I am finally looking and need direction........a hand please? by Kimberly P-Chadwick

Kimberly, I could recommend Canon over nikon and the rest any day, but then I’m biased. So I reckon the first thing you need to do is think about lenses. This is because you are moving into the realm of interchangeable lenses. (My example may be extreme, but I have a Canon SLR, a Canon DSLR, and an infrared DSLR and can use any of my 11 lenses on any of them.)

From your portfolio, it is fairly obvious you need to be using a fast zoom or telephoto lens for your bird shots and a macro lens for your insect shots.

If it were up to me, I would resist succumbing to the cheaply-priced packaged deals whereby you get an “entry-level” DSLR body with a plastic fantastic “kit” lens. Such lenses are rarely “fast” (ie wide apertures – more light – faster shutter speeds), usually poor quality (relative to the cutting edge technology embedded in the camera body) and pedestrian in terms of focal length eg the Canon EF-S 18-55mm.

Another reason for NOT buying a DSLR body with a kit lens is something I see time and time again on RB. A member like you takes the plunge and upgrades from a P&S or compact because they want to advance, they get a package deal with the kit lens, and not long after they realise they need another lens, as the kit lens just isn’t where they are at creatively. In other words, upgrading to grow with your needs will take a backward step if you settle for a kit lens.

Instead, I would recommend you look at the lenses on offer first, pick a good one to start with which will enhance your needs (not the marketeers in offloading kit stuff), then marry it with a body. Lenses are way more an investment than a body will ever be. For a start, bodies are a lot cheaper. For example, the Canon EF 100mm f2.8L Macro is an exceptional lens, not least because it is fast but also because of its “L” class, which is superior glass. At approx $1,000 it is comparitively cheap, yet you can grab a brand new Canon entry-level DSLR for half the price. Another example, I am using lenses on my DSLRs which were made over 20 years ago! Soon I will be replacing my worn-out 5D Mark II. Lenses never wear out.

Cheers
Peter

You have proven something that some of the ASDM’s foremost photographers have told me for the past couple of years. Use the equipment you have and learn it well. The Canon point and clicks (P & S)are excellent cameras and take incredible photos. That being said, they unfortunately have limitations, and how far they limit you is only up to what you are trying to capture. You have taken photos with your P & S that most of us wish we could capture with ANY camera.

Two big advantages come to mind when considering DSLR’s vs. P & S’s, is 1) DSLR’s have the advantage of being able to change lenses. Kenny Don at the ASDM has advised me (and now I believe wholeheartedly) that glass {lenses} is more important than camera body. You are a winner with whatever Canon DSLR you choose and you can pick whatever lenses suit your needs. (and what you can afford. :) )

2) You will end up with a more “customizable” photo. The larger c-mos sensors on the DSLR’s will capture ‘cleaner’ photos than the P & S’s. You will also be able to shoot at higher ISO’s and faster shutter speeds (Rebel 1/4000th and XXD’s (or above) at 1/8000th of a sec) over P & S’s.

I have always admired your ability to capture photos with your P & S’s, they are top notch! I stared shooting photography with P & S’s and have loved what I could capture, so I can understand where you are in your path of growing. Once I switched… do I regret it? NEVER! Would I recommend you switch to Canon DSLR’s? Ultimately that is up to you but I would suspect that once you do… your photos and growing will take a turn you could never imagine. :)

Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide.

Don

Oh, and BTW., I currently have a Canon 40D and LOVE it. You can pick them up cheap now and 10MP is plenty for 99% of whatever you take photos of. Any of the Rebel’s are super as well (I recommend either the XTi or T1i). You can grab one cheap now and they are awesome. The 40D is fast (6.5 fps) and built like a tank.

Stick with Canon, you won’t regret it. Just FYI.

Don