I recently replied to another poster with a similar question. Click on the link to read my reply.

Http://forums.dpreview.com/...forums/read.asp?forum=1002&message=24282553.

Hope this helpsbecksi..

Whoops, wrong thread. Sorry, about that. My link made no sense whatsoever ... that's what happens when you toggle back and forth between several windows....

But, I will try to give you a quick tip on your question. Do a quick search in this forum you you will find numerous suggestions on what is best for you. Senior pictures and portaiture don't require a massive alignement of lenses, so with your budget you should be able to get a decent camera/lens setup (provided you don't need lighting equipment as well).

Becksi..

Canon XTi / 400D, with a Tamron 28-75mm lens, and two Canon flash units; one 580EX and a 430EX, plus an umbrella and a tripod..

BAK..

I am very new to DSLR's but like you I have spent a lot of time researching and also had a limited budget and last week I got the Pentax K10D which is a lovely camera.I suggest you visit the pentax slr discussion on this site to pick up some good imfo.Lucy..

As there is a limited budget: Sony Alpha with a 28-75 Tamron plus the bigger of the two Sony Flash Guns (you'll get wireless flash and a bounce/swivel head.).

When using the 3600 flash on the KM 5D I've noticed more incidences of 'half-shut eye' in susceptible people, but this can be minimised by using anti-red eye mode..

For something better at the top end of the budget, a system based on the more ergonomically friendly Canon 30D should be particularly rewarding..

Usually if you buy cheap you'll only end up buying twice....

John.Please visit me at:http://www.pbase.com/johnfr/backtothebridgehttp://www.pbase.com/johnfr..

If you have a nice lens collection which you want to reuse, go for Sony. Else if you r ready to part with all stuffs there, then you will actually have a problem .

In any case, first fix your budget and high level feature set. Then may be experts here may be able to help you...http://budding-nature-photographer.blogspot.com/..

It's a big leap from the Sony A100 to the Fuji S5. If you plan on earning money I'd go with the Fuji. From the pictures I've seen the skin tones from the S5 are tough to beat and that's coming from someone shooting Nikon..

Image control:Zoom outZoom 100%Zoom inExpand AllOpen in new window..

Additional information would help in answering the question you posted. There are many parameters regarding the selection of cameras; almost all of them pertaining to the uses to which you will put the camera and images.....

Retired Navy Master Chief Photographer's Mate. I was a Combat Cameraman, Motion Picture Director, and a Naval Aircrewman. I also had experience in reconnaissance and intelligence photography. I have had considerable commercial photo experience in weddings and advertising photography. I am fully retired now although I dabble occasionally in dog portraiture. I presently use Canon DSLR cameras...

I misread your post and gave a quip answer. Please excuse my rudemess..

Retired Navy Master Chief Photographer's Mate. I was a Combat Cameraman, Motion Picture Director, and a Naval Aircrewman. I also had experience in reconnaissance and intelligence photography. I have had considerable commercial photo experience in weddings and advertising photography. I am fully retired now although I dabble occasionally in dog portraiture. I presently use Canon DSLR cameras...

In most DSLR lines, the quality of the lens is far more important than the camera....

Since you specify that you would like to produce some very large prints, I would recommend that you get the absolute best quality lens possible..

Right now IMO (and in the opinion of many other posters) one of the absolutely best lenses in the Canon line (and I am most familiar with Canon equipment) is the Canon EOS 17-55mm IS lens. The image quality of this lens is superb and the IS just beats the pants off any other image stabilization (with the exception of the Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS) with which I have ever worked..

Combine this lens with a new or refurbished Canon 30D camera and you should be somewhere around the $1,700 - $1,800 area. You will also need a good electronic flash unit. While the Canon 550ex is superb, it is also very expensive. An older used (if you can find one in prime condition) 550EX would be a lot less expensive and perfectly usable..

Canon is expected to come out with a replacement for the 30D camera soon (expected to be called the 40D) which is driving the 30D prices down. I expect that you can get a refurbished 30D for about half the price that a new 40D will sell for. I have read preview specs on the 40D and don't feel that the 40D will be worth double the price of a 30D. I am just guestimating the comparison of prices since canon has not issued the new camera yet..

I have three Canon bodies. I bought a Canon 10D and a canon Rebel XT (hereafter referred to as 350D) new and I purchased a Canon 30D refurbished..

Both the 10D and 350D had to be sent to the Canon Service center, Irvine, CA for repairs (refurbishing) within the first 90 days. The 10D just stopped working and the 350D needed focus tuning. Both were returned to me in tip-top condition. As a result, I don't have a lot of confidence in the QC off the Canon assembly line, but I do have confidence in the canon Service Center work..

As a result, I decided to skip the initial steps in buying my 30D (buying new and then having to send the camera for repair). I bought a refurbished 30D which had already made the (apparently mandatory) visit to the Service Center. I saved money and time that way. The camera came factory sealed from a Canon Service Center (I bought it from an "Authorized Canon Reseller"). It came with a 90-day warranty. Most gripes seem to happen within 90-days but, I was able to purchase an additional 3 year Mack warranty at a fairly low price.



Retired Navy Master Chief Photographer's Mate. I was a Combat Cameraman, Motion Picture Director, and a Naval Aircrewman. I also had experience in reconnaissance and intelligence photography. I have had considerable commercial photo experience in weddings and advertising photography. I am fully retired now although I dabble occasionally in dog portraiture. I presently use Canon DSLR cameras...

Thank you Lucy I will go check out that page. Congrats and Goodluck with your new camera...

Thank you John for your response. The Canon 30d keeps popping up, so that may be the way I go. Thanks again..

Thanks dipukp. I'm not sure why you would say I have a problem if I don't choose Sony and fix my high level feature, but I do appreciate your comment. Thanks..

Yes I know thats a big stretch. I have just looked at so many makes and models and I don't know which is the best route for the money. Like an older model with a better lens etc. Thank you very much for your comment...

Thank you rpcrowe. That makes a lot of sense. I was wondering though, the 30d is 8.2mp and the xti is 10.1mp and they are both basicaly the same price. Seeing as I want to be able to produce large prints if I need to, will the 30d be ok there, will the difference in mp make a difference, is the 30d just a better camera even though it doesn't have as many mp? Thank you again..

Griffin205 wrote:.

HI,.

I am new to the digital world. I have a Minolta maxxum 3 that I havebeen using for about 3 or 4 years now and I love it. But, I amwanting to get into the photography business and know that digitalwould be alot better. I have been searching for about 3 months now. Ihave looked at so many cameras and read so many reviews til my brainis mush!!! I had decided on an canon xti then changed my mind andsaid a sony a100 since my lens will fit that camera (af 75-3001.5/4.9 macro), then a nikon d80, then it was a fuji s3 or s5. So asyou can see I'm crazy!! I was wondering if anyone could PLEASE helpme out..

I will mainly be doing senior pictures, outside, and inside withbackgrounds, lights etc. I want to be able to produce prints up tolike a 24x30 ish. Prints will mainly be 8x10 to 11x14 but, I want tobe able to go larger if need be..

Here's the bad news I need to spend less than $1800 maybe $2000starting out. So for the money what would be the best dslr camera toproduce what I need it to. Maybe if you could give me the top 4, thatwould be great!! Also you dont have to limit your opinion to the onesI listed because I have looked at them all so what ever you think Iwant to know..

I really will appreciate any information that you can give me. Thank You.

Hi.

For the money you could also consider a Pentax K10d and Tamron 28-75 2.8 (it will be stabilised on the Pentax), a Pentax limited prime like a 77 1.8 or 70 2.4and flash..

There is a reason the Pentax K10d is winning a lot of awards..

Having said that, go and hold all the cameras you are considering...one of them may just "speak" to you..

Neil..

Interesting comment; that you were wondering about older cameras. For the record I do 32" by 24" from my elderly Olympus E-20 and I'm still using it and still happy with it. I also have a not so elderly Leica Digilux and the lens on that is a huge jump ahead of the Olympus in many but vague ways: meaning I can see it but can't put it into words. Both are 5 mp, btw, and both produce large jpg's that are usually ready to print. Both lenses start at f/2 and drop to something like f/24 or f/28 at the tele end. The E-20 goes to 200 mm with a converter but keeps the f/24; an excellent reason to hold on to it (and I've owned it so long I can work the controls with my eyes shut - a great advantage when grabbing a shot)..

I've newer cameras (8 & 10 mp) and the lens quality is good to excellent but I do miss the f/2, which is readily and easily available on the older ones..

The newer ones have f/2 lenses available but at a price and there's IS but, again, with f/2 available you can use the faster shutter speeds. Going from f/2 to just-under-f/4 can make a big difference. And it will hit your wallet if you really want f/2 available as it means buying a very serious lens. IS also hits the battery, imo, but I can't quantify this either and a lot of newer cameras have silly little batteries..

Hope this is some help..

Regards, David..

Thanks Neil, I have been looking at that camera for the last few days now. I just worry about it being good. I know I probably shouldn't but I just keep thinking Canon or Nikon because they have such a big name. I don't know much about that company I have never owned one or know of anyone that has one...

Well don't worry about it being worse or something. It takes pictures just as well as the big names, and comes with the stabilization, weather sealing dual control wheels and large viewfinder that Canon and Nikon don't offer in similarly priced cameras..

Http://picasaweb.google.com/chrswggl..

Thanks David for your help. I have learned the lens is where it is. (I think !! haha)..

From cameta camera [ebay or their own website] at fire sale prices. extremely capable camera, available in 2 lens kits from $519-$619 usd, refurb/new. bodies only as low as $379 for refurbs, something like mid $400's for new. new 1 lens kits a bit over $500, new. no beating these prices that I have seen, and cameta is reputable...

Thanks Tex, I just looked at that camera and it does look like a good deal but the only thing that I worry bout would be the 7mp being enough to produce clear enough prints in a 24x30ish print. I think I should stay at least in the 10mp range. I may be wrong here if someone knows something I dont please let me know. Thanks again..

When I was buying the E330 was 350, but I found the canon 400d for 409 with kit lens - at that price, the only other close thing was the sony alpha100 which was 399. Personal preference - I just didn't like the Nikons...

Griffin205 wrote:.

Thanks Tex, I just looked at that camera and it does look like a gooddeal but the only thing that I worry bout would be the 7mp beingenough to produce clear enough prints in a 24x30ish print..

2 things on that. i'm printing 17x20+ from my 8mp c8080 out of Lightzone[which has an awesome upscaling algorithm] on an epson 3800. at this size [and btw, I crop EVERYTHING] my prints are totally incredibleand that's not just my eyeballs, that's half a dozen other pros checking out the prints with a 4x fuji[crystal clear] loupe! there are lots of instances where the larger prints are actually BETTER than a smaller print, as even more detail gets pulled out [and not fake details, real ones].

There are images where I have to massage things a bit, but that is usually a problem from the field, such as just missing the DOF. so in my experience 8mp with a good program, good printer, and most of all terrific lens, can get you very close to where you want to be..

[note: i'm having some non-camera related printing issues right now so i'm not printing from the e-330, but the 1/2 mp difference is really no diff at all, and the e-330's sensor is a bit better than the c8080's by all accounts. I also don't yet have the lens I want for my e-330oly hasn't released it yet, but it's coming].

I think Ishould stay at least in the 10mp range. I may be wrong here ifsomeone knows something I dont please let me know. Thanks again.

Now, a couple of words about those 24x30 prints. do you have a 24" wide printer, or is that a planned purchase? because those suckers ain't cheap, and I wonder if you have the money for one of those why you'd be looking for the best deal in a DSLR! as far as farming prints like that out to a pro lab, my experience here has been underwhelmingthey'll give you a great print, but only after you've blown some dough with proofs and 'special attention'. it's an expensive proposition in the long [or short!] run. if you have access to a 24" printer that is not yours but you can use, then great. THEN we have the issue of framing those 24x30'sif they are not unmatted bleeds then you'll need to go to an oversized mat, not commonly available and of course more expensive. then ther's your framing costsi do all my own matting and framing, and it's still bloody expensive..

A 16x20 with an appropriate sized mat will make a framed object that is at least 28x32. that's a big object on most walls. 24x30 winds up being 36x42for most people that's kinda huge. most people who think they want huge photos haven't thought that through that wellperhaps you have, but if not.....

Anyway, getting an e-330 will leave you lots of $$$ left over to get the best lens possible, and that is going to make a huge difference for enlargements. and there are several really excellent programs out there that will upsize you enough to get those OCCASIONAL big prints and they'll look great. then of course there's stitching..

If you are doing 24x30 24/7/365, however, you need to be looking at a canon 5d or better, or else go and grab a great deal on a medium format film camera and start scanning..

I think if you sit down and think about this hard, you'll see that a properly matted and framed 16x20 is a superb photographic object, with tremendous impact, and you can gear your workflow accordingly [and get your own epson 3800!]. and in that case the e-330 still stands as the best deal out there at this moment...

Thanks Tex,.

No I dont have a printer.....haha.... that would be kinda crazy looking for the cheapest best deal and have something like that. I will be sending all my photos off to be printed. I really dont want to mess with prints that large but I have some people wanting one that large of their daughter. I really want to stay around the 16x20 range. But, if I need to go larger I can.



I have a minolta maxxum 3 film with an af 1.5 / 4.9ft macro lens that I have been getting some really good prints out of. The only reason I want to go digital is cost. It gets pretty expensive buying film having it processed and then get them back and 5 out of 36 is good! Plus I haven't yet got the hang of what speed film to use etc. I have some photos that everyone loves but you try and go large and it's to grainy.... So..... I just figure everything is going digital why not just go ahead and buy a good one and learn it and it will save money in the long end..

I'm so confused about all this camera stuff. As you can probably tell I dont make decisions very well.... I hate it ... I hate picking out somewhere to eat !! much less a freakin Camera !!! I'm the type DON'T give me a choice !! haha.

But I do agree with everything you have said it makes sense and I thank you very much for your time answering my questions.Thank you, griffin..

Griffin.

You tell us very little about intended use (other than to print large). That would affect an objective recommendation. Most people here will give recommendations based on tribal loyalty to their brand..

I suggest you first analyse your needs rather than the market..

Do you need good high ISO?.

Will you shoot in situations requiring very large dynamic range?.

Will you shoot RAW or jpeg?.

Will your use require the purchase of many lenses or just say two? If many the cost of quality lenses will be as important a factor as the body ergonomics..

What about flash systems? Sounds like you might need decent wireless systems?.

My concern about Sony would be that you have no upgrade path. The Canon 30D is a fine camera but about to be replaced which is why prices have come down (If the prices were where they are now last November it would have been on my shortlist with the Nikon D80 I bought.).

Remember you are buying a system not just a camera so look to the cost availability and variety of other parts of the system (including lenses and accessories from others mfrs).

My suggestion - Use the Nikon D40x as a benchmark for IQ, DR and ergonomics. It may not be the camera or make you buy but if the cam that you do is not as good in any department ask yourself why you are buying it. I know AF-S is a limitation but with recent Sigma lens announcements that is becoming less of a problem..

I think dynamic range is undervalued. For most people it is more important than high ISO performance..

I went with the D80 because I need good low available light (high ISO) IQ, dynamic range, AF with a decent VF to see what I am doing. The D80 works particularly well with my used 80-200 f2.8 two ring. That may not be the way for you to go but it was my analysis 10 months ago. Now I would have more of a problem!.

Final thought. Spend as much as you can on lenses and as little as you need on a body. You will almost give away the body in a few years time but the lenses will hold their value and be in use in 10 years time and more..

Hope that helps..

Chris Elliott.

*Nikon* D Eighty + Fifty - Other equipment in Profile.

Http://PlacidoD.Zenfolio.com/..