Any DSLR users out there?

[narked]

Recently upgraded my Canon 300D to the newer 400D, and have spent more and more time using it. So was just wondering if there are any more keen DSLR users out there.

Started a blog to try to advance my photography, with the aim of taking at least 1 photo a day that I can say I'm happy with. Only missed 1 day out so far, and that was down to stupidly forgetting to put the memory card into my camera! For anyone who is interested, you can view the blog here.

So, what kit do you use and what sort of photography do you enjoy the most?

Personally I'm using the Canon 400D, along with the 18-55mm kit lens, Canon 50mm f1.8 Mk2, and a cheapo Kodak 55-210mm lens. Also using a cheap Jessops tripod, which isn't too bad if you use the self-timer and mirror lockup functions on the camera. Next planned purchases are a better quality telephoto, possibly upto a 300mm, and a better tripod.

[thermidorthelobster]

I've had a 10D since 2003 and love it.  Preferred styles are candid portraits & travel stuff;  people are really my thing.

Hence I use a 24-70L and a 70-200L for 99% of what I shoot.  I also use a couple of Canon flashes for formal portrait stuff.  I definitely find the lenses make much more of a difference to the results than the camera body!

I keep meaning to stick some samples on the web but never quite get around to it...

[Budgie]

I also use the EOS 400D and have had it for about 10 months now.
It has a 18-55mm and a 70-300mm lens which do most of the stuff I want.
My photos vary but most of the good stuff can be seen on my website: http://www.hebrides-photos.com
Most of the photos on the site were taken with 35mm SLRs but there are quite a few on there taken with the 400D and a Fuji S5000.  

[Smego]

I have a Sony A100 with a 18-75mm lens ans a 70-300mm, also have a big flash unit, wireless remote and 4g memory card, love it to bits.

[L90OOK]

I've had a 10D since 2003 and love it.  Preferred styles are candid portraits & travel stuff;  people are really my thing.

Hence I use a 24-70L and a 70-200L for 99% of what I shoot.  I also use a couple of Canon flashes for formal portrait stuff.  I definitely find the lenses make much more of a difference to the results than the camera body!

I keep meaning to stick some samples on the web but never quite get around to it...

Dave they do take a great picture...They don't float though  :(biglaugh):

I'll get me coat  :oops:  :lol:

[laser_jock99]

My photos vary but most of the good stuff can be seen on my website: http://www.hebrides-photos.com

Like the Aurora Gallery- further North and no light pollution. You're very well placed there!

I currently use two DSLRs Fuji S2 Pro & S5 Pro with Nikon lenses. As others have said earlier I think it's the lens quality that makes biggest difference to pictures. Kit lenses are okay- but thats it. 'Okay' and generally made to a budget. Many are entirley plastic and even feature plastic moulded lens elements in them! Decent pro-lenses are in different league and well worth a bit of spend.

My lens collection includes:

Nikon ED 180mm F2.8 (a very sharp lens)
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f206/laser_jock99/TRAINS%20PLANES%20STEAM%20ENGINES%20ETC/Image5.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f206/laser_jock99/Nature%20and%20Wildlife/Dscf50401.jpg

Nikon ED 80-200mm F2.8 (my everyday workhorse)
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f206/laser_jock99/Image13.jpg
 
Sigma APO 300mm F2.8 (for getting in close
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f206/laser_jock99/Nature%20and%20Wildlife/Dscf4252.jpg

Sigma 15mm F2.8 fisheye and latterly a Sigma 10-24mm fisheye zoom- which is capable of some really bizzarre effects- but I love wideangle shots.....


Happy shooting!

[freelanderpx54]

Nikon D70 for me. Mainly Wedding Photography and some Portraiture work. I like to do landscapes and natural history but I only seem to be able to find time when the weather is naff

John

[JumboBeef]

I use a 400D and have a rather large tripod. :D



I might be upgrading to a 40D soonish.  I would love a D1, but it weighs too much.

Edit: I would love this 40D  :lol:

[cardiff_gareth]

I use a 400D and have a rather large tripod. :D

thats a tall tripod !!!

I'm using a Sony H2 with in theory isn't a true DSLR as the lenses cannot be interchanged but it gives me all the manual features of a DSLR with a 10x optical zoom lens.

If I'm doing some professional or have a good play and add to my portfolio then i'll use my Canon Eos 5 and use a good quality film. I'm a sucka for black and white  :roll:

[Skibum346]

Just been bought a PEntax K10D...  :D

Still learnin' all it's functions!

[freeagent]

NIkon D50... awesome, i'll never be as good a photographer as this camera would let me be...

my thing is landscapes and travel photography... oh and our baby growing up.

[Boddle]

Have Canon 400D

Most commonly used Len Sigma 28-300mm which does for most things
Larger Wildlife (Birds Deer ETC) Motorsports
I have 2x converter for this but can be a pain as you need to manually focus and you tend to need to set speed or aperture manually because the converter effect the the light sensor

Macro Len SIGMA 50mm F/2.8 EX DG MACRO
Great for taking photo's of Spiders and insect and smaller flowers

I have just purchased a Sigma 10-20mm 10-20 f/4-5.6 Lens (Wide Angle Angle of View: 102.4 - 63.8 degrees)
Great for taking scenery as found on a trip to Cornwall at the weekend
I'm still getting to know it

I would like to purchase a lens up to 500mm for future use as I tend to do most of my Photography with a friend who makes a living out of Wildlife Photography that regularly meanly long distances but would help get round lighting and manual focus require on 300mm lens with 2X on

I most get some more recent stuff onto the net but here is a few of my photos

Coombe Park Nr Coventry
Nettle Hill Nr Coventry

[cardiff_gareth]

these links people are putting on here, the sites show thumbnails in a portfolio form. I like  :P
where do you get them from, are they free :?: :?:

[laser_jock99]

these links people are putting on here, the sites show thumbnails in a portfolio form. I like  :P
where do you get them from, are they free :?: :?:

I use http://photobucket.com/  the basic package is free but there is a $20 per year 'pro uprgrade' I'm using which gives 5GB online storage and more bandwidth.

[smo]

Nikon D200 user here

[zacspeed]

Nikon D50 here too!
My flickr page.

[thermidorthelobster]

You've just provoked me into finally putting some of my photos online.

[laser_jock99]

Nikon D50 here too!
My flickr page.

Like the lighthouse picture- Quality!
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1206/1248339316_ac5596b084.jpg?v=0

[zacspeed]

Like the lighthouse picture- Quality!
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1206/1248339316_ac5596b084.jpg?v=0

Thank you Jock  :D

[v8kenny]

Funnily enough I have been mulling over which DSLR to buy - not looking for top end camera as I cant justify the expense
At the mo my choice is either Canon 400D or Nikon D40x
Anyone have any recommendations or opinions on my choices ?
Thanks

[thermidorthelobster]

Canon people will say Canon, Nikon people will say Nikon.

All I'll say is that I switched from Minolta to Canon and I've been very happy indeed with Canon.

Canon's lens range is regarded as being top notch, if that makes a difference to you.

[Niel]

D50 and D1 Nikon's, D50 higher res. new Jan this year, D1 bought secondhand June this year as daily carry camera and for faster sports stuff, lower res. (though higher res. sensor it uses 4 pixels on sensor for one rendered).
Lot's of old manual primes and zooms (and a few film Nikon bodies too).

I tend to use fine jpg most of the time, though D50 in raw is brilliant the D1 raw isn't so good and its slow write speed makes it unusable for its intended mission, it also makes a good weapon...

[narked]

Can't comment on Nikon, but I'm very happy with my 400D. It's vastly superior to my 300D which it replaced. I was almost tempted by the Nikon as it was cheaper at the time due to being on offer, but that would mean replacing the lenses too.

But as said before, Canon people say Canon...

[cardiff_gareth]

I used to sell all manufacturers so I'm not biased. Canon and Nikon are the two main players in terms of features, build quality and also optical quality. If given a choice I would have a Canon over a Nikon, purely because I have a film SLR set up and most accessories would be interchangable. Nikon used to be known as being a little bit complicated in terms of accessing features but this has been addressed in recent models. If you go for Nikon, then the ED lenses are about the best lenses you can ever buy, optically they are amazing but for an amateur this is well OTT and so is the price of them :shock:

Which ever manufacturer you get then your not going to be disapointed

[v8kenny]

Thanks for the info guys
I may throw the Nikon D80 into the equation as well
Price wise I am coming up with the following at all about the same price
Which would be the best buy and which package would suit my photographic needs best - I intend to shoot mainly landsape with some motor sport etc
Nikon D80 with 18-135 mm lens
Nikon D40X with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses
Canon 400D with 18-55mm and 90-300 mm lenses, camera bag and 1GB card
All comments gratefully accepted !
Thanks

[andycwb]

I got a Canon 400D recently and love it.  Excellent camera, excellent handling, and much smaller and lighter than a 40D.  I had a Nikon D2 in my hands this week and it was too heavy to use as a tourist.

[v8kenny]

I got a Canon 400D recently and love it.  Excellent camera, excellent handling, and much smaller and lighter than a 40D.  I had a Nikon D2 in my hands this week and it was too heavy to use as a tourist.

TBH it's the smaller and lighter bit that's bothering me Andy - I've got hands like shovels and I'm worried it will be too wee for me
suppose the answer is to go into a shop and get a feel for them  

[thermidorthelobster]

If handling's an issue then you might actually prefer the 40D.  The prosumer Canons have an arguably better feel to them than the consumer ones.  I'd find it hard to move to a 400D because I'm used to things like the big wheel on my 10D, which I find more intuitive to use.

[v8kenny]

BTW Narked - sorry for high jacking your thread !   :lol:  :oops:

[andycwb]

TBH it's the smaller and lighter bit that's bothering me Andy - I've got hands like shovels and I'm worried it will be too wee for me
suppose the answer is to go into a shop and get a feel for them  

To give you an idea, my hands fit very nicely into Arnie's handprints at Planet Hollywood.  I find the 400D is just fine.  

But go and have a play.  If you're anywhere nearby, you're welcome to pop round and have a play with mine if you want with no sales pressure.   The 40D has lots more buttons, but I find the 400D is a good compromise between having lots of buttons and having lots of menus to navigate.

I've got the kit lens and a 28-135mm IS USM at the moment.  That gives me a great range for travel photography which was the immediate need.  Oh, and I've got a 50mm fixed focus lens to return sometime soon (to thermidorthelobster) and I'll probably buy my own sometime soon.

Sometime next year I'll probably invest in a longer telephoto lens, and a decent flashgun.  But that kit does me nicely right now.