Camera Suggestions?

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

Are you wanting to blow these pics up to large sizes, or are you looking strictly at digital or smaller prints?

If you're not looking to blow something up, I'd look at a used high-end but older model, like a Canon 1D Mark II. Those are still outstanding cameras, but well within your price range.

houstonwhodat is absolutely correct about the lenses though. You could have the best body money can buy, but if you put cheap glass (or god forbid plastic) in front of it, it's just not going to matter. Photography is bending light, so you want a good piece of glass bending it. Everyone has their preferences; I prefer Canon glass to Nikon.

No, not going to be blowing up the pictures...just normal use. So, by getting a used, higher-end model, I'd be losing some resolution, but gaining speed? And that should be fine because I would only need the increased resolution if I was going to be blowing up the photos?

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by kepp

No, not going to be blowing up the pictures...just normal use. So, by getting a used, higher-end model, I'd be losing some resolution, but gaining speed? And that should be fine because I would only need the increased resolution if I was going to be blowing up the photos?

Yes. The Canon 1D Mark II is an older body, but it's a rock star, IMO. It's about 8Mpx, so you're still getting images that are roughly 3264x2448. Shoots 8.5 fps, ISO extends to 3200. There is no built-in flash. If you want to use a flash, I'd buy one anyway - the built-in flashes suck.

http://www.keh.com/camera/Canon-Digi...990968260?r=FE

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

Yes. The Canon 1D Mark II is an older body, but it's a rock star, IMO. It's about 8Mpx, so you're still getting images that are roughly 3264x2448. Shoots 8.5 fps, ISO extends to 3200. There is no built-in flash. If you want to use a flash, I'd buy one anyway - the built-in flashes suck.

http://www.keh.com/camera/Canon-Digi...990968260?r=FE

Is there an older model like this that has a built-in flash? I know you said they suck, but I'm really not going to use it for anything other than family photos. Plus, my main use will be for gymnastics events where I can't use a flash anyway.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by kepp

Is there an older model like this that has a built-in flash? I know you said they suck, but I'm really not going to use it for anything other than family photos. Plus, my main use will be for gymnastics events where I can't use a flash anyway.

off topic, but what gym does your daughter go to? ....not so I can show up to watch while wearing a trench coat etc....
I was a gymnast for about 6 years and competed in USGA all around a 5 state region.

Just curious.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Dayze

off topic, but what gym does your daughter go to? ....not so I can show up to watch while wearing a trench coat etc....
I was a gymnast for about 6 years and competed in USGA all around a 5 state region.

Just curious.

Not sure I want to post that online. She goes to one north of the river though. She's in level 5 right now, and her little sister is level 2. We think the younger one is going to be pretty good...probably will wind up being a good bit better than her big sister.

It's odd this year though. The USGA is changing the requirements for the different levels. So if you were level 5 last season and are ready to move up a level, you'll technically still be called level 5 this next season because of the reqs change.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by kepp

Not sure I want to post that online. She goes to one north of the river though. She's in level 5 right now, and her little sister is level 2. We think the younger one is going to be pretty good...probably will wind up being a good bit better than her big sister.

It's odd this year though. The USGA is changing the requirements for the different levels. So if you were level 5 last season and are ready to move up a level, you'll technically still be called level 5 this next season because of the reqs change.

no worries. I was at a gym called Great Plains Gymnastics. Smaller gym, no longer there in Lenexa. I competed in class 4, 3, and about a year in 2. That year in 2 was a PITA. Had to do compulsory and optional routines. I could hange with the compulsory routines, but I couldn't man up against others in the optionals. I could only hang in optionals on Pommel Horse and H-Bar. Rings was a no-go; dudes pulling off multiple crosses and giants. Floor I was so-so. same with vault. P-bars was a torture device.

I did take KS 1s/champ in Vault, and placed top 3 in all other events including all around in Class 3. and Placed 3rd in pommels at Regionals.

Went to Bart Connor's camp in Norman once; I remember him showing up in a white Ferrair 380 GTB .
It got WAY to hard to keep up with 5 practice nights a week 4-8m and keep up in High School. Some of the best times of my life during my 'career'.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by kepp

Is there an older model like this that has a built-in flash? I know you said they suck, but I'm really not going to use it for anything other than family photos. Plus, my main use will be for gymnastics events where I can't use a flash anyway.

It was almost 10 years ago, but I shot high school and college sports of all kinds with a Canon 20D. You can find those CHEAP now, like <$200 for a body only. They're solid cameras, too, especially for what you're wanting to do. They're about the same as far as megapixels, will do roughly 5 fps.

They have a 30D, 40D, 50D and 60D, too. These are kinda the big brothers to the Rebel line.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

It was almost 10 years ago, but I shot high school and college sports of all kinds with a Canon 20D. You can find those CHEAP now, like <$200 for a body only. They're solid cameras, too, especially for what you're wanting to do. They're about the same as far as megapixels, will do roughly 5 fps.

They have a 30D, 40D, 50D and 60D, too. These are kinda the big brothers to the Rebel line.

This seems like a decent deal, no?

http://www.keh.com/camera/Canon-Digi...991024110?r=FE

Then again, here's a 20D for $149 - http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%2...FelAMgodxDcAgQ

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by kepp

This seems like a decent deal, no?

http://www.keh.com/camera/Canon-Digi...991024110?r=FE

Then again, here's a 20D for $149 - http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%2...FelAMgodxDcAgQ

The 40D is a better camera, but I don't think it's twice the 20D. I've thought about picking up one of the 20Ds recently myself. It'd be slightly better than the Rebel I have now, and I really enjoyed the years I shot with my 20. It would also leave you some extra cash to pick up a couple lenses.

Either way, for you gymnastics shooting, I'd look for something that can go down to f/2.8 or lower.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

The 40D is a better camera, but I don't think it's twice the 20D. I've thought about picking up one of the 20Ds recently myself. It'd be slightly better than the Rebel I have now, and I really enjoyed the years I shot with my 20. It would also leave you some extra cash to pick up a couple lenses.

Either way, for you gymnastics shooting, I'd look for something that can go down to f/2.8 or lower.

What does that mean?

[houstonwhodat]

Originally Posted by kepp

No, not going to be blowing up the pictures...just normal use. So, by getting a used, higher-end model, I'd be losing some resolution, but gaining speed? And that should be fine because I would only need the increased resolution if I was going to be blowing up the photos?

My old Nikon d-70 shoots 6 mega -pixels and the images are fantastic

I shoot around 12 mega pixels now and some of the Canons shoot 23 mega pixels.

You can't email anything that size and you'll spend your life in post production.

The high res cameras now are like the medium format film cameras of yesteryear.