Top products from r/AskPhotography

Just to compare, here is a selection from the Canon side of things with Amazon used prices:
Canon 7d - $990
Tamron 17-50 2.8 - $340
These two are a great basis to work off off and get you to $1330.

If you want to spend some more you could add the following:
Canon 50mm f/1.8 - 100
Canon Speedlite 430EX - 235

But to be honest, if your wife is just starting out and money is a bit tight, don't go out spending $900 or more on a body. As most people will tell you, picture quality is mostly due to lenses. Canon t3i, Canon t4i or 60D as well as Nikon 3200 and 5100 are all excellent bodies and have more than enough features to keep her happy. If you get either of those bodies and a decent 17-50mm lens as well as a 50mm prime she will have great tools to learn on with space to grow.

Just like daegon I would recommend to buy used. Most Photographers look out for their things quite well and most of these lenses and bodies are made at quite good quality levels. I hope this helps.

I have a Rebel T3i. I got my lens kit with it and was soon looking for more lenses, too. For cheap next lenses, two that I would highly recommend are the Nifty Fifty or the EF-S 24mm f/2.8.

The nifty fifty is a great lens and one that many pros even recommend. It's a good focal length to have to portraits and such and will work on even full frame cameras if she gets one in the future. The 24mm lens only works on crop sensor cameras (like the T5 your girlfriend has). But it's still a great cheap addition to her kit. I just used mine recently for a photoshoot with a model and the shots came out great. The focal length is good for portraits on a crop sensor. With the 50mm, I sometimes have to back away further than I'd like to frame the shot right. But the 24mm in the same situation doesn't limit me.

The 50mm also has the advantage of having a f/1.8. This allows some great shallow depth of field in the images she can take (blurry backgrounds) if she so chooses. It makes the subject pop more. Both are lenses I'm very happy to have in my bag. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

>And I saw the A7III with it’s kit lens 28-70 and I loved the picture quality you can get with it.

Just me, but before buying one, maybe rent one and see the pictures you can get with it. The fact that the pictures you see as examples of what an A7iii can do may have been taken by a very talented, experienced photographer who was willing to drop all that cash on the body+glass and may also be extreme skilled at post-processing sometimes doesn't occur to a newb. :D Composition, timing, subject matter, processing: those are still up to you.

Higher resolution, better tonal smoothness, wider dynamic range, better high ISO performance those are all very nice, but they don't always equate to "more beautiful," especially in unskilled hands. A full-frame camera doesn't turn you into a great photographer any more than buying a guitar turns you into a great musician.

>Should I leave the RX100 M7 and get that A7III and learn or what?

I'd vote for learn with the RX100.

Are you sure you've exhausted what your RX100 can do? Do you shoot with it in M mode? Do you post-process its RAW files? Have you used it on a tripod? Have you tried off-camera flash? (Dumb optical slaving can still work with its built-in flash). Have you taken a class or read a book on basic composition or exposure control? I'd say try those things (and price out the cost of those Sony FE lenses for an A7iii) first before sinking into the money pit that is interchangeable lens camera systems. It may turn out that an α6000 (or a Fuji X or Panasonic/Olympus micro four-thirds body) is a better starting point for getting into interchangeable lens cameras.

That's a fairly broad reach of different subject matter.

I'd say the single most important task is to master the controls of your equipment and understand intuitively how it works, in addition to understanding the behavior and characteristics of light.

Nothing will help you achieve that like practice, practice, practice. I'm not saying you need to recite f-stop numbers in your sleep, but the more instinctive your control of the camera becomes, the more brainpower you can dedicate to creativity.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Photoclass_2018/ is one place to look and have the ability to compare your work to your peers and receive feedback.

Without knowing your skill level, Tony and Chelsea Northrup offer two excellent books which, while not necessarily structured like a class, are filled with valuable reference material and a great source of information.

Beginner: https://northrup.photo/product/stunning-digital-photography/

Advanced: https://northrup.photo/product/art-science-of-photography-video-gift-bundle/

Lastly, a book which has been often referred to as "the lighting bible" is a wonderful study in the behavior, characteristics, and quality of light.

This book covers light and a very, very broad array of practical applications. It is not a physics book, this is written for photographers and I've found it my go-to when needing to refresh or solve any problems with light.

https://www.amazon.com/Light-Science-Magic-Introduction-Photographic/dp/0415719402/

Happy shooting.

If you want a general purpose prime on an APSC camera, 35mm is the sweet spot. I run Canon gear, but on my old 80D, I had the most satisfaction using a 35mm f/2. My brother uses a D7100 and I recommended him a 35mm. He got a 35mm f/1.8G and has been extremely happy with it and never takes it off. It's cheap and gives great image quality for the price. That will equal about 52mm on your body which is a generally wide enough FOV for environmental shots but also narrow enough for portraits, with blown out background. https://www.instagram.com/ggomezmk6/ The most recent maybe 15-20 pics are with the 35mm, just to give you an idea.

He has a 50mm, as well, but was very unhappy with it because it was not wide enough for general use. Someone recommended him that one without taking into account the crop factor of his camera. Those "nifty fifties" are great for Full-frame/FX cameras for general use, but are actually closer to portrait lenses on APSC.

I would suggest you go to a camera store or something and try it out real quick and see if you like it before buying.

50mm F1.8 is an obvious first choice for a prime lens. As explained by others, a prime lens is a lens with no zoom, it's fixed. It works beautifully in low light and it's perfect for portraits.

It's also cheap (Canon sells them for just a bit over $100), so it's a good starting point if you don't know what you want.

I also bought a Sigma 17-50mm f2.8 as a replacement for my worn out kit lens.

The lens you're asking about is the cheapest versatile lens, that's why it's included with most consumer-grade cameras. It's really simple, it won't last very long, but it's cheap and it does the job. Mine started getting a bit loose, not focusing on auto mode properly after some 30k shots. I was working as a news photographer at the time, so this was like 2 months. For a home user this would take like 2 years, maybe even more than that. It's definitely not a bad option, though. You can take beautiful shots with it.

When it comes to photography, it's 80% skill, 10% gear and 10% luck. Don't buy expensive lenses hoping that they'll magically make your photos look better. It's the other way around, you need to learn to make beautiful photos first. Then you'll see where that lens is lacking, then you'll know what you need to buy. Don't waste money.

I choose Canon because it has a better (wider) mount, magic lantern firmware, and less expensive lenses. (Many of Nikon's are optically better)

Nikon's generally have a little more dynamic range but I prefer Canon's colors.

I love Canon's ergonomics: the joystick and wheel on their 1D, 5D, 7D, and 50D are awesome to shoot with. They put the Iso button where I feel it belongs. But you'll get used to any button layout after a couple shoots so it's all a matter of preference.

Canons still shoot better video than Nikon but Nikons have and will continue to improve.

But some people care less about video than I do and while Nikon's mount is smaller it hasn't changed so there's a lot more Nikon glass out there from the film days. So each system has their advantages it's silly to fanboy one brand so whatever saves you money.

What do your friends/coworkers shoot being able to borrow equipment is a pretty big factor to. Most of my coworkers/friends shoot Canon but I've borrowed a Nikon body and lens a handful of times with no complaints.

Since you're already invested into Canon I wouldn't switch brands unless you really weren't happy with it for some reason. I don't think the smaller brands like Pentax and Sony have the kind of used market that Canon/Nikon have and they don't have many if any full frame cameras. Canon has made 9 FF bodies to date if my memory serves me right and 4 Ap-H (1.3X) camera bodies. I don't know how many FF bodies Nikons made so far (since they don't progress in name as sensibly as Canons) but they're out there.

Consider investing in a 24-70 or a 70-200 now and getting a 5D II or III in a couple years when they've come down in price further. If you need to go wider as I mentioned in the other comment Rokinons 14mm f/2.8 is less than $400 new on amazon.. It's manual focus only but it's so wide that won't be an issue also buildings rarely move.

I started with a t3i and graduated to a 1D for shooting sports. I still use the t3i for video and timelapses. But in a 2 years I'll own a 5D just need another lens or two first.

• Bodies:
  
  
• If you're buying used, pay attention to the number of clicks the body has gone through. Basically, like mileage on a car.
  
  
• I wouldn't go back too far, but a generation or two is not an issue. Personally, I have a D3300 and it's perfectly fine. IIRC, it has the same sensor as the D3400 and the D5xxx and D7xxx of the same generation (and the D3500's might be marginally improved). What you'll be missing is comfort (e.g. an articulating screen, more focus points) and autofocus on AI and AF lenses. For $50 more, I'd definitely get the D3300 rather than the older models.
  
  
• The D80 came out in 2006. A lot has happened since.
  
  
  
• Lenses:
  
  
• Check out which ones you're getting. E.g., there are three modern versions of the 18-55, two AF-S and one AF-P (most recent one) and of those, there are versions with and without image stabilisation (VR). if you can, get the one with VR. The same goes for the 55-200, there are three versions of that as well.
  
  
• Assuming this 35mm is bundled with the D3300, that thing is a steal for $50. It typically costs thrice that where I live, used. Personally just got one, it's fun and a great lens for environmental portraits and street.
  
  
• I'd assume you'd want a wide, fast lens for landscape and astro. Here's an extensive article on the matter if you want to delve deep. But don't fret. Unless you can get an exceptionally sweet deal, buy something simple that gets you started and try stuff out.

For what you're hoping to accomplish, nearly any DSLR and lens combo will get the job done. It mostly depends on the size of the products you're shooting and what your final use of the image files will be. (Ie just for web, print ads, billboards etc - do your research based on that).

Some mirrorless camera systems would work, but you need the ability to change lenses, set exposure controls manually, have a hot shoe to trigger strobe lights (even if you don't have any yet it's good to plan for) and ideally have the ability to shoot tethered to a computer - and you can get all that reasonably inexpensively with some of the base model Canon & Nikon DSLRs.

That said, the difference between mediocre product images and excellent images has little to do with the camera and EVERYTHING to do with lighting. Especially with reflective or glass objects.

You don't necessarily need to drop $10k on ProFoto lights, but you'll want to start looking into strobes and light modifiers because you'll reach the limit of what you can accomplish with Home Depot clamp lights super fast.

You also need to understand that product photography is one of the most technically complicated styles of lighting and if you want to level up your images, it's going to take a bit of an investment and a lot of damned patience.

Step 1: buy a copy Light: Science & Magic

Have fun!

Alright so unfortunately I wont be able to get the Tokina 11-16mm because there really no way I can afford it at the moment. But I came up with a new set i'm trying to choose from, a couple from the ones you showed me and one I found after googling.

I don't know if me telling you this will help you help me at all but i'm mainly going to be using the lens I buy for video. I am starting to be a cameraman for a friend of mine and I go with him to his performances on stage and record him. I'm also going to use it for music videos. So any lens that's good for that and is wide angle is what I want.

Anyway, the lens are:

Rokinon FE14M-C 14mm F2.8
(I have this one first because I found this video on youtube and I was pretty amazed by the quality of the video, I don't know if it's because the camera is a T3i or what, I like it.)

[Tamron AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5]
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G7PIBC)

and the Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4

I would go with a Canon t3i or t2i in your case over a D5100 only because of magic lantern. The pixel difference between 16 and 18 doesn't matter. If you go with Nikon you'll be just as happy and appreciate the boost in dynamic range.

As for lenses I'd recommend getting a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 only $350 new on amazon. Manual focus only but much wider and faster than the kit lens. Abandoned buildings don't move very fast and It's available Nikon and Canon.

Canons 50mm f/1.8 are cheap and fast but pretty tight on a crop sensor for shooting indoors but worth $100.

A good tripod is also a good investment, and if you buy your camera body used you'll have more money to spend on one. Fredmiranda is a good forum to buy used.

It's a perfect starter. I use a d5500 for my hobby photography. I'm 99% sure it's the same sensor and everything as the d300--just has built-in wifi (which I hardly use) and a swivel screen (which I actually use a lot).

As far as lenses go, I have https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-AF-S-NIKKOR-Focus-Cameras/dp/B001S2PPT0/ this lens here and 99% of my instagram photos were taken with that. I use my foot zoom a lot, and sometimes have to stitch together a grid of images if I need a wider angle, but the quality of picture over the 18-55mm kit makes it well worth it.

I would recommend getting a lens with a range (18-55mm or 70-200), just so you can play around with different framing...but I'm a firm believer that getting a solid fixed lens appropriate to your subject matter (landscape vs portrait vs wildlife etc) will make you become a better photographer.

Oh wow, the detail on that is great!! It would for sure show all of the delicate details of a wildflower and do everything else I'd want it to do. I'm almost positive I'm going to get the lens on amazon and just get the body used. You seriously saved me from wasting $90 on less than great lens.

This is the one I think I'll get along with the used D7000
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-50mm-NIKKOR-Digital-Cameras/dp/B004Y1AYAC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426388549&sr=8-2&keywords=NIKON+50MM+F%2F1.8+AUTOFOCUS+LENS

First things that come to my mind:

1. This tripod is so absolutely fantastic, and cheap!
   
2. A fast lens or two. Either a zoom at f/2.8, or my suggestion would be a prime (50mm or 85mm -- or both) at f/1.4 or f/1.8. These primes will yield incredible results, and are reasonably priced.
   
3. A flash. Something that can be used off or on camera. Something you can slave/master would be best.
   
4. A polarizer for your best lens(es). Polarizers make a huge difference when taking landscape photos or photos with a lot of reflections.
   
5. One of these two backpacks could make being mobile so much easier! This one or this one. I have owned the first for a couple years now -- taken it all around the world, don't have a single complaint.
   
   Hope some of these ideas help.

For some comparison, I shot for 2 weeks in the pacific northwest (primarily Columbia River Gorge) with my 60D, which has better weather sealing but is, like the D3300, far from weatherproof.

It actually held up very well to mist and light drizzle. But by the end of 2 weeks, I definitely had some fogging in my top LCD screen.

But you can solve that for $15-20 at Amazon and get a camera rain cover. Especially if you are shooting general landscape/nature stuff, you dont need access to every control at a moments notice. Would be tougher for shooting action though

I also wanted to experiment with flash units for portraits. I bought a couple of these: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Electronic-Flash-Cameras-Canon/dp/B01I09WHLW/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1542945415&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=amazon+basics+flash&psc=1

It's fully manual and rather close-range (the guide number is only 33), but you can trigger it remotely with your onboard flash, and for the price, it's great to just have fun and experiment with. And they've improved my indoor photos dramatically.

The sensor is the same for all of nikons cameras in the D3xxx range, even the d5xxx are the same.

When it comes to the final product your lense is going to be way way way way way more important than the camera body itself.

That being said If I were in your position I would find a used D3300 body or buy it cheap on black Friday. If you can do that, then get yourself a prime lense like the 35mm or 50mm f/1.8. The image quality will be like night and day. I found my 50mm for $100 on Craigslist.

If you really want zoom or primes sound too restrictive then get a Sigma 17-55 f/2.8. It's around $250 new but well worth it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003A6NU3U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9Sn7BbX57NZK7

If you want to spend a little more and get INSANE image quality get a Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 for around $600. It's like a zooming prime, the only one of its kind and its phenomenal when it works. Chances are you'll have to spend some time calibrating it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DBL09FG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1Qn7BbP45FKSJ

Good luck.

Lens buying can be a bewildering and expensive rabbit hole to dive down, and it really does come down to how much you want to spend and what you want to shoot. The 50mm you linked is probably the best cheap lens you can buy because it remains useful even as you get more and more into the hobby. It's never a bad buy.

If you're wanting this to be a surprise for your wife, I'd buy the camera with the 50mm, and talk to her when you give it to her about having planned to budget additional money for a second lens. Depending on how much she knows/remembers from her earlier experience with photography, she may know exactly what she wants. If she doesn't, the Sigma 17-50 that someone else mentioned is a good recommendation. It's a step or two up from a kit lens in terms of quality, and it probably won't break the bank if you were already planning to buy another lens. It also gives you a little bit of wide-angle and a little bit of telephoto, so you can see what zoom range you find yourself using the most, and whether you find yourself wishing for an even wider-angle or even more zoom, which will inform you as to where you might look next.

The Tokina 11-16 might be your next lens if you want wider-angle, or some flavor of a 70-200 might be your next purchase if she really wants to follow through on shooting weddings. Again, I'd recommend against diving straight to weddings, and maybe work for a friend, or shoot some other indoor events to warm up and learn what tools she might need. I'd advocate for a 70-200 f/2.8 (and preferably either Canon's version with IS or Tamron's version with VC) rather than the 70-200 f/4, as lighting conditions might just be too poor for f/4 and no stabilization.

Sony A6000. $698 on Amazon, compact, interchangeable lenses if you want them, full manual control if you want it, great image quality. Perfect travel camera that will serve you well when you get back too.

Maybe throw in a Gorillapod Flexible Tripod for shots of the stars/landscapes/yourself. You can use it like a regular tripod or wrap it around posts, branches, whatever.

Click number is probably the number of photos taken with the camera. There's some mechanics inside camera which will eventually wear (except in mirrorless cameras).

> 50mm 1.8

This is only 90$ as new, very good quality lens for the price: https://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8-STM-Lens/dp/B00X8MRBCW

Most cameras use these day CMOS sensor (as well as phones). Only color issues I can think now is chromatic aberration, caused by the optics. It can be corrected by using better lens or in post processing. Anyway, even the cheapest DSLR camera has much bigger sensor than any phone, which means better image. Modern phones do magic in the processing and of course newer sensors are better than ancient.

Here's some information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_sensor_format

iPhone 6 sensor is 17.3 mm², smallest DLSR format ("micro four thids") is 225 mm² and the sensor in the example Rebel t2i is 332 mm².

So, I didn't see the post I originally found, so you might need to do some google research. I can't speak to the quality of anything honestly, as I've no experience with them, myself.


Anyhow, I did also find the Amazon listings:


Body only, no lens, $999.00 US
https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-Camera-Megapixel-Sensor/dp/B01BUYK04A/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1550152289&sr=1-3&keywords=canon%2B80d&th=1


Body + Kit lens 18mm-135mm (it's a pretty solid zoom), $1399.00 US
https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-Camera-Megapixel-Sensor/dp/B01BUYJX6G/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1550152289&sr=1-3&keywords=canon%2B80d&th=1


Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM lens
This is possibly *the* best lens you can get below $400-$500, especially in terms of sharpness. It's what I used for that photo linked above, and it's nearly the only lens I use (despite having about 4 other lenses). And it's only $125. I recommend this even higher than the 80D itself, if you get *any* Canon.

https://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8-STM-Lens/dp/B00X8MRBCW/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1550152582&sr=1-3&keywords=canon+ef+50mm+f%2F1.8+stm+lens

Im going to apologize in advance for links, im on mobile.

I have this yongnuo flash https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PGTOX26/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_cDbdBbQERE1DE

And this trigger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JVEXRE2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YEbdBb9TKN17R

They both work extremely well and reliably. I'm not super well versed in off camera flash but you could easily keep the yongnuo on camera and optically trigger the canon or remote trigger the yongnuo to have both flashes off camera as you described with the 2 products I linked. Good luck!

Recently bought the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro and really like it, especially for the price. My only gripe would be lens flare and minor chromatic aberration. Really a good option for a crop camera.

I've also used the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L (rented it) and loved it. It's a bit outside your price range, so maybe you can find it used or up your.

I actually bought both of these to test and then returned the Canon because of the huge crop factor since I'm not on a full-frame camera. I would've bought the Canon over the Tokina if I was though.

If you can afford both the 35mm 1.8 and 50mm 1.8 I would buy them both. They both go down to 1.8 which means the aperture is open very with and will let a ton of light in. These are both prime lenses so they don't zoom but that is not as important as you probably think.

I am assuming here that you don't want to spend 1500+ on a fast professional zoom lens, that would also be okay.

The 35 mm is 200 and I just bought it myself: https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-AF-S-NIKKOR-Focus-Cameras/dp/B001S2PPT0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1491578988&sr=8-3&keywords=35mm+nikon+dx

The 50mm can be had for 131: https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-NIKKOR-50mm-Focus-Cameras/dp/B00005LEN4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1491579288&sr=8-4&keywords=50mm+nikon

You can also just go with what you have, but you will probably need to crank the ISO up pretty high.

Suggested settings:

1. Put the camera in aperture priority (A on the dial) and set it to the lowest number it will go. (1.8 on the suggested lenses, 3.5-5.6 on the kit lenses).
   
   
2. Take pictures of the subject, look at the shutter speed the camera is choosing.
   
   
3. Increase the ISO until the shutter speed is around 1/200 at minimum (if the subject is moving)
   
   
4. Take some pictures with a higher ISO to get shutter speed at 1/400 just in case 1/200 was not fast enough. (1/200 should be plenty fast if they are not running and jumping all over)
   
   The reason for the suggested lenses is at 1.8, your ISO can be much lower than 3.5 and this will result in less noise. One last time: shoot raw if you can since it is a tricky situation. GOOD LUCK!
   

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00IB1BTWI/ref=sr_1_3_olp?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1526368230&sr=1-3&keywords=canon+t5

This is what I currently use. About to upgrade though. It's definitely good enough for your first few years. And then if you start enjoying photography you just buy a nice lens.

I have a Sigma 17-50 f2.8 for my 700D (T5i) and I really enjoy it for dark/landscape photography. Great for general use too although it's got quite a large diameter so filters can be a bit pricey!

I also bought a cheap, off-brand filter kit to test them out and mainly protect the glass.

Honestly, that lens is not worth it, because it's a very awkward lens for most things on a 1.6x crop body, such as the 60D. 300mm on a 60d is the equivilent to >450mm on a full frame sensor, and is not really necessary. Even if it was nicer glass, it's just not a lens I'd want to own as one of my first lenses.

If you wanted a cheap lens, it's not the one I'd buy -- The "Nifty Fifty" -- http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8-Camera-Lens/dp/B00007E7JU is even cheaper, and I'd prefer it. As I'd also prefer the Canon 40mm fixed lens.

If you want a telephoto lens, the kit lens Canon 55-250 is a much better buy, http://www.amazon.com/Canon-55-250mm-4-0-5-6-Telephoto-Digital/dp/B0011NVMO8 and can be found MUCH cheaper used, because it's practically given away in many kits. Amazon has their refurbished price as within $30 of each other.

Firstly, technique and good skills will take you a lot further than simply buying a more expensive camera. So whatever you do, I would suggest that you put in some time and effort to learning the basics of photography.


That link went to the camera 'body only' for $498. I was surprised that when you click the option to include the 16-50mm lens, it was only $499. Make sure that you get a lens with it.

Personally, I'd be more inclined to suggest an actual DSLR camera. Something like THIS or THIS.

Shooting cars is actually one of the more tricky things to shoot, so it will take some learning and plenty of practice, but that will be much more important than the brand of camera that you get.

I would really suggest getting a good tripod, as that will really allow for higher quality shots, especially as the light levels get low.

For the cleaning kit, all she really needs is a rocket blower and some lens pens.

You can also get some disposable wipes.

These Sandisk SD cards should be plenty fast. They're not the absolute fastest that Sandisk makes anymore, which is why they're so cheap. (95mb/s vs 80mb/s. Not that big of a deal.)

Understanding Exposure has got to be the number 1 recommended book for the basics. It's an excellent book, but if she's already getting gigs, maybe she doesn't need it?

For posing, Picture Perfect Posing is the book to get.

This is all the cheap stuff. Lenses, bags, straps, lighting, and the other gear starts to get expensive. What kind of budget are you looking at? I know you said budget isn't an issue... but what does that mean? $500 for everything? $1000? $10,000?

It's up to you whether or not the extra protection from weather sealing is worth the money. It was for me but honestly you'll probably be ok with plastic grocery bag route or these rain covers. Both work well enough.

You can replace the Canon 18-55mm with a refurbished Canon certified STM version for $88, or if you want to upgrade, see Amazon or Ebay for a new or used Sigma 17-55 mm with a Canon mount; new is $297. Either is good, but if you were going to spend money, I'd recommend the Sigma. Once you learn more about photography, you can do more with the Sigma. In the meantime, look on YouTube for macro photography tutorials; you don't usually want to use auto focus in macro so the 18-55mm lens you have is fine for now.

Canon 18-55mm STM, $88 Amazon:
Canon 8114B002 EF-S 18-55mm is STM (Certified Refurbished) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L9IRHU8/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_vfGTCb5KQM9P6

Amazon:
Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD Zoom Lens for Canon Digital DSLR Camera, $297 new: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003A6H27K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PgGTCbM90G4RG

I have the Nikon D5100 and I absolutely love it. It meets all of your requirements if you get a lens with VR, such as the kit lens (18-55mm). I currently only have two lenses - the 35mm f/1.8 and 50mm f/1.8. I also highly recommend an external flash. It is the most important camera accessory I own.



Here are some pictures that I have recently taken with my D5100.

http://i.imgur.com/JYZpu.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/jGz9y.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/1e0uD.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/QYOeR.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/NXrxx.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/JdJRJ.jpg

> here's a hibiscus flower at roughy 1:1.

WHOA!

That's amazing ...

I have a few other examples of the kinds of pictures I have taken:

• Robin's Plantain
  
• some lichen
  
• amethyst deceiver
  
• some kind of waxy cap
  
  notice the last two I didn't use a 10x loupe at all, so there aren't close-up photos as much ...
  
  This "Tamron F004 90mm F/2.8 Macro VC USD Lens" ($350) looks like it may work, right? I was looking at a Canon T3 ($190) or SL1 ($230)
  
  I think you had recommended the Canon 50mm macro lens ($160) to be paired with the SL1 earlier in this thread, right?
  
  Hrm ...
  
  Seems like the cheapest option may be to go with the Canon EOS Rebel T3 + the Canon 50mm macro lens.
  

1. I would purchase a DSLR over a mirror less camera because DSLR's have better view finders and thus will greatly help you with your composition.
   
   
2. I would understand how to shoot in manual mode, and that requires that you understand exposure (Aperture, shutter speed, ISO). There are many great books on this subject but here is one of many.
   
   Have fun!

The wife did not want me to buy this camera, so it is still in hiding. I have not been able to use it that much as a result, but the pictures I have taken so far have mostly been with this lens: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001S2PPT0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Regardless of the lens, my advice is read up / google your way to being knowledgeable with photography. Stuff like depth of field, exposure & the exposure triangle, and composition are probably the most important, but keep in mind I am not a professional by any means.

I remember reading that you should not buy another lens until you have mastered the ones you currently own, so that is good advice too I think.

That budget is going to mean compromises, but is doable.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074MNCRVJ/ - Flash brackets

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WS9XSSC - Light stands

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A47U22U - Wireless triggers

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I09WHLW - x2 - Flashes

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N05RL22/ - Batteries and charger

https://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Premium-Shoot-Through-Translucent-Umbrella/dp/B005ODKMOC - Umbrellas - x2

All of this will cost your right at 200. For a background, shoot against your plain wall and use photoshop to do a background overlay, Very easy to do, and the only way to stay in your budget.

But with that gear, yes, you will be able to do shots like you have linked.

I also have a d5300 for about a year now. There really isn't a one lens fits all kind of solution if you want quality. My favorite lens is this one

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001S2PPT0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's a good quality prime lens. Meaning that it's only 35mm and you can't zoom (You zoom with your legs.) Once you see the quality compared the 18-35 lens that comes with the camera, you won't be able to go back.

35mm on d5300's APS-C sensor will feel a little cropped so you will need to back up a good amount to capture the entire object.

I am a little bit biased because it is what I shoot on, but a Pentax either with built-in Astrotracer (K3ii) or with the extra Astrotracer equipment would be my recommendation if you aren't ready or willing to invest in something like an equatorial mount for your tripod. This is the body I shoot on, a little bit more expensive than the body you are looking at but for astro, I think it is well worth the extra investment.

As for lens, anything with a wide aperture (2.8f at least) and a wide angle lens. I pretty much haven't taken my Sigma 17-50mm off of my camera in a year or two. For a small preview, this body/lens setup is what I used to get this shot at the top of Loveland Pass in Colorado.

My top 3 picks under $600 would be:

Nikon D5600

Olympus OM-D E-M10 M3

Sony a6000

These are all excellent beginner cameras that'll last you through your entire amateur phase at minimum. The Nikon 5600 is currently on sale for $550 brand new (normally retails for $800+) and comes with a decent kit lens. I hope you found this useful!

I like the 35mm prime lens. Cheap, good quality, pretty versatile.

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-AF-S-NIKKOR-Focus-Cameras/dp/B001S2PPT0

Phones are still a good starting place unless you need the advantages of a stand-alone camera. Do you need anything that your phone photos are currently lacking?

What's your budget?

I would look into something like the Nikon D3400 with the kit zoom lens and maybe an optional 50mm f/1.8 lens for product shots.

It's all just a matter of focal length. The Canon 50mm f/1.8 will have the same field of view as your 18-55mm set at 50mm, and the 10-18 @ 18mm will look the same as the 18-55 @ 18mm.

If the 18mm isn't wide enough, then you need a wider lens. The 10-18 is a great budget upgrade. You could also go for something like the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 which also has a wider max aperture if you want to do astro stuff in the future.

I've had this one for about a year, and it has served me very well:
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-DSLR-Laptop-Backpack-interior/dp/B00CF5OGP8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1485816894&sr=8-5&keywords=amazonbasics+camera+bag
It's not the sexiest looking camera bag, but it's dirt cheap, well built, and holds a lot. They have a slightly smaller version that's only about 27 bucks. I actually like that it's pretty anonymous and doesn't scream "expensive camera inside." In fact, I recently switched to an even more low profile setup, an old school Jansport backpack that I added some foam inserts to. If you stick with this hobby/profession, you will end up amassing an unreasonable number of bags fairly quickly ; )

This book is amazing at teaching you the basics of photography!

Understanding Exposure, Fourth Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera https://www.amazon.com/dp/1607748509/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_wFb1xbFH42KRQ

You could set your self up pretty good with $500. I have a couple suggestions, but the first would be to get yourself a cheap prime lens first. Either a 50mm 1.8 or a 24mm pancake. Both are around $100 and would still leave quite a bit in your budget. So, saying you go ahead and do that:

• You could get a couple of Yongnuo 560 IV
  You could choose to fire then optically with your Canon speed lite or get one of these
  
• Grab a few of these to hold your flashes
  
• And a few of theseto stand them up
  
• In terms of modifiers you have a few options. You could go with cheap umbrellas which are fine. Or you could get some small soft boxes. I say just grab a huge modifier. As big as you can get. It's gonna really depends on how much space you have. check this out
  
  That's a decent, portable, and effective setup with two lenses for right about $500.
  
  Since your using someone else's studio lugging equipment is gonna be a pain. That's why I think speed lights is the way to go. But if you don't mind, look into a monolight kit. For your portraits I really do think you'll like what you get from a fast prime lens.

> recently I won an cheap Samsung P&S worth $80 which won't charge anymore.

What model is the camera? Can you pull the battery out or do you have to plug in the camera to charge? You can usually pick up a cheap china battery on eBay for $10 or less. It's good to have an extra point and shoot for snapshots when you're not lugging around a nicer camera.

>The camera can be a P&S if you find one better than a mirrorless, since there's no DSLR for $300.

Definitely look for used. I'm not sure how big your hands are, but I shoot a Canon 40D, and I got the Camera + memory cards + portrait grip for $300 over a year ago. With the clearancing of the Canon 60D, they're most certainly cheaper now. I see in another comment you were looking at a T3. You can actually buy a new one right now on Amazon for $299.99. Just as a heads up.

O wouldn’t sell your lens kit, instead I would buy a 50mm 1.8f . Not only they are great for portrait but they work good during night.

I wonder if it might be a better idea to get something like this:

https://www.amazon.ca/Canon-Rebel-Digital-Camera-18-55mm/dp/B00IB1BTWI

Like you said couldn't hurt to have the same model as them since they have a zoom lens we could borrow.

why not spend much less on the f 1.8 instead and save the extra 4 bills for a better lense

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00007E7JU

I have a Nikon D600 and I've used these OpTech Rainsleeves in the past (also for my old D5100 and D40x), they are easy to pack, easy to use, and although they do the perfect job of blocking out elements like you are anticipating (I've used them in drizzle and in snow and they've been great).

Edit to add it's nice to not break the bank but have some decent protection.

If you want to get into photography than you'll need a mirrorless camera or a DSLR, something like a Coolpix won't cut it. Basically any DSLR or mirrorless will do the job but something more modern like the Canon T5 is a great choice.


I would recommend you skip those Amazon camera bundles because apart from the camera and the kit lens, everything else is usually crap. The memory card will be slow, the tripod will be wobbly and those lens adapters are garbage. You can get the T5 here for dirt cheap if its refurbished. Also, even those the 75-300mm lens is a genuine Canon it has a reputation for having poor image quality.

Nikon 35mm 1.8 DX

2,200 reviews on Amazon and a 5 star rating. I love mine on my d5200.

I think the first decision you have to make is does it make sense to stick with Canon or would it be better long term to switch to Nikon. The two biggest factors I would consider is price and availability. Do you have canon-mount lenses readily available to purchase? Or is it easier to get Nikon products?

If you decide to stick with Canon the first thing i would do is buy another lens or two - NOT a new body. I started out with a Nikon D5100 kit with two lenses (18-55 & 55-300) and replaced my 18-55 pretty quickly. The kit lens was fine, but the lenses I did end up purchasing really helped my images to step up a level (linked below for reference).

• Nikon 35mm
  
• Sigma 17-50mm
  
  If you decide to switch to Nikon I would pick up a used body (best series you can afford) and a lens. I would not buy the D3400 kit, the lens is going to be comparable to whatever you have.
  
  ​

Understanding Exposure was probably the most useful book I read when I started shooting:

Understanding Exposure, Fourth Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera https://www.amazon.com/dp/1607748509/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_0iuBybSA1GPNA

I have an older edition so I'm sure it's even more relevant now.

I recommend also getting the book Light Science & Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting. This will save you so much time shooting metal and glass.

Well for the price of a 600d you could get a 35mm 1.8 and a Rokinon 8mm fisheye. You would have tons of fun with those two lenses.

I have this Amazon Basics bag. $40. I love it.

Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!

Here are your smile-ified links:

https://smile.amazon.com/Neewer-centimeters-Octagonal-Speedlight-Photography/dp/B00PIM3I6I

https://smile.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Premium-Shoot-Through-Translucent-Umbrella

https://smile.amazon.com/Neewer-Professional-Universal-Speedlite-Umbrella/dp/B00JJJR7PY

https://smile.amazon.com/Neewer-centimeters-Portrait-Product-Photography/dp/B00L4YR0BS

https://smile.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Electronic-Flash-DSLR-Cameras/dp/B01I09WHLW

https://smile.amazon.com/Neewer-Wireless-Speedlite-Receiver-Universal/dp/B00A47U22U/

---

^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly bot

If you already own that flash, then yes and use it. If you are looking for a flash to buy, I prefer the Yongnuo 560 IV. Though a manual flash can be hard to use at first, they are easier than automatics once you 'get it'.

http://www.amazon.com/YONGNUO-YN560-IV-Speedlite-Panasonic/dp/B00PGTOX26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463075359&sr=8-1&keywords=yongnuo+560IV

I'm 6'1" and the Amazon Basics DSLR and Laptop backpack works pretty well for me. The hip strap isn't ideal but in general it sits well.

> Canon nifty 50 f1.8

This one, yeah?

> https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Rotatable-Aluminum-Adjustable-Photography/dp/B01CHQ8Z7Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qf2ooD3alA
This is the look I'm going for.

If I had all the money in the world, I would buy 1 big octagon modifier and 1 professional speed light which would work.

But I dont. I'm caught between buying 4 of these: Which I still need to find a way to attach them to stands, and what stands to buy.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01I09WHLW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510881560&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=amazon+basics+speedlight&dpPl=1&dpID=41NIpT%2Bjt5L&ref=plSrch

The idea came from here: I really like the last photo. But this takes up a LOT of space.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRU5x8DWq_k&t=530s

And a recommendation a redditer made:


https://www.amazon.com/Yongnuo-YN-560IV-Wireless-Speedlite-Controller/dp/B015ZALVI4/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&dpID=51jDyWBhEoL&dpPl=1&keywords=yongnuo&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&qid=1510935752&ref=plSrch&ref_=mp_s_a_1_5&sr=1-5

That price seems a little steep. You could get that body and lenses brand new for only $138 more:

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-D5000-18-55mm-3-5-5-6G-Vari-angle/dp/B00267S7TQ/

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-50mm-NIKKOR-Digital-Cameras/dp/B004Y1AYAC

Or you could get a used D5000 with 18-55mm lens kit in like-new condition for as little as $349:

http://www.keh.com/search?store=camera&brand=Brand&category=Class&k=d5000&s=1&bcode=Brand&ccode=Class&grade=Grade&sprice=0&eprice=0&r=SE&e

Even if you get the most expensive kit on that page ($465) and add a brand new 50/1.8G, that's still cheaper than what she's asking for.

50mm on a crop sensor like the D5000's is good for portraits, still life, products, and food photography. It's a little tight for general use and things like indoor group shots.

55-250 is longer for more distant objects. You could use it for sports and wildlife, but mostly only in daylight because it's somewhat slow.

Still happy with my Amazon Basics backpack after a couple of years. Dirt cheap too.
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-DSLR-Laptop-Backpack-interior/dp/B00CF5OGP8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1482893889&sr=8-5&keywords=dslr+backpack

Picked up a smaller bag prior to the backpack.
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Large-Gadget-Orange-interior/dp/B00CF5OHZ2/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1482894008&sr=1-4&keywords=dslr+bag

Start here:

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. I find this book very helpful for people breaking into photography to learn the hows and whys of shutter, aperture and ISO.

I believe you're talking about something like the following right? Do you know if it would be compatible with Canon EOS M3?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015ZALVI4/ref=psdc_3109929011_t3_B00PGTOX26

I'm also wondering what other products to get with it such as tripod, swivel adapter and umbrella. Do you have any recommendations on that?

You should seriously consider picking up a 35mm DX F/1.8 instead. Thats what I did for my d3200 and it is amazing what it did for me in terms of flexibility for exposure. I recently got a hand me down 18-105mm and it just feels restrictive in comparison.

https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-AF-S-NIKKOR-Focus-Cameras/dp/B001S2PPT0/

Thanks for the info. Here's the camelcamelcamel price chart showing the dip for the kit:

• http://camelcamelcamel.com/Sony-Alpha-Interchangeable-Camera-16-50mm/product/B00I8BICB2?active=price_amazon

What's the difference between these two lenses? Would the f/1.4 be worth it?

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

Also, should I be concerned about buying refurbished from Canon or purchasing a used lens - is there anything I should look out for?

Amazonbasics laptop and camera backpack is nice. I have a D800 with a couple of lenses and a 15 inch laptop. It has lasted more than my old lowepro.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF5OGP8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_V5l6CbH5GE0GP

I would also look into these to protect your camera from the elements there and come in different styles and sizes.


Link

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003VSGQPG?cache=100bccda347ddf630eacf46b0eb77331&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1405376104&sr=8-4#ref=mp_s_a_1_4

What about that? You could snag a 2.8f for that budget easily enough, but another $50-100 more and you could get the lens you want.

I recommend: Light Science & Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting. http://amzn.com/0415719402. Includes lots of info about photographing art and controlling reflections.

To add to /u/johninbigd, I'd recommend picking up the book Understanding Exposure. I got it a few months ago and can attest that it's a phenomenal aid in understanding exactly how the different manual settings interact and how to utilize them to their fullest.

Understanding Exposure, Fourth Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/1607748509?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

> On Canon APS-C cameras this is 1.62. Multiply the focal length by 1.62; for 16mm this is 26mm - if you have an APS-C camera with a 16mm lens next to a 135-format camera with a 26mm lens they would have the same perspective.

You lost me here. I'm not sure where you got 1.62 from or why you have to multiply this by 16mm to get 26mm. Could you explain this a little differently?

If I understand right 26mm on a full frame is the equivalent to a 16mm on a crop sensor? 26mm is actually 16mm on a full frame? I'm confused.

EDIT: is the Tokina 11-16mm DXII better than the first DX? Here is the DX on amazon and the newer version. Newer one is cheaper than the original but idk which is better or what the difference is.

Also, I see that the Tokina has it's own aperture ring...does this mean I have to always manually select this by turning the ring? Can I select the aperture electronically from my DSLR screen?

It even has an infinity sign which I know means "focus to infinity" but I genuinely don't understand how this works except I know it's for manual focus. What is this and how do you use this?

I'd also be hesitant to buy a new lens. The problem could be internal. I've always had good luck with Canon cameras. Amazon has a Rebel kit for $399 http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00IB1BTWI?pf_rd_p=1976609122&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-2&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=502394&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1ZECKX1TCQX5M8R60P8G&ref_=acs_ux_hsb_5s_2_s

just a possible combo, with used prices from amazon:

• Nikon D7000 - 900
  
  
• sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 OS HSM - 410
  
  
• Nikon 35mm f/1.8 - 160
  
  
• Nikon SB-700 - 280
  _____
  $1750

I bought this one for shooting a GWAR show. Worked fine. I haven't taken it out in the rain, but that's basically what it's for.

http://www.amazon.com/Altura-Photo-Professional-Cover-Cameras/dp/B004AH10K8

As many others stated its more about the lens than the camera. I personally use Canon with the nifty 50 to achieve similar results.

Pro tip to achieve that effect, there must be distance between the subject (girl) and the background (tree). The more distance, the more the background is out of focus. Lower F-stop helps but you can achieve similar results at F4 if your close enough to the subject.

Also if you have an IPhone 6(idk if others do it) you can achieve similar photos with the blurred backgrounds.

Buy this and read it: https://www.amazon.com/Light-Science-Magic-Introduction-Photographic/dp/0415719402/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1549479459&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=light+science+and+magic&psc=1

This book, for example?
Understanding Exposure , by Bryan Peterson.
https://amzn.com/1607748509

A rain sleeve and an umbrella do it for me. I've also superclamped a camera to the umbrella to aid with holding it (too few hands).

So this for example would work?

Canon: https://www.amazon.ca/Sigma-17-50mm-Aperture-Standard-Digital/dp/B003A6H27K

Nikon: https://www.amazon.ca/Sigma-17-50mm-Aperture-Standard-Digital/dp/B003A6NU3U/

Sigma makes two variants of this lens. You have posted eBay links for a Canon lens and a Nikon lens.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B003A6NU3U/ref=olp_twister_child?ie=UTF8&mv_customer_package_type=0&mv_style_name=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004AH10K8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1451715634&sr=1-1&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin%3A4132880011&pi=SY200_QL40&dpPl=1&dpID=51jWcH-8VbL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-DSLR-Laptop-Backpack-interior/dp/B00CF5OGP8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526480940&sr=8-1&keywords=amazon+basics+dslr+pack

so something like https://www.amazon.com/Sony-Mirrorless-Digital-Camera-16-50mm/dp/B00I8BICB2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1499443055&sr=8-3&keywords=a6000 will get me going you think? The only thing I notice is that it doesn't have image stabilization but it seems to check almost all the boxes!

Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digitial Camera 24.3MP SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD (Black) w/16-50mm Power Zoom Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I8BICB2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_UAKJBbCAXJQXJ

http://www.amazon.com/YN560-IV-YN-560IV-Speedlite-Panasonic/dp/B00PGTOX26

This or a Pair of them and This with a radio trigger setup.

Canon SL2 with 50mm f/1.8.

Look at these. Add another YN 560 IV and you'll be all set. Maybe get a stand or two...

https://www.amazon.com/YN-560IV-Wireless-Speedlite-YN560-TX-Controller/dp/B015ZALVI4/ref=sr_1_3?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1484707945&sr=1-3&keywords=yn+560+iv

do you find yourself missing the extra aperture at all compared to the 1.8 on the 35mm?

also what are your thoughts on this one instead? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003A6NU3U/ref=psdc_173565_t2_B000144I2Q

Thanks for the reply, lots of helpful information!

These are what i'm currently considering (I don't have a physical camera store within a 3 hour drive)
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B07VSTZ3FK/ref=ox_sc_act_image_3?smid=A2N01J8SZ7W4B3&psc=1&th=1
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B001S2PPT0/ref=ox_sc_act_image_2?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&psc=1

Any idea if the AF-P DX NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3G ED kit lense is decent for distance shots, or should I be looking at something else? I'm assuming that both the kit lenses are poor quailty, as they only add $300 to the price of the body.
Trying to keep it under $2500ish