Newbie: Suggestion for DSLR camera
 

Hey guys, so I really want to start getting into photography and learning how to use DSLR cameras. I know all the major brands, sony, canon, nikon, olympus, but what are the pros and cons of these? Is it worth it put down the first time (900$+ etc) or is it better to start with a cheaper camera and trade my way up? Is it worth to get the "combos"? Where would be a good place to shop? (fs, bb, costco, camera shop?) What kind of lenses should I start with? Is buying second hand a good idea? If it is, what kind of stuff should I be looking for when I buy? Warranty? Manufacture defects?

Depending on advice, I'm willing to put down 400-800$.

I'm also looking for some introductory courses to photography, where would offer some cheap classes/clubs for free?

I went with my uncle to a intro class to his sony a550, and absolutely loved it.

i say go for the best dslr you can get for the amount of money you are willing to put down. once you get into dslr its not like the higher models is going to be any more complicated than the lower ones. most likely the functions and feature will be close if not similiar what will be different will be its innards. but personally i would spent more on your lens than the body, as with everything digital newer models and what not will be out frequently you might be tempt to upgrade where as with lens if you invest in a good one you can keep that as you switch the body.

if you have frds or family that are into camera you might want to take into consideration what brand they use so you guys can share lens.

You can get a Canon Rebel XT + 18-55mm kit lens used for about $300-350, a 50mm for $100, and a flash for $300ish. Play around with that setup and get a feel for what focal lengths you need. If you find that you shoot mostly wide and can't get wide enough, get a wider angle lens. If you feel you are mostly trying to get close but cannot get close enough, get a longer range zoom lens. You'll never know what lens you need without shooting alot and get a feel for what you need.

Buying used will save you alot of money. Good lenses aren't cheap. If the gear you are buying looks like it's well taken care of, it's probably a safe bet.

I don't really have any friends that are into photography yet, would you recommend canon sony or nikon? I heard there is lens converter for different brands now, so hopfully that won't be as much of an issue. Is there any specific models that you recommend? I agree with the digital part, so what's something that has a good money->what i get ratio? (recently decreased price due to newer upgrade models etc)

Thanks for the great advice, and i'll look into that rebel model. Is there anything i should beware of such as the lens etc? Is the flash for 300 that neccessary? I think I will most likely be taking macro, people pictures, inner city and foods, what should my setup look like accordingly? And is a tripod a must?

So I'm seriously considering the Canon Rebel Xt series after doing a bit of thread crawling, and this seems like a good camera to start. However, they seem to have lots of different models with different lens combos. I'm a bit skeptical about getting second hand because IDK how well people take care of their lens. I'm thinking london drugs seem to be a good place to buy, because they have a large selection, is this a right chioce? Please let me know!

http://www.londondrugs.com/Cultures/...&Sort=2&Page=1

$400-$800 before or after taxes? Go to a store and try the various models and get the one that feels good to you. Take along a memory card or two, and take some shots and compare them at home.

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