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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Difficult choice

Postal Boy
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Aug 23, 2006, 7:02 PM

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Difficult choice	Can't Post

All right, you have all heard me complain about not being able to get a camera...Well, I may have the chance now since a bonus came in. Problem is, I don't have a laptop either and I can see the advantage of using a laptop for video capture and travel...

Argh...

The only reason I lean towards a camera is that if I get one and start to do a few jobs, I can earn money for a laptop with the camera, where a laptop won't necessarily allow me to earn money for a camera...

So, a basic photo package (under 2k) would include:

Canon D30
Extra battery
A flash card for learning (I have a 512 meg card...but I may need more "learning" than that)

And???

-Postal

Bill Kinkle
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Aug 23, 2006, 7:38 PM

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Re: [Postal Boy] Difficult choice [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Canon D30
Extra battery
A flash card for learning (I have a 512 meg card...but I may need more "learning" than that)

And???

-Postal

Glass! I regret not just saving and buyng some nice L glass. I have a quantaray and a Tamron. The Tamron takes nice crisp images, but it feels very plasticy. Drives me nuts. I would also invest in a few 1-2 gig cards, 512 may be a little too light, especially if you decide to shoot in RAW.

Postal Boy
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Aug 23, 2006, 7:57 PM

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Re: [Bill Kinkle] Difficult choice [In reply to]	Can't Post

Recommended places to buy? BH seems to be down/gone from the web for now.

Armatos is one that is mentioned frequently, but they are offering a 20d body only for $1495...which is WAAAAYYYY overpriced....

-Postal

Bill Kinkle
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Aug 23, 2006, 8:00 PM

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Re: [Postal Boy] Difficult choice [In reply to]	Can't Post

I really only buy at B&H, mainly because of their size, reputation and quick turn around.

RustyB
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Aug 23, 2006, 8:04 PM

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Re: [Postal Boy] Difficult choice [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'd get the camera and lenses, and a good flash, if you wanna invest some money. Laptops are cheap, as well as extra batteries and memory cards, and could always be bought later. But with camera/lenses/flash you can start practicing something that will make you money.

I don't know anything about Canon cameras, but I see the 20D is a couple hundred bucks cheaper than the 30D. What's the difference? A smaller LCD?

If you're on a budget, maybe you could just get a Rebel XT to start with, since they're only $618, and spend the extra money on decent lenses and a flash. Then if you get into professional photography later, invest in the latest model/30D/whatever. Then the XT could be used for backup/#2 camera.

Either way, good luck. I just replaced my #2 editing station, which I was only using for business stuff and no longer for video, with a laptop. It freed up a huge/eyesore area of my apartment, gave me something to use for customer demos at Starbucks, lets me check/send emails and business phone messages (vonage) when I'm away from home, and download/edit/upload photos with my DSLR. It's just a cheap Dell B130, which I got with a DVD burner, 15.4" LCD, 60gb hard drive, wireless card, for just over $600 shipped, with a free printer.

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RustyB
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Aug 23, 2006, 8:06 PM

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Re: [Postal Boy] Difficult choice [In reply to]	Can't Post

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I like B&H as well, but when it comes to saving money on future large video or photo camera purchases, I think you can save a lot of cash by checking these shops out:

Abe's of Maine
http://www.abesofmaine.com

Cameta on eBay
http://stores.ebay.com/...rsrtZdQQsofpZ0QQtZkm

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(This post was edited by RustyB on Aug 23, 2006, 8:07 PM)

Postal Boy
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Aug 23, 2006, 10:07 PM

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Re: [RustyB] Difficult choice [In reply to]	Can't Post

Have you shopped at abes of maine before? How reputable are they?

-Postal

Jenn M
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Aug 23, 2006, 10:28 PM

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Re: [Postal Boy] Difficult choice [In reply to]	Can't Post

I ended up getting a lot of my glass and a second body used on FredMiranda.com
I was skeptical at first, but when you consider that the sellers are all photographers, that increases the chances that you'll A) get a well-cared for peice of equipment and B)you'll actually get what they describe since they know the gear.

I still don't trust eBay entirely for these types of purchases, but I've had very good luck on the photography forums.

I see 20D listed quite regularly, and even 30Ds - b/c many photographers are upgrading to full frame 5Ds. I got my 20D body for $850 (including shipping) and it had less than 2000 clicks on it. I thought that was a pretty great deal. I was only sorry I didn't get my earlier lenses on there. I bought them new and paid full price from B&H, which according to NextTag.com often had the best value anyway, even though I'm in NY and have to pay sales tax. I also got my 30D body from B&H (without the kit lens).

If you're looking for a lens, I find the 17-55mm IS to be the most useful.

Good luck!

(This post was edited by Jenn M on Aug 23, 2006, 10:29 PM)

RustyB
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Aug 23, 2006, 11:13 PM

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Have you shopped at abes of maine before? How reputable are they?

-Postal

I think someone on VU suggested them to me in the past.

Here's their page on resellerratings:
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller2003.html

Not great ratings, but I think they are a legit place. Sounds like one of the "bait & switch" places, or ones that will annoy you with phone calls trying to sell you accessories. I think their price for an XL2 is a couple hundred bucks cheaper than B&H, so I might try them.

For a DSLR, I see people constantly talking about the great Cameta deals on eBay, in other forums. I wish they sold video cameras! They're rated way better than Abe's as well:
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1697.html

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
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Scott Brooks
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Aug 24, 2006, 10:59 AM

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Re: [Postal Boy] Difficult choice [In reply to]	Can't Post

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Have you shopped at abes of maine before? How reputable are they?

-Postal

I have heard nothing but BAD stuff about Abes. No way would I even give them a chance.

I have a friend that uses Calumet out of Chicago and she's been happy with them.

Postal Boy
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Aug 24, 2006, 3:36 PM

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Re: [Sparky] Difficult choice [In reply to]	Can't Post

Is doing the 30d instead of the 20d really worth it? I know if you just buy the body there is a couple hundred dollars difference, but when buying it with a lense and stuff there really isn't more than a hundred bucks difference between them from what I can tell.

Also, I am seeing some upgrade kits that include things like a memory card (4 gigs), extra battery, and the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lense instead of the standard lense that normally comes with it.

Anyone use this lens, and how is it? It has a lower and higher range than the standard lense often offered (18-55 lense compared to 17-85 IS) so it appears that it would be a bit more flexible, plus has the IS function to help out with slower shutter speeds.

-Postal

(This post was edited by Postal Boy on Aug 24, 2006, 4:13 PM)

Scott Brooks
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Aug 24, 2006, 4:35 PM

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Re: [Postal Boy] Difficult choice [In reply to]	Can't Post

On top of all your choices, Canon just released the 400XTi Digital Rebel. Pretty damned nice consumer camera.

As for the 30D ... about the only thing that I found on it that I wanted was a larger LCD. That's just not enough to make me go that direction. I decided to hold off till next year and pick up either a used 20D or used 30D for my third body.

On the other hand ... the new 400XTi might not be a bad solution either. The only thing that really sucks about that is that they do not take the same batteries as the 20, 30, and 5D.

RustyB
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Aug 24, 2006, 7:46 PM

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On top of all your choices, Canon just released the 400XTi Digital Rebel. Pretty damned nice consumer camera. .

I was just reading Toogy's post/link about that. Very nice. It has the same dust-shaker as my Olympus. I don't know how much of a real problem dust is, but I see lots of posts on other forums about people having to get their Canon/Nikon sensors cleaned because of dust, which was one major advantage of the Olympus.

I wonder how noisy the 10mp is at high ISO. My Olympus sucks in this regard...especially at anything over 400 without noise reduction.

Postal Boy, this might be a great camera to jump on when it comes out. It should be pretty inexpensive, compared to a 30D. Then maybe the next generation 30D will have the dust-shaker as well, if you need a pro body by that time.

Good luck!

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Scott Brooks
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Aug 24, 2006, 10:59 PM

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Re: [RustyB] Difficult choice [In reply to]	Can't Post

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-7897-8492

Availability
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D is slated to ship in mid-September 2006 in the U.S. at an estimated street price of US$799, or US$899 in a kit with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II. The body will be available in both silver and black. The EOS Digital Rebel XT will remain in the lineup, in the U.S. and perhaps other Canon regions too, for at least the rest of 2006. In the U.S. the Rebel XT will have an estimated street price going forward of US$699 for the body and US$799 with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II.

I wasn't sure which third body to get, but this might be attractive. I really have no need of a 30D or 5D at this time. If portrait business kicks in then the 5D might be an option later next year.

I don't worry that much about dust simply because I park my lens on a camera and leave it there. Three bodies and three lenses and I'm good to go. No need for me to make it harder than it is.