https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-digital-slr-recommendations Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 08 May 2026 15:23:46 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-digital-slr-recommendations#post-109462 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:31:30 +0000 Kristen 109462@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Patience, I have a tripod that I like and is pretty sturdy for holding up my Nikon D80. This is my second one because the first was too rickety and unstable, but this holds up well for all my self-photos and when I am on vacation doing sunrise shots, etc. I think it is a Platinum Plus by Sunpak; I got it at Best Buy last year. </p> <p>I also have a Gorillapod on my Christmas list; I would love to be able to have the stability of a tripod without the size, and to be able to just wrap it around a nearby object to get different angles instead of having to set up a full tripod. You might want to check those out if that would better fit your needs. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-digital-slr-recommendations#post-109456 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:12:17 +0000 Greg 109456@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Patience, I don't use a tripod often. I do have one, but I use it almost exclusively for photographing Angie for the blog. It is somewhere between lightweight and heavy duty. A Manfrotto 728B "DIGI". I'm very happy with it though. One thing I would like that it doesn't have is an integrated spirit level. </p> <p>When I did research on tripods, the Manfrotto brand was quite highly rated. </p> <p>If I already had a heavyweight tripod I might have bought something lighter than the 728. I heard that the SUPER lightweight ones are inevitably a little wobbly, especially with a heavy DSLR. So I would guess that quality is even MORE important at the lightweight end. </p> <p>You probably know about it, but I find that <a href="http://dpreview.com" rel="nofollow">http://dpreview.com</a> is a great site for finding out more about photography gear.</p> <p>Marianna, here are some articles for you:</p> <p>- D3000 in brief: <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/news/0907/09073004d3000handson.asp" rel="nofollow">http://www.dpreview.com/news/0.....andson.asp</a><br /> - review of the D5000: <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond5000/" rel="nofollow">http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond5000/</a><br /> - review of the kit lens: <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon_18-55_3p5-5p6_vr_n15/" rel="nofollow">http://www.dpreview.com/lensre.....p6_vr_n15/</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-digital-slr-recommendations#post-109410 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:41:19 +0000 marianna 109410@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>VERY helpful, Greg. Thank you!</p> <p>I played with the Nikon D3000 at Best Buy yesterday and it seemed nice, and that's the one the salesman recommended for me as well, but I was missing the "live view" feature. By lower end of the price spectrum I did mean $400-$600ish. I am planning to keep this camera for a few years, and it is a big purchase for me, so I'd probably prefer to go with the one that's better and a little more money. It probably makes more sense in the long run, right? I'll see if I can find the D5000 on sale anywhere, or maybe I will try Craigslist. The D3000 and the D5000 will be at the top of my list. Thanks again!</p> <p>Ele, I don't have anything in particular that I will be photographing. I really want to be able to take amazing pictures of my doggies, and friends and family. I am tired of always having mediocre quality pictures! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-digital-slr-recommendations#post-109358 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:41:33 +0000 Patience 109358@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Greg, while you're giving camera advice, can I ask for recommendations for a lightweight tripod? Something that's compact and easy to lug around. It's for a Christmas present for my amateur photographer hubby who has a Canon 50D. (And I'd get to use it for my outfits too ;)). I've been looking around but I get the impression that lightweight and sturdy don't really go hand in hand so I'm wondering if not spending too much money is the way to go, especially since he already has a heavy duty high quality tripod. Thanks! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-digital-slr-recommendations#post-109355 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:32:31 +0000 Ele 109355@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks so much for that, Greg! I'm also thinking of getting a DSLR sometime in the new year (mainly for food photography), so this is great stuff for me, too :)</p> <p>I have several friends who are very keen amateur photographers, and a handful who are professionals. They seem to be split pretty much down the centre on Nikon/Canon- I guess it really is down to personal taste. My sister has a Nikon (second least expensive version- maybe the D5000?) and I find it *really* heavy, but then I have little hands and somewhat weak wrists. </p> <p>What will you be photographing most often, Marianna? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-digital-slr-recommendations#post-109350 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:50:25 +0000 Greg 109350@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Marianna,</p> <p>In my experience people find a DSLR brand they like and then stick to it. That has definitely been the case with me and Nikon. I really like the cameras they make and now that I have some nice lenses I'm very unlikely to move to another brand. That also means (1) I'm biased and (2) I know very little about the other brands.</p> <p>Nikon cameras tend to be a little heavier and bigger than the others (Canon, for example). But they are built fantastically well. In general it is important to hold the camera in your hand and think twice about getting it if it is way too heavy or awkward. A little heavy or a little awkward is fine -- you'll get used to it over time.</p> <p>You said lower end of the price spectrum, but I'm not sure exactly what that means. Nikon has a D3000 for about $450 and a D5000 for about $650 (on Amazon right now). I think both would be fine cameras, but the main differences appear to be that the D5000... </p> <p>- has a better sensor (the same one that is in my D90)<br /> - can do movies and<br /> - has "Live View" (the mode where you watch the LCD instead of holding your eye to the viewfinder)</p> <p>In my opinion these three things add a lot of value, but if $500 is your upper limit, then the D3000 is a very good option too.</p> <p>BTW, from a picture quality perspective the lens can be more important than the camera itself. These two cameras often sell in a kit with a 18-55mm lens that is a decent start, but you might want to add lenses later, like a longer zoom or a fast lens for indoor shooting without the flash. </p> <p>And in case you're not familiar with the lens specs, "18mm-55mm" means it can zoom and specifies the range. At the "18mm" end you get a very wide angle shot (e.g. for a landscape), and at "55mm" it is more zoomed in (e.g. for a portrait).</p> <p>I avoid lenses that try to do everything, like the ones that zoom all the way from 18 to 200, or even 300, because they generally do this at the price of image quality.</p> <p>A lens like the Nikon “35mm f/1.8G” is expensive ($200 or so), but opens up so many possibilities. That “1.8” (lower is better) means it is a fast lens and therefore can take pictures in low light. It is fixed focus though, so no zooming. I have a 1.4G that was very expensive, but changed my life. But these lenses are things that you can add later regardless of the camera you buy now.</p> <p>I hope this helps. Don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-digital-slr-recommendations#post-109338 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:54:33 +0000 marianna 109338@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks so much! I hopefully will be purchasing one this month. Looking forward to his advice! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-digital-slr-recommendations#post-109330 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:21:50 +0000 Angie 109330@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Greg will probably be able to suggest an option for you, Marianna. That’s exciting! </p> <p>SLR is the way to go and you can’t go wrong with Nikon. Greg has a few Nikon SLR cameras and several lenses. He takes taking photos quite seriously so his advice will be sound. He'll chime in when he has a moment. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-digital-slr-recommendations#post-109259 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:47:04 +0000 marianna 109259@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am in the market for a new camera. I am pretty sure I want a SLR. I went to Best Buy today and looked at a few Nikons, but I am still not sure which one would be best for me.</p> <p>I need something entry level and fairly easy to use. Eventually I may want to use the more advanced features, but for now I want something simple that takes really great quality pictures. I am looking on the lower end of the price spectrum.</p> <p>To make this more on topic, I especially want a new camera so I can take better pictures of my outfits!</p> <p>Any recommendations? </p>