Any photographers here?

I want to get into photography, is this a nice deal for $900?

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-T3i-Digital-Imaging-Body/dp/B004M170YC

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-55-250mm-4-0-5-6-Telephoto-Digital/dp/B0011NVMO8

If you have sub-$1000 recommendations or just tips in general I'd like to hear them, thanks

my advice, just because you spend big money on a camera, doesn't make you more of a photographer.

You really ought to shop around on craigslist. You could get far better deals there. The DSLR I am using now was bought off craigslist at half the retail price including the kit lens. I also have that same lens you linked and I paid $120 for it, also on craigslist. :D

Long story short, Craigslist is your friend. If you are weary about buying used equipment, be sure to try out the items before you make the purchase to be sure they are in working order.

The lens is more important than the camera's body and never buy a DSLR camera used, bc internal chips inside the camera can be worn out.

I HIGHLY recommend the Nikon D3100 (with the kit lens) especially the 35mm F/1.8. it's THE camera to have if your an amatuere photographer (as in why I own one).

Intermediates/pros use this dslr all the time. It's a steal for it's price.

Nikon D3100 with Kit Lens (18-55mm)

Body with 35mm F/1.8 lens

Nikon D3100

35mm f/1.8 AF-S DX lens

By the way, don't purchase DSLRs at Amazon. Purchase them at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

You really ought to shop around on craigslist. You could get far better deals there. The DSLR I am using now was bought off craigslist at half the retail price including the kit lens. I also have that same lens you linked and I paid $120 for it, also on craigslist. :D

Long story short, Craigslist is your friend. If you are weary about buying used equipment, be sure to try out the items before you make the purchase to be sure they are in working order.

DJ419

I wouoldn't rely too much on craigslist, there are scammers out there and you never know if whatever you bought was modified or damaged no matter what the seller claims it to be.

Also, try kijiji.

[QUOTE="DJ419"]

You really ought to shop around on craigslist. You could get far better deals there. The DSLR I am using now was bought off craigslist at half the retail price including the kit lens. I also have that same lens you linked and I paid $120 for it, also on craigslist. :D

Long story short, Craigslist is your friend. If you are weary about buying used equipment, be sure to try out the items before you make the purchase to be sure they are in working order.

dnafactory

I wouoldn't rely too much on craigslist, there are scammers out there and you never know if whatever you bought was modified or damaged no matter what the seller claims it to be.

Also, try kijiji.

I've bought dozens of electronic items from craigslist and have never had a problem. Use some common sense and test the items before you buy and you'll be fine. It really isn't as bad as you make it sound.

my advice, just because you spend big money on a camera, doesn't make you more of a photographer.

dnafactory

This.

Again...nothing WRONG with spending big money on a camera. But if you don't know what you're doing, that extra money likely isn't going to translate into better pictures.

For a total begginner, I'd recommend an entry-level DSLR. I'd also say, go ahead and get the kit with lens included. Kit lenses usually aren't the best, but if it's a cheap way to get you familiar with various focal lengths, then it's probably pretty good for beginners. Start with an entry level camera, use it a lot, and don't upgrade until you've learned enough to know SPECIFIACLLY what you need in a future camera/lens.

If a DSLR isn't in the budget, then there's no shame in going with a compact camera or one of those "superzoom" cameras that sort of looks like a SLR but doesn't have interchangeable lenses. Those aren't as good, but hey...you work with the budget that you've got. Even those cameras are entirely capable of making good pictures. Just make sure that they allow for full manual operation, because you aren't going to learn anything sticking with the automatic modes.

But yeah...I don't know what that camera is, but I'm sure it's fine. If you're just starting out, though, you could probably go better than something that costs $900. I'm sure that that's a totally fine camera/lens combination. But if you not skilled or knowledgeable enough to utilize the camera's full potential, then some of that money is probably going to waste. Buy it if money really isn't that much of an issue. If money really is an issue, you can probably go significanty cheaper and get results that are just as good.

*shrugs* I guess it just depends on how serious you are about learning photography. If you're serious enough and dedicated to learn it, then go right ahead. Otherwise, stick with the cheap stuff and don't upgrade until you have a real reason to.

Also another thing I noticed...that lens goes from 50 mm to 250 mm. That's a pretty freaking big range, which generally indicates that it's not the best lens. Lens optics are pretty complicated, and it's very hard to get a single lens which delivers optimal image quality over such a large range. Hence one of the primary benefits of a DSLR: you can switch out lenses. It's cheaper two have two good lenses (one at the 250mm range and one at the 50mm range) than to make a single lens which does both just as good.

At that point, the lens is probably going to be the limiting factor, with more money spent on the camera not really contributing anything to image quality. So...probably wouldn't hurt to buy a cheaper DSLR.

Keep in mind that lenses are really the big issue here. For people with money who are really serious about photography, it's VERY common for people to spend an ASSLOAD more on lenses than they do on the actual camera. You'll generally get better results with a bad camera/good lens combination than with a good camera/bad lens combination.

And if you're having to cut corners on lenses, then it's probably a good idea to look for a cheaper camera. The money that you save by cutting costs on the camera can then conceivably be put towards buying better lenses.

my advice, just because you spend big money on a camera, doesn't make you more of a photographer.

dnafactory

[QUOTE="dnafactory"]

my advice, just because you spend big money on a camera, doesn't make you more of a photographer.

Digital_DJ_00

Amateurs are using film less and less because film is generally less of a pain in the ass. It's extra money every time you want to go shooting, it takes time to process, etc, etc. Digital is a lot cheaper, a lot faster, it gives instant feedback. And for the person who shoots a lot (and doesn't have any specific reason to use film), digital cameras are by far the more practical choice.

But yes, people absolutely still use film. I don't necessarily recommend BEGINNERS to use film. I think they should buy a cheap digital camera and simply shoot a LOT. Because photography is like most other things. You get better with practice. And with digital cameras, it's a lot cheaper and a lot faster to get a LOT more practice than with film. But yeah...people absolutely still use film.

Anyway, the first step to becoming more of a photographer is NOT getting a better camera. I'd say that the first step is developing a better eye towards composition and lighting. Something which is only gonna hapen if you do a LOT of practice, and something which you can do even with the cheapest/worst camera on the market. The best camera in the world is never going to compensate for bad lighting, bad composition, or stupid subject matter. Cameras are just imaging devices, which doesn't matter for **** if the image sucks in the first place. Before buying better cameras, people should start on improving their composition/subject matter/lighting. Work with what you've got until the DEVICE (rather than the user) hits the wall.

I want to get into photography, is this a nice deal for $900?

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-T3i-Digital-Imaging-Body/dp/B004M170YC

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-55-250mm-4-0-5-6-Telephoto-Digital/dp/B0011NVMO8

If you have sub-$1000 recommendations or just tips in general I'd like to hear them, thanks

istuffedsunny

I'm not a very good photographer, but I like the one that got me kicked out of office.

lol