SLR camera thread

I done did it

Yea I want to like Nikon but I've always had Canon cameras since my first Digital Cam. My 8 yr old point shoot finally gave out last year and I got a SD1000? which is very sick for the size. Even the video. I made that Sourlands video on it. And those Panasonic ones look crisp too, but I just couldn't bite into another family knowing that my brother is very familiar with Canon's too. SO I BIT AND ORDERED THE CANON t3i. I'll try to roll out some sweet videos soon.

Let's keep this thread open ended. That was my intention from the get go for general questions about photography with these beasts. I'm sure I'll have plenty.
 
Good for you Manny.

Read this three times at least. These are the basics. Set the proper foundation. There is just a shit ton of stuff to learn before you get out of the auto mode, which is what you need to do to use even 10% of that camera's capabilities.

You need the following
- Flash
- Extra memory
- Camera Bag
- Tripod (you say you like landscapes)

What lens did you get. Can never have enough lenses. Someone said correctly, you need the nifty 50 (50 1.8), great value for a great little lens.
 
I'm the official camera bag whore of the last decade. I think I've owned like 20 camera bags in the last 5 years. I still can't find one I love. I'm also a huge flash whore.
 
Luke, have you tried Kata

I have this

It's discontinued, but they have a huge selection of other bags for every occasion. It's a bag whore heaven.
 
Hmm the new bug and bumblebee might be worth checking out. Haven't seen them yet. I haven't liked their previous bags.

My MTB and general use bag now is a Flipside 400
http://products.lowepro.com/product/Flipside-400-AW,2116,14.htm
I can fit all my stuff in there plus some extra raingear and food, and it's compact for biking.

For rally use I have a Dakine Sequence
http://www.amazon.com/Dakine-8100-460-29-DAKINE-Sequence-Photo/dp/B002G7JA7E
It fits a LOT more stuff and is better suited for spending an entire day away from humanity with my gear. I wish it was a bit lighter though.

I like the detachable waist strap of the kata. Wish one of them held a camelbak drinking thing, but a water bottle isn't too bad.

I actually kept my D700 +35f2.0 in my camelbak all last week while riding because I wanted more than my S90 could provide in Colorado.

Actually using my lenses greater than F4 pointed out how absolutely filthy the inside of my camera is. I can't see the dirt on the sensor but something is horribly ruining my F8+ pictures. Now I'm trying to time sending my camera in with biking events.
 
Thanks kush! There were two packages I looked at. One came with a EFS 18-135. The other was EFS 18-55 & EFS 55-250 for $100 less but I really wanted the first cause one lens does most idea. I don't really want to carry multiple lens when traveling. But then the later kit turned into a three lens kit (add EF 75-300) for the same price. So I nabbed that one asap. It was a slick deal 😀 I may sell one or two of them and pick up the 18-135. I dunno. Thoughts?

I like the photo thread idea!
 
Manny

It sounds like you got a good deal, no matter what I say about the quality of the lenses below. Where did you buy the kit, and did you already receive it?

With lenses you get what you pay for. Except the 50 1.8 which is a bargain.

The 18-55 (assuming its the regular non-IS version) is an ok starter lens. The image quality is poor, as is the construction.

The 55-250 IS (assuming that is what you have) is a pretty good starter lens with a very wide range

The 75-300 is from memory (I had one) is a heavy, poor image quality but gives you long range.

Also, you are duplicating the long zoom 55-250 vs 75-300 makes one or the other a paperweight.

So the question is where do you go from here?

Read this

Since you are just starting out, this is fine. You have your focal range covered. Buy the 50 1.8 and re-evaluate your lens needs in 6 months.

If you later will get really into it, you will graduate to high quality lenses.

With Canon, this is the "L" series. They have a red L. Expensive but worth every penny.

Also, you will gravitate more towards "prime" lenses. Which are not zoom lenses. They just have one focal length. Typically, these are lighter and much better optically, even if they are inexpensive (like 50 1.8).

For example, my lens lineup

50 1.8
17-40 4.0 L (good wide angle)
24-70 2.8 L (good any occasion if you carry just 1 )
85 1.8 (great portrait lens. also a bargain)
70-200 2.8 L (my best lens. great action lens, portraits, everything)
Oh, and 16mm manual fish-eye, Russian made called Zenitar. not a beginner lens.

You notice my range stops at 200. The times you want longer range is if a) you're a stalker; or b) if you like to shoot wildlife. Unless you dump lots of money into long quality optics, the results will not be that good at all, particularly at the long end.
 
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Amazon. Not all in yet but coming in pieces. I hope everything comes in before vacation!

more specifically
-EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens 🙂
-EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens
-EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens

Thanks for all the useful links so far. I haven't had time to read thru them yet but definitely will! I'm a look but don't touch stalker so all is good.
 
Manny, Consider buying some filters to protect your glass. I keep a hoya UV(C) filter on my lenses to protect them. A short hood also works well to protect from bumps. I screw on the hoya filter the second I get a new lens.
 
I'm a believer that a $20 piece of glass in front of my $2,000 piece of glass turns that $2,000 piece of glass into $20
And that rocks aren't hard enough to scratch my lens but broken pieces of $20 glass are.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk
 
gtluke said:
I'm a believer that a $20 piece of glass in front of my $2,000 piece of glass turns that $2,000 piece of glass into $20
And that rocks aren't hard enough to scratch my lens but broken pieces of $20 glass are.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I had similar feelings. For my $2000 piece of glass, I bought a $100 B&W filter. For all my other lenses, I didn't use any filter.
 
kush said:
Since you are just starting out, this is fine. You have your focal range covered. Buy the 50 1.8 and re-evaluate your lens needs in 6 months.
Click to expand...

+1 on the 50mm F/1.8. It's give you an idea of what a wide open aperture will do. After you see that, you'll want to buy all the expensive lenses 😉

Also, the 10-22mm EF-S is a great wide angle lens for crop cameras.
 
gtluke said:
I'm a believer that a $20 piece of glass in front of my $2,000 piece of glass turns that $2,000 piece of glass into $20
Click to expand...

Optically flat glass of high quality isn't hard to make.

I've heard arguments for both sides of this. I've seen some real talented guys shooting astrophotos with 20k in equipment using 100 dollar h-alpha filters. This isn't turning their gear into shit.

Whatever works for whoever I guess.
 
I need a fast SD card now. At least 32gb. Any pointers for a good deal?

Im guessing SDHC class 10 will do just fine?
 
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55-250 vs 75-300

I still haven't opened my Canon EF f4.0-5.6, 75-300. Came with kit.

I used the EF-S 55-250 IS though. I opened that one since it has IS. So I thought it'd be useful on my vacation.

Should I keep the 75-300 or not? Or sell? I don't know if the extra 50mm is gonna help. Or I don't know if that lens happens to have good quality suitable for some shots. Opinions?
 
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