Calling all Photography nerds!

Canon G series do really well. Like a G15 or something

 

Nikon D3100 Kit lens

 

Yeah, something light that. I wasn't specifically recommending that particular camera as I'm not particularly familiar with the bridge camera models anymore.

Point is for that price as an introductory camera you'd be well served by:

• Something a bit older, used or older model, mostly fully depreciated so that you can spend not much and sell it used for close to what you bought it later if you decide photography is your thing and you decide to upgrade later.
• Something that has full manual controls available on it.
• Ideally something that can shoot RAW so you can do better post processing if you get more interested. This isn't an absolute requirement though, you can set JPEG settings that allow for a fair bit of latitude in post processing in most cameras. In general though if a camera offers RAW it is a sign it will offer lots of settings and controls as well which is good.
• A very wide range zoom as you are at this point probably looking for an all in one solution.

Now that's certainly not the only way to go. Lots of people would recommend an interchangeable lens camera instead with a single lens. And that can be a great tool for learning as well. Problem with that is for most people it is frustrating being limited with the single relatively narrow range zoom and so they quickly waste time and money decide what other lenses to purchase. Nice thing with a bridge camera is you pretty much stop worrying about lenses and gear and just go take pictures with the camera. In my opinion that is what a new photographer should be doing - taking pictures.

That said, you can pick up an older DSLR or mirrorless camera with a "kit zoom" for around $300 as well. Also not a bad option. These days though I usually recommend bridge cameras as a starting point instead. Exception would be if you actually want to do low light photography or want shallow depth of field - then you need the larger sensor in general and so the mirrorless or DSLR with one fast prime can be the better option. But for truck, travel and landscape I'd go with the bridge.

 

My plan is pretty much this. Start off simple and work up to better equipment if my interest grows. Planning a few trips for the future. I'd love to come home with something better than phone pics. Really appreciate all the information. Thanks again!

 

Check out FredMiranda.com. There's a buy/sell forum where you can pick up a lightly used body and lenses for decent prices. There's also a forum with feedback on bodies and lenses. Mostly Nikon and Canon stuff. Just look for a seller with lots of positive feedback.

 

wish i had a lens to shoot my truck with hah...im looking to return back to canon asap..right now im rocking a sony a7..borrowing certain lenses from my friend until i get rid of it lol.

 

What do yall think of Sony A68? I have a sony action cam and it has the steady shot just like A68 which is a really nice feature. Also I hear that Sony comes with a few more button features but I don't know is it worth straying away from Nikon and Canon?

 

I shoot both a Nikon D750 and Nikon D810 as a hobbyist.

 

Costco has good Nikon and Canon kits...

 

Get a gently used camera on CL or your local camera store. Much more bang for the buck. Check out www.kenrockwell.com for recommendations on equipment.

 

Canon and Nikon do nice DSLRs and because of volume the are some of the least expensive options when brand new. Also because they have been around so long there is a wide selection of lenses for them, both OEM and third party. So if you are looking for a DSLR then Canikon is hard to go wrong with. Sony and Pentax both make DSLRs as well which are quality products but one wonders how committed Sony is to their DSLR line and Pentax is a very small market so will they last?

Canon and Nikon have been ignoring or sucking up a storm in the mirrorless ILC market. Nikon has nothing to speak of other than the now idle Nikon 1 series which appears to have been abandoned by Nikon with no new products for almost two years now. Canon offered lack luster EOS-M bodies until finally just recently. Unfortunately while they finally offer a compelling EOS-M body they have few lens offerings meaning you would be adapting standard EOS lenses a lot of the time which means they are bulkier and potentially slower AF than native EOS-M lenses.

So you are better off leaving Canikon behind if looking for a mirrorless ILC.

Micro-four-thirds has been around the longest and with two companies supporting the standard (Panasonic and Olympus) you have a lot of lenses and bodies to choose from. You also have a substantial used market to choose from as well. M43 is the most flushed out mirrorless system right now.

Fuji has entered the market more recently but has built up an impressive collection of quality lenses and great bodies. They are clearly very committed to this market and doing an excellent job at it in my opinion.

Sony has the APS-C E system which has been around awhile but always has been a bit short in lens options given how long the system has existed. Sony seems to have been splitting resources between DLSR, E system and A7 system. Great cameras and great price points - just make sure they have the lenses you want.

Lastly in the eye-watering price range is the full frame mirrorless A7 system. Sony has been putting a lot of effort into this and they are amazing cameras with some good lens choices. But this is really, really expensive.

 

These look like they should be in a Toyota brochure.

 

No truck photography but some of my pictures nonetheless.....


Bay Bridge- Western span



Bay Bridge - Eastern span


SF Skyline, shot from Sausalito


Avenue of the Giants- Humboldt


Lake Yellowstone

 

I bought my first DSLR through these guys:

https://www.keh.com/

I got a nice Cannon with a few lenses for about $500. Could have gotten it cheaper if I got a more beat "used" condition.

They have very good customer service and decent prices on used and new cameras. I like the way they rate the camera condition. They're pretty honest about the conditions of their cameras.

In my opinion starting with a used camera is the way to go. This way I learned all the functions of the camera without dropping a fortune, and it really got me into photography. A couple years later I sold the camera back to keh.com and bought myself a newer DSLR, and for the most part all the functions and settings were the same.

If you feel like photography is something you want to get more into, as stated above Costco has some great starter packs. I got the Nikon D3300 starter pack from them and it works great! Its not a top of the line camera, but its a great starting point. And takes great pictures. You do not have as much functionality as a Nikon D5, but for an amateur like me has more than enough.

I just take pictures for fun for my friends and myself (no where near a professional level) so my opinion might not be the best, but thought I would share!

 

What up photo taco nerds..
I'm game..
CANON 5D MKII
CANON 17-40mm
CANON 70-300mm
SIGMA 150-600mm








heres more of my work..
http://www.paramountprinters.com

 

Outstanding.

 

Thanks man, much appreciated.

 

Another OUTSTANDING talent.

 

I only recently picked up my camera, so I still have quite a bit to learn. It's definitely overwhelming! I got myself a Canon T6i with the basic 18-55 and 55-250 lenses that came with the kit. No photos yet as I really haven't had the chance. Well, except for a few of my dog