Recommend a good camera?

[DooLittle]

I like the digital camera I have now, but it is a basic camera. I have always wanted a nice camera, with all the different lenses and such, because I love to take pictures. Any recommendations would be great. What brand would be best, what kind would take good pictures, and be good for someone just learning how to use all the fancy bells and whistles? Thanks.

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[TheWinWizard]

I like Nikons. I have this one and think it's great.
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital-...ds=nikon+d3200

[Mike41793]

I think Jinx's pics/vids always come out really nice. He's told me before he has a sony cybershot

Or sony powershot...? I cant remember lol. Its a sony though.

[DooLittle]

Jinx does have nice pics. Not sure if his is point and shoot or what. I really like the one Winwizard has. That's exactly what I had in mind.

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[kitedemon]

There are so many on the market that to make a useful recommendation without a budget is hard. Most of the entry dslr bodies are good often the kit lenses are not. I usually would suggest a true macro lens but they are often in the 700-1200$ range so budget dependent. I like nikons personally and if you go that route one option is to get a used pro - semi pro level body as it will take older lens that opens a ton of doors. The d200 still holds it's own against the newer entry cameras and often can be found for 200-300$. A used manual macro will work fine on it and they are about the same. That is my 2 cents


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[DooLittle]

Well, if it means waiting and saving some money, I just want a good camera, that's going to last. And not have to buy another better one in a few years.

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[reptileexperts]

Meh, everyone goes for the Nikon route, and that's understandable. I've shot Nikon for many MANY years (D70, D200, D7000), but lately I've been on a Canon rage. The Nikon works well with high ISO situations, and I used it for that very purpose. With reptile photography, it's all about lighting and hitting it with good light or using natural light.

For a good introductory setup this is what I'd reccommend, it's going to cost around $1800, but the beauty is you can buy it piece by piece, or check craigs list for the lens and flash...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...i_Digital.html
Canon T4i is a great little camera, that offers a lot of the features in the higher end cameras, but not as good of a focus system in some terms (hence the price cut from its far superior 7D and 60D big brother and sister). But it has a touch LCD pannel and the LCD screen can be flipped and rotated around to make odd shooting angles easy to work around. It also has GREAT HD video, which you may want in the long run. Can not go wrong with this body, but be warned the price is $850, and does not include a lens.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...USM_Macro.html
Best macro lens on the market for Canon that is not a bazzilion dollars. The only difference between this model and the next one up that is nearly twice the price is the fact that it lacks image stabalization and it does not have the Lord Red Ring around it to signify it as an L series (Lord series) lens. This lens will carry its weight, and retain resell values for years to come.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...acro_Ring.html
Cheapest alternative to a full blown light studio. This thing will produce astonishing images with ease. The price tag is quite high . . . but this flash was made for the lens above. You will see good results!

Ok, so that all may be a little bit too much for starting out, but it's a goal to head for in my thoughts. You can start out with the slightly older Canon T3i, and have fun learning with it, add in the macro lens next, and then a solid flash set up. That would reduce your cost a good bit, but also be like a payment plan as you add as you go. Other things you could look into would be mirrorless cameras. They fit the niche for those who want a DSLR style camera, but aren't ready to commit to the big camera, but still have some manual controls. I use the Nikon J1 for portable fun shoots and it works pretty good! Nikon just announced the J2 however, but even so, without adding a macro lens the macro on it is sub par and lighting is difficult to attain.

My two cents.

[DooLittle]

Meh, everyone goes for the Nikon route, and that's understandable. I've shot Nikon for many MANY years (D70, D200, D7000), but lately I've been on a Canon rage. The Nikon works well with high ISO situations, and I used it for that very purpose. With reptile photography, it's all about lighting and hitting it with good light or using natural light.

For a good introductory setup this is what I'd reccommend, it's going to cost around $1800, but the beauty is you can buy it piece by piece, or check craigs list for the lens and flash...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...i_Digital.html
Canon T4i is a great little camera, that offers a lot of the features in the higher end cameras, but not as good of a focus system in some terms (hence the price cut from its far superior 7D and 60D big brother and sister). But it has a touch LCD pannel and the LCD screen can be flipped and rotated around to make odd shooting angles easy to work around. It also has GREAT HD video, which you may want in the long run. Can not go wrong with this body, but be warned the price is $850, and does not include a lens.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...USM_Macro.html
Best macro lens on the market for Canon that is not a bazzilion dollars. The only difference between this model and the next one up that is nearly twice the price is the fact that it lacks image stabalization and it does not have the Lord Red Ring around it to signify it as an L series (Lord series) lens. This lens will carry its weight, and retain resell values for years to come.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...acro_Ring.html
Cheapest alternative to a full blown light studio. This thing will produce astonishing images with ease. The price tag is quite high . . . but this flash was made for the lens above. You will see good results!

Ok, so that all may be a little bit too much for starting out, but it's a goal to head for in my thoughts. You can start out with the slightly older Canon T3i, and have fun learning with it, add in the macro lens next, and then a solid flash set up. That would reduce your cost a good bit, but also be like a payment plan as you add as you go. Other things you could look into would be mirrorless cameras. They fit the niche for those who want a DSLR style camera, but aren't ready to commit to the big camera, but still have some manual controls. I use the Nikon J1 for portable fun shoots and it works pretty good! Nikon just announced the J2 however, but even so, without adding a macro lens the macro on it is sub par and lighting is difficult to attain.

My two cents.

So I have been looking at the Canon T3 &T4. They were also recommend by someone else. Is the one lens that comes with it pretty much sufficient for everyday and snake photos? How often do you actually use the macro lens? I didn't see where you could set custom white balance on the T4. It didn't say anything about the white balance, where as the T3 did.

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[reptileexperts]

It will have custom WB, but you can also just shoot in Raw format which will allow you to just change your white balance in photoshop (lightroom) later on :-). The kit lens are junk ultimately, you can get a better lens for $120 by getting you a nifty 50, or $200 on getting the new pancake STE lens (highly rec. this route if you get the t4i as it will fully utilize it).

I use to use my macro lens quite a bit for all my work, but now I use my 17-40mm f4 L series glass for most of my work cause wide angle is quite fun. But I did pull out the macro set up in my light box yesterday. It's always a blast!

Also to save on flash money, you dont "need" a macro light, thats what you want to get up to, but you do need an external flash. 580ex ii is a great buy in and will last you a long time. But the new wireless one (for about 200 more) gives you commander and slave modes which help for a multi flash set up later on.

[satomi325]

X2 for Nikon. Canon is a good brand as well.
I have a Nikon D3100 and it takes awesome photos.

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