Mid-range camera recommendations?

Tyler Allison

Tyler Allison

EF5
Joined
Jan 24, 2005
Messages
889
Location
Chicago, IL area
Hey all,

My wife is showing an interest in nature photography and thinking of taking some classes at the local city collage (CoD) that is rumored to have awesome photography classes. We have the basic point and shoot camera ($200) but I'm thinking of getting her a better camera as a present. I'd appreciate it if folks could recommend a good mid-range camera.

I'm hoping I can find a camera body that she can grow with in her classes, and as she gets better, without completely throwing it away and buying a new one. But also don't want to spend $1500 on the body if she ends up not liking the "hobby". Unless spending $1500 on the body and going with a cheaper lense as the starter is your suggestion.

Same thing with the lense(s). I'd like to buy a single lense. (example: if you were told you could only take one lense with you storm chasing, which one do you grab?) but not pay $1500 for it. Unless spending $1500 on the lense and going with a cheaper body is your suggestion. I fully expect her to pick up more/different lenses as she gets better.

There's no real price limit, but let's be reasonable. Stay somewhere in the $1500-$2500 range _total_ please.

-Tyler
 
How about an XTi ($600~) and a 50mm f/1.8 ($100~) lens?
That should be good quite aways down the road.

A prime lens - like the 'nifty fifty' along with the stock lens - keeps it pretty reasonable.
The memory ($60), battery ($30), 58mm filter ($50), a tripod ($100), lens hoods ($25~ ea), remote shutter switch ($35~), and a camera bag ($40) should start anyone off well for far less that a grand.

I'm certainly no pro; but I have read a lot over the last few months and crashed coursed my training. The learning curve has been steep, but I started from the very position that you now face only a short while ago.
With the $500 remaining in the budget, you can kept in reserve for another lens that may be required for class.
Usually, the 50mm is a standard learning tool from what I have gathered.
I bought one, and can see why it is recommended for learning.

Even the stock kit lens will probably suffice - but the 50mm is a real winner for beginners and amateurs..
It is said to be the best lens for its price - hands down.
 
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Keep in mind that the size of the sensor in most DSLRs (like the XSi) has a 1.5x focal length multiplier meaning that (in 35mm terms) the lens you are looking at is an effective 112mm to 450mm. That's not exactly a walkabout lens.

But yes, for $1500 to $2000 you could get a very nice camera and multiple lenses.

I still learning to use it, but I like the capabilities and build quality of my Pentax K200D (separate thread here). One huge advantage to it is that you can use any K-mount lens back into the 1980's (and even screw mount lenses older than that). This means that you have a plentiful supply of good quality glass at bargain prices (although not auto-focus, naturally: separate thread here) that is usually faster than the compromise-design zoom lenses that come with digital cameras today.

The XSi that you are looking at does have LiveView, which will be a comfort to those coming from Point & Shoot land, and H swears by the use of LiveView to nail focus by zooming in on the LiveView screen. It is a well-regarded camera. Just keep in mind that to cover the whole spectrum from wide-angle to telephoto, you will probably want to get the Canon 10-22mm (wide) the normal kit lens in the 17-55mm range and then a higher end telephoto (like the 55-200mm) .

XSi + 17-55mm IS kit lens $659
Canon 10-22mm zoom $710
Canon 55-200mm zoom $269

You are right about where you figured. Throw a good flash in there and you will be pushing close to the $2000 mark, but she'll be loaded for bear.
 
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UV filters are basically for protection purposes. Some people are anti-filter for shooting (why get a good lens and then effectively shoot through another pane of plate glass?). If you are going to shoot through a filter, I'd at least make sure it was a good multi-coated filter so you lose as little light as possible.

A polarizer is a filter for a specific purpose (removing haze from sunlighted scenes & making skies bluer, for example). I'd get just one of those (they are relatively expensive) but get it for the largest filter size of her lenses. Then you can get cheap step-up rings to use the bigger polarizer filter on the smaller diameter lenses (instead of buying separate polarizer filters).
 
Hi Tyler,

I've recently gotten into photography over the last year and really like the Digital Rebel line. I originally had an XTI but had my camera bag stolen out of my car a couple of months ago and replaced it with an XSI. I love the XSI and would highly recommend it to start out with. You can pick this up with the 18-55m IS kit lens for a pretty decent amount, I believe I paid $800 at my local camera store.

The 18-55m lens is a good starter lens and provides a good range to learn the basics on I think. It also has served me well when chasing and was the lens I primarily used. The 50mm f/1.8 is an amazing and cheap lens (about $100) that is really useful when doing indoor and portrait type photography. It allows you to shoot in low light situations without using the flash and also produce great depth of field in your photos. It has quickly become my favorite lens and I have been using it quite a bit in the off season. These two lenses together I think would make a great starter package and allow you to learn the basics and be able to experiment quite a bit. Then you can always purchase other lenses down the road that you want or can afford.

As far as chasing goes as I said I primarily used the 18-55mm kit lens last season. I purchased a 70-300mm IS lens for a telephoto but found that I hardly used it at all when chasing as I was normally close enough and I wanted more storm structure in my shots. For chasing purposes I would look more into a wide angle lens like the 10-22mm. If you do purchase a telephoto I would look at the 55-250mm IS instead of the 75-300mm for two reasons. First I found myself really missing the range between 55mm and the 70mm on my telephoto. A lot of times I would switch over to my 70-300mm and it would be too close. By getting the 55-250mm your starting out where your other lens leaves off so you would have the full range from 18mm to 250mm at your disposal. Second is the 55-250mm has IS which is very handy in a telephoto to help steady your handheld shots. You can get the 55-250mm IS for about $275 last time I looked on Amazon.

One thing you might want to check out is Flickr. There are groups that only contain photos taken with certain lenses and they also have an area where you can look at only photos taken with certain cameras. These can give you an idea of what's possible with different equipment. I have learned a lot just by looking at other peoples photos and their EXIF data to see what settings they used to get those shots. Their is a link in my signature to my Flickr site if you want to take a look.

Sorry if this seems rambling lol. I just got off an overnight shift and my mind is a little hazy. Hope this helps some.

Take care,
Aaron
 
Just a few loosely connected random thoughts...

With your budget, you can get any sort of camera you'd want. Before you run off to join the DSLR mob, take a step back and think in more general terms.

Here at ST, you've gonna get a bunch of guys telling you what they think is cool. Remember, guys like buttons and widgets, while women are often far less enthusiastic. Maybe something more elegant and straightforward would have more appeal? Remember, becoming a better photographer involves thinking and learning to 'see' what's in front of you. It has nothing to do with buying more lenses, pixels, and control wheels.

What's the 'tilt' of the City College courses? Do they still have a live darkroom, or is it completely digi-centric? Somewhere in the middle? Let the wifey take a few intro classes, then buy a nice outfit when she has some idea what she'd really like.

FWLIW, the Canon kit you're looking at makes me go 'Eeew'. Yet another generic dslr...
How independent is your wife? Is she more comfortable blending in, or would she like something that's a little unique? Maybe she'd get a kick from something off in left field like a digital rangefinder, pinhole shoebox, or a panoramic medium format monster? Or maybe a tidy, compact ZLR is all she wants to lug around? Chicago must have plenty of photo galleries to visit. Go to a few and see what sort of images she'd like to make, then buy the tools.


0.02$
 
Greg Campbell said:
:p

Hey, I'm just trying to help here!!
I've long since learned that buying a gal what you think is cool often backfires badly.

<mutter...."damn digital lemmings!"... mutter.....>
Click to expand...

No seriously. It's good advice. I talked to my wife about it this afternoon. I gave/give the same advice for guys thinking of buying a gun for their wife/gf/etc.

-Tyler
 
As to which camera, there are a few to choose from. Mid-range is not a bad idea, since you don't want her to get completely frustrated in the beginning by a crappy setup. Some of those that have been stated are good, as are some of the Nikons.

As for lens(es) - it really depends on what she wants to image. You asked if you could only take one with you storm chasing - I would probably go with a zoom, 70-200mm (or close to that).

But to get back to what she wants to do - nature photography - you could go with the 70-200mm range again, or go with a 50mm f/1.4, or bigger, with a 400mm. These are all just ranges - Nikons have different sizes, but close enough you could figure it out.

I started off with Canon Rebel (300D), kit lens (18-55mm). Tried the kit lens once, didn't use it again. Soon purchased a different lens, used, via an astronomy forum I belong to, was a Sigma zoom something. Learned more as I went, resold the Sigma, purchased the 70-200mm. Loved it. Still have it and use it too. I also have the Canon 400mm, 100mm Macro, 50mm f/1.4, Tokina 12-24mm, Tamron 28-75mm, as well as extenders, extension tubes, warming polarizers, etc. Oh - and that Rebel - I used for 7 months, moved up to 5D - and am looking at the newest 5D Mark II. ;) Depending on what I am shooting, depends on which lens I use - they each have their own uses.

See, us womenfolk like the buttons and widgets too. :p

One option so that she can decide, might be to see if any of her/your friends would let her borrow a lens or two (and camera would be good!), so that she can get a feel as to what she might like. Or see if camera shop will rent them ( I live in Florida, but use Allen's up in Pennsylvania).

If she is looking toward more landscape imagery, then I'd say any of the ones I listed that I have would be great, with exception of the 400mm. If she is looking to do animals, birds, etc. and cannot get close to them, then the 400mm or better yet 500mm ( :D ) would be good.

One place for her to try (some great teachers) is http://www.betterphoto.com/home.asp. With teachers like, Jim Zuckerman, Rob Sheppard, Brenda Tharp, William Neil, Peter Burian, and more.... she would be learning from professionals. I loved it when I did it and learned so much, then got out and put to use what I learned. Once she gets to know whatever camera she decides on - maybe a workshop would be good idea. Not one of the overly expensive ones, there are some out there with awesome photographers that don't cost an arm, leg and kidney. :eek:

I wish her the greatest of luck and fun on this adventure.

Oh - a good tripod and head is a must! :)
 
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