Should I get a different camera?

[tkoran]

I have a Walmart Black Friday special that I've been using, but have been very disappointed in. When I try to zoom in on something the picture turns out blurry. I really want something better for our 1st ever trip to Disney so I've been looking around for something better. Yesterday I found a Canon EOS Rebel XT 8 mp kit on clearance for $350 and a 75-300mm lens on clearance for $60 so I picked them up. I didn't realize until last night that it doesn't accept SD cards so now I have to buy new memory cards for it too, which can be pricey.

Even though I got a great deal on it, I am wondering if it's a bit over my head since I've never had anything other than a point and shoot. I really want something that's going to take great pictures and not have a big lag time between pictures as well. Should I stick with this or keep looking? If I should keep looking, does anyone have suggestions for a camera that's not going to cost me $1,000?

 

[MichelleinMaine]

You can use the Rebel on auto and get some nice pictures. The thing that I think you really want to consider though is that, especially with that lens, that is a significantly heavier camera to be toting around all day. I do it all the time (slightly smaller lens on an XT). If you're used to a point and shoot though, it's alot bigger.

There are plenty of good point and shoots out there that take good pictures for well under $1000. I have a Canon I like, but it may make more sense for you to find one that uses the cards you already have. (Though 2 gig CF cards for the Canon are fairly regularly on sale various places for around $20.)

 

[mbanks21]

It gets blurry because its a digital zoom. You want a higher optical zoom.

 

[JacknSally]

i got a sony cybershot for around 400.. it has a 15x optical zoom. it takes very good pictures, and is very light to carry around.

 

[chell]

Check out the Photography Board here in the DIS. We have many extremely talented photographers here on the boards and they'll give you all the tips you need.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Photography board.

 

[tkoran]

Thanks! I didn't realize there even was a photography board.

MichelleinMaine - weight is one of my concerns, although the kit that the camera came in does include a smaller lens so if I don't take the add-on I bought with me it shouldn't be so bad. I just figured at that big of a discount, I may as well pick it up.

mbanks21 - Thanks. I already knew I needed a higher optical zoom, but living in a rural area, I don't have many options. Most around here only have a 3 or 4x optical zoom. I did find one that has a 12, but it's very slow to focus.

JacknSally - Thanks. I'll check into that one. What type memory does it take?

 

[YEKCIM]

Welcome to the Photography Board. Now that you know where it is, please be a frequent visitor!

You got what I believe is a terrific deal on the XT and the extra lens. I am assuming that it has the "kit" lens, which I believe is an 18-55mm lens. Teh XT is a very capable entry level dSLR camera and should give you very good service. While it does have an AUTO (point and shoot) mode, it is capable of much more than that. If you don't mind the bulk and weight of the camera, and are willing to learn to use it properly, you can expect much better results than any point and shoot will deliver.

If you are willing to invest some time in learning to use the XT, I suggest you read the manual and maybe buy or at least check out from your local library, a beginning photography book, and experiment. Being digital means that you can experiment to your heart's content at no monetary cost since there is no film to buy, plus you get instant feedback to tell you what you did right and what could use some improvement.

Also, concerning memory cards, you should be able to find some good deals online at many different retailers, including amazon, buy.com, buydig, and others.

Hope that helps.

~YEKCIM

 

[noryen]

...When I try to zoom in on something the picture turns out blurry...

This statement concerns me. I think you are getting bad results due to "camera shake" (which is more pronounced when you zoom in on subjects).

Let me ask you another question on your blurry photos. Generally speaking, is the whole picture blurry? Or are certain areas of the photo blurry (For example: the subject/person is blurry, but the surroundings are in focus).

If the whole picture is Blurry, then you'll probably benefit from a camera (or lens) with built in Image-Stabilization. This will help keep your hand steady and avoid "camera shake".

However, if the subject/person is blurry, that means your shutter speed is too slow and that the person moved before the image was fully captured. In this case you'll benefit from a camera with manual settings and a lens with a large aperture. You'll want set your camera to use the widest aperture possible and a fast shutter speed (at least 1/60 sec for people posing, or faster if they are moving).

 

[dr_zero]

Sounds like you got a good deal! Congrats

Digital zoom is not my fave at all my p&s has it but images are no where as good as the optical zoom to me and with a 75-300 you should be able to reach out there and hopefully it will help with the blur some.

Guess we have to chalk up another Canon user on here LOL


Check these folks for some cards also
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&N=2000070068 1053107923&bop=And&Order=RATING

 

[tkoran]

yekcim - you are correct on the lens that came with the kit. I have an older Nikon 35mm that was probably only slightly smaller than this and about the same weight and had no issues with carrying that around. It takes gorgeous pictures, but the zoom isn't anything like what you can find now.

noryen - the pictures are blurry overall - not just the subject. That's not to say that some of it couldn't be from me though. A couple of the worst ones I have were taken while trying to photograph Johnny Depp during one of his meet and greets after filming his new movie "Public Enemies". I was getting frustrated because the lag time of the camera is so long and therefore was making it difficult to get good shots.

 

[tkoran]

Sounds like you got a good deal! Congrats

Digital zoom is not my fave at all my p&s has it but images are no where as good as the optical zoom to me and with a 75-300 you should be able to reach out there and hopefully it will help with the blur some.

Guess we have to chalk up another Canon user on here LOL


Check these folks for some cards also
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&N=2000070068 1053107923&bop=And&Order=RATING

Thanks for the link. They have some great deals on there compared to what I'm finding here. I notice there are some brands that are a lot cheaper than others though. Is there much of a difference in them?

 

[noryen]

noryen - the pictures are blurry overall - not just the subject. That's not to say that some of it couldn't be from me though. A couple of the worst ones I have were taken while trying to photograph Johnny Depp during one of his meet and greets after filming his new movie "Public Enemies". I was getting frustrated because the lag time of the camera is so long and therefore was making it difficult to get good shots.

The XT will certainly help you with shutter lag, but you still have to deal with "camera shake" (especially with your 70-300mm zoom lens, which will practically require a tripod for sharp photos at full zoom).

Either you can practice better techniques when taking photos; such as "squeezing" the shutter button with steady pressure, instead of just jabbing it; and bracing yourself against something steady when taking a zoomed-in photo.
Or, you could purchase a lens with built-in Image stabilization.

Two nice starter lenses are the Canon 18-55 IS and 55-250 IS.
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-EF-S-18-55mm-3-5-5-6-Lens/dp/B000V5K3FG/
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-55-250mm-4-0-5-6-Telephoto-Digital/dp/B0011NVMO8/

 

[YEKCIM]

you still have to deal with "camera shake" (especially with your 70-300mm zoom lens, which will practically require a tripod for sharp photos at full zoom).

Using a 70-300mm zoom lens should not automatically mean you need a tripod for blur-free shots. If there is enough light to employ a reasonably fast shutter speed (1/500 sec and above) and you are reasonable steady-handed, you should not need a tripod. In poor lighting, where a fast shutter speed is not an option, then, yes, a tripod would be a requirement.

~Y

 

[noryen]

Yes, that's true YEKCIM.

I didn't want to overload tkoran with too much information... Especially with details like the DOF at 300mm would be so shallow that even using an aperture of f/11 would barely get the subject of the photo totally sharp and in focus... Of course this is dependant on the subject's distance from the photographer as well.

 

[handicap18]

I used my Nikon N70 for MANY years as a glorified PnS camera. Now that I've gone digital I've gotten back into photography and relearned everything from high school photography class way back in the 80's.

You should do well with the XT as is. You may want to learn a little bit, especially about ISO and how to change it. This would get you off AUTO and into Program where you control the film speed and the camera will pick everything else, and the flash wont pop up automatically when your trying to take a picture of something that is 100 feet away from you.

You haven't said what your photography experience is, but to top off your kit you can consider the 50mm f/1.8 lens. Canon's version is about $80 new and this will get you those night shots of the parade and indoor rides that don't allow flash photography. Its also a great lens to use for portraits. Its VERY sharp around f5.6 and is very light and small. This used to be the standard walk around lens in the old film days before zooms became popular.

 

[tkoran]

I used my Nikon N70 for MANY years as a glorified PnS camera. Now that I've gone digital I've gotten back into photography and relearned everything from high school photography class way back in the 80's.

You should do well with the XT as is. You may want to learn a little bit, especially about ISO and how to change it. This would get you off AUTO and into Program where you control the film speed and the camera will pick everything else, and the flash wont pop up automatically when your trying to take a picture of something that is 100 feet away from you.

You haven't said what your photography experience is, but to top off your kit you can consider the 50mm f/1.8 lens. Canon's version is about $80 new and this will get you those night shots of the parade and indoor rides that don't allow flash photography. Its also a great lens to use for portraits. Its VERY sharp around f5.6 and is very light and small. This used to be the standard walk around lens in the old film days before zooms became popular.

Thanks for the lens recommendation. I will check those out.

I have very little photography experience thus my hesitation on this. The only experience I have is self taught and only with point and shoots and not using many of the options. I didn't have the opportunity to take any photography classes in high school either so I'm as green as green gets.

 

[handicap18]

Check out "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. $20 buy at amazon. It will help out with what different things do (light vs shutter speed vs aperture (f/stop) vs ISO).


To get the most use out of a lens like the 50mm f/1.8 you should know the basics of how ISO and aperture (f/stops) work together to gather light and how they effect the shutter speed. Using this lens in AUTO mode to get night parade shots or indoor shots might lead to more frustration and disapointment.

 

[dr_zero]

Thanks for the link. They have some great deals on there compared to what I'm finding here. I notice there are some brands that are a lot cheaper than others though. Is there much of a difference in them?

You are welcome! You may find them for less online elsewhere but I have been ordering from these guys for years and they have allways done right by me. I got new power supply for a customer and it was dead right out the box, called them and they sent another one out same day and didnt even care about sending the defective one back.

Yeah there is some quality issues I think with the A-data ones I have had one of theirs fail and there is the speeds of the cards.

I use SD cards so I was not familiar with how fast the CF cards can go there are some that are alot faster than others and that helps with how fast the camera can store the image and get ready for the next.

If you look at the cards you can see the speed listed like 60x 88x ???x on up and also you can read the reviews of people who bought the cards think about the products and they are pretty good about telling you when they get a dog LOL.

 

[tkoran]

Thanks for your help everyone. I'm leaning towards keeping it. I posted a couple of pictures I took with it last night on the "most recent pics" thread on page 10 if you are interested. I'd only been playing with the camera for an hour at most so they could be better, but at least I'm getting a feel for it.