (not great or excellent or like new) and honestly I can't tell it was even mounted before.

I know the D200 can't do video and it does use CF memory cards but battery life is pretty darn good (~400 shots/charge) but it doesn't feel like a toy and offers so many possibilities to the budding photog.

Consider it this way, would you rather buy brand new Husky mechanics tools from Home Depot or used Snap-On if you aspired to be an auto mechanic? Nikon shutters are rated to 100K actuations, mine had a little over 112,000 before it was rebuilt. I still see them with less than 10K clicks for sale for ~$300.

Yeah I'm a little biased as it's what I shoot, but it is such a darn good camera I don't see myself upgrading until I can afford to go full frame digital. Picture quality is in the glass, not the sensor once you are looking at this level.

I have no hate for new consumer grade DSLRs, but for the same or less money you can get great equipment.

Just my $0.02


-X
 
I think cf is actually good. I've been using digital since back when my 1.5mp Fuji was top of the line (700$!). The cards it took were very flimsy and not durable. Cf makes for a very durable,
Affordable media. Sure sd is the new standard, but I still like my cf.
 
Me too. I can still buy new cards at Target and other stores if needed in an emergency. SD is just as sturdy physically, but I have had 7 SD cards just crap out and no longer work. Never a CF card. Also, you don't lose them as easily due to size!


-Xander
 
Yeah really. I do like sd, larger sizes are easier to find, but cf is more durable. I also shoot raw most of the time, so the files are obviously bigger. I forget what size my cf cards are, I think 8gb, I have 3.
 
iphone or Canon s100 for most daily stuff. Canon 5D mk3 with 24-105 for people/street photos or Canon 7D with 70-200 for tennis photos.
 
I have a Sony Cybershot DW-300 (?) that I bought in 2008 and it's a great little pocket digital camera. Used it for travel in Europe, taking wildlife pix in my (old) backyard, and aircraft pix. For Christmas 2012, my wife gave me a Nikon D7000 DSLR with 18-200 mm zoom. What a piece of gear! The owner's manual is like that of an F-15. A few months later, I added a 55-300 mm zoom. I go out in the woods and around water with it. I use it for taking pix of birds, especially bald eagles, ospreys, great blue herons, and anything else that flies in front of me. I'm leery of getting this camera wet, so I have a Pelican box that will hold the camera body and both lenses. All carried in a large Camelback, so it's not light, but I want to be able to ensure dryness when I'm too far from good shelter. Great resolution and that makes up for not having a longer, high-quality telephoto.
 
9234650876_44ee5391b2_b.jpg
[/url] Canon Rebel T3i by budgetbugout, on Flickr[/IMG]

I love my Canon Rebel T3i. However the autofocus during filming leaves much to be desired. This pic was taken during post-production of my latest YouTube video.

Here are some freeze frames from my videos:


Go bag by budgetbugout, on Flickr


Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 11.39.52 PM by budgetbugout, on Flickr


Screen shot 2013-06-30 at 6.48.38 PM by budgetbugout, on Flickr

Here's the pic that it took:


Compact Zombie Apocalypse Bag by budgetbugout, on Flickr



Click here for my YouTube channel
 
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Canon G9 as my PHD and a Canon 7D dslr. Still take out my old Pentax Spotmatic and Canon A-1 for some celluloid fun

Also my Iphone is always with me with several camera apps..

I find Camera+ to be outstanding and like the fun,artsy potential with Hipstamatic.
 
Some pics taken in the last few days. Canon 5D MK III and 24-70L II

24.jpg


Canon 5D MK III and 100-400L

okczoo.jpg


Also own a S100 but it's really my wife's camera. If it's worth taking a picture, it's worth taking my DSLR gear.
 
Both beautiful shots!

I've never had any luck with fireworks and the detail o the deer is amazing. Getting into a 5D would require a change of lifestyle for me:(

Some pics taken in the last few days. Canon 5D MK III and 24-70L II

24.jpg


Canon 5D MK III and 100-400L

okczoo.jpg


Also own a S100 but it's really my wife's camera. If it's worth taking a picture, it's worth taking my DSLR gear.
 
The camera is part of the equation, but the quality of glass is what makes the picture. If you paired up that body with the kit lens out of a canon rebel xti kit, they wouldn't be nearly as good. Pair a quality lens with a rebel xti and you would be surprised. Lots of people think MP is all about the quality of the imagine, MP allows you to make a shot larger without distortion or pixelation. Glass and the cameras sensor are what make the image what it is. The photographer is a big part too :-)
 
Quality of glass is only part of it. The absolute baseline in what makes or break photography is light. A good lens isn't going to make poor quality light look good.

Learn how to read the light and then you are golden. I often just try judging a scene then compare it to my meter to see how my eye is calibrated.


-X
 
If I am venturing into the woods it would be one of my Pentax Bodies with the Sigma 50-500mm 1:4-6.3 lens.

Probably the K5 body as it allows me to shoot lower ISO (ISO 80 instead of ISO 100) and has less noise at the higher ISO (800+).

I might even throw in a macro lens for bugs, small reptiles or amphibians, or flowers.


Dave
 
Mamiya 7II with 43/50/65/80/150 lenses. Before that it was a Canon 5DII with 17-40/24-105/70-200 lenses but I've gone back to film.
 
Hey I have one of those and I still use it from time to time! Once and a while film cameras are nice to use. I tend to slow down and think about things a lot more. Not being able to rip off as many shots as your heart desires and knowing that post processing with film is severely limited compared to digital makes you really think about the shot.
 
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