My First DSLR

beermuscles

beermuscles

Active member
Hello, I am looking to buy my first DSLR camera. I have decided to go with Canon (as my next door neighbor is very experienced with his Canon and can guide me through everything), as far as which model to go with. I do not have unlimited funds, and am looking for the camera to last me well into my late twenties.

NS i am here to pick your brain.
 
im lookin into buyin my first one also. im lookin at the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS 10.1-Megapixel Digital SLR Camera Kit. its pretty expensive, 500 i think. but i think it would be well worth it.
 
500 isn't expensive in this grand scheme of things, sorry man, but most people spend more than that on a piece of glass.
To OP, slandy is right. Digital cameras will eventually break, wether it's from abuse or too many accusations. If you're just starting then the Rebel series is a great place to look (several members on this site can vouch) as well as the Nikon D3000, D5000, D3100, or even a refurbished d100/d200
my .02
 
Moreso because digital becomes obsolete to conform to the ever-changing digital output/viewing standard. Because film is an analogue format, it can be scanned to whatever the current standard is. 16mm used to be scanned to SD. Now it can be scanned to HD. Hell, you can take 16mm footage from Happy Dayz and scan it to 4k if you want. That's why film is still supreme if longevity is your goal. With digital, it's not even worth trying.
 
well for me its kinda of is expensive, when im only 16, dont have job right know and need a ldc jacket.
 
I am looking to capture the true picture as opposed to the awful resolution that many point and shoots take.

I realize that I will probably break or damage the body of the camera, but i will have the lens for awhile or vice versa.

Also I should not that it would be nice to have the HD filming capability, which most DSLRs have these days. I have done my research, I just feel I lack the photography background to truly make the best decision.

As for price, $500 is cheap, I realize my kit after 2-3 lenses will cost me about $1,400. I am okay with that.

Really I am looking to discover which body fits me best. How do the refurbished kits compare to the new ones? Anyone have negative experiences?
 
1. The goal of photography isn't to capture the true image unless you're using a surveillance camera.

2. Resolution isn't even close to being the biggest contributing factor in good image quality.

3. I guarantee you will own your lenses longer than your body...count on it.

4. Never ever ever buy kits. They are a waste of money for a preassembled group of poor products.

5. If you are going to shoot video a significant amount, keep in mind that Canon DSLRs are far superior to Nikons in that category (but not for long!).
 
why do i not need one? i want one very badly. right now im sking in a walmart hoodie. not the best for the alps.
 
k1000.jpg
 
Howdy,
I just bought that same camera two months ago. I am experienced in some ways and totally novice in other ways with photography, and I love my Rebel XS. It has lots of great features, easy to use, and easy to understand. It does feel very much like an entry level DSLR, the plastic feels well plasticy, I am not sure I'd worry about it lasting you for ten years. My photog friends have said to me you will undoubtedly want to upgrade your gear at some point. And he just went from a 30D to 50D, so yeah it's the name of the game. I can already see that I'll want to upgrade in the next 5years or so..... but for now I am looking for wide angles, a niffty fiffty (for my Phish photog credentials .... : D ), and a zoom.
With that said I think my Rebel XS is a perfect fit for me, it is an awesome platform for learning and experimenting, there are lots of lenses available, and like someone earlier said, you buy a lense for this camera and it will work on your next camera body. Good luck, shopping and buying.
 
thanks a lot, very helpful post.

is there any reason for me to upgrade past the rebel XS as a novice photographer? i do want to the capability of taking HD video as well.

 
i don't have the time or skills for film hence "amateur photographer." I am looking for convenience, the reasoning for saying I am looking for longevity in my original post is that I dont want to purchase a dslr and in 2 years call myself stupid for underbuying.
 
No video at all with the XS rebel.
On a note of "underbuying" I am afraid no matter how much you buy now you'll eventually want something else. I was told not worry about that much because if you take care of your gear it holds it's value VERY well, the used market is huge, so when you upgrade it may not be that you shell out another 1400 for the next body, you may be able to recover 60-80% of you XS price, put that towards a used Body and there you have an "upgrade", plus all the lenses you may have bought for your XS you can bring to the next model. This was the advice I was told. There are some pretty crazy (translate "psycho") guys out there that just baby their gear, orginal packing material and boxes, etc..... so used gear is definitely the worth thinking about.
Check out fredmiranda.com for some awesome photography sales and used deals. The place is legit. You have to register to search for gear. Also advice I was given from someone whom I trust.
 
underbuying meaning... your skill set outgrows what you can do with your camera, or the technology becomes obsolete?
 
go for the XSi if you do decide to go the canon rebel route. my dad has the XS and i compared it to the XSi at school, and the XSi is so much better, bigger screen, larger resolution, higher iso range, among other things. its definetaly worth the extra 100 or whatevetr
 
i just bought a nikon d3100 for my first camera. i love it. it shoots 1080p at 24 fps and 720p at 30fps. for a first camera it has everything i could ever ask for (aside from a 3fps shutter burst speed, wish it was faster) but defiantly a solid camera.
 
It could have been legit competition for the t2i's video if it had manual shutter speed control, but Nikon decided not to include that for some odd reason. Thank god its on the D7000, when I get a D400 next year I they will have all the kinks worked out.
 
I know you're not made out of money, but i really want to help you out here. First off, it isn't very hard to get used to any camera, a little time and well yeah. So if you want your camera to last for a long time skip the rebel series and look at semi pro dslr's. Look into a 50d now that the 60d is out. And for glass, Sigma makes a really nice 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 and it's 400 Canadian and for that price it is actually amazing quality. I'm a Nikon man myself, and I started out with a d60 (xs equivalent) and I regret it SO much. I wish I would have saved up my money and gotten something better, I out grew it way to fast. So my advice to you, is save up more money until you can get the 50d or 60d because you WILL outgrow a rebel because the ONLY reason people get t2i's is for the video.
 
If you're serious about photography but pretty low on funds, check out a used 20 or 30D and a 50mm f1.8 lens. You can find a 20 or 30D for around 200-300$ and then the 50 1.8 under $100. Then learn how to expose in manual and practice, practice, practice.
If not, get a rebel, shoot in "A" for awesome, and rock your pop-up flash like there's no tomorrow.
 
Haha thanks for the advice guys, I will for sure look into the fredmiranda site. really appreciate the reference.

Again only reason for me going canon > nikon is because of my neighbor being able to "walk" me through all the features and teach me the basics and beyond.

As far as lenses go, for shooting on mountain and then shooting everyday idk lets say medium shots of people, what would you recommend?

Is it better to splurge on the lens > the body?
 
Lenses hold their value really well. So buying a nice lens (Canon "L" series) is more like an investment... Except you're not really going to make profit. Just get most of your money back (If it's still in good condition).
If you're wanting to spend a good amount on a quality set up, go for a used 5D classic (Full frame FTW) and a 35 or 50L. That would be a few grand though. Cheaper end (like I said before) get a 20 or 30D and a 50 1.8 ($100) or a 50 1.4 ($300 but a lot nicer) or even get a 28 1.8 ($400) for the crop sensor. But I'm a prime guy (wedding photographer) so that's just my opinion.
Good luck!
 
I have a Canon XS, and I'd like to say that it's a phenomenal camera. To everyone who's saying you're going to outgrow it, don't worry about that. Even if three or four years down the road you want a better one, selling the old body isn't going to be hard. In the end, every camera does the same thing (on a basic level), whether you have a Rebel or a 5D. Sure, one may be full-frame, high ISO, better megapixels, the lot. Odds are you won't need any of this (MOST people don't need any of this). Too many people think that a better camera = better pictures. Have you seen how many people have a DSLR these days? Digital has made photography more accessible, which is great, but as a result we have more cameras and less photographers.
People who get into photography, get an entry-level camera and a year later buy a ridiculous pro-DSLR are kidding themselves. They think: "to further progress in photography I need a better camera". No. The specs on your camera have nothing to do with progress. Progress is in your head (and in your lenses), and odds are you don't know as much as you think you know, and there is probably a lot more to learn with your current setup.
TLDR: Don't waste your money on an amazing body (going to be outdated in less than a year anyway), instead invest in knowledge and lenses.
 
The first still camera I ever bought was 50d. I obviously have past camera knowledge being a filmer, but it still was not a bad camera to start out with and right now they are going used for 600 less then what they were worth new before the 60d came out. I think you can actually get a 50d for 900 now (1399 I believe when I bought mine) new.
I am just saying this though because I am currently trying to sell mine :)...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270651745793&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top