[rkbharat]

1. What is your max budget in India? 40K Max
2. What do you plan to shoot? I think 18-105 suffice
3. Name the 3 most likely subjects? Kids playing, Party, Landscape/Scenery/Hills/Mountains

Honestly D90 would have been the "one stop shop" for me but its way out of my budget, 57K in grey. But is 18-105 really a one stop shop lens, or I might end up buying overlapping lenses

the other option I have is to wait to some more time, as I can catch somebody coming from US and Japan. Its 49K INR in Japan ‰¿Ši.com - ƒjƒRƒ“ D90 AF-S DX 18-105G VR ƒŒƒ“ƒYƒLƒbƒg ‰¿Ši”äŠr

Originally Posted by navin

RK,
1. What is your max budget in India?
2. What do you plan to shoot? Will you need to go as far as 200-300mm or will a 18-105 (27-160mm in film SLR terms) suffice?
3. Name the 3 most likely subjects? eg: animals in the wild, children at play, candid family party photos, theater stage/music concerts, etc..

RK, see it all depends on your needs. For example when I was choosing between the 70-200/4 and 70-300/4.5-5.6 IS I had to choose between the longer range of the 70-300 and the fact I could step down a stop or 2 using the IS or the sharper IQ of the 70-200. I chose the 70-300. So in the end it is always a matter of personal preference. Yes I could have added a 1.4x teleconverter to strech the 70-200 to 300mm but seriosuly when you are changing lenses on a DSLR in real time you dont have much time.

Another aspect to consider is that lenses do not loose value as fast as bodies. Hence it makes some sense to get better lenses and upgrade the body later. The older body can always be used as a spare.

[proton]

Originally Posted by maven

not sure if there is a thread on this (if yes then would request Mods to pls. move the query to the correct thread).

What paper is used for printing photos the kind that we see in photo exhibitions mounted by pro/semi pro photographers?
Are paper types different for B/w and colour photographs?
I imagine the exhibition prints are done by people who specialise and not our local market photo shops?

Photo prints for exhibition purpose must meet two requirements:

1. fade resistant colour

2. neutral composition of base media

Most art photographers I know own Epson or better (Iris) archival quality photo printers and use low acid content matt board or canvas.

The prints have a life of about 100 years (more if treated and displayed properly).

[muni]

Originally Posted by rkbharat

Honestly D90 would have been the "one stop shop" for me but its way out of my budget, 57K in grey. But is 18-105 really a one stop shop lens, or I might end up buying overlapping lenses
the other

Overlapping lenses will again push your budget and you will realise it sooner than later.

Beg , Borrow or Steal and get the Nikon D90 with the 18-105 mm kit lens.
You will have your peace of mind.Period!

Just focus on what I said above and dont try to convince yourself for alternatives.

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by navin

For a beginner a 18-55/55-250 combo is a good place to start. Here I believe Canon trumps Nikon as it offers very good IS and a bit longer reach (Nikon's tele zoom maxes out at 200 I think). The Oly 14-42/40-150 combo should be cheaper (I would assume 20% cheaper given the size).

using B&H as a guide the Oly kit is available for $800
Olympus | E-System E-620 SLR Digital Camera with | 262162 | B&H
nikon D500 kit however sells for $1050
Nikon | D5000 Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm VR | 9700
Canon 450/500D system with the 18-55/55-250 IS zooms should run you about $800-1000.
ICADRXSIBK55 Canon Digital Rebel XSi SLR "Black" 2 Lens Kit with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Image Stabilizer Lens & EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer Lens
ICADRT1IK2 Canon EOS Rebel T1i EF-S Digital SLR Camera - Black - 2 Lens Kit - with 18-55mm IS & 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Thanks Navin!
I guess i have found the right option in 450D. It has all the features for an amateur photographer and then a bit more to keep the interest sustained in the body. Video ability i don't think i need in a SLR and 12MP is large enough for me. And it's $100 cheaper compared to 500D.

I may not use all the features now but i might learn to use it later. But i may not be able to plump for another body sooner. That's why i was looking for a good entry cam with right feature set.

D5000 is good but expensive

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by it_inspector

Olympus kits can be had for cheaper and if one is going with olympus, rather go with Panasonic GH1. Its overall better camera, or better yet go with Pentax K7, everyone forgest Pentax made of the best SLR`s with Olympus being second best, Om and Praktica kits are still worth fair bit. Anyhow Pentax has the benefit that you will be able to use any lens every made for K mount. Pentax and Olympus have pretty much similar amount of support world wide. But Pentax has the biggest hand with LTD lenses which are simply amazing.

I wish they sold Pentax here in India. I can't find Pentax with any dealers (online) here. My first camera was a Pentax film P&S. I didn't consider GH1 since it was microfourthirds and lacks the mirror box and TTL phase detect AF, i read that contrast detect AF is slower.

Another aspect i thought of was about the resale of the bodies if i ever upgrade. With Canon or Nikon i may be able to sell faster and with lesser depreciation compared to non-popular (but good) brands.

[Shan2nu]

I shot 1 pic in RAW mode. Tried opening the .cr2 file in Photoshop but wasn't able to. Is there any pluggin for PS CS2 that will enable it to work with .cr2 files?

Or does the Canon 1000 D have an option where i can save the file as .tiff and not .cr2?

Shan2nu

[s0uljah]

Shan2nu I had to download 'Camera Raw' plugin from Adobe to be able use CS4 to view my 40D

Adobe - Adobe Camera Raw and DNG Converter : For Windows : Camera Raw 4.3.1 update

Sankar the 450D is an excellent choice.

The 18-55IS is one ultimate gem of a lens for the price. Along with this I have 55-250is but I think the Nikon 55-200VR is a better glass for wildlife, or maybe its because I am not yet up to the mark.

[phamilyman]

The whole bloody problem with SLRs is that opting for a CHEAP entry method is just the WRONG wrong way to go about it.

While cheap kits are fine - you need to save towards and build your kit. There's just no match for a lovely Lens! Kit lenses don't cut it beyond a point!

[it_inspector]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

The whole bloody problem with SLRs is that opting for a CHEAP entry method is just the WRONG wrong way to go about it.

Agreed!

Originally Posted by phamilyman

While cheap kits are fine - you need to save towards and build your kit. There's just no match for a lovely Lens! Kit lenses don't cut it beyond a point!

Disagree!

[Sankar]

I found these Lens links useful as it gave me an abstract idea of the available lenses with details for each system with price in USD. Might be useful for others looking to get into this money-pit.

Canon lens overview for Digital Cameras - DCVIEWS

Nikon lens overview for Digital Cameras - DCVIEWS

Olympus lens overview for Digital Cameras - DCVIEWS

Minolta lens overview for Digital Cameras - DCVIEWS

Pentax lens overview for Digital Cameras - DCVIEWS

Sigma lens overview for Digital Cameras - DCVIEWS

Tokina lens overview for Digital Cameras - DCVIEWS

[s0uljah]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

There's just no match for a lovely Lens! Kit lenses don't cut it beyond a point!

Was that a general statement suggesting 'L' lenses or in response to my suggestion of the 18-55is ?

I already feel the limitations of the lens so I understand what you say that it doesnt cut it beyond a point but it offers some excellent VFM at the price and equally great images.

There is definitely no match for quality lenses but then not everyone can drink single malt all of the time

[navin]

Originally Posted by rkbharat

1. What is your max budget in India? 40K Max
2. What do you plan to shoot? I think 18-105 suffice
3. Name the 3 most likely subjects? Kids playing, Party, Landscape/Scenery/Hills/Mountains

Honestly D90 would have been the "one stop shop" for me but its way out of my budget, 57K in grey.

Only you can judge if 105mm is long enough for you. It was certainly NOT long enough for me - I needed 400mm+ which is where the 1.6 crop of the APS-C sensor helped me.

For landscape you will need a 10-11mm lens which would work out to 16-17mm on a APS-C sensor. The Canon 10-22 is rather expensive (it will cost almost as much as your whole kit).

If Landscape/Scenery/Hills/Mountains are a priority FF DSLRs offer better options - a used Canon 5D with a 17-40/4L would be a entry level combo. Yikes! I know that looks expensive even if bought on KEH.com.

If UWA (ultra wide angle wider than 18mm in FF parlance) is a priority then the Tokina 12-24/4 is probably your cheapest option. I have not tried theis lens but when it came out it made a lot of noise on the nikon/canon forums - some even compared it favourably to the nikon 12-24 at the time. Still this lens will cost you more than your 18-55 and 55-250 combined!

Originally Posted by muni

Beg , Borrow or Steal and get the Nikon D90 with the 18-105 mm kit lens.
You will have your peace of mind.Period!.

The D90 is a great camera but as RK said it was outside his budget.

Originally Posted by Sankar

Thanks Navin!
I guess i have found the right option in 450D.

Good. Enjoy.

Originally Posted by phamilyman

While cheap kits are fine - you need to save towards and build your kit. There's just no match for a lovely Lens! Kit lenses don't cut it beyond a point!

The 18-55IS and 55-250IS kit lenses from Canon (I have not used the Nikon kit lenses but assume they are atleast as good) are quite good especially considering their price.

[Rudra Sen]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

Kit lenses don't cut it beyond a point!

Hitangshu, the question is what is that point? I've seen fantastic image quality from kit lens.

[navin]

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

Hitangshu, the question is what is that point? I've seen fantastic image quality from kit lens.

in most cases it is the monkey behind the lens who is the limitation.

Rudra-da I do NOT refer to you but you know what i mean.

Kit lenses at f/8 and slower are very very good. The old man took a few photos from my ordinary kit and wow! I did not know my lens-body was capable of such stuff. I guess I am one of the monkeys I refered to earlier!

[SPARKled]

Originally Posted by navin

in
Kit lenses at f/8 and slower are very very good. The old man took a few photos from my ordinary kit and wow! I did not know my lens-body was capable of such stuff. I guess I am one of the monkeys I refered to earlier!

To give you an example, the el cheapo 18-55 kit lens introduced with the D50 was sharper than most other more expensive nikkors in the 18-30mm range except the hallowed 17-35 2.8. Professionals bought this lens just to shoot in this range stopped down near about F8. I have heard that the newer incarnations of this lens are even better.