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Best advice on SLR cameras for a student

NiKeZz said:
Below $1k. Again its just a start to a lifetime of photography so it doesn't have to be the most expensive camera. I've kinda narrowed down to a few but I want to make sure i get the most for my $ since I'm paying for it. I'm not so much worried about the Video capabilities of a camera, I'm more worried about cameras that can take the best picture for my $. I know skills are required but thats part of learning.

1) I really like the Nikon D5000 but I've read people don't like the Lens that comes with the body. So at around $850+tax I won't have room for a lens at the time until I can save up.
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I just bought a D5000 and really like it. I think the lens is fine for a kit lens. I'm not sure where you got the $850 price tag, since you can get it on Amazon for around $680 right now:

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-D5000-1...r_1_1?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285270923&sr=8-1

At that price you could buy a second lens and still be under $1k.
 
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NiKeZz said:
I'm more worried about cameras that can take the best picture for my $. I know skills are required but thats part of learning.

1) I really like the Nikon D5000 but I've read people don't like the Lens that comes with the body. So at around $850+tax I won't have room for a lens at the time until I can save up.
[...]
3) Like i said im just a student for now but i want a camera that i know i can always take GREAT pictures with.
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Because you're a student, you should get a camera that gives you more control, and that'll be something like a Canon 20/30/40D (+1 for Edge100's shopping list, btw). You don't need a camera that's always going to take a great picture, you need a camera that's going to be great for learning how to take pictures. Output in terms of noise and resolution from, say, a 20D isn't going to be as good as that from a D5000 due to the substantial gap in their release dates, but the 20D is much better in less technologically sexy ways (viewfinder, extra control dial, sturdier build, faster max. shutter).

I have no particular problem with the D5000 (we have 3 at my job), but the Canons suggested would be much more appropriate for someone who is actually serious about learning.

Also, I've had no problems with ordering online from Adorama or B&H, though it's the Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur/etc time of year so they won't ship your order until after it's over.
 
I think from what i've seen that that Canon 30d setup would be great but i don't like buying used things with no warranty... And i don't have money to blow on another camera if something happens with that one thats why im saving for one NEW camera preferably. I mean i know y'all know what your talking about but i can't afford to buy a used camera <6months goes by and im buying a new camera... I'm a broke college student lol I can't afford that in my budget with my own cell plan, car payments and insurance payments making minimum wage at Finish line with less than 20hrs a week. I've already saved up the money for a new camera thats why I'm focusing on it.
 
Edge100 said:
Used 30D = $325 (there are several on the B&S forum at FredMiranda.com right now)

Used 17-40 f/4 L = $550 (again, pops up regularly on fredmiranda)

New 50 f/1.8 = $100

TOTAL = $975

That would give you a very nice body, and a 27-64 (effective) f/4 lens, plus a fast prime. I learned on a 10D with the 17-40 and 50/1.8; I found the 17-40 to be a perfect walkaround zoom, and the 50 gave me the ability to shoot in low light and to learn about super-thin depth of focus.

I'm struggling to think of a better beginner kit (Canon) for the same price. You could get a Rebel and a kit lens for a lot less, but this combo has quality glass AND a much nicer body.
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A rough equivalent to that on the Nikon side would be a used D200 along with an 18-105 zoom. That would run about $900 from KEH for equipment described as excellent or like new. The lens is the equivalent of a 28-155 on a 35mm body. The D200 was the top of Nikon's prosumer line before the D300 came along and will afford you about all the control you would want or need.

KEH has a return policy and offers a limited warranty. FWIW I bought all of my telephoto lenses used (80-200 AF-S f2.8, 300 AF-S II f2.8, and 300 AF-S f4) and they have been fine (edit: and not from a place like KEH either - from private sellers on Ebay). There is absolutely nothing wrong with buying used gear, especially if it's backed by a reputable retailer such as KEH or B&H or the equivalent.
 
If you're going to stick to the "Canon or Nikon" advice it looks like your options are fairly limited at that price range. You're probably looking the Canon Digital Rebel or a Nikon D3100 from what I can tell. However having not used either I can't give you any advice on one vs. the other.

.
 
NiKeZz said:
So far through all the digging I have yet to come across anything of the sort.. Although My grandmother is great friends with one of the Photojournalism teachers and she is going to find out some info for me. The University is one of the top Photojournalism schools in the Country from what I've been told.
http://www.wku.edu
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Plenty of good advice in this thread. I just wanted to confirm what you've been told about WKU. I'm friends with a photojournalism professor there, along with a handful of the PJ and multimedia students. It's a topnotch program.
 
FrankieTDouglas said:
Plenty of good advice in this thread. I just wanted to confirm what you've been told about WKU. I'm friends with a photojournalism professor there, along with a handful of the PJ and multimedia students. It's a topnotch program.
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Yeah there is great advice in here. Unfortunately its just a decision I'm going to have to make sorda on my own. What professor do you know I probably also know him. and Yeah its a big time program here.
 
Flash SWT said:
Now some advice you didn't ask for: I get asked for major advice by high school students interested in photography fairly often. These days my usual recommendation is to get a degree in something other then photography.
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Hopefully not English ;)


Actually, this is the best advice you could get, even if it isn't spelled the best way ;)

Major in business, minor in photography- even if there's not a viable general market, you'll be able to create work and more importantly, you'll be able to figure out if where you want to work makes sense. (I jumped away from the media/newspaper industry about ten years ago because it was quite obvious they weren't long-term viable and more importantly couldn't get there in any major way- my former colleagues are looking at stock prices that are 1/10th what they were when I left and dwindling market share...)

You can use business skills in any business- make your education pay for itself- there's little you need formal traning for in photography that you can't get interning somewhere.

Paul
 
Alright i got some news from the Dean today. You can rent lens through the program at a small $fee. So I won't have to build upon my lens until Jr. or Sr yr. I'm really only going to need a body and a general use lens. I've been looking for the 30d body and the 17-40 F4/L lens but I have yet to find either for the prices you listed, not saying its not possible I just haven't found it. I have scheduled a meeting with a friend of mine to discuss some stuff and have spoken to a few students on campus about the course and what cameras are widely used. So I'll update what i find out. Thanks for the help guys. :)
 
Flash SWT said:
But seriously, there is a reason I have a whole copy desk backing me up before my cutlines go to print.
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In the magazine and book work I've done, I always found the less reason you give them for editing the more likely they'll print what you meant instead of what they thought you meant ;)
 
My advice (coming from a fellow student: architecture senior) is used at Fredmiranda.com. Get a used D90 (great photo quality and great controls, while fairly robust) with either the 18-55 or 18-105 lenses in addition to the 35mm f/1.8 Nikon lens. This gives you picture quality, solid body with external controls, a VR stabilized lens with some zoom flexibility (Nikon's 'kit' lenses are rated very well, especially in terms of bang/buck), plus the outstanding, everpopular 35mm for introduction into primes/shallow DOF, etc. There is this exact kit on FredM for $900, but you could easily get the parts for under thousand there too.
 
FrankieTDouglas said:
Tim Broekema
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:eek: God this is a small world, He bought my grandmother's old house and he's one of the guys i've been trying to get in contact with about the program. My grandmother is pretty good friends with him and she's been working on getting a meeting set up for me but his course hours are crazy this semester so things have been tough for him at least thats what she told me.
 
Do you live in the Bowling Green area or even in Kentucky? I'm only asking because of camera shop options. I live in Lexington and we only have 1 camera shop that i have found. Its Murphy's Camera. They have one store here in Lexington and a few in Louisville i believe. Every time i have been in to check stuff out, they have been very friendly and helpful. And they actually know what they are talking about as opposed to Best Buy. If you do end up buying at Best Buy because of convenience, price, rewards, etc., I would recommend still going to check out your options at an actual camera store first.
 
I took an intro photojournalism class last year and needed a camera as well. I had wanted one for a while, and this class sort of allowed me to finally get one. I ended up getting a Nikon D5000 body-only with a 35mm 1.8 lens. It came out to below $1000, and I assume it would be even cheaper now since new cameras have come out.

I really like this camera, though it looks like you're going the Canon route, which is great too. I was sort of considering doing photography as well, but as has been stated in this thread by others, it's difficult making a career out of it considering there are a lot of photographers (almost anyone can grab a camera and take a picture now), and you basically have to start up your own business, or that's what many do anyway.

But good luck with everything!
 
NiKeZz said:
:eek: God this is a small world, He bought my grandmother's old house and he's one of the guys i've been trying to get in contact with about the program. My grandmother is pretty good friends with him and she's been working on getting a meeting set up for me but his course hours are crazy this semester so things have been tough for him at least thats what she told me.
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Ha, yep it's a small world. The photo world makes it even smaller. He and I have worked together a few summers up at the Maine Media Workshops.
 
rusty2192 said:
Do you live in the Bowling Green area or even in Kentucky? I'm only asking because of camera shop options. I live in Lexington and we only have 1 camera shop that i have found. Its Murphy's Camera. They have one store here in Lexington and a few in Louisville i believe. Every time i have been in to check stuff out, they have been very friendly and helpful. And they actually know what they are talking about as opposed to Best Buy. If you do end up buying at Best Buy because of convenience, price, rewards, etc., I would recommend still going to check out your options at an actual camera store first.
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Yes i live in the Bowling Green area. I know most of the locals but our only mainstreamed photography store in Shutterbug closed down because of there little to no business.

And thats awesome. I find it really funny how you can run into people. Do you know him from when he lived in Kalamazoo?
 
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