Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

there actually IS a forum rule about posting images in a thread that you did not start.




you can find it posted here: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-426-1.html

Just

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Kristin, welcome. As you can see, this is an opinionated group, but all comments have addressed your question, at some level or another.

If all you want is to take some snapshots of your kids, perhaps a point and shoot will work for you. There are many good options to choose from.

If you have a desire to fulfill the creative side of you, then you'll likely want to go for a DSLR. And again, there are many good options available.

One of the best recommendations was to read the books Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson and Seeing Creatively. I don't immediately recall the author on this, but I believe it is also Peterson.

What these books will do is help you understand if you want to go down this road called photography. It's full of disappointments and joy, but the constant is challenge. Having an understanding of your expectations will help you in your decision making when it comes to the equipment you purchase.

Most important aspect of it is to have fun!!

anotherview Loc: California

Thanks. I hear the voice of forum wisdom in your reply. I must walk the line.

chaser48 Loc: Texas

It takes "a lifetime" to master some of these skills, VERY TRUE But, one can have a good time while on the journey. :-D :-D

oldmalky Loc: West Midlands,England.

A point and shoot is fine if all you want are snaps, if you wish to go further then a DSLR or something akin to that and that has been suggested earlier an slt, besides the excellent Sony cameras mentioned the A57 is also an excellent starter camera.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

^^^YEP! :thumbup:

GreenReaper

Hey Will,
Good advice. I really miss my darkroom. (no room in the 5th wheel.)

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

That was really a cheap shot. At least have the courtesy to put that quote back in context. "expecting quality shots out of the box with little to no knowledge is setting yourself up for failure no matter the camera you purchase."

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

:thumbup: and thank you.

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

Hi Kristin - I've just looked for the first time at your thread - and if I were you I'd be mighty confused by the variety of responses to what seems to me to be a simple request from someone who :

1. Only joined UHH 8 days ago.
2. Wants a "good but affordable DSLR" (reiterated twice !)
3. Wants to "learn more seriously" about photography.

Buy Peterson's book ? Yes, indeed, but that won't answer your camera question.

"Good but affordable DSLR" to me means "a nice middle-of-the-road" camera, the option to choose different lenses, not low end, not pro model.

Some will hurl "Canon" at you, others "Nikon", and a few less "Sony".

You can buy new, refurbished (less expensive, but new to all intents and purposes if it's manufacturer refurbished), or you can buy used.

You can buy DSLR, but you could also look at the "good middle-of-the-road" mirrorless cameras, which also give you interchangeable lens options, high quality images and greater portability.

Options ?

1. Sharpshooter gave you the Canon options.
2. Nikon - D5100/D5200, but neither the D5000 or D3000 range have autofocus motors in the body and, in order to be able to autofocus lenses you will need to buy Nikkor AF-S lenses. It might be better to look at the D7000 or D7100, even a used D300. Great "mid-range" cameras with greater versatility in lens autofocus choice.
3. Sony - Cholly gave you their mid-range DSLR options.
4. Mirrorless - this might be a "new world" to you, but it is certainly not lacking in options that might fit you even better if size, weight and portability are important to you. There are excellent mid-range options from Olympus (EP5, EPL5) and Panasonic (GX1,GX7) which both use the same lenses (micro 4/3). Also from Fuji (X-E1, XM1) and from Sony (NEX 6). To learn more go to this website - http://www.sansmirror.com/

Whichever way you go you will be buying into a "system", where the lenses become vastly more important (because they last for a long time) than the body (manufacturers change them regularly).

Food for thought? You bet ! It's a world full of hiccups at every turn for you, unless you take your time, think about your own wants and needs, do your homework, ask more questions, before deciding upon your own chosen path, and not one that some UHH member, however well-intentioned, might point you down.

Good luck to you !

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

^^^^This works too. :thumbup:

chaser48 Loc: Texas

Hmmmm......a darkroom set up in the 5th wheel. An excellent idea but wife says......"uh, NO". Oh Well.........

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I would actually suggest m4/3. As a previous owner of a DSLR with big lenses, and 2 kids under 6, they would tend to shy away from the camera. However, when I pull out my EPM2, or heck my phone, they tend to gravitate toward me. My oldest, who is 5, loves the fact that every now and then I let her hold the camera and take pictures with it. The touch screen on the back makes it very easy for her to do this. What's also nice, is that the camera body and lenses are lightweight and small enough to take everywhere with you, something you likely wouldn't do if you had a standard size DSLR...I know I didn't, since I was busy carrying kid stuff, or heck one of my kids. I'd suggest the following:

Bridge camera
Panasonic LX-7
Sony RX100

m4/3 Mirroless
Olympus EPM2
Olympus EPL5
Olympus OMD EM5
Panasonic GX-7

I've got a ton of examples if you'd like to see some fast moving kids...my 3 year old son, only knows one speed...ON and FAST.

pauleveritt Loc: Erie, Colorado

Go on to Craigslist and find a USED point and shoot for say $50. Go get a basic photography book from BN.com used for about $6. Read the book, cover to cover. Read your camera manual, cover to cover. Now go practice. Reread both books. Now go practice some more learning from your mistakes. ONCE you get to the point where you can no longer take BETTER shots with the point and shoot, get a DSLR, used, with one zoom lens and one prime lens. If you have read your basic photography book through twice you will know what I mean by this. Get your second book on photography and a good guide to your specific camera, both used, both about $6 each on BN.COM. This is working for me.

Shutter Bugger

It is very possible to outgrow a camera in terms of
the tools ability, but it is unlikely one will outgrow a hammer.

To clarify your understanding; a component of what I meant by, "buy the best you can without breaking the budget", is, if you have a passion for photography what better way is there to dispose of disposable income
than by buying a sensational camera and lens?