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I am considering buying a DSLR camera to take good before and after photos of my work for my new detailing business. I am not experienced with high end digital cameras, and I think I need to start with something that will provide great pics but is fairly intuitive. I did some researching on the internet, and have come up with one option so far. The Canon Rebel xsi. Its going to be around $800-900 including a lens package and other needed items.
Any advice/feedback welcome:howdy
I use the Canon Rebel EOS Rebel XT. I love this camera. My only beef with it is it is big and not convenient to take places.
OK one more beef. You have to look through the view finder to take pics instead of use the LCD screen. I didn`t like that at all when I got the camera but I have grown used to it now.
No offense, but for that kind of money you can get some real good detailing equipment ... before and after pictures are nice for the hobbiest, but your professional reputation will be built on the actual work done and the service you provide your customers. An extractor, steam cleaner, ionizer, etc are good investments in a detailing business, not photography. Word of mouth is your best advertisement, just provide the best service and results and pictures can be your hobby. :rockon
If you have all of the above tools, never mind and I`ll jump off my soap box :D
I think a nice all around camera is the Canon S5 IS. It is not a DSLR but is a super zoom type with a pop out LCD. It is under $250. It has very nice macro function (get very close) compared to many DSLRs
For DSLR, the entry Nikon D40/D60 and Canons are quite nice but they can be a bit heavier and a lot more money.
WOW you guys think it`s big????
the XT is small light and ... SMALL...
http://www.livingroom.org.au/photolo...-MarK-II-N.JPG
I think troy would get hurt with my monster...
Don`t own that camera so I can`t offer any feedback. I can say that the old manual 35mm Canon AT-1 was a great camera, but that camera would be 30 years old by now.
Can`t even comfortably give you any advice, since I`m not a professional photographer and I don`t take pictures of my vehicles or my customer`s vehicles for display or publication. I am full of opinions and I can ask some questions. :)
1. Is this camera primary use for auto detailing related work?
1a. Will you be using it for preparing a physical portfolio and/or for posting on the internet?
My OPINION is that this is quite a financial outlay if the above is the primary purpose. (Of course you could be rich and $900 is pocket change). For just taking pictures to post on the internet, the camera looks to be overkill. I`m thinking that a good photographer can do wonders with a lesser camera, but an expensive camera won`t make a bad photographer a good photographer.
Troy, I`ve found that even with my eyes while the LCD screen viewer can be a blessing it can prove problematic when the ambient lighting doesn`t cooperate.
If you plan on taking on photography as a hobby, then go for it. $900 is a small sum (relatively speaking) for getting into digital photography with a DSLR these days. I would stick to the Canon and Nikon offerings as they are best supported by other manufacturers for accessories and such and they have the greatest selection of lenses without question for when your needs/abilities progress. LIke others have said, if it`s solely for pics of detailing before and afters, it may be overkill. At the minimum, you should have a camera with macro capability and manual exposure control.
:wow:$900 For a begginer.Who died?Quote:
Originally Posted by George`s MM&D
Bunky is the man to ask about a camera .I was looking at the nikon D40 great camera but can`t stand the size of them so for now just sticking with my casio point and shoot has a lcd screen and 5 megapixel .Works fine easy to carryQuote:
Originally Posted by Bunky
yeah, i was planning on using it to post great high res portfolio pics on my website (and before and afters). If I can accomplish this with a simple point-and-shoot, I`m down... I didn`t know they were that expensive.
I`ve owned my Nikon D70 for several years now, & I`m completely satisfied with it even though it`s fairly dated technology now. But! Don`t spend the money for a DSLR unless you plan on taking pics of moving things. You can take beautiful pics of stationary things with a nice point n shoot. However, if you want a DSLR I`d read these articles:
Recommended Cameras
Nikon D40
I have read Ken Rockwell`s stuff. We own Nikons (D70s, D90) but it is strange that he clearly configures his camera (exposure compensation, color) to settings most would never do. For ex. on the D40 he says it is great yet makes about exposure inaccuracy and shoots with some dramatic compensation values...every day person is not likely do that or want to do that. That is why they buy a camera.
Unless you really need higher ISO performance (shooting in low flash without flash) or special lens (like a 35mm f1.8), the point and shoots are usually good enough especially if you plan to leave your DSLR on program/automatic all the time. If you plan to tinker with the settings by learning how the camera behaves, then you are ready for a DSLR.
I hear these are still in... :notme:
Attachment 10661
I`m looking at the Nikon Coolpix L100 now. Will I be able to get up close pics of vehicle finishes, to compare before and after with this one? Its a point and shoot, and supposedly has some of the benefits of a dslr
Yep, you`ll be able to take excellent quality pics with that camera. Whatever you get, whether Nikon or Canon, just make sure it feels good in your hands, & that you`re comfortable using it.
^^thanks! I handled the camera extensively at Staples, and will probably buy it online. Will I be able to get it to focus on the paint up close, and not on the light source?
Hi george. I use a kodak 1012is digital camera. I love it! It`s AWSOME! I got it brand new for a little over three hundred a year ago it came with a tripod aswell and you can get all kinds of zoom lenses and filters quite inexpensively for it. If you wanna see how good it is send me your e-mail and I`ll send you an invite to my Kodak galleryQuote:
Originally Posted by George`s MM&D
I can`t think of any reason why you`d have any trouble with close-ups.Quote:
Originally Posted by George`s MM&D
thanks all. I`ve decided on the Canon G10.
Good choice. I had a g9 till my kid took it from me.Quote:
Originally Posted by George`s MM&D
So now it`s either Canon xsi or olympus water proof/shock proof/freeze proof/drop proof cams.
Ron go with the Olympus.. as I know you. you`ll spend $$$$$ on the camera gear...
I got em both. :redface:Quote:
Originally Posted by holland_patrick
dude........your going to go broke.... want to buy me some lenes???
I found one you can get me..
Used Canon | Super Telephoto 1200mm f/5.6L EF USM | 2527A001
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/i...345/116642.jpg
I got enough lenses already.Quote:
Originally Posted by holland_patrick
I`ve always had canon stuff.
It is a nice camera. One of the top non-DLSR and actually more expensive than some DLSR`s. Why did you get it? Megapixels, size?Quote:
Originally Posted by George`s MM&D
welp, actually found a dslr that may be what i`m looking for. the sony a200k dslr. an entry level dslr.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunky
I wanted dslr originally so i can get perfect clarity high res images...
If you want a DSLR I`d get one from a company that specifically makes cameras, aka Nikon or Canon. I`m not sure who Sony`s are based off of. I heard they bought out someone like Minolta or Olympus, so their DSLR`s might be ok. Not sure what you`re paying for it, but the Nikon D40 with an 18-55 mm lens is an excellent camera for $499 at Best Buy.
Any Point and Shoot cameras you guys recommend?
I was looking at this
Olympus FE-20 8 Megapixel 3x Zoom Black Digital Camera
or something like this
Nikon L20 10 Megapixel 3.6 Zoom Red Digital Camera
Alot of people are recommending the Canon G series here, as well as a few others...
goto Walmart, get a nice 8meg PHD digital camera.. there good... very good for what your going to do.
be advized... the better the camera the more setting to mess with.. more to go wrong.
PHD= Push Here Dummy
I think a DSLR is a great investment for detailers. Providing quality pics that really show off your work is crucial to proving to someone over the internet what you can really do. Plus once you get the hang of using it and learn the settings they are much more versatile than a point and shoot. I personally shoot Sony, but I might recommend Canon or Nikon just for the fact that they are more popular, so it is easier to pick up used lenses and accessories for them should the photo bug really bite you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beercan31
I`ll have to disagree with you here! All DSLR`s have an auto mode, as well as auto focus. These essentially make them a point and shoot camera, however as you learn you can tweak those settings to produce some spectacular images! ;)
DSLR`s have auto mode but for those that have zero knowledge still can have issues. There are some settings like ISO, exposure or flash compensation, etc that can be changed even in Auto mode.
Although I have a Nikon DSLR, the high end non-DSLR cameras can offer several advantages since they have smaller lens/sensors. They have much greater depth of field near maximum aperture and they often do macro readily. My stock zoom lens cannot focus that close so not really near macro capability.
For starters, without getting into the higher end DSLR`s, a cannon PowerShot is affordable and I have seen some pretty impressive pictures from those compact cameras.
I`m pretty sure i can buy a lot of stuff with the price differance between the power shot and a DSLR.. but you should talk to me after all I have a big gun and lot`s o lenes to back it up..
that said a lot of my pic`s came from my small canon. and they look great