Hello Everyone!

[newtodis]

Hi Everyone!!! I'm so glad I finally got a chance to take a look at this board. I can't wait to spend some more time with it to learn so much from everyone. I LOVE taking pictures and am really ready to start investing more time and money into my habit. I currently have a Kodak easyshare camera and would *really* like to upgrade as soon as our other house sells. I've read wonderful things about the Nikon D80 and D200. Any thoughts/suggestions on this or am I getting in over my head too soon on this? I want to invest a good amount of money into something that I'm going to be using for the next few years. I like my current camera but it doesn't always take the greatest pictures (I know that's partly my fault!) My *other* reason for looking for a more professional camera is because I've been asked to take my DH's cousin's wedding pictures next August. Ideally I would like to get something this summer or fall to have some time to play with it awhile before their big day.

In addition to the camera, I would like to get a decent photo editing program. (This will probably come before a new camera due to the cost) If anyone can help with either of those, I would certainly appreciate it!!

TIA!

 

[jann1033]

welcome!
i have a canon so not sure what editing comes with nikon but i like photoshop elements...imo it is easier to get the hang of than some other programs. i also am loving lightroom, a new one comes out in a few months so there is a free beta trial right now .adobe lightroom and photoshop elements both have trials actually.
it's good you want to get it now so you can be used to it...if you never had an slr, it's a steep learning curve but doable.. till you get the hang you can always fall back on the auto settings most dslrs that are entry level have. you'll hear hundreds of different pros and cons for every camera on any photography site...so go to best buy or somewhere and handle them, see which fits your hands best etc. that way you can weed your choices down to one or two and then just ignore any posts that aren't about that one or two

 

[Groucho]

There are many threads about DSLRs here, just look in the first few pages and I'm sure you'll find plenty of opinions.

It's unlikely that you'll be unhappy with any DSLR. Each have strengths and weaknesses and they come at a pretty wide variety of price points, and the good news is that even the cheapest ones will give you very good image quality and functionality. The big manufacturers are Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Sony, and Olympus.

 

[Master Mason]

If your going to be responsible for someone's wedding memories, you really need to start learning right now. If you have to wait on the camera till your house sells, then so be it, but you need to start understanding the basics now.

Get yourself a copy of Understanding Exposure, read it a few times and internalize it. I don't know if you have any manual control over your current camera or not, if you do, start practicing with it, if not borrow someone elses that does. You can learn to understand appeture with any camera that will allow you to change it.

Also, get your editing program now, and learn that, so your not trying to do both at the same time.

Also, remember, that your not going to be able to shoot everything with a single lens, you'll need at least a couple. And I don't know if your inside or out for the wedding, if your inside, your going to need some faster glass, which can get expensive quickly.

At a minimum, I would think you would need something in the 17-55 f/2.8 range or 24-70 f/2.8 range as well as something in the 70-200 f/2.8 range to do justice to a wedding.

There are 3rd party vendors that make lenses in this range that are quite good and about half the cost of the OEM models.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I recommend that you go cheap on the DSLR and spend more money on lenses. Lenses have a bigger impact on picture quality than the cameras do. Also, people tend to replace their DSLR every 2-4 years while they keep their good lenses for decades.

If you're going to shoot a wedding, you might also consider renting some glass for the big day. Just make sure that you have the lens long enough to understand how to use it well first.

As has been stated, most newer DSLRs are really quite good. I'd lean towards buying the one that you feel most comfortable with and, assuming you have some photog friends you can mooch off of, the one that will let you borrow the most equipment.

 

[MICKEY88]

I agree on the 24-70 2.8 lens, but would make a good flash more of a priority than a 70-200 2.8 lens for weddings..

 

[Master Mason]

I agree on the 24-70 2.8 lens, but would make a good flash more of a priority than a 70-200 2.8 lens for weddings..

That's good advise as well. I was thinking the longer lens for shots from the back and as a portrait lens instead of investing into something like an 85mm prime.

 

[ukcatfan]

You are also going to need a book or two on proper posing for weddings. You could know your camera front to back by heart, but the shots will not be very good without knowing how to pose them.

Kevin

 

[newtodis]

You guys are great!! I'm taking the kids to the library this weekend and plan on trying to find some books there so I can start getting familiar with the terms and differnt types of lenses and everything else. I do happen to have a friend who's very into photography but she's in MI and I'm in SC so there will be no equipment swapping for us unfortunetly.

Thank you all so much for the suggestions and feel free to keep them coming. Once I figure out how to post pictures, I'll put some up so you guys can rip them apart and tell me what I can do differently! Thank you all so much!

 

[newtodis]

You are also going to need a book or two on proper posing for weddings. You could know your camera front to back by heart, but the shots will not be very good without knowing how to pose them.

Kevin

Ok so I suck more than I thought! I guess I didn't realize there were books on this! I can search on line and figure out the "basic" shots to take and have an idea from my wedding of who/what to take.

Thanks for the tip!!

 

[newtodis]

I recommend that you go cheap on the DSLR and spend more money on lenses. Lenses have a bigger impact on picture quality than the cameras do. Also, people tend to replace their DSLR every 2-4 years while they keep their good lenses for decades.

Do you have one you would reccomend? If you could reccomend something a bit "cheaper" than the Nikon D80 or D200 I may be able to get it sooner and buy the additional lenses later.

Thanks so much!

 

[ukcatfan]

Here are what I think are some good deals right now considering features for the $$$.

Pentax K10D
Canon Rebel XT (not XTi or XSi)
Nikon D80

These are not on the same levels, but are IMO good deals. These deals might not last long though. The XT is two generations old and the K10D is a generation old. The D80 has not yet been replaced, but is due to soon.

Kevin