What type of camera are you using to document your work?

I have prior experience with a DSLR but I am not entirely sure something of that magnitude is necessary.

Not only is a DSLR not necessary, but due to its size, its impossible to get into tight areas if you need to take detailed pics of some component.


Anyone using a point and shoot??

Yes, a Canon S95 that I bought just as it came out in 2010. I travel a lot by motorcycle, so I needed a camera that was compact and that took very good pictures. I also use it to take detailed shots of vehicle components.
 
I use a D50. I believe it is much more important to perfect the art/skill of taking pictures before buying the best of the best gear. Someone that has an eye for photography with an entry level camera will beat someone that doesn't who has the highest end equipment.
So true!
 
I use a D50. I believe it is much more important to perfect the art/skill of taking pictures before buying the best of the best gear. Someone that has an eye for photography with an entry level camera will beat someone that doesn't who has the highest end equipment.

Couldn't agree more.
 
Impressive camera for the money - at least it appears to be!

How is the lens that comes with it? Would I need something bigger for taking photos of my kids playing sports, on vacation, etc?

Depends on what sports. Unless your upclose alot, that lens doesn't give you much Zoom. With outdoor sports you can get away with an f4/5.6 lens, but if you move to inside sports then you need at least an f2.8 lens.

I shoot as a hobby, check my pics out at Public Home | Hockeydad | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy. I just shot some HS LaCrosse this weekend.
 
If you don't mind getting a refurbished, I would suggest getting one from CLP(Canon loyalty program). You have to send them a broken Canon P&S so you can get their refurbish for 20% off. If you want an entry level DSLR I would look into the T2i because it practically the same as a 7D, which is a 1600 camera.

Lens can make you go broke, depends on your budget. If you shoot sports/kids, I would suggest getting a telephoto lens. Canon makes a great budget lens called the 55-250, cost around 200 new. Or if you have the money get a 70-200 f/4 that can be found around 600 used.

What is your budget? I did a lot of research when I was looking into a camera. I went with T2i because I wanted something to document my detailing, but grew to love photography. And soon after only wanted to spend 500, now I'm over 2500+.

Thanks for the additional info! Honestly, I don't really have a set budget. I'm just looking to get a nice entry level DSLR that won't make my wife crazy when she looks at the receipt! I'd like to start with something in the 500-1000 range to see how I like it, then go from there. I already own a couple of Cannon digital cameras and they've been fantastic. I'd like to stay loyal to that brand being that they've never steered me in the wrong direction yet.
 
Sony dslr, good pics can make or break getting work imo!
 
^ how do you like the 24-70 on your 7D? I was thinking about getting one but 24mm wasn't wide enough for my walk around. So I went with 17-55 instead, only thing I wished was that the build should be a lot better for 1k+ lens.

I like it for your normal photography. But for doing product shots, I think it has a really odd look to it when shooting small products up close. I might get a prime or a macro lens for my product shots. Also have a 70-200 F2.8L IS II that stays on the camera most of the time. Of course it would be really impractical for taking close up pics.
 
Thanks for the additional info! Honestly, I don't really have a set budget. I'm just looking to get a nice entry level DSLR that won't make my wife crazy when she looks at the receipt! I'd like to start with something in the 500-1000 range to see how I like it, then go from there. I already own a couple of Cannon digital cameras and they've been fantastic. I'd like to stay loyal to that brand being that they've never steered me in the wrong direction yet.

You can stay with Cannon and get the XR or the entry level Rebel Eos. That is what I started with, and got the kit Zoom lens, and was into it about $800 as a package. But like another poster, once I got into it I upgraded the camera and lens. Now I want a Cannon 2.8 70-200 L Series lens, but there at least $1K.
 
Yeah photography is $$$$$$$$. I tried 70-200 2.8 IS II, very sharp lens even at 2.8. But that lens is over 2k, so I will probably never get one. lol
 
I'm on my third Canon Rebel, bought one when they were first introduced. For the money, it's an excellent camera that also takes good video.

I take a lot of pictures for my job and the one thing I need is the ability to take a side shot of a car, get the entire car into the picture without having to back-up a million miles. You can't do that with P&S cameras.

Complete side shot, no portion of the front or back of car not in picture

ChevySSR098.jpg





Cool portrait stile shot...

1957BelairExtremeMakeover092.jpg


1972Corvette026.jpg



And video too... as I type this video has 1, 529,195 views... it's the first video I took with my Canon T1i at SEMA 2009 :laughing:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOVJG1DgwJs&hd=1]1960 Peterbilt Hotrod Truck called Piss'd Off Pete - YouTube[/video]



Canon or Nikon, both make great cameras...


:xyxthumbs:
 
This is the camera we used to document the family's cross-country trek during the 1860's...(Sorry for the yellowish-tint hiding my "detailing-workmanship").

my_1855_camera.jpg



____________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is my current camera of choice for picture taking since 2011:






Come to to think of it...The pictures still have a yellowish-tint to them.

:D

Bob
 
I have a Canon 350D. It was great when I bought it new years ago. Now, it's still great. It doesn't take video but great still pics at 8MP.

Being a DSLR it's about as good as the glass you put in front of it.

Whichever camera you get, make sure it can take very sharp pictures because you're going to need that to capture any detail such as swirl marks.

Some point and shoots tend to use heavy noise correction which can blur the images.

A good DSLR with good glass in front of it should have no trouble capturing fine details and producing sharp images once you know how to use it.
 
I'm on my third Canon Rebel, bought one when they were first introduced. For the money, it's an excellent camera that also takes good video.

I take a lot of pictures for my job and the one thing I need is the ability to take a side shot of a car, get the entire car into the picture without having to back-up a million miles. You can't do that with P&S cameras.

Complete side shot, no portion of the front or back of car not in picture

ChevySSR098.jpg


:xyxthumbs:

I hate to correct you but getting the entire side of the car in the shot without walking back a mile has nothing to do with DSLRs. IT'S THE LENS.

I'm guessing the lens you're using is an 18 - XXmm. But when attached to a Cannon Rebel, it isn't really 18mm. That's because the CCD sensor is smaller than a 35mmm film frame.

The Rebel has a crop factor of 1.6 meaning when an 18mm lens is mounted on it, it's the equivalent of a 28.8mm on a 35mm film camera.

You can find 28mm lens on point and shoot cameras all day long.

I shoot a Nikon DSLR and there are plenty of reasons why a good quality compact makes way more sense for car and swirl photography.

1. If you're into detailing, you're anal. If you have a camera with a removable lense, you're going to positively HATE cleaning the dirt and dust off the CCD. It requires special tool, chemicals and technique. If you don't clean the CCD, you will see spots in your shots when you bump the f stop up to f16 or higher. Think of them as etched water spots on the hood of your car.

2. A low end lens on a DSLR is a slow lens. Your photo above is not too sharp. I'm guessing your lens is something like a F3.5 -5.6 and the lighting in the garage wasn't bright enough to allow a shutter speed quick enough to allow you to take a sharp hand held photo.

3. For under $500, you can buy an Olympus XZ-1 Olympus XZ-1 Review: Digital Photography Review

It has an extremely fast 28 -112mm equivalent lens that's f1.8 at 28mm and f2.5mm at 112mm. That's a whole lot faster than a Nikon pro 70mm- 200mm F2.8 zoom that costs $2,500.

An f1.8 lens lets in approximately FOUR TIMES AN MUCH LIGHT as an f3.5 lens. This means you can shoot in much darker conditions with a shutter speed fast enough for sharp photos without a tripod.

4. Another benefit of the Olympus is free RAW processing software. Without going into detail, shooting in RAW format allows you to post process as if you decoided to use different settings on your camera when you took the original photo. This is not the same as tweeking a jpeg. Cannon, Nikon, etc. require tghe purchase of software to process RAW images.

5. Try and find something close to a 28mm - 112mm that's just a straight f2.5 let alone f1.8 at the open end. You won't - at any price (well, maybe Hasselblad made something for NASA0.

6. It's all about the glass, and a very fast f1.8 -f2.5 zoom opens up way more possibilities than a DSLR wityh a cheap or average kit zoom on it.

7. The last time I checked a true 18mm for a Nikon DSLR with a crop factor of 1.5 requires a Nikon Nikon 12 - 24mm f4 at about $900. Cannon makes a 10 -22mm f3.5 - 4.5 for $859 (that's a true 16mm) but remember - F1.8 lets in four times as much light as Cannon's 16mm equivalent 10mm at f3.5.

8. There are plenty of cheaper point and shoot zoom cameras that are 28mm equivalent at the bottom end.
 
11px1 - I know almost zero about camera's so could you tell me why I would want the Xz-1 over the Canon s100? In comparisons they seem pretty close. The higher video quality of the Canon is appealing to me but primary function will be to shoot cars.

Is there a reason the Olympus is better for this function? Will a novice like myself be able to get optimum results out of it for shooting cars without having to take a half dozen photography courses?
 
Good recommendation on the Olympus XZ-1 it should take good bokeh shots. The camera can be found for around $370 shipped.
 
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