View Single Post - Need a camera and lens to take Professional looking pictures

**vroom_skies** · 11-15-2008, 06:33 AM

Well this is interesting.
Do you actually like photography? Also do you have any previous experience with an slr/ dslr?
I'm hoping you do, but my guess would be no. It not as simple as pointing & clicking, however there is always a green box (auto), which I think should be banned from slr's. So if all you want to do is "snap" some photos then just buy a point and shoot and save you self some serious money.

For $800 you'll be hard pressed to find equipment that does all you want (I'm talking about doing it fairly well, not just passing) especially the low light part. More so if that is low light with action involved lol.

Since you said your main shooting would be of church portraits (which I can only imagine would be indoors) I would HIGHLY recommend getting a good flash. If I had to recommend a system it would be a used Nikon D80 with the 18-135 kit lens and a SB-600. I'd imagine that would put you in the ball park of 8-900.
It would be a really solid setup and Nikon is know for their flash system, so you can't go wrong there. IMO I wouldn't go below the D80 on Nikon's side nor the D series on Canons side, but I'm sure there are plenty of supporters here for all of the lower end C&N offerings.

BTW- I'm a little baffled as to why you would want to take shots that are over exposed lol? Normally that is something you try and prevent.

Hope that helps
Bob

11-15-2008, 06:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
vroom_skies Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: CT Posts: 2,793	Well this is interesting. Do you actually like photography? Also do you have any previous experience with an slr/ dslr? I'm hoping you do, but my guess would be no. It not as simple as pointing & clicking, however there is always a green box (auto), which I think should be banned from slr's. So if all you want to do is "snap" some photos then just buy a point and shoot and save you self some serious money. For $800 you'll be hard pressed to find equipment that does all you want (I'm talking about doing it fairly well, not just passing) especially the low light part. More so if that is low light with action involved lol. Since you said your main shooting would be of church portraits (which I can only imagine would be indoors) I would HIGHLY recommend getting a good flash. If I had to recommend a system it would be a used Nikon D80 with the 18-135 kit lens and a SB-600. I'd imagine that would put you in the ball park of 8-900. It would be a really solid setup and Nikon is know for their flash system, so you can't go wrong there. IMO I wouldn't go below the D80 on Nikon's side nor the D series on Canons side, but I'm sure there are plenty of supporters here for all of the lower end C&N offerings. BTW- I'm a little baffled as to why you would want to take shots that are over exposed lol? Normally that is something you try and prevent. Hope that helps Bob __________________ www.rsiphoto.com My Flickr Winner of the photography tournament theme: Flowers, Sunsets, Water Scapes, Blurs 2.0, Lightning/Fireworks, Vivid, Flowers in an Abstract Art Form, Waterways, PC Inurds, Most Confusing Image, Fire, Artificial lighting & Rocks. Last edited by vroom_skies; 11-15-2008 at 06:35 AM.