I'm gonna pull the trigger and get a DSLR...

Here's 2 of the first pictures I shot not using auto mode. It definitely takes better pictures than my Fujifilm s2950. Pretty happy with my decision.

neosapien said:

Alright, well fuck. My truck needs too much work to pass inspection, so a new dslr is out of the question. But I went on craigslist and found the cheapest, used, still working dslr which was a Nikon D50 with a newer 18-55 lens, 3 batteries and a charger for $140. The guy was really cool and (rich) I could tell he kept good care of his shit. He showed me his D7000 he just bought which is why he was selling this. He showed me how to use the camera and we took some practice pictures inside and out. It was a success all the way around. Feeling bummed about my truck but in hindsight I think this was a good route to go, getting myself introduced to the world of dslr. Thanks again to everybody that helped me.

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I love CANON.. but am damn impressed with the Nikons esp within the last say 8 years..

the camera bodies that are out now are pretty damn compared from where they were 1-20 years ago.. and we had great pics back then!
I have learned this in my 17 years of photography

1. the camera itself is only as good as the user.. KNOW your camera
2. if you shoot digital and your new... dont be afraid of shooting as many pics as you can take.
3. Your photo.. no matter how perfect can be edited to make someone else feel a different way.. LEARN PHOTOSHOP or other editing programs and think outside the box
4. Fredmiranda.com this is a clusterlump of ams and pros... go and read then post.. the pro's LOVE to give advise if you have done some research.
5. glass baby... glass......... want better crisper clear pics? spend more on lenses.. I know it hurts.. BUT they retain their value for the most part!
6. your pic will either piss someone off.. make someone happy 998 other words..


oh......... and if you have kids,pets,fun.. snap away! there are no bad pics ever

Hell yeah good advice!!

I went through about 700 pictures this weekend with my baby girl

runnin around and playin on the swings.


+rep for the good advice!

budbro18 said:

haha for sure thats what it comes down to in the end.

Im a canon fanboy but its mostly because i use them for video and in that race there really isnt any competition between nikon and canon.

Nikon is over saturated and under megapixeled (if thats a word)

Also youll probably rarely use the 55-200 and the extra money could be put towards a 50mm 1.8 lens ($75-$100) which is IMO (and alot of pros opinions) the best starter lens period.

So either one you choose id suggest gettting a 50 mm lens ASAP! hahaha

take some pictures of your lady plants!! haha

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Well I took your advice and just ordered a 50mm f/1.8 from Amazon. Apparently they've gone up in price a bit. Cheapest one was $125. Oh well, so it begins.

NICE!!! Youll never regret it.


Another good score on cheap quality glass is looking for old film camera manual focus lenses.

I actually got a 50mm 1.4 canon lens the other day for 40 bucks off craigslist.

Not a scratch anywhere to be seen and he was the original owner.

You can find them for nikon or canon or any other crazy name that the japs come up with (no disrespect to Japanese, just an expression.

you need an adapter ring for em but all in all youve got some L quality lenses that are goin for pennies compared to what the counter parts for DSLRs would now a days.

budbro18 said:

Hell yeah good advice!!

I went through about 700 pictures this weekend with my baby girl

runnin around and playin on the swings.


+rep for the good advice!

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1st wedding I did for cost.. shot over 2k images myself.. my backup shooter had 1k.. it was all fune and games till I had to edit/review them.. I did learn shooting in low-no light takes practice

budbro18 said:

NICE!!! Youll never regret it.


Another good score on cheap quality glass is looking for old film camera manual focus lenses.

I actually got a 50mm 1.4 canon lens the other day for 40 bucks off craigslist.

Not a scratch anywhere to be seen and he was the original owner.

You can find them for nikon or canon or any other crazy name that the japs come up with (no disrespect to Japanese, just an expression.

you need an adapter ring for em but all in all youve got some L quality lenses that are goin for pennies compared to what the counter parts for DSLRs would now a days.

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fredmiranda.com has a for sale section.. sold-bought there many times.. loved my sigma 2.8 and my canon 1.4 they were the cheapest for their class.

gioua said:

1st wedding I did for cost.. shot over 2k images myself.. my backup shooter had 1k.. it was all fune and games till I had to edit/review them.. I did learn shooting in low-no light takes practice

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I usually do wedding videos with a HVX and my DSLR for some b-roll i might grab in the middle of snappin shots.

Also i was only at the park for about an hour and took about 700 so i feel you on that.

I did a nice 24h time lapse of the lake thawing and the sun rising/setting and some stars that ended up running well over 5000 stills.

Still havent gotten around to editing it though. haha. UGH thats gonna be a bitch.

I take around 100+ photos every time I go out to an event. One day I found out that 4 16GB memory cards that I had were all full and I had to go though over 12,000 photos in all. Luckly I was smart enough to start a new folder for the sets of photos I take so I was able to go though them in small chunks witch make it alot nicer to do. If you are going to take photos I would recommend a after market flash or one of those lights that run off of 2 or 3 AAs or AAAs or run off of a wall plug. I am looking at getting a 36 LED Light kit thing. It is about $50 to $60 and I know I can build some thing my self for less but some times you need that 1 item for the reason its portable. If you need a little extra lighting when doing photos at home that item or the light k rating of CFL or LED lights will work to. I would love to learn how to do time laps at some point.

YEah we picked up a bunch of equipment recently

a 5 in 1 bounce, green screen, tokina 11-16, extra batteries, battery grip, ac adapter, and a few other things i cant think of.

I love expanding my collection and searching amazon and ebay for the lowest deals.

Ever try one of these??

http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-CN-126-Camera-Digital-Camcorder/dp/B004JZI78O

They work nice and you can get cheap sony batteries for them that give you a nice amount of run tim
and they got a dimmer switch! haha

Just bought my 2nd lens, lol. Amazon had a lighting deal on a Tamron 55-200mm. Originally $199 on special for $49. Not a very good one but something cheap to practice outside on.

Fedex is delivering it and the tracking says "on vehicle for delivery today" but estimated arrival says "Tomorrow".... I think they're confused. Hope I get it today.

me too, i am so baked i read the entire thread, plus I need a better camera as well, so keep the updates coming

The best part about getting a DSLR and or camcorder is that you start to build up alot of good memory photos and videos.

I've been using this 50mm 1.8 for acouple days now and I definitely really like it. Great pictures indoors of my daughter. Seeing what everybody means by it being a fast lens. Been playing around with depths and stuff. Hoping my 55-200mm makes it today checked the website last night and it said this much to my dismay...

9:50 pm	Delivery exception
	Recipient location security delay. Delivery will be reattempted.

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Did they really try to deliver it at 9:50pm? I call bullshit. It's ok, you don't have to lie to kick it!!

That sucks! fuck all delivery services besides UPS

Only niggas i trust to deliver shit on time hahaha.

Especially after that movie Cast Away hahahaha


Next thing on your agenda should be a wide angle! great for outdoor and even indoor shot that you dont have enough room for

Glad to see youre likin the DSLR!!!

budbro18 said:

That sucks! fuck all delivery services besides UPS

Only niggas i trust to deliver shit on time hahaha.

Especially after that movie Cast Away hahahaha


Next thing on your agenda should be a wide angle! great for outdoor and even indoor shot that you dont have enough room for

Glad to see youre likin the DSLR!!!

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What's your favorite wide angle focal range? You haven't let me down yet!!!

well coming from a skateboard recording background i love the fisheyes. 6.5mm-10mm.

But lately since ive been doing more cinematic videos ive gone with the tokina 11-16.

Probably out of your price range currently (cost more than my DSLR body)

But its a good ultra wide angle zoom that doesnt allow too much distortion.

So you can use it for a wide shot in a movie but still use it for skateboarding/landscapes.


But anything between 10 and 28 is wide enough for me.

Although you have your kit lens thats probably 18-55 or somethin like it.

Do some research because i think the old film camera nikon E or F mount works on the newer camera so you can score some premium oldschool glass for the low.

If not all youd need is a little converter for about 10 bucks.

Its saved me alot on some nice primes like the 50mm 1.4

New one for DSLR: $500

Old one for 35mm film cameras: $40

cant beat that!

Woot Woot! Just got the lens!

But as soon as I stepped outside the sun went away and the birds disappeared.

That always seems to happen to me!

Godzillas runnin down my street and the second i get white balanced and my iso/shutter set hes already returned to the sea. hahaha

Here's a picture off the new 50mm and then one off the new 55-200mm. I suck but I still like taking pictures.