You don't need that camera!

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  • falafel
    loves to talk on things
    • Mar 2009
    • 37951

    #1

    You don't need that camera!

    I suspect that this thread might offend one or two of you, so be forewarned I guess.

    Everyone seems to be getting new DSLRs these days, or at least everyone I know. I don't know if being into photography is becoming cool again (perhaps on the heels of so many people posting photos on their blogs all day), or if the people I hang around with are getting to the point in their lives and careers where they have more disposable income, but it seems like tons and tons of people are buying very expensive DSLRs. Mostly Nikon, but some Canons too, and even one Pentax.

    Here's my problem: almost none of these people seem to be going with the entry level cameras, which all seem to be capable of taking really great photos. Instead, they inevitably go for the Nikon D80s and now D90s, buying them in packages that cost $1200 to $1500. They buy several lenses (can't forget that 70-300mm telephoto, just in case your son starts playing soccer several fields over) and all sorts of other accessories.

    This sort of crap really bugs me. I know I shouldn't care what other people do, but sometimes I do care, so now I'm going to vent about it. I have the feeling that the vast majority of the people (at least those I know) that are buying these cameras really have no idea how to use them. They have great auto modes, so their pictures turn out great, but not any better than the entry level camera that cost $600 less.

    Sometimes people make stupid comments like "well, the D90 has the auto-focus motor in the body, not the lens, so you can use lots of the older lenses and they're cheaper, blah blah blah." Really? Do you have a stockpile of Nikkor lenses at home you've been dying to use? I doubt it. You probably just have the 2 lenses you bought with your camera, which, btw, are AF-S and will auto focus just fine without the motor in the body.

    People who fall into this category: My sister in law, my best friend, my (other) best friend's wife, my best friend's sister, and some other people.

    If you have one of the cameras I mentioned, congratulations, its a great camera. I hope you need/use all of those expensive features and that you didn't waste $600.

    Rant: over.
    Ain't it like most people, I'm no different. We love to talk on things we don't know about.

    Dig your own grave, and save!

    "The only one of us who is so significant that Jeff owes us something simply because he decided to grace us with his presence is falafel." -- All-American

    "I know that you are one of the cool and 'edgy' BYU fans" -- Wally

    GIVE 'EM HELL, BRIGHAM!
  • beelzebabette
    Golf & Cubs Disrespecter
    • Nov 2008
    • 2907

    #2
    My camera cost $65. Are you happy with me for not overpaying for features I don't understand?

    Comment

    • LiveCoug
      LA Ute loves me
      • Nov 2008
      • 18486

      #3
      I need a new camera. My 80 dollar camera just broke.

      Comment

      • falafel
        loves to talk on things
        • Mar 2009
        • 37951

        #4
        Originally posted by beelzebabette View Post
        My camera cost $65. Are you happy with me for not overpaying for features I don't understand?
        Absolutely. But does it take good pictures?
        Ain't it like most people, I'm no different. We love to talk on things we don't know about.

        Dig your own grave, and save!

        "The only one of us who is so significant that Jeff owes us something simply because he decided to grace us with his presence is falafel." -- All-American

        "I know that you are one of the cool and 'edgy' BYU fans" -- Wally

        GIVE 'EM HELL, BRIGHAM!

        Comment

        • BigPiney
          Huge Member
          • Nov 2008
          • 12362

          #5
          agreed.

          I am buying this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=canon%20sx1 for work this week. Should be easy to use, and it shoots full HD Video as well. Still more than I would spend for myself, but it looks like it would do most things people out there are looking to do.

          Comment

          • beelzebabette
            Golf & Cubs Disrespecter
            • Nov 2008
            • 2907

            #6
            Originally posted by falafel View Post
            Absolutely. But does it take good pictures?
            I wouldn't really know. They're adequate for my purposes--reminding me of the stuff I liked on vacation. I don't try to take fancy pictures to show off on the internet. I guess they're good, but not great.

            Comment

            • falafel
              loves to talk on things
              • Mar 2009
              • 37951

              #7
              Originally posted by BigPiney View Post
              agreed.

              I am buying this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=canon%20sx1 for work this week. Should be easy to use, and it shoots full HD Video as well. Still more than I would spend for myself, but it looks like it would do most things people out there are looking to do.
              That full HD feature's pretty nice - no more carrying two cameras.
              Ain't it like most people, I'm no different. We love to talk on things we don't know about.

              Dig your own grave, and save!

              "The only one of us who is so significant that Jeff owes us something simply because he decided to grace us with his presence is falafel." -- All-American

              "I know that you are one of the cool and 'edgy' BYU fans" -- Wally

              GIVE 'EM HELL, BRIGHAM!

              Comment

              • falafel
                loves to talk on things
                • Mar 2009
                • 37951

                #8
                Originally posted by beelzebabette View Post
                I wouldn't really know. They're adequate for my purposes--reminding me of the stuff I liked on vacation. I don't try to take fancy pictures to show off on the internet. I guess they're good, but not great.
                How do you not know? don't you look at them once you've taken them?
                Ain't it like most people, I'm no different. We love to talk on things we don't know about.

                Dig your own grave, and save!

                "The only one of us who is so significant that Jeff owes us something simply because he decided to grace us with his presence is falafel." -- All-American

                "I know that you are one of the cool and 'edgy' BYU fans" -- Wally

                GIVE 'EM HELL, BRIGHAM!

                Comment

                • beelzebabette
                  Golf & Cubs Disrespecter
                  • Nov 2008
                  • 2907

                  #9
                  Originally posted by falafel View Post
                  How do you not know? don't you look at them once you've taken them?
                  Ha. I meant they're good enough for me, but I don't claim to know enough about photography to know whether they measure up to any sort of standard.

                  Comment

                  • beefytee
                    Board eye candy
                    • Mar 2009
                    • 7542

                    #10
                    We probably didn't need the $600 low end Cannon SLR, but I got my wife one. A point and shoot would probably do, but we like what we got.

                    It makes a big difference with kids. They tend to not sit still and with the SLR you can take successive pictures a lot quicker.

                    Comment

                    • HuskyFreeNorthwest
                      Time to camp
                      • Nov 2008
                      • 26082

                      #11
                      I guess I won't brag about my new camera I just bought today. It is a Canon, and I am excited. Lots of features regardless of if I use them all or not.
                      Get confident, stupid
                      -landpoke

                      Comment

                      • falafel
                        loves to talk on things
                        • Mar 2009
                        • 37951

                        #12
                        Originally posted by beefytee View Post
                        We probably didn't need the $600 low end Cannon SLR, but I got my wife one. A point and shoot would probably do, but we like what we got.

                        It makes a big difference with kids. They tend to not sit still and with the SLR you can take successive pictures a lot quicker.
                        Entry level. That's the point. SLRs are important for capturing stuff like kids or anything that doesn't want to sit still for a picture. $600 is not crazy for a DSLR. $1200 for a body-only when your last camera was a pocket camera is what's stupid. Plus the crazy expensive lenses you'll probably never use.

                        Congrats on your new camera!
                        Ain't it like most people, I'm no different. We love to talk on things we don't know about.

                        Dig your own grave, and save!

                        "The only one of us who is so significant that Jeff owes us something simply because he decided to grace us with his presence is falafel." -- All-American

                        "I know that you are one of the cool and 'edgy' BYU fans" -- Wally

                        GIVE 'EM HELL, BRIGHAM!

                        Comment

                        • Color Me Badd Fan
                          Senior Member
                          • Jan 2009
                          • 12519

                          #13
                          Originally posted by falafel View Post
                          I suspect that this thread might offend one or two of you, so be forewarned I guess.

                          Everyone seems to be getting new DSLRs these days, or at least everyone I know. I don't know if being into photography is becoming cool again (perhaps on the heels of so many people posting photos on their blogs all day), or if the people I hang around with are getting to the point in their lives and careers where they have more disposable income, but it seems like tons and tons of people are buying very expensive DSLRs. Mostly Nikon, but some Canons too, and even one Pentax.

                          Here's my problem: almost none of these people seem to be going with the entry level cameras, which all seem to be capable of taking really great photos. Instead, they inevitably go for the Nikon D80s and now D90s, buying them in packages that cost $1200 to $1500. They buy several lenses (can't forget that 70-300mm telephoto, just in case your son starts playing soccer several fields over) and all sorts of other accessories.

                          This sort of crap really bugs me. I know I shouldn't care what other people do, but sometimes I do care, so now I'm going to vent about it. I have the feeling that the vast majority of the people (at least those I know) that are buying these cameras really have no idea how to use them. They have great auto modes, so their pictures turn out great, but not any better than the entry level camera that cost $600 less.

                          Sometimes people make stupid comments like "well, the D90 has the auto-focus motor in the body, not the lens, so you can use lots of the older lenses and they're cheaper, blah blah blah." Really? Do you have a stockpile of Nikkor lenses at home you've been dying to use? I doubt it. You probably just have the 2 lenses you bought with your camera, which, btw, are AF-S and will auto focus just fine without the motor in the body.

                          People who fall into this category: My sister in law, my best friend, my (other) best friend's wife, my best friend's sister, and some other people.

                          If you have one of the cameras I mentioned, congratulations, its a great camera. I hope you need/use all of those expensive features and that you didn't waste $600.

                          Rant: over.
                          I bought a Nikon D40 back in August 2007 and packaged it with the 18-135mm lens as opposed to the 18-55mm lens the bottom package goes with. The upgraded lens ended up costing about $150-200 more than than the 18-55mm lens would have cost me. Altogether I spent $700.

                          I'm not sure if it was a great investment to spent the extra $150-200 for the upgraded lens. Then again, I often find myself going beyond 55mm when I take pictures.

                          One thing I am happy about is only going for the D40. As you stated, it's more than sufficient for my needs and the now comically low MP is more than sufficient.

                          But I always advise people to put down a couple hundred more for an entry level DSLR as opposed to some point and click camera. I think the difference in quality and convenience is noticeable.
                          Part of it is based on academic grounds. Among major conferences, the Pac-10 is the best academically, largely because of Stanford, Cal and UCLA. “Colorado is on a par with Oregon,” he said. “Utah isn’t even in the picture.”

                          Comment

                          • falafel
                            loves to talk on things
                            • Mar 2009
                            • 37951

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Color Me Badd Fan View Post
                            I bought a Nikon D40 back in August 2007 and packaged it with the 18-135mm lens as opposed to the 18-55mm lens the bottom package goes with. The upgraded lens ended up costing about $150-200 more than than the 18-55mm lens would have cost me. Altogether I spent $700.

                            I'm not sure if it was a great investment to spent the extra $150-200 for the upgraded lens. Then again, I often find myself going beyond 55mm when I take pictures.

                            One thing I am happy about is only going for the D40. As you stated, it's more than sufficient for my needs and the now comically low MP is more than sufficient.

                            But I always advise people to put down a couple hundred more for an entry level DSLR as opposed to some point and click camera. I think the difference in quality and convenience is noticeable.
                            The D40 (or D60) is what most people should buy in a DSLR. The D40 is great camera. SLRs have some big benefits over point and shoots, one of which is shutter speed. The lens you have is right in the middle - some nice range, but let's not kid ourselves - regular amateurs photographers don't *need* 300mm zoom lenses. Must walk closer to your target.
                            Ain't it like most people, I'm no different. We love to talk on things we don't know about.

                            Dig your own grave, and save!

                            "The only one of us who is so significant that Jeff owes us something simply because he decided to grace us with his presence is falafel." -- All-American

                            "I know that you are one of the cool and 'edgy' BYU fans" -- Wally

                            GIVE 'EM HELL, BRIGHAM!

                            Comment

                            • Hallelujah
                              Junior Member
                              • Dec 2008
                              • 2741

                              #15
                              Originally posted by falafel View Post
                              The D40 (or D60) is what most people should buy in a DSLR. The D40 is great camera. SLRs have some big benefits over point and shoots, one of which is shutter speed. The lens you have is right in the middle - some nice range, but let's not kid ourselves - regular amateurs photographers don't *need* 300mm zoom lenses. Must walk closer to your target.
                              Sony WS120 is a good pocket camera. That's all I need. Stick it in my pocket and don't need some fancy camera bag. And I can blow up pics to 8x10 with no problem.

                              Comment

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