JGaskamp
I'm looking into buying a new camera for weather photography. Does anyone have some good suggestions on the best brand/model for the most decent price?
Jayson Prentice
EF5
Well I'm sure myself and plenty of other people could start mentioning great cameras and things that would cost you a couple grand and more... So how about what is the price range you are looking for?
Then some reasonable suggestions can be made!
Then some reasonable suggestions can be made!
Mike Krzywonski
Canon Rebel XTi: $520
Canon EOS 40D: $1300
Canon 17-40 mm f/4L wide angle lens: $629
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/
Canon EOS 40D: $1300
Canon 17-40 mm f/4L wide angle lens: $629
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/
JGaskamp
somewhere around 500.
thank you for the suggestions! now comes the saving part.
thank you for the suggestions! now comes the saving part.
Brett Roberts
EF5
For around $500, go with the Canon Digital Rebel XTi (or Rebel XT to save a bit more cash) with the kit lens included. The kit lens is far from amazing, but you can always save for a lens upgrade... in the long run, for serious storm photography, it's worth it over a point-and-shoot model.
Greg Campbell
EF5
$500 will buy once heck of a sweet film (gasp!) setup! 
David Schuttler
EF5
And a $500 Xti gets you half the shutter life of a 20D
JGaskamp
I was just given an older camera from my grandfather (not sure how good it would be for storm photography), but I'm interested to see if it still works. It's a Minolta SR-T101 from the 80s. I read that the older minolta's from the 60s have a longer life span than the model I have. However, with the camera came a few alternate lens, filters, diffuser, flashgun, etc.
Greg Campbell
EF5
Cool!
Batteries are the only problem with these older Minolta bodies. In our zeal to make the world safe 'for the children' we've outlawed the old mercury cell watch/camera batteries. Zinc/air replacements perform almost identically, but there is to my knowledge no direct physical replacement for the old mercury cells. You'll will need to add an o-ring to the battery compartment to center the smaller replacement battery. http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-111.html
The MC lenses aren't as prevalent as Canon/Nikon lenses from the same era, but you won't have any trouble finding some nice glass for cheap (if you decide to invest a little $ in the kit.) Ebay is an obvious choice - just make sure you have a no-hassle return option. KEH offers known-good equipment for a price premuim. They have a good selection of 3rd party lenses for dirt-cheap prices. Vivitar, Tamron, and Tokina all made pretty decent stuff back then.
It's probably worth the $50~70 to have a local camera guy give it once over. He can set you up with batteries, check the light meter's accuracy, lube anything that needs lubing, replace tired light seals, etc. With a little basic maintenance, these old bricks will last indefinitely and can survive just about any form of physical abuse short of drowning.
Enjoy
-Greg
Batteries are the only problem with these older Minolta bodies. In our zeal to make the world safe 'for the children' we've outlawed the old mercury cell watch/camera batteries. Zinc/air replacements perform almost identically, but there is to my knowledge no direct physical replacement for the old mercury cells. You'll will need to add an o-ring to the battery compartment to center the smaller replacement battery. http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-111.html
The MC lenses aren't as prevalent as Canon/Nikon lenses from the same era, but you won't have any trouble finding some nice glass for cheap (if you decide to invest a little $ in the kit.) Ebay is an obvious choice - just make sure you have a no-hassle return option. KEH offers known-good equipment for a price premuim. They have a good selection of 3rd party lenses for dirt-cheap prices. Vivitar, Tamron, and Tokina all made pretty decent stuff back then.
It's probably worth the $50~70 to have a local camera guy give it once over. He can set you up with batteries, check the light meter's accuracy, lube anything that needs lubing, replace tired light seals, etc. With a little basic maintenance, these old bricks will last indefinitely and can survive just about any form of physical abuse short of drowning.
Enjoy
-Greg
Just want to add to this: If you go for the XT/XTi, make sure you get the new IS version of the kit lens (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS) and not the old version of the kit lens (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II). You may have to buy the camera body and lens separately, because I don't think Canon is packaging the IS kit lens with the XTi's yet.
The new kit lens has been beating the old version handily in testing. Apparently, Canon added an aspherical element and it improved the lens' performance considerably, to where it's on par with the $1000 17-55 in resolution. It's not as fast or well-built as the 17-55, but it's certainly worth it versus the old (lousy) kit lens and should hold you over longer. Check out the PhotoZone reviews for more details:
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
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