Are you a Costco (or Sam's Club or BJ's) member? If so, check out their DSLR camera packages. They usually come with the camera body, two lenses, bag and straps and a memory card and other peripherals for less than $1,000. They're pretty good deals.Johnny Carwash wrote: ↑Wed Feb 14, 2018 8:13 am So, looking to get into photography a little more seriously and in the market for a camera.
Thinking of a DSLR, something in the "dedicated hobbyist" range. Don't want to break the bank, but something that could pass for borderline professional if I figure out what I'm doing.
Also looking for something with video capability as well.
So, questions:
- What's a reasonable price range based on the above?
- Any brands/specific models to recommend?
- What other basic equipment should I be looking at to start? Lenses, etc., plus other gear like a bag/strap...
- Any recommended books/courses? I have a few of the standard Dummies guides, but wondering if there's anything else that would be a good intro.
- Anything else to consider?
Obligatory: No, it's not for porn.
I'll answer your other questions, but what you want to buy will depend on what you intend to shoot. Are you doing nature photography? Still lifes? Urban architecture? That will influence your decision on what to buy.
Anyway ...
1. Prices will vary greatly, depending on the camera specs. Almost all DSLRs can shoot video, too. Camera bodies likely will cost in the $300-$500 range, and lenses can vary from $100 to $10,000.
2. Canon or Nikon are the most common DSLR camera manufacturers. Nikon was considered the cream of the crop for actual film photography, but I believe Canon is now considered the best with the evolution to digital photography. At least this is what my photojournalist friend tells me.
3. Buy a polarizing filter for every lens you buy. It will reduce glare in your images (especially with water) and protect the lens surface. If you don't want a polarizing filter, then at least buy a clear filter to protect your lens. One small scratch can run a very expensive lens.
4. There are tons of photo books and courses out there. KelbyOne.com is a good choice. But just learn the basics of photography (proper exposure and aperture, rule of thirds, usually shoot with the sun at your back, etc.) and experiment. Digital cameras are ideal for learning since you can simply delete your bad shots. And trust me, you'll take a ton of bad shots.