DSLR - I'm scared and confused

[Nikki Epperson]

So Dusty has listened to me whine about my point and shoot, hmmmm, pretty much since I became a member HERE. lol. He said that I can get a new camera and it should be one that I love.

I'm looking at a Rebel -- but I have NO idea about lens stuff! :blink:

What do I absolutely have to have?

Would the lens that comes with it be ok?


Thanks for the help girls -- I'm lost here. :unsure:

[nikkiARNGwife]

Welll...I have a Rebel XTi and I love it...like it's my 3rd child love it lol. Umm..the kit lens that usually comes with them isn't very good but I have a 50 mm that I use almost exclusively...until I can save up for a really good lens. The 50 mm is a good for the price..I think I paid about 90 dollars total for mine and I love it!

[BrattyMeg]

I'm a canon girl too..I'd ditch the kit lens....well...until you can get a better one hold on to it lol...i use my 50mm a majority of the time but I do want a good EVERYDAY lens.

This is my next one..I am totally jealous everytime I see a pic with Shannon's lens
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000A1G05/ref=pd_luc_mri?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

anyways, before you decide--I'd go to a camera store and hold them and see what feels better in your hands. It's all preference...

[Nikki Epperson]

lol, thank you -- just looking at all of them is giving me a headache. I just want one that I'll be able to get great shots with, I'm usually not too far from my kids so I don't need a HUGE zoom, kwim?

[kscwgirl]

I'm one of the few that uses the kit lens a lot. It's the lens that is on my camera 99% of the time. but I'm weird. :D

I also have a Rebel.

My other two lenses are a zoom and a 50mm. I do use my 50 mm but I have found that I can get fairly good depth of field with my kit lens, now that I've figured out what settings to use.

[Nikki Epperson]

lol, Sara -- I see ALOT of IM'ing in our future!!!!!

I'm really terrified of this and excited at the same time!!!!

[aggiefamily]

Go hold one and fall in love.

I kinda like the kit lens. It served me well. But since I got my Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 in Decemeber the kit lens hasn't seen the light of day. I don't even know where it is.

I also have the 50mm 1.8 and like it but it is hard to constantly move back and back to get the shot. Just doesn't work with my little guys.

And the 28-75 is not that much of a zoom. Not much more than the kit lens.

Go to Best Buy and try it out.

And if you are looking at the Tamron that Meg linked to hold out for a better price. I got mine from Amazon for $344.

[Nikki Epperson]

It's all so overwhelming and maybe b/c I've just recently started looking but I don't understand the need for all the lenses and I'm trying to research, but I need a book -- PHOTOGRAPY FOR DUMMIES!!!!!

:)

I'll keep looking :)

[Jennilyn]

All I have is the kit lens since that's what came with it (and I think my photos look fine), but I'd say if you have the choice to swap it out for something else or have the money to buy another one, do so. :D

[Nikki Epperson]

lol Jennifer -- looking at the lenses and their prices -- I'd say I'll be using the kit lens unless I get a bundle.

[mummytothree]

Another Canon girl here and I used my kit lense for more then a year. Then i got my 50mm and i did love it but agree with Amanda....with young kids it hard to say "wait till mommy backs up!!" :D

My 50mm broke around christmas so I'm back to my kit lens and while i can see a difference in photo quality (usually exposure) if i keep it set to 400 ISO it's still a great little lens!!

I have a few on my list but with the economy how it is now adays.....they are all on hold...for a bit anyways!!!

[Shawna]

Another Canon girl here, I've had my XTi for almost 2 years and love it! It is a great starter DSLR and there are lots of options for accessories and lenses and stuff. I rarely use the kit lens, I mostly use my 50mm f/1.8 and my Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 and then I also have a 28-105mm lens that is pretty good for taking photos outdoors. Really you should go to like Best Buy or a local camera store if you have one and just play around with the different models to see what feels right for you.

[AllieP]

The Canon XSi (I'm pretty sure) comes with a better kit lens than my Canon came with. It's an 18-55 with IS, so it's a step up from the regular 18-55. My sister has it and it takes good pics.

[crystalbird]

I've had a Rebel xSi for about 8 months, and I still only have the kit lens (the one Allie mentioned above). One of these days I'll probably look at getting a better lens to go with it, but for now, it's working ok for me. I'm still shooting mostly on Auto and have so much more to learn. Part of me thinks that I will use getting a new lens as a reward for when I actually make myself learn how to use the camera better!

[gracielou]

How exciting for you. I can't wait to get my new camera. Hopefully our house will sell soon. When it does this is what will be in my cart.

Canon 50D (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50D-Digital-28-135mm-Standard/dp/B001EQ4BY0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1240000241&sr=8-2)
Canon 24-70mm f2.8L (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-24-70mm-2-8L-Standard-Cameras/dp/B00009R6WT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1239999739&sr=8-1)

I have had a digital rebel for almost 5 years and it has been really good. I used only the kit lens until this year when I got the 50mm 1.8 and I have never used the kit lens again. The 50mm 1.8 is a great everyday lens and very inexpensive. I got mine for around $85.00 on amazon.

Good luck in choosing.

[Nettio]

The nice thing about the kit lens is it's fairly inexpensive and it's a great place to start until you get a better idea of the types of photos you take. The 50mm 1.8 prime lens is a good prime lens to start with since it's cheap, but I wouldn't recommend getting it as your only lens.

[ColleenSwerb]

The most important piece of advise there is:

Go to a store and TRY them out. It's all about personal preference in the age-old Nikon vs Canon debate.

If I had to do it all over (my Nikon D80 is almost a year old) I'd buy JUST the body, then get a 50mm lens and the Tamron 28-75. I don't even carry my kit lens in my camera bag when I travel anymore, and the same goes for the cheap zoom I got for free with the bundle.

[HeatherKS]

I just got the Rebel xsi a month ago and I only have the 50 mm 1.8 lens that was recommended to me by a photog friend of mine. It's a good one but I'm forever saying, hang on, let me back up a little bit. :p The same photog friend is giving me her kit lens that she never uses so I'm looking forward to getting that so I can switch things up a bit. :thumbup: I'd like something with some zoom too since I take sports photos of the kiddos but I have no idea where to start with that. lol

Have fun shopping! :)

[sprauncey1]

Nikki,
I'm a Nikon girl but I can tell you that Tamron makes good lenses and that you will eventually upgrade to the f2.8 one, so I would start out with it if you can (money wise) it looks like it is about $400 online and will give you a good range of close up and zoom. Yes you can get the kit lens now for cheaper, but really you are going to spend the money later either on a 50mm 2.8 or a new Tamron f2.8.

Picking the camera is easy (try it out in your hands to see how it feels) but lenses are soooooo hard to decide on!

[Sharon Kay]

I have the Rebel XTi. Don't feel like you have to jump out and buy another lens just yet. Play with the camera for awhile...then you will find yourself wishing you could do this or that and have a better idea for what you will use. Get the DVD that matches the camera...it gives a lot of good information on it to get you going.

I just got the XTi starter kit from Best Buy online last week (had never gotten around to it)... it had the case (very good & big...will hold the camera and 4 extra lens plus lots of pockets)....a UV filter and a BATTERY for $69 plus tax and shipping. A really really good deal!

[wildblueeyez]

I'm just extremely jealous of you ladies who are stay at home Moms who have all the goodies (rebels, etc) :p .... I am a full time working nurse with a hubby with a great job and I can't manage to swing the $ for one.

any hints/tips to help me get my grubby little hands on one??? 'cause obviously I'm doing SOMETHING wrong!!! LOL....

[ColleenSwerb]

I'm no SAHM, not yet anyway. And I know Shannon works 2 jobs. Just gotta pinch the pennies in the right spot and save up.

[wildblueeyez]

Just gotta pinch the pennies in the right spot and save up.

Yeah, I guessed that! LOL

[Shawna]

Or you get a fat tax refund and your DH lets you buy whatever you want with it lol! Well that's how I got my extra lenses and external flash anyway ;)

[Nikki Epperson]

Thanks so much ladies!!!!


LuAnn - I actually don't get anything through the year (except kits) and Dusty decided that for all I do for our family some of our tax refund should be spent on something I will love.

Of course, now he keeps reminding me what a great hubby I have :)

[wildblueeyez]

Of course, now he keeps reminding me what a great hubby I have :)

Hehehe...I'm guessing you'll be hearing that from him for QUITE A WHILE after you get your camera!!!! LOL....

[kscwgirl]

Jeff got mine from QVC and we made monthly payments for 6 months. :)

[HeatherKS]

I worked for my dad doing some publication stuff for his cattle company to pick up some extra $$$ to put toward a PS upgrade and a new camera. ;) A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. LOL :p