What should be my first dslr?

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Oh and is bestbuy a good place to make my purchase or can anyone recommend other places? Thanks!

I'd avoid the kit with the 28-135mm lens. It is the wrong focal length for a 7D, something like the 15-85mm EF-S is the right focal length.

I'd also avoid the kit with the 18-135 lens, it is a compromise lens and not matching the quality of your camera.

As noted, buy mail order from any one of several good dealers, B&H, Adorama, Norman Camera, Amazon.com, Newegg.com. Do not go for the scammers who advertise lower prices than the major companies, it will only frustrate you to have them call and try to up-sell you and give you a line of BS.

Best Buy might be OK, but they generally try to sell you whatever has the most markup, or what their camera rep tells them to push. They certainly will try to sell you overpriced high markup camera bags, memory, lens filters, and a host of lucritive add-ons like insurance.

Its best just to order online from B&H, Camera body, 15-85mm lens, and lexar or sandisk memory cards get two, 8gb or 16 gb cards. Get fast cards, not the cheap ones, expect $50-$90 each for good ones.

Here are ones I use.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/824192-REG/Lexar_LCF16GCTBNA6002_16GB_Professional_600x_Compact.html

 

[Zorfunk]

Get a 5d Classic $900, 24-105mm F4L $800-900 used, and a 50mm F1.8 $100. This will DESTROY a 7d kit for about $300 bucks more (unless you need AF for action).

On a budget grab a T2i $500, Sigma 17-50mm OS $600, a Sigma 30mm 1.4 $375. It only saves you a few hundred bucks though and you're losing range on both ends and aperture. FF ftw!

 

[Tijn]

- 60D $900 should be plenty if you're only just starting out. The 7d has insane autofocus customizability, which is very difficult to master. You should first get familiar with regular DSLR operation, and a 60D should be more than plenty for that. Plus you get a fancy swivel screen.
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II lens (non-stabilizer version! Sharp, cheap, big aperture, noisy but fast autofocus) $440
Canon 50mm f/1.8 $107

Total of $1447 thus far, you get a good body (decent AF for a starter) and some nice starting lenses. Next you should get a tele zoom for your sports and stuff. Perhaps the 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM ($450) or the 70-200 f/4L USM ($600 - that's a pretty cheap but decent L lens). Of those two, I'd personally pick the L one.

 

[jdramirez]

EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR Camera w/ EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens for $770. Or, body only for $500.

EOS 7D SLR Digital Camera with 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens for $1500. Or, body only for $1340.

Since the 7d is a couple years old, is there any chance of it going down in price?

The 18-135 has a great range to shoot wide or zoom in... and that's about the only good thing I would say about it... though I will say people are still paying $300 or so dollars for the lens. So if you did buy the 770 and then sold for 300, you would save an extra 30 bucks. Depends on where you sell the lens as to whether that would be of any benefit. I'd say just get the body.

I'm not as familiar with the 28-135, but I haven't heard anything complementary about it either. I'd guess it is nothing special. There are rumors that a replacement for the 7D is on the horizon, but honestly, I wouldn't expect the price to drop significantly. Get the T2i... you will be happy with it, and it will be just the right fit for you. When you feel as though you have mastered aperture and depth of field, maybe move into a more powerful body, but I wouldn't for a few years.

 

[briansquibb]

For the subjects you indicate, the 7D will be substantially better. If you'd expressed an interest in landscapes and portraits, the Rebel would do nicely, but for fast-moving subjects, the AF of the Rebel is limiting (that was the main reason I went from a T1i to a 7D).

My thoughts too

I think that the 7D would be more that good enough for many years to come. You dont have to use the extra features of the 7D from the outset - but it gives room for you to grow into without having to change cameras.

The 15-85mm lens would be a good lens to start with for your expressed interests

I have found that the better the camera the easier it is to use.

 

[D.Sim]

You do not mention lenses. Getting good lenses will cost much more than a camera body. I'd go with a Rebel refurb from the Canon store and a couple of good lenses. You will keep and use good lenses for many years, but bodies come and go.

You will be wasting your money to buy a 7D and then get a cheapo lens.

totally agree on this. I'd even venture to say go for a 2nd hand 50D instead of the 7D. essentially the 7D's direct predecessor, it loses out on the AF, fps and low light performance, but is still essentially a pretty good camera. Magnesium alloy body no less.

that, coupled with a few pieces of L glass, you're good to go.

If cost is not an issue, the 7D would be the way to go of course, but the 50D does provide a fair bit of option for what you pay

 

[archangelrichard]

1) for a first camera you know you will upgrade from when you have a better idea of what you want to do ..... Why are you buying new? Used can save you a lot of money, especially on the lens(es)

2) the T3i is the current model, some p-laces have T2i's left over so make sure you get a great deal (and note: if a T4i comes out soon the prices of T3i, T2i, etc. will drop a bit)

3) if you are a student and learning manual photography consider some of the better M42 lenses with adapters (Pentax super takumar, Mamiya/Sekor, Carl Zeiss, etc.) -- on ebay you can get basic adapters for $5, ones that mimick the focus "beep" for under $15; and a 50mm f 1:1.4 for under $100; 135mm F 2.8 for #25 or 28mm F 2.5 for under $50 and have great glass to start (metal not plastic) ; upgrade when you need to

4) consider macro photography (bellows, extension tubes before expensive lenses); consider telephoto / long distance: what do you want to do?

I would never recommend something as expensive as a 7D for a beginner - it is too easy to find that for something you really have an interest in that camera is very left handed and you have made a mistake

Your first camera should answer the basic question "what do cameras do and what is my interest"; save that 7D (or 5D or ....) for your second or third camera when you have a better idea what you want to do with it

 

[Ang829]

I would never recommend something as expensive as a 7D for a beginner - it is too easy to find that for something you really have an interest in that camera is very left handed and you have made a mistake

Your first camera should answer the basic question "what do cameras do and what is my interest"; save that 7D (or 5D or ....) for your second or third camera when you have a better idea what you want to do with it

Thanks for your suggestions and I have to ask what do you mean that it's very left handed?
I still have not made a purchase, still saving up and still weighing my options.

 

[ScottyP]

No to Best Buy. They are expensive and have very poor selection.
Yes to B&H and Adorama. Cheaper, unlimited selection, no sales tax, and free or nearly free delivery.

Buying the 7D for a first DSLR would be an unusual move under any circumstances unless you were a wealthy person.

Especially odd if you were thinking of going with the kit lenses in the package. Defeats the purpose entirely.

You could go T3i instead of T2i and then get the nifty swivel screen. Same sensor as the 60D. (and also same as 7D too if I recall correctly?) In a couple weeks they will drop a bit more when T4i is released.

Buy body only. Spend the big savings on good glass. EF-S 17-55 f2.8 would do great, but it does cost $1,000.00. On the other hand, it is decent for basic portraits zoomed to 55mm, which is equivalent to 88mm on a crop body. Ditto for kids, basic kid sports (where you can get up close to the field as opposed to college/pro games). And you can see that used ones still sell for about $900.00, so you can shoot with it as long as you want, then sell it and recoup almost all the money.

 

[ronderick]

@Ang829: Just wondering, is there anyplace near you where you can actually play around or hold some of these Canon DSLRs?

I believe that an important factor would be how the camera feels in your hand. No matter how good the specs are, it's hard to enjoy a camera that you find awkward holding.

 

[Orion]

Your first dslr should be a Canon 30D babay!!! Sorry . . flashback! 8)

anyhoot the 550D is best in class. try that, or if you have more money to spend go for a 5DmkII or 7D. All there is to it, for a first time dslr.