[GTAutoConcepts]

hi guys,
i know a lot of you are really good at photography and i was wondering if you can help me out here. my girlfriend wants to get into photography and i was wondering what is a good camera she could get? can you please list the price too? i know this isn't the cars pic thread but it's her b'day soon and this is what she wants and i've left it till the last minute, as usual , so any help would be appreciated. thank you in advance

[SpecC]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=62

you've gotta go and look at this section!

i recommend canon point and shoots though. the G9 is bad ass! if you're rich... haha

[GTAutoConcepts]

thanks dude, and rich is not me still waiting to win the lotto.

[nyc3r]

Get SLR if she wants to really get into photography and don't mind carrying it.. otherwise, stick with point and shoot.

[323d]

d40? probably the most basic DSLR you can get for a relatively good price

[continentalg5]

Nikon D80...great camera.

[solefald]

D80 is a little on a higher end. I have D70s, its a great camera, but a little steep for a beginner. New D60, is a great entry level pro-sumer DSLR. And it costs around $600. Comes with a decent Nikkor lens. Perfect for beginners.

One suggestion though, get off camera flash. Nikon SB-600 will do nicely.

[JcFlys]

A D40 would be a great start for her. I started with a D40 and then went to a D300. The D40's just dropped in price.

[dhan]

canon xti

[GTAutoConcepts]

thank you for all the help. i really appreciate it

[jasonn]

xti is simple to use and imo, has better features than a d40.

[spacemonkey1112]

Your best possible choices for beginner cameras for people that want to get into photography would either be Nikon's d40x (DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THE REGULAR D40; I think its outdated) or Canon's Rebel Xti. Here is my opinion. I'm most definitely a Canon guy and I feel that Canons does produce slightly sharper images compared to Nikon; but you probably won't even be able to tell. I am not familiar w/ the functions of Nikon's d40x, but I think the Xti has a pretty good user interface for beginner level photographers. Both are light weight and compact compared to the next best thing (D80 or 40D). I mainly suggest the Xti because of its prices. From amazon, the Xti is about $650. the Nikon d40x however runs at $830. I use amazon for pricing because you won't be taxed on your gear which is always a plus.

[remmib]

If she wants a DSLR, I'd really suggest the new Canon XSi. Not sure if it available in US yet though.

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by l_taylor

hi guys,
i know a lot of you are really good at photography and i was wondering if you can help me out here. my girlfriend wants to get into photography and i was wondering what is a good camera she could get? can you please list the price too? i know this isn't the cars pic thread but it's her b'day soon and this is what she wants and i've left it till the last minute, as usual , so any help would be appreciated. thank you in advance

1. Does she want point and shoot or DSLR (interchangeable lenses). If she really wants to "get into" photography, you're probably looking at a DSLR.

2. What is your budget? A camera is a very personal decision. Between Canon and Nikon, they are basically equals. One is no better than the other, you just need to decide which one better suits your needs - the nikon is better than the canon at some things, the canon is better than the nikon at some things.

I would suggest a gift card to a Ritz or Wolf Camera. The pricing is fair, and they include useful beginner courses in digital photography with the camera purchase. You'll also get a bunch of free enlargements. Stuff worth close to $1000, and I used all of mine except the class.

The reason I wouldn't buy her the camera outright is she needs to hold it and decide which one she likes better. I use a high end DSLR, but one big reason I prefer it is the size (I have large hands) and the interface. A friend of my wife is an excellent photographer, but prefers a smaller, lighter mid grade camera becuase she has small hands and can't effectively handle one like mine.

Any argument about one brand takes better pictures than another is a half truth. Different technology can take a better picture (full frame sensor vs. crop sensor), but you really have to enlarge a picture quite a bit to see it. Both Canon and Nikon offer full frame sensors, but they are more expensive, and really not necessary for a noob or even experienced amature.

For a noob, especially a girl (assuming she has smaller hands) I would look at the D40x or XTi for a budget, or the D60 or XSi (I think that's the new Canon) if you want to spend a little more. The one to buy is the one that feels more comfortable, and is easier to adjust. They both have the same important features: shutter release, the ability to use manual focus (although both are autofocus cameras), white balance adjustment, ISO adjustment, aperature and shutter speed adjustment, and a hotshoe for a flash. Every other feature is just gravy that gets in the way of learning how to shoot.

[GTAutoConcepts]

Originally Posted by TurboFan

1. Does she want point and shoot or DSLR (interchangeable lenses). If she really wants to "get into" photography, you're probably looking at a DSLR.

2. What is your budget? A camera is a very personal decision. Between Canon and Nikon, they are basically equals. One is no better than the other, you just need to decide which one better suits your needs - the nikon is better than the canon at some things, the canon is better than the nikon at some things.

I would suggest a gift card to a Ritz or Wolf Camera. The pricing is fair, and they include useful beginner courses in digital photography with the camera purchase. You'll also get a bunch of free enlargements. Stuff worth close to $1000, and I used all of mine except the class.

The reason I wouldn't buy her the camera outright is she needs to hold it and decide which one she likes better. I use a high end DSLR, but one big reason I prefer it is the size (I have large hands) and the interface. A friend of my wife is an excellent photographer, but prefers a smaller, lighter mid grade camera becuase she has small hands and can't effectively handle one like mine.

Any argument about one brand takes better pictures than another is a half truth. Different technology can take a better picture (full frame sensor vs. crop sensor), but you really have to enlarge a picture quite a bit to see it. Both Canon and Nikon offer full frame sensors, but they are more expensive, and really not necessary for a noob or even experienced amature.

For a noob, especially a girl (assuming she has smaller hands) I would look at the D40x or XTi for a budget, or the D60 or XSi (I think that's the new Canon) if you want to spend a little more. The one to buy is the one that feels more comfortable, and is easier to adjust. They both have the same important features: shutter release, the ability to use manual focus (although both are autofocus cameras), white balance adjustment, ISO adjustment, aperature and shutter speed adjustment, and a hotshoe for a flash. Every other feature is just gravy that gets in the way of learning how to shoot.

thank you for all the info, after reading what you've said, i want to make sure she gets the one that fits her best. so i think i'll give her a gift card, do you think $500 will get her a good camera? i've looked around online but im not quite sure about the pricing, what do you think? $500 good?

[GTAutoConcepts]

everyone, i really appreciate all your help

[Calgary Agent]

Try reading thru info on this site >> http://www.kenrockwell.com/

[TurboFan]

$500 would get her pretty close to a D40 or XTi kit. The kit lenses aren't bad for a noob. When she gets better, she can buy the 'spensive glass, and the body will do just fine.

[0002s]

USED Canon XT off of eBay. Canon 1.8 50mm fixed lens.

You will be out less than $400. You will also be able to sell it, if she doesn't like Photography a week later, and you will get your money back.

oh and if you get rid of her you will have a nice dslr to play with.

[spacemonkey1112]

The XSi is F****ing expensive for a Beginner photographer... for what the Xti is capable of doing, The resolution and colors that Camera produces is already amazing. I mean Canon's 40D uses the same Sensor as the Xti and that is saying a lot. the XSi is good, but for the price now, Half the features the camera offers won't even be used. I mean the 3in. screen is a nice upgrade and the Live ViewFinder is nice. But a 2.7in screen is already HUGE (my 20D is only at 1.8in.). and w/ the Live viewfinder, There is no autofocus and for a beginner photographer, that can be VERY annoying and may put that feature of the camera back in the box.

New is not always best. the Xti is a very welcoming camera for people that want to take the next step into photography and I do not see it being outdated anytime soon. I probably won't replace my 20d (4 years old now) till something replaces the current 5D. Canon's Sensors are built to last and with the current sensor in the Xti, I can promise you that the pictures will satisfy.

When looking for cameras, The best site that I found was www.dpreview.com

this site goes into very in depth reviews on almost ALL the cameras out there to date. They have a studio set up to test image quality between rival cameras and a lot of the information given is very helpful. They strip the camera down to its bare shell and give readers wonderful reviews. So yeah, dpreview.com is your best bet for getting more information yourself.

[Stephii_Rawr]

canon xti! i have it and i love it! my boyfriend bought it for me for my christmas present and i dont think there has been a day where i didnt use it... its great for everything <3

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by spacemonkey1112

...The resolution and colors that Camera produces is already amazing....

Realize that the sensor is only recording incident light, and there's nothing special about the canon sensor. They're using a sensor that's common to many, many models and brands of camera.

The difference is in the standard color saturation settings in the camera - in other words, how the camera interprets what it gets from the CCD or CMOS. Virually any camera with the same or a similar sensor can produce the same image. I happen to think the default Canon setting is over saturated, where the default Nikon setting is under saturated. That's why they make them adjustable. You just have to know where the settings are located.