DSLR recommendations

[MrBlunt]

Our SD780 just isn't cutting it for action shots of Hannah's cheer competitions so I think its time I splurge on a DSLR. I'm doing lots of reading on dpreview.com and other photoblog sites but looking for some recommendations. We're heading to DC next weekend so not only would I be shooting her competition but I'll also be taking some shots of the nations capital. I'm looking at something in the realm of a D40 or a XS or XSi. I'd like to get something used in the 350-500 range.

[CarWhore]

I have a nikon D60 with a vr 18-55 lense. Love the camera love everything about it actually. The only thing im going to change is buy a bigger better lense.

They repalced the d60 with a d3000 basically the same camera. I believe wal-mart has it with a 18-55 lense for $549 (our office manager is buying one). Thats my advice.


i would advise to buy the 18-55 kit and buy this lense next. I didnt search to long but they make this lense with vr which helps out.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/207359-USA/Nikon_1928_AF_Zoom_Nikkor_70_300mm.html

[CarWhore]

btw we have had our camera almost 1 year to the day and we've taken over 2k of photos.

[CarWhore]

and for the triple post




if you do shop online other than the wal-mart deal, I bought mine threw B&H out of NY and amazing service. I'll probably buy my lense from them.

[MrBlunt]

I'm well aware of B&H and J&R. They have awesome prices and top notch service. We go to dc next weekend so i'm gonna read up this weekend and purchase something first of next week. Know anyone with a nice rig for sale?

[Mike C]

Are you getting a lot of hot MILF pics at these things or what ?!?!

[BlackEclipse]

Are you trying to film these action shots indoors and from a distance? You will need a FAST lense for indoor shooting. You have to shoot at a fast shutter speed but you don't have enough light. That 70-300mm f/4-5.6G lense link shows a useless lense for indoor action shots unless you can get close enough to hit the subjects with a flash or you tell everyone to stand still.

Here would be the proper lense for fast indoor low-light shooting:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/337510-GREY/Nikon_2150_200mm_f_2_0G_AF_S_ED_IF.html

[BlackEclipse]

I would go with a canon camera and get a lense like this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12058-USA/Canon_2518A003_Telephoto_EF_100mm_f_2_0.html

or

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/112539-GREY/Canon_2520A004_Telephoto_EF_135mm_f_2_0L.html

You want a lense that is f/2.0 or faster (a lower number)

f/2.0 may not be fast enough for crappy gymnasium lighting. You may have to use 1600 speed setting and still get grainy pictures.

[MrBlunt]

I appreciate the links Mike. What's funny about the situation is I talked to Tim on CR who's one of the photo guru's over there and he pretty much recommended this same stuff to a T. His recommendation was a Canon body with the 100mm you linked. He said that should be sufficient to get some crisp shots. I have a lot to learn about using depth of field and shutter speed in different situations so I'm reading up. There's AAAAAAAAAAAAAALOT of info out there.

Mike C I'll bring over the milf butt shots after next weekend. I'll sip some pine-fins, you'll be on the crown, and we'll just put our feet up and enjoy the asses of these women reliving their glory days through their little girls. It will be glorious.

[MrBlunt]

Mike that 4500 dollar lens is pretty nice and when I start freelancing I'll look at it more closely. I'm thinking my 350-500 will be spend on the body and another couple hundo on a nice lens (I can get a used 40D for 500 from a friend and I may jump on it). Tim also told me the same thing about that 35-300 lens, its not fast enough glass for what I need. He said it would be great for taking shots at the zoo but wont fair well in the competitions.

What do you shoot with? You obviously know a lot about this and knowing how you throw money at your hobbies I'm guessing you've got a 5d mark II?

[MrBlunt]

I have a nikon D60 with a vr 18-55 lense. Love the camera love everything about it actually. The only thing im going to change is buy a bigger better lense.

They repalced the d60 with a d3000 basically the same camera. I believe wal-mart has it with a 18-55 lense for $549 (our office manager is buying one). Thats my advice.


i would advise to buy the 18-55 kit and buy this lense next. I didnt search to long but they make this lense with vr which helps out.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/207359-USA/Nikon_1928_AF_Zoom_Nikkor_70_300mm.html


John I like the d3000 and its been on my list of possibilities. I've been on dpreview almost all day and talked to some guys today about my choices and they are steering me in the Canon direction simply for the lens selection that exists. I think it's like anything else, Nikon people love Nikon and Canon people love Canon.

[EvolvedDSM]

Canon... hands down ;)

Get a body alone as most lenses with the kits are OK to get you started, but you'll be wanting a replacement... especially if you splurge on a second lens and then realize how insufficient the original one is.

If you want crisp, zoom and action in the same package, your lens is going to need a tripod of its own :)

[BlackEclipse]

I have 2 cameras:

My old Nikon Coolpix 5700 with slow ass lens and slow ass autofocus. It is 5 megapixel. I have taken over 15,000 photos with this. It is still going strong. It is excellent for outdoor photos in daylight. It is smaller than a SLR camera and is easy to take photos all day holding it with one hand. I never use the flash on it. I also have a tripod that I use with it to take pictures of things like car parts and other objects that are not moving. This has truly been a workhorse camera for me.

My 2nd camera is an Olympus Stylus 7010 with 12 Megapixel. I bought this back in December 2009. I spent maybe 2 hours playing with cameras one day at Best Buy to determine the one I wanted. This one had the most LOGICAL controls on it. This camera is excellent for carrying in the pocket and for use at birthdays or on vacation when I don't feel like lugging around a big heavy camera. My Nikon camera won't fit in my pocket. It seems to take good photos with flash indoors as long as you are close enough to hit the objects with the flash. It takes even better outdoor photos. I may be taking this camera with me on bike trips this summer.

I have no brand loyalty.

My next camera may be one of those nice Canon models with a fast lens. Shooting in low light without flash and without a tripod is something that I desire in a camera. To be able to do that with subjects that are moving would be a PLUS. (Oh, and I won't be paying $5,000.00 for a damned camera either!!!)