I am looking at buying a camera. I am an amateur when it comes to cameras. I'm not looking for a camera/video recorder all in one. Just something dedicated to pictures. Any recommendations on what i should get? I was thinking of going with the Canon rebel series. The camera would be used mainly for taking photos of cars. Any advice is appreciated!!!

 

What budget do you have in mind?
The Rebel is fine-ish, but it's wise to get good lens(es) and average body. If you don't care for video at all, the "old" 30-40D generation could be good. Built like tanks, great quality and rather affordable now.

 

budget is sub $1000.

 

There! Fixed

when I went through formal training for photgraphy, my teacher gave us an assignment to make a camera from a shoebox. No viewfinder, no shutter speed, no apurature, and could only take one photo at a time before going back into the darkroom to unload the camera and process it. For the whole first week, she had us take pictures with it, making us learn the camera's viewpoint by the only way we could...trial and error. But by the end of the week we had learned our cameras, and were able to take good and interesting shots.

The next week, she gave us real (i.e. film) cameras. Ones from Pentax. The first shots we had taken with the real cameras looked worse than the ones taken by the shoeboxes. That was her message to us: That just because there's a better camera out there, you already have one that works, and can take quality pictures. If you have to spend a week in a book to get it to the level of quality the shoebox had, that's a week not taking photos.

When looking at an image, try to see what the photographer did to take that image. "Hmm he stood here, looked left, and zoomed in on the girl at the cafe from across the street." It's an okay image. Now think what you would have to do to get the same subject. Your shoebox, without a viewfinder, would be most likely held at chest level. Without a zoom, you cant keep distance, so you walk over and sit down at the table next to her, positioning hit to look at her. Open the shutter for several seconds and she reaches for the creamer when you close the shutter back.

The orginial picture is simple and bland compared to the imagined one that got up close, and used a longer exposure.

Knowing what you can do with what you have is the most important step when researching new products.

My advice: With 3 choices out there (Canon, Nikon, Others) try them out in the store, change lenses with other ones in store. Compare how each feels in your hand. Check the image quality of both. Once you realize that Nikon's optics win out over the Canon and the Others, buy the best lens you can afford that fits your style of shooting. Now that you have a lens, the rest of the money can be spent on the best camera you're still available to afford.

If done right, you should still have an above average setup.

 

Wow, now that was some good advice! Thank you for taking the time to help point me in the right direction!

I am still looking, but as soon as I get something and start taking some shots I will let you know, thanks again!

 

I'm looking for a point and shoot that does well in low light indoors and night shots. It's difficult to test cameras in the store because they all look decent in the bright lighting.

Have been reading reviews all over the place and contemplated Nikon Coolpix s8000, Canon Powershots (too many models, I am very confused!) Also heard the Fuji F31fd is an awesome camera, an older model as well but that is fine.

Any input is appreciated!

 

Just buy a Nikon D700 and some top tier lenses. You'll probably spend $8K now, but it'll save you a few grand in the long run if you buy the cheaper stuff to work your way up to the good stuff. Trust me on this. Photography is just a giant money pit.

 

I spent a couple grand a few years back on a Canon 20D, with a huge lens that I hardly use. I'm really just looking for something for around $300-400 that is compact and user friendly to take on vacay.

 

KT, as has been discussed here numerous times, the best pocket point and shoot for indoors/low light is the Canon S90. Several members, including moi, have that camera and they all love it. It's a bit more expensive and the focal range is somewhat limited (but totally adequate for indoors). But it's the best out there for a small camera that take pics in low light. Leave it in P mode and you can't go wrong. Or, if you want, it also has full manual controls. And it shoots RAW images.

PowerShot S90 Digital Camera

 

Why do Nikon owners always feel like they have to prove that Nikons take better pics than Canon when 90% of pro photogs use Canon?