I would like to get a DSLR soon. I have been trying my best to research what to get, but with such a HUGE amount of options, I am still lost.

I plan to spend in roughly the $600 range, so use that as a budget (unless there is a HUGE performance jump if I go up to $100 more).

I want to be able to do nice enviorments with the lens I get. Thats going to be my main focus to begin, then moving onto macros, and perhaps portraits.

So...


HELP!

EDIT: Obviously when moving onto macros and portraits I'll be getting new lens. So....thats pretty irrelevant.

This post was edited by Bundy3 on Nov 3 2010 06:27pm

Beating onepage to the punch!

Don't get anything Canon. They suck. My phone takes better pictures than anything they make.

This was EXTREMELY productive. I know exactly what to get now...

But seriously, I'd really appreciate a good response. It is so hard to decide!

EDIT: Of course I plan to go to the store and get a feel for them once I get some ideas, but this is the preliminary area...

This post was edited by Bundy3 on Nov 3 2010 06:31pm

Ha. Sorry. Sort of has this thing, I have to act like a Nikon zealot.

Is 600 your budget for the camera body, or are you including lens cost as well?

Including Lens. I can go up to $700 if the extra $100 is a huge difference, as I stated.

700 is pretty limited to be totally honest. It pretty much holds you to the cheapest base models that any brands offer. I can say that although they will get you a start in photography, but once you get into I can promise you'll want something better than what you'll end up with. My advice, hold off and get a bigger budget. $1500 I think would be ideal for what you'll need... Body, glass, memory, tripod, bag, etc.

Wow, didn't think it was THAT limited. I saw plenty of cameras in the ~$400 range. Figured glass could be found for about $2-300. Guess I was wrong.

IS buying glass used a bad idea?

And lets say I go with the $1500 budget. What would I be looking at for options.

I think 700 is enough to get started. For 700, you can easily get a Canon T1i with the standard kit lens (18-55IS) and the telephoto 55-250. Check up on slickdeals often and you can find good deals. You can save even more if you decide to get an older model such as an XS or XSi. All of these are great starter items considering you don't have any dslr experience. Both of the lenses I listed are great beginner ones and are pretty sharp.

If you want to get cancer, buy Nikon. If you want Insta-Pro, buy Canon.

T1i is fairly limited imo. Plus glass. Glass is really where the limitations are...





Don't listen to him. My phone > his camera.



This post was edited by CitizenScuba on Nov 3 2010 11:25pm