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Thread: Digital SLR's

  1. #1
    Junior Member
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    Digital SLR's

    Im looking into buying a digital slr, but im finding it hard to find the right camera.

    I am a photography graduate, trying to get a good camera that will be suitable for professional work.

    The main features i want are: spotmetering
    manual and semi- auto features
    6 - 8 MP
    Use of cable release .

    What camera's include these options?

    Also i want to know what the difference in file size is between say a 6MP camera and a 7MP. What is the max file size you can get in inches with the best resolution?.


    Thankyou in advance

  2. #2
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    Re: Digital SLR's

    A Canon 1Ds II or Nikon D2X with appropriate lenses. If Nikon, the 200 f2 VR is mandatory.

    Oh wait you're not made of money.

    There is no right answer to this; check the top post. I can vouch for the Canon 20D as a great camera body, but there is much more than just the camera, it's a system. You need to base your choice off not just the cost/benefit ratio of the camera BODY, but the lenses and equipment based around your choice. What you spend on the "rest of it". Here's my current breakdown:

    Bodies:
    ----------
    20D: $1500

    "Rest of it"
    -----------
    24-70 f2.8L: ~$1100
    17-35 f2.8L: ~$1100 (again, at the time before the 16-35)
    70-200 f4L: ~$550
    1.4x II: ~$300
    Photoshop CS2: $450 (because I uped from Elements 2 to CS, then CS2)
    Computer: $1500
    Printer: $500 plus infinite ink, paper purchases
    420EX: ~$200
    Reflectors, light modifiers: ~$150
    Alien Bees Digibee lighting kit+some: $700
    Backgrounds: $300?
    Background stands: $250?
    Memory cards: Probably ~$600
    -----------

    I can't remember EVERYTHING, and the "rest of it" totals near $8000 versus the 20D body cost of $1500. So don't blow the budget on the body, think of the TOTAL cost for what you intend to shoot. A Canon 350D might do you well for a while. Or Nikon D50. Or Minolta 5 Digital. Or Pentax *istD. Try them out. Check the lens prices too...you may find that although a Nikon body looks better versus a Canon, with the lens cost included the Canon is better. Or Minolta--especially with the built-in image stabilizer of those bodies.

    Edit: Forgot to add, you won't notice the difference between a comparable sensor with 6 and 7 megapixels, especially since the linear resolution increase is sqrt(7/6)=1.08. Not even 10%. I've noticed a slight difference at a 12x18 print size with the 20D versus the Digital Rebel (8 versus 6) but I have to squint and it ain't much.

  3. #3
    Ranter and raver.
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    Re: Digital SLR's

    As a long time Pentax user, I have to say: go with the Canon 20D!

    It is a wonderful camera that you can really grow with and you shoot more and more professionally. It's quick, built like a tank, full-featured, and can be attached to any of the huge range of Canon lenses.

    As for the MP question, well, I do not really know. I've printed 11x14s without problems from by 6MP Pentax *istDS.

  4. #4
    Erstwhile Vagabond armed with camera Lionheart's Avatar
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    Re: Digital SLR's

    Scour the posts on this site. Go to dpreview.com and read the reviews on the various DSLR's available. Download the full size files from the samples gallery for each camera and judge image quality for yourself. Then go and find a store with the gear you're considering buying and play.
    The other consideration is what is your current gear made up of. If you're already shooting with a Nikon system and have lenses you can use, stay with Nikon, same for Canon, etc...
    Check out everyone's recommendations yourself and then play with them if you can at a local shop.
    Just my unbiased $0.02.
    Now for my biased $0.02- buy the 1Ds Mark II, every "L" lens available....kidding
    Seek the Son and the shadows fall behind you.

    slowly inching to 2000

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    <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/schrackman/clover.jpg">Lionheart O'Canon Feel Free to Help

  5. #5
    has-been... another view's Avatar
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    Re: Digital SLR's

    I don't think the 20D has spot metering, but it looks really good. DSLR's are changing so fast even now that many people are shooting with them, that I think I'd stick most of my investment in lenses before buying a top of the line DSLR. The 20D should get the job done, and Nikon will have a D100 replacement out... someday... Nikon usually puts spotmetering into their cameras, and it's something I wouldn't want to give up.

  6. #6
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    Re: Digital SLR's

    The 20D has "partial metering", which I've never used. I usually dial in exposure compensation or switch to fully manual, but I've been used to evaluative metering from the Elan 7E, so it's more from practice. There is a cable release available, which I do not have because they switched the port from the Elan 7E and Rebel that I used to use and I never bothered to buy the new one. I use the self-timer and MLU for landscapes (sometimes.)

  7. #7
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    Alien Bees Light Kit

    Hi -

    I'm new on the forum - and have been searching through all the threads about studio lighting. I really need to purchase studio lighting and am leaning toward the White Lightening or Alien Bees. I know they are both made by Paul Buff - but I do have a budget so am hoping that the Alien Bees would work out for me. I need almost everything else to go with them - a kit seems ideal. Just wondering if you are happy with your kit?

    - Ali

  8. #8
    has-been... another view's Avatar
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    Re: Alien Bees Light Kit

    Quote Originally Posted by boardchick
    Hi -

    I'm new on the forum - and have been searching through all the threads about studio lighting. I really need to purchase studio lighting and am leaning toward the White Lightening or Alien Bees. I know they are both made by Paul Buff - but I do have a budget so am hoping that the Alien Bees would work out for me. I need almost everything else to go with them - a kit seems ideal. Just wondering if you are happy with your kit?

    - Ali
    Ali, this question would be better for the Studio & Lighting forum. Actually similar questions have been asked before so you might try looking for info there as well. I can tell you that the moderator of that forum (Asylum Steve), another pro that I know and I use Calumet Travelites and have been very happy with them - but I don't use mine as much as the other guys. They're pretty reasonably priced too.

  9. #9
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    Re: Alien Bees Light Kit

    Quote Originally Posted by boardchick
    Hi -

    I'm new on the forum - and have been searching through all the threads about studio lighting. I really need to purchase studio lighting and am leaning toward the White Lightening or Alien Bees. I know they are both made by Paul Buff - but I do have a budget so am hoping that the Alien Bees would work out for me. I need almost everything else to go with them - a kit seems ideal. Just wondering if you are happy with your kit?

    - Ali
    Yeah, I'm really happy with the Alien Bees kit. I shot wedding formals with them, so the fact they are light-weight was a REAL benefit. In hindsight, I probably should have upgraded to the B800s from the B400s in the kit, but they do nicely for my small (home) studio and such. In REAL hindsight, I should have bought this kit a year before I did and wouldn't have blown some wedding shots by only using flashes. Oh well.

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