Buying a dSLR and lens

SidewinderINC · 22-02-2008, 15:52

Righty, I've wanted to get into gig photography for ages (a couple of years now) and last night I got the opportunity to get into it. Met a guy at the Volbeat concert I was at and he said he has his own review/interview website that he's looking at getting more photographers for, it's unpaid but I wouldn't be looking to do it for the money (at first)

He said he has one this sunday for Megadeth that he can't make and as I seemed very keen he'd let me do it for him!
I'd love to do it but obviously can't because I don't have a good camera yet

and as such also don't have that many skills in using them with full control either.

As for cameras I have an idea of what I can afford, and have been looking at the D40x for a while now, and a 50mm f1.4 lens.

Can any of you photographers give any insight into my current options?

Cheers

Matt.

divine · 22-02-2008, 16:04

Well, whilst the 50mm 1.4 would be a great lens to do gig photography with, pairing it up with the D40x will lose you the ability to autofocus. Whilst not normally a huge problem, a gig is not somewhere i'd personally like to be forced to manually focus every shot, especially at F1.4.

So, this leaves a couple of options...

D40x + Sigma 30mm HSM is one.
D70 + 50mm 1.4 is another, though the D70 will cry if you go above ISO800

Or you could go Canon
400D/450D and the lens of your choice...

Another thing i'd say is perhaps start off with a decent normal range zoom, as it will be far more versatile initially then gradually build on that with higher quality primes. Else you might find yourself always thinking '**** this 50mm is too long' or something, where a nice F2.8 24-70 lens will let you learn well and cope well with different, offer decent low light performance and be a good base to build around.

SidewinderINC · 22-02-2008, 19:25

Should have checked for the autofocus motors before hand really

/noob

http://www.boudist.com/archive/2007/...asterclass.php

Just been having a read of this

Jonny69 · 27-02-2008, 12:28

If it's your first camera maybe think about buying second hand. I got mine for £150 with the 18-55mm kit lens and I've been really happy with it. Also if it's your first camera it's not quite so devastating when it gets bashed or damaged if it didn't cost £500+ and you can really give it some abuse without worrying too much about it

Then when you've learned the ropes you can invest in some more serious kit.

Joe 90 · 27-02-2008, 14:43

I can't just pass through here... you used the N word...

stop now.

buy a Canon.
"with Canon - You can!"
and tbh - with nikon you can't.

And do indeed take a look at the second hand market... I got my 50mm f1.8 off OCUK MM for under £30 about 3 years ago!!

keep an eye on - http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/for...splay.php?f=15
a mate of mine recently got a 50mm + adapter + lens hood + 3 filters for £75!!!

SidewinderINC · 27-02-2008, 18:15

ALL of the canons I've held have felt like they're going to break if I so much as sneeze whilst using them. My fisher price camera from when I was 4 was better built!

I'd feel too scared (even if it was a cheap s/h camera) to get into a crowd with it.

petemc · 27-02-2008, 19:55

The new Nikon D300 + D3 put most current Canon cameras to shame. I'm a Canon user too.

SidewinderINC · 27-02-2008, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by petemc

The new Nikon D300 + D3 put most current Canon cameras to shame. I'm a Canon user too.

Waaaaaaaaaay out of my budget pete

Maybe if I was being paid a lot more for my current job, or ended up getting paid for my photos I'd think about one of those

Joe 90 · 27-02-2008, 20:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by petemc

The new Nikon D300 + D3 put most current Canon cameras to shame. I'm a Canon user too.

we (i) don't admit to that though

a woman tried to give me a nikon bag with mags promoting the D300 @ focus - i said no.

divine · 28-02-2008, 00:13

Shame, it might have persuaded you into buying a decent camera for once

22-02-2008, 15:52	#1
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	Buying a dSLR and lens Righty, I've wanted to get into gig photography for ages (a couple of years now) and last night I got the opportunity to get into it. Met a guy at the Volbeat concert I was at and he said he has his own review/interview website that he's looking at getting more photographers for, it's unpaid but I wouldn't be looking to do it for the money (at first) He said he has one this sunday for Megadeth that he can't make and as I seemed very keen he'd let me do it for him! I'd love to do it but obviously can't because I don't have a good camera yet and as such also don't have that many skills in using them with full control either. As for cameras I have an idea of what I can afford, and have been looking at the D40x for a while now, and a 50mm f1.4 lens. Can any of you photographers give any insight into my current options? Cheers Matt. __________________ No Sig.

22-02-2008, 16:04	#2
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	Well, whilst the 50mm 1.4 would be a great lens to do gig photography with, pairing it up with the D40x will lose you the ability to autofocus. Whilst not normally a huge problem, a gig is not somewhere i'd personally like to be forced to manually focus every shot, especially at F1.4. So, this leaves a couple of options... D40x + Sigma 30mm HSM is one. D70 + 50mm 1.4 is another, though the D70 will cry if you go above ISO800 Or you could go Canon 400D/450D and the lens of your choice... Another thing i'd say is perhaps start off with a decent normal range zoom, as it will be far more versatile initially then gradually build on that with higher quality primes. Else you might find yourself always thinking '**** this 50mm is too long' or something, where a nice F2.8 24-70 lens will let you learn well and cope well with different, offer decent low light performance and be a good base to build around. __________________

22-02-2008, 19:25	#3
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	Should have checked for the autofocus motors before hand really /noob http://www.boudist.com/archive/2007/...asterclass.php Just been having a read of this __________________ No Sig.

27-02-2008, 12:28	#4
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	If it's your first camera maybe think about buying second hand. I got mine for £150 with the 18-55mm kit lens and I've been really happy with it. Also if it's your first camera it's not quite so devastating when it gets bashed or damaged if it didn't cost £500+ and you can really give it some abuse without worrying too much about it Then when you've learned the ropes you can invest in some more serious kit. __________________

27-02-2008, 14:43	#5
Joe 90 Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chester Posts: 2,345	I can't just pass through here... you used the N word... stop now. buy a Canon. "with Canon - You can!" and tbh - with nikon you can't. And do indeed take a look at the second hand market... I got my 50mm f1.8 off OCUK MM for under £30 about 3 years ago!! keep an eye on - http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/for...splay.php?f=15 a mate of mine recently got a 50mm + adapter + lens hood + 3 filters for £75!!! __________________ 360 Blog \| Join GiffGaff \| Twitter Last edited by Joe 90; 27-02-2008 at 16:03.

27-02-2008, 18:15	#6
SidewinderINC Joey Tempest Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gravesend. Posts: 2,751	ALL of the canons I've held have felt like they're going to break if I so much as sneeze whilst using them. My fisher price camera from when I was 4 was better built! I'd feel too scared (even if it was a cheap s/h camera) to get into a crowd with it. __________________ No Sig.

27-02-2008, 19:55	#7
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	The new Nikon D300 + D3 put most current Canon cameras to shame. I'm a Canon user too. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

28-02-2008, 00:13	#10
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	Shame, it might have persuaded you into buying a decent camera for once __________________

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