Originally Posted by
thebigfish
Boy, I used to smile when people would come into the camera store and buy on the basis of reviews or someone else recommendation (otherwise know as a mentor sale).
I'm raising my hand!
Like any purchase that involves a big ticket item, you need to do some hands on research. A SLR is a personal item. It's not just about how many megapixels or frames per second, it's about how the camera feels in YOUR hands, how easy it is to view through the viewfinder. You'll miss that once in a lifetime shot if you're busy trying to adjust something that's not naturally comfortable to you.
AMEN! Within weeks I have almost memorised what button does what on my canon 350D (which I researched heavily, played with a dead 300D to get the feel etc) and can almost go for a button without checking where it is. I never had that with the Nikon D70. Great camera but it just never was my
friend (if that makes any sense).
Good glass does help, but the camera body has to be comfortable and easy to use. If you're looking to buy a camera, it's not a Amazon kind of sale. You need to seek out someone who knows their stuff and try the products.
The sales guy who sold me the Nikon is a Nikon lover but already back then he said that he figured I'd be more for Canon. At the time, my opinion was that the Nikon was a better camera, to which he agreed. He just figured I'd be more comfortable with the Canon.
Eventually he won. I had moved to another city but still called the guy and consulted him. Ended up going to a branch of his shop and got the 350D.
Since then I've had a go at playing with a 20D. As much as I love my 350D I can honestly say I am in love with the 20D. It just felt so right in my hands. Pressing the trigger gave me a warm fuzzy feeling and goose bumps from excitement. I want one! However, I am going to wait until I have reached the limit of what I can do with the 350D before I start thinking of getting an upgrade.
You need to pay a bit more and buy from someone who knows why everything turned out orange inside the living room or why everything was blurry in the piano recital when they announced "No flash" (which wouldn't work from the 32nd row anyway).
ROTFLOL! Spot on mate.
Now can you tell me why red lights on a gig shoot makes the subject look like they glow in the dark and completely washes out any features?
Don't want to sound stuck up, I've just seen too many of these cameras end up being used twice a year because the owner found it "too uncomfortable" or "hard to use."
You just described my relationship with the D70. Ive taken waaaaaaay more pictures with the canon in the almost 2 months I've had it compared to what I did with the Nikon in just under a year.
I sit and compare pictures taken with it and what I have taken with the Canon. I don't want to sound stuck up either but I do notice a difference. I'm not the best photographer in the world, I know f*** all about aperture and focal lengths (but I'm learning), I go half automatic half manual and make mental notes. There is a huge difference in my pictures. I have since buying the Canon, been asked by bands to come shoot their shows, never happened before. I have had bands ask if they can buy pictures I've taken of them when they played the club. Again, never happened before. Sure, with my old praktika 35mm SLR I did get the odd pic published but again, that was a camera I enjoyed shooting with. I still have it and still have film for it and about 4 different lenses (3 primes and 1 zoom). I might kick it in to touch one day soon again.
PS Gadget freak, 3lbs? My 400 f2.8 is in the neighborhood of 16 pounds. 3 lbs.... LOL...
la la la la la la! I didn't want to know that! How on earth could I travel with that and laptop and not get stung at check in? I'd never check my kit.
/E - reaching for a brown paper bag