| General > General Technical Chat |
| Budget Camera Recomendation |
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| DrG:
--- Quote from: admiralk on April 21, 2020, 02:46:34 am ---yes, it is the 18-55mm lens. It is coming from a college A/V classroom and there are several, compared to just the one pictures were taken of. There are at least 3 different bags it could come with, for example. The one pictured does not look like the IS ones in your link though. I am sure I will end up getting different lenses, as I learn more. A big part of my decision to go the DSLR route instead of point and shoot is the expandability, as opposed to complete replacement. That theory has served me well in my audio recording and let me develop a high end rig from very humble beginnings. --- End quote --- I here you and it makes some sense....but Canon DSLR lens are expensive...all of them...expensive as compared to your original investment. You might not believe me now, but (and I think it was stated earlier) the lens' are the real investment at "our" level. Say you get the XTi with a bag and the 18-55. You use it, learn about it, like it, take a couple thousand pictures and then decide that you need a macro lens for close up work and zoom or telephoto lens for concerts and the like. Now you have ~ $500 or more in lenses...and you are still using the 10MP camera. So, you start thinking...hmmm a 24MP canon with a *much* better view screen (touch), movie capability... the Canon interface that you already know.... and a *ton* of other features, is less than your lenses....and on and on :) I'm for your decision because you are putting a foot in the shallow end first and I know, from having one, that the XTi is a good camera. If you only needed a camera for this one documentation project, IMO, a used Powershot P&S is definitely the cheaper and easier way to go - again from experience. The A640, which I have, and posted a couple of pics from earlier, has excellent macro capabilities and it's 10MP. A few bucks for a copy stand and some lights and you can go to town. Even if you were to change your mind and get one, I bet you will soon start lusting after a DSLR after a while. Finally, be a little concerned about getting one from the AV lab as I would expect students to have beaten them pretty bad. I personally have not had any problems with all three Canons that I have had and that is over many years of use (for the first two). The XTi did get a speck of dust in the viewfinder (not on the mirror) but after looking into what it takes to remove that, I decided living with it is the way to go. Sometimes I have to clean the contacts on the macro lens. That's it..that's the only issues I have had. I take a lot of nature shots and indoor close-ups and I do religiously take care with their use. |
| admiralk:
--- Quote from: DrG on April 21, 2020, 01:21:49 pm ---Say you get the XTi with a bag and the 18-55. You use it, learn about it, like it, take a couple thousand pictures and then decide that you need a macro lens for close up work and zoom or telephoto lens for concerts and the like. Now you have ~ $500 or more in lenses...and you are still using the 10MP camera. So, you start thinking...hmmm a 24MP canon with a *much* better view screen (touch), movie capability... the Canon interface that you already know.... and a *ton* of other features, is less than your lenses....and on and on :) --- End quote --- That is pretty much it. Also, if one component breaks I only need to replace that component. At this point that is only about 1/2 the price; for the body or lens, compared to the complete replacement. --- Quote ---Even if you were to change your mind and get one, I bet you will soon start lusting after a DSLR after a while. --- End quote --- I have pretty much always wanted one, so this was a good excuse. At least that is what I am telling myself. >:D --- Quote ---Finally, be a little concerned about getting one from the AV lab as I would expect students to have beaten them pretty bad. --- End quote --- I have had good luck buying gear from schools. The scope I took the previous image from came from a school and it is in very good shape. Of course physics students might be more careful than A/V students? If the pictures are representative, and not just the best of the bunch, I think it will be OK. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Canon-Rebel-XTi-10-1MP-DSLR-Camera-w-18-55mm-Lens-Case-Filter-Batt-Mem-QTY-AVAIL/264666344829?hash=item3d9f57ed7d:g:a1QAAOSwaZVebBn8 I will find out next week. --- Quote from: helius on April 21, 2020, 06:44:52 am ---Oh, one point. If you do need to document very small objects you can do it easily with the Nikon system, by using a reverse-L39 adapter to attach an enlarging lens. That is far better and cheaper than using a macro lens. --- End quote --- I have no idea what that means, but I look it up. |
| helius:
Enlarging lenses are made for, you guessed it, enlargers. They have fixed focus, which is terrible for ordinary photography, but fine for microphotography where you move the camera to achieve focus. You mount the lens backwards by attaching its front filter ring to the adapter (thus making it a... unlarging lens?) They are stupid cheap and incredibly sharp. |
| admiralk:
Thanks, I found a video explaining it. It sounded like any old lens would work, just need to find the right ring. |
| DrG:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1413542-REG/fotodiox_macro_tube_eos_macro_extension_tube_set.html/quick-compare?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_8e7pN766AIVE4nICh206guUEAQYAiABEgKv3_D_BwE If you get something like this, I would be interested to hear your impressions...or from anyone, especially if they have a macro lens as well. Also, I am not saying these are what @helius is talking about. I don't have either. |
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