Need to take long range pictures

Professional Camera suggestions

[Habtom]

As much I am interested in taking pictures, I haven't had a keen interest in buying a good one till today.

I haven't got a clue as to what kind yet, please suggest what you have had experience with.

Any suggestions?

[weeks]

It depends on what you are going to do with the pictures and what kind of pictures you're going to take.

A camera and lens set up for sports is going to be different than one for shooting swim suit models, which is going to be different that what you would use to shoot news, which would be different than shooting weddings.

You have a computer, the purchase of which was good training for learning about buying camera gear--there is close to no limit to what you can spend. $10,000 would be easy, and you could still have the wrong stuff if you do not plan ahead.

A "good camera" with a "good" lens today costs in the area of $1,500US to start, but there are some very "nice" cameras you can have a very good time with and do first-class work for much less.

So, what's the plan?

[tbear]

I second weeks reply and add that the lens for long range stuff may cost more than the camera, if it is a good quality one.

[Habtom]

I am actually going to take a few city tours, desert safaris and planning a helicopter tour, and basically need to take pictures of whatever pleases my eye.

But, I am not planning to spend more than 1.5k USD if I can help it.

[rocknbil]

Word from a wise fellow photographer: you simply cannot do better than Nikon glass. :-)

There is one (among many) consideration between digicams. An SLR may be better on all other points, but when you frame the shot the mirror has to drop down in front, blocking the view for the LED - you can't frame a shot using the LED like you can with other cameras.

I have an Olympus 3020 with a 200 mm lens, it's fine for product shots and point-and shoot, but my next one will be a Nikon. $1500 should do you very well for a body and a telephoto lens. Oddly enough, this is one instance I would recommend eBay, there are many legitimate stores there selling brand new equipment packages, some containing as many as three lenses, cases, and tripods. It's likely these are last of this year's line they are trying to get rid of, which would be fine by me. :-)

[akmac]

There is one (among many) consideration between digicams. An SLR may be better on all other points, but when you frame the shot the mirror has to drop down in front, blocking the view for the LED - you can't frame a shot using the LED like you can with other cameras.

This is true for most digital SLRs, but you can now get some that come with "live view", (the Canon 40D for example) where you can frame the shot using the LCD screen instead of the viewfinder.

I'm not that experienced myself, but my wife is a photographer and I buy her gear. ($1500 isn't nearly enough... ;-)) Not sure if Nikon makes an SLR with live view, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did. I'll second rocknbil's ebay suggestion-I've bought some quality lenses off ebay.

[bedlam]

I'll second rocknbil's ebay suggestion-I've bought some quality lenses off ebay.

I'll 'third' this.

If you're buying an SLR on a restricted budget, I'd consider buying a system where the old (i.e. pre-digital era) lenses by the manufacturer still fit their new models. I have ebay-purchased lenses that are more than twenty years old, in perfect mechanical and optical condition, and that were literally hundreds of dollars cheaper than new models.

[Added]

By the way, in terms of your budget, my digital SLR plus 28mm, 50mm, 35-70 zoom, 70-210 zoom, and one more lens whose specs I can't recall, a (small) smattering of filters, small bag, cleaning gear, memory cards and batteries fit in your intended budget with almost enough left over for the additional hard drive it takes to keep the images on ;-)

In the list above, only the first two of the lenses were new.

--b

[tbear]

The beauty of cameras like the Nikon, etc, is that the earlier lenses fit the new cameras, so you can often pick up a good second hand 200mm quite cheaply, so maybe get an 85-150 zoom and you are pretty well set, after you buy the body, of course.

I was using a Pentax Spotmatic for years, then and ex-journalist friend gave me one of his old F 4s. I prefer film to digital, black and white to colour, until I get the dosh for a top range digital Nikon, LOL...

[phranque]

i have a few friends who are heavy into digital cameras, so this is mostly second hand.
(i used to work for a photography store in high school.)
in general, i would say if you are a newbie to digital slr's and/or you are doing action photography (sports, for example), go with the canon EOS system.
if you are doing still or studio and have patience to learn the equipment, go with nikon.
i'll second the points previously mentioned about shopping ebay and access to good/cheap/old nikkor glass.

[weeks]

The beauty of cameras like the Nikon, etc, is that the earlier lenses fit the new cameras...

Be careful here. There is a limit to how far back you can go.

But, here's another vote for a Nikon system. And, yes, I've gotten stuff off of eBay, too. But, be careful.

Telephoto lens are fun, but do us the more normal (55mm to 85 mm) as well. You'll get more professional pic. Sometimes just stepping closer in to the subject is all you need to do and you keep the depth of field. "Getting in close" is one mark of a good photographer.

After you get a camera, see if there is a photo workshop in your area or ask someone who's photos you admire for tips. There are some fun little tricks to making good photos.

I have one mid-range Nikon (D50) and I can't tell much difference from the more expensive cameras.

[grandpa]

I've been happy with my Canon Powershot A610. I can take a pic of a jetliner overhead then zoom in for decent views, if it isn't too far overhead. It should be OK for helicopter heights...

[Habtom]

grandpa, it is good to see you back on the forums.

[rocknbil]

<off topic>
Yeah grandpa, you need to have a peek here [webmasterworld.com]!
</off topic>

[BillyS]

My recommendation considerating your goals and budget:

- Nikon D80 SLR Digital Camera (~$730) (I own an older D70s)
- Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S DX VR II ($660) (I own this lens, very good reviews, very flexible lens)

I usually purchase my equipment from B&H Photo.

[piatkow]

If you are travelling then remember that you are dependent on your batteries. Get a spare (or two) and make sure your charger will work on local voltages.

I kept the old 35mm as a backup until I was sure that I could get through a camping trip on batteries.

[lammert]

Hmmm, a lot of Nikon lovers here, lets vote for the Canon EOS camera range! :) At least they offer full support on the new digital bodies for all older 35 mm EOS lenses that have ever been produced and both brands offer products in the same quality range. My main problem however is:

But, I am not planning to spend more than 1.5k USD if I can help it.

That is one digital body and one medium quality standard zoom. My current gear costed about $7000 and it doesn't contain any super-special lenses yet. If you are serious about photographing, spend more. See it as an investment for the coming years and not as a one-time toy.

Of everything, the glass is by far the most important. Nobody will see in a picture that you used the cheapest body if it had a professional lens mounted, but no body can increase picture quality if the lens is full of distortions. And lenses have a much longer working life than bodies so it is better to invest in them than in bodies.

Furthermore the focal length of the camera is important. Assuming you will buy a digital camera body with a 60% sized optical chip compared to 35 mm film, you need the folling focal lengths:

city tour wide shots: 15-30 mm
General shots: 35 mm
Portrait shots: 50-80 mm
Safari/helicopter, 100-300 mm

No way this can be integrated in one lens that fits your budget and at the same time gives quality pictures. And when buying multiple lenses your budget also won't be enough.

My advice is to raise your budget to at least $3000, then go shopping.

A cheap camera may also be an option. I have been to the Sahara with my Sony camcorder and it costed $500 repair costs to get it working again after two weeks there. And it still makes strange noises now and then. Some deserts have such fine sands that it will go everywhere, independent of how good your camera is sealed.

People have already recommended to buy equipment on-line on an auction and this might be an option if you only want to use the equipment once. Buy it, travel, and then sell it. You may get about the same amount of money when selling the camera and lenses, causing effective equipment costs of $0.

[Habtom]

Thanks for your responses guys.

I am now comparing prices for Nikon D80.