Photoppositelock!

"roflcopter" (roflroflroflcopter)
03/11/2015 at 19:54 • Filed to: None

I'm looking to stop taking potato pictures guys. I have been itching to get a 'real' camera for quite a while and I think I'm ready to do it, but I'm also poor due to racecars and have no clue what I'm doing... So I ask you, oppo-ites of which I know a decent number take awesome pictures, does anyone have any recommendations for a <$100 DSLR that I could learn on? I don't really care about numbers or features, just to be able to learn to use different lenses and settings and get the most out of it. I figure this is like cars, it's better to learn to drive a slow car fast, than jump straight into the fast car. Anyways, if you have a camera you're looking to part with or a good suggestion on what to get, please let me know! Have a few potato pics in the mean time.

DISCUSSION (28)

E. Julius > roflcopter
03/11/2015 at 19:57

This should be a good rig to start with:

Kinja'd!!!

CB > roflcopter
03/11/2015 at 19:57

I picked up an older D70s for $300 with a bunch of stuff, and I love it. Under $100? Don't think you'll find much. Mind if I share this over to Photography? Those guys are excellent help.

roflcopter > CB
03/11/2015 at 19:59

I know it's a bit of a stretch, I've found some body only cameras for less than $100 on eBay but I'd rather buy from someone on here or something if that were going to happen. I've found that the old Canon 30D's are darn cheap now.

Please share it! Hopefully people have some good suggestions!

Dsscats > roflcopter
03/11/2015 at 20:01

Sub $100 DSLR? Try again.

At that price, anything you can get would be worse than the potato.

I picked up a Rebel XTi for $180, then a 5D MkI for $200

Stephen the Canuck > roflcopter
03/11/2015 at 20:36

What are are you in?

Do you have a brand of preference? Can you stretch that budget at all?

I'm currently at work but tomorrow I'll see what I can come up with.

davvvvvvve > roflcopter
03/11/2015 at 21:46

Nikon F2.

Stephen the Canuck > davvvvvvve
03/11/2015 at 22:00

Isn't that a film camera?

davvvvvvve > Stephen the Canuck
03/11/2015 at 23:58

Yeah it is. I suggested it because its fully manual, which makes it a perfect learner camera IMO. And it should fit the <$100 price range.

Stephen the Canuck > davvvvvvve
03/12/2015 at 00:23

That would make sense, but purchasing film and getting it developed would put it over budget. That's one of the nice things about digital.

EDIT: I also think that the much quicker feedback provided by digital is also better for learning quicker. You can see right on the back of the camera if the picture looks bad.

davvvvvvve > Stephen the Canuck
03/12/2015 at 00:34

Film costs can actually be pretty low; if you buy cheaper film and don't get prints, just get the negatives developed. Or shoot expired film and develop at home (thats what I do, it is dirt cheap).

The instant feedback of digital can be good or bad, its a matter of opinion. Personally I think being forced to wait to see the picture till its developed forces you to really think about the image before releasing the shutter, which can make you a better photographer (IMO of course).

Stephen the Canuck > davvvvvvve
03/12/2015 at 00:42

fair enough. I do see your point. I think it's tough with film though because you can see what you had for settings for that picture, particularly with the time gap between taking the picture and seeing the result.

I will agree that it's good to slow down and think before taking the picture. I think film is good to try once you've learned what the settings will do and have a knack for the technical stuff.

Do you scan your negatives?

davvvvvvve > Stephen the Canuck
03/12/2015 at 00:47

Yeah I scan all my negs. Its the lamest part of the whole workflow.

Stephen the Canuck > davvvvvvve
03/12/2015 at 01:12

I bet. That's a big added step.

roflcopter > Dsscats
03/12/2015 at 01:40

It looks like the XTi almost fits the sub $100 budget these days. I have found the Canon 30D to be what seems to be the best bang for the buck in that kind of price range, which doesn't really seem like that bad of an option.

roflcopter > Stephen the Canuck
03/12/2015 at 01:42

I currently have zero camera equipment, I've used various Canon cameras before, we had a Rebel XT when I was younger that I used to mess around with and I've used my buddies a few times in the last few months(his is wayyyyy out of my price range).

The budget was just set so that I could easily swing it without thinking too much about it(broke college student who plays racecars here) but if it were a body with lens that I could actually use from the get-go I could do a bit more.

RWS Motorsport > roflcopter
03/12/2015 at 09:22

If your happy with Canon, the old 300d and 350d models are really good.

not sure how much they cost now, but I used to have a 350d, and it was that camera that got me into photography. I inherited it from my mum when she upgraded to a 550d, and used it for a year or so before upgrading.

Be warned, photography as a hobby gets very expensive ha.

mcseanerson > roflcopter
03/12/2015 at 09:24

I'm not a big mirrorless guy so I can't testify to how good or bad this is but you can get an Olympus PEN E-P1 for under $100 on Keh.com

https://www.keh.com/361008/olympus…

roflcopter > RWS Motorsport
03/12/2015 at 09:53

My parents used to have a 350D when I was little that I got to mess around with, it was pretty nice. My question then becomes is it worth spending a little extra and get a 30D? They seem to be within about $30 of each other.

And I'm aware... but so is cars. haha

Stephen the Canuck > roflcopter
03/12/2015 at 10:14

What area are you in? I can try to find something in the local classifieds that would be good.

I think $200 would be a better budget if you can swing it. It gives you more options, and then you can get a memory card and a cheap bag too.

mcseanerson > Stephen the Canuck
03/12/2015 at 10:21

True, going from just $100 to $150 makes a huge difference.

Stephen the Canuck > roflcopter
03/12/2015 at 10:47

I would spend the extra money and get the 30D. I have a 20D and I much prefer it to my brother's XTi. I also prefer how it feels in the hand compared to my T3i. I just wish it had a larger/better screen on the back which the 30D has.

roflcopter > Stephen the Canuck
03/12/2015 at 11:06

If have to wait a little bit to justify spending much more, but that might be better.

I'm in Pensacola Fl, I've been watching Craigslist and stuff and haven't seen anything amazing.

Stephen the Canuck > roflcopter
03/12/2015 at 11:18

You could pick up this film camera/lens combo for $25, which would give you a lens that would work with most of Canon's digital cameras.

Then when you see a 30D for a good price jump on it.

mcseanerson > roflcopter
03/12/2015 at 11:21

You're in pcola? My dad lives down there. If you get a nice camera you gotta give us lots of photos on the photography blog from the naval aviation museum. Also, where do you go to race around Pensacola? I thought about moving there at one time but it looked more barren than Ohio for racing.

roflcopter > mcseanerson
03/12/2015 at 13:23

I can do that.

As far as racing goes, there's actually a pretty big autox scene around here, and we race Lemons so we travel a bit to go to some real tracks. NOLA MSP is really getting up and going here recently too, and that's only about 3 hours away.

RWS Motorsport > roflcopter
03/12/2015 at 14:00

The XXXd are canons entry level cameras, the XXd are the semi pro stuff, and the Xd is their professional level gear. by the looks of it the 350d and 30d are from the same period, so I would suggest the 30d would be an improvement (it does 5fps, rather than 3, thats the most obvious spec difference that stood out to me) :

http://www.canon.co.uk/for_home/produ…

just had a thought as im writing this, could you get a 350d, and then spend the extra $30 on better glass. good lens on a duff body is much better than duff lens on a good body or so im led to believe.

roflcopter > RWS Motorsport
03/12/2015 at 14:09

Thanks for the useful info! And that's the kind of input I was looking for, most of the cameras I've been looking at are body only at that price, which is probably a good thing because I want to be able to try different lenses and all and I'll have more money to spend in that department vs getting a full kit with a mediocre lens to begin with.

RWS Motorsport > roflcopter
03/12/2015 at 14:27

Yeah the kit lenses that come with the cameras are perfectly good, but if you can stretch to a slightly higher spec you'll be amazed at the results.

I moved from a 70-300 non-is to a 100-400l on my 60D and the results were night and day.

one of my freinds has just got a 1200d and a 18-135mm and i had a little play with that lens, was pleasantly surprised with the quality.

If you've got a camera shop nearby thats friendly, hopefully they will let you try some of their lenses to get a feel for what sort of focal length and stuff you want.

Good glass does hold its value quite well sadly (from a buyers point of view, awesome from a sellers) so you are unlikely to find any bargains,