re: Official Photography Thread. ♥

Quoting awesomebrandi:" Yeah people get confused and think 'RAW' simply means an unedited JPG."

Yeah. haha. I was looking through my emails the other day and saw where a girl asked if she could have the unedited ones. Apparently I just completely skipped it. haha

Quoting Legendary Bonnie Beaver:" Yeah. haha. I was looking through my emails the other day and saw where a girl asked if she could have the unedited ones. Apparently I just completely skipped it. haha"

Honestly I almost never get asked that anymore. You'll find in general (at least I did) as you move up that you get less questions like that. When you cost more, generally people are more likely to see what you do as a finished art.. and they don't want crazy editing and unedited files. That's not ALWAYS the case but in general.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Legendary Bonnie Beaver:</b>" Another one got me looking. haha "</blockquote>




 

Hi ladies, my name is Alli, and as soon as I get my taxes back I want to buy a dslr camera. I'm leaning towards Nikon, the D3100, but haven't done a whole ton of research, just what photography friend recommended as a "beginner" camera  

Any suggestions? Is the D3100 a good starter camera? I'm not looking to start a business or anything, just want to take awesome pictures of my kids/family  

Quoting Schmayder ♥:" Hi ladies, my name is Alli, and as soon as I get my taxes back I want to buy a dslr camera. I'm leaning ... [snip!] ... good starter camera? I'm not looking to start a business or anything, just want to take awesome pictures of my kids/family   "

Well, Nikons and Canons really don't have a difference IMO. It's more of a brand thing. The only thing that's really different is the lower end Nikon bodies (like the d3100) don't have auto focus motors in the body so when you change lenses you'll have to go for the slightly more expensive lenses labeled as AF-S.

That's really the only difference though. I'm a Canon user myself. So I would suggest the Canon T3. haha

Quoting Legendary Bonnie Beaver:" Well, Nikons and Canons really don't have a difference IMO. It's more of a brand thing. The only thing ... [snip!] ... labeled as AF-S. That's really the only difference though. I'm a Canon user myself. So I would suggest the Canon T3. haha"

Canon has a better assortment of lenses IMO but that's really only going to matter in the higher end stuff. But the lack of auto focus motor on cheaper bodies and lenses would be the reason I'd personally avoid Nikon as well. But the best thing to do is go handle a few and see what you feel is most ergonomically correct for yourself.

Quoting awesomebrandi:" Canon has a better assortment of lenses IMO but that's really only going to matter in the higher end ... [snip!] ... Nikon as well. But the best thing to do is go handle a few and see what you feel is most ergonomically correct for yourself."

Yeah. I didn't know that before when I first got a DSLR. I'm glad now I got a Canon. haha.
And I didn't know about the higher end lenses. I haven't really looked but at a few lenses of Nikkor.

I was planning on making the final decision once I got a feel for which one I liked better   Are they pretty comparable price wise? What's the best way to find deals? I looked at Sam's the other day but don't have anything to compare their prices to  

Quoting Schmayder ♥:" I was planning on making the final decision once I got a feel for which one I liked better   Are they ... [snip!] ... What's the best way to find deals? I looked at Sam's the other day but don't have anything to compare their prices to   "

I honestly would stay away from the kits you see that seems like they come with a bunch of stuff.. most of it is crap. I would suggest buying a body only and a 50mm lens and depending on your budget, something like a 28-105 3.5-5.6 is a better lens than an 18-55mm kit lens, just build quality wise. Canon offers rebates twice a year but a lot of them are on higher end items because the lower end stuff is 'cheap' in comparison.

Quoting awesomebrandi:" I honestly would stay away from the kits you see that seems like they come with a bunch of stuff.. most ... [snip!] ... offers rebates twice a year but a lot of them are on higher end items because the lower end stuff is 'cheap' in comparison."

So you recommend buying them directly from Cannon/Nikon? Or is there places that just sell the body/lenses without all the other junk?

One more quick question, do they come with any type of warranty or can you purchase a protection plan? I've got 4 kiddos  


Thank you for your help!!!

Quoting awesomebrandi:" I honestly would stay away from the kits you see that seems like they come with a bunch of stuff.. most ... [snip!] ... offers rebates twice a year but a lot of them are on higher end items because the lower end stuff is 'cheap' in comparison."

This! That's what I tell everyone who asks me what camera to get. Just get a body and one of the 50mm. (1.4 if you can afford it, 1.8 if not.)

Quoting Legendary Bonnie Beaver:" This! That's what I tell everyone who asks me what camera to get. Just get a body and one of the 50mm. (1.4 if you can afford it, 1.8 if not.) "

So I would be looking for a Cannon/Nikon body with a 50mm 1.4 lens if I wanted the best pictures? (....In the long run because I'm already nervous to even get it cause i'm scared i'm gonna be terrible  )

Quoting Schmayder ♥:" So I would be looking for a Cannon/Nikon body with a 50mm 1.4 lens if I wanted the best pictures? (....In ... [snip!] ... best pictures? (....In the long run because I'm already nervous to even get it cause i'm scared i'm gonna be terrible  )"

Well, you won't start out with amazing pictures. You'll have to learn and study and what not, but the 50 gives better portraits than the kit lens.
But yeah. Canon or Nikon body with a 1.4. With the Nikon you'll have to get the AF-S lens instead of the AF lens so you can auto focus.

Quoting Legendary Bonnie Beaver:" Well, you won't start out with amazing pictures. You'll have to learn and study and what not, but the ... [snip!] ... Canon or Nikon body with a 1.4. With the Nikon you'll have to get the AF-S lens instead of the AF lens so you can auto focus."

Thanks so much for all your help!!

Quoting Schmayder ♥:" Thanks so much for all your help!! "

No problem. And when you get it just keep coming in here and we'll try to help you as best we can.