I'm just starting to look at digital SLRs. I've been using a Canon PowerShot A80 for the past two years, and it's done amazingly well for me, but the photo quality isn't as good as it used to be, and I'm afraid of it dying on me. I also have a 50-year-old German SLR that is completely manual and weighs several pounds. I don't use it very often, but it takes great photos. Before that, I had a Fuji point-and-shoot that lasted for 10 years and took pretty decent photos. I wasn't even planning on going digital, until I got my PowerShot as a gift from the company I worked for at the time. And now, well, I'm hooked.
I'm doing some freelance photography for the newspaper and I've done one friend's wedding. I use my camera for everything from snapshots to artsy photos. I'm looking at the $1,000 range, though with lenses and all I expect it could easily be close to $2,000. I don't quite know how professional I should go, considering that I'm not a pro. I'm not really concerned about fancy features, but I want good, clean images. Composition is the rest of the battle for me, and I like to think I'm generally victorious.
So here's where you come in. I know there are plenty of people out there who have digital SLRs or have done research on buying one. What stands out to you? And how do you use your camera? Other considerations you'd like to mention?
I've heard good things about both the Nikon d70 and the canon digital rebel. You might want to find a local camera shop that will let you try them both out to figure out your picky little wishes. Each will have different features, I'm sure.
I know dooce (www.dooce.com) uses the d70 and loves it, and I've enjoyed shooting with a d70 that I borrowed from a friend once.
Keep me updated on your thoughts, and we can talk it over in two weeks :-)
Posted by: Leah | 2006.04.21 at 10:47 PM
Care for some advice from a magazine photographer? You need to buy a "camera kit". What this means is a camera you can grow into. I'd suggest the Canon Digital Rebel XT. Its a good beginner camera and one you can add to and not too expensive. One thing I like about it is that it has a bunch of "pro" features like manual modes and uses all of the great lenses that EF Canon makes. A piece of advice is to start with 2 lenses...since you will be doing work for newspaper and you will be shooting in different situations try a 23mm-80 zoom and for the second lens a 70-300mm zoom. Then you'll have all your bases covered for a while. If you have any questions, feel free to email me or visit my site at www.grapixeye.com. Good luck.
Posted by: Michel | 2006.04.22 at 05:53 AM
I looked into digital SLRs in December in some depth... being an amateur like yourself the ones recommended to me were the Canon Rebel XT and the Nikon d70. The one thing pointed out to me was that most thought the Canon better but that the 'kit' lens that comes with the canon was crap.
Posted by: Euan | 2006.04.22 at 08:11 AM
i am looking into a digital slr, too. i'd like a nikon d70, but haven't been able to get to a shop where i can hold any functioning models. (i want to be able to play with it a bit before i drop two grand.) let me know what you find out, and i'll let you know the same!
Posted by: steph | 2006.04.22 at 10:42 AM
Ah ha..not the kit lens....buy the EF lenses. Also as a photographer I need staying power in a camera...and although the Nikons are great, after 20,000 shutter releases you'll find they begin to exhibit problems. A working photographer doesn't care crap for a name...but it better hold up under the pressure.
Posted by: Michel | 2006.04.22 at 11:19 PM