[RickE46M3]

I really love taking pictures, of cars and I love looking at other pictures however I don't think that $700 can fetch me much for a camera. Those amazing pictures I see are being shot with $2-3,000 worth of stuff. Is it worth spending my hard earned money on? or should I keep saving?

[Gripster]

Firstly, don't forget the saying that "Camera's don't take pictures, people do" and get the idea that it is all about the equipment out of your head. Some of my favorite pictures were taken with my $300 point and shoot. I've even taken great pictures with my 2MP cell phone.

Secondly, do some homework. Your budget will get you a Nikon D40 or D40x. Both are superb starter SLRs and highly recommended. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/page25.asp

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital-...8482180&sr=8-2

Whatever you do, don't sit on the fence forever. If the camera bug has got you, get one, and get out there taking pictures. My other favorite saying about photography is that the difference between a good photographer and a bad one is that the good ones don't show you their bad pictures. I take a LOT of pictures and only show the best one.

[jadeddjay]

700 is plenty. check out the canon rebel xti, they can be gotten for around 700

[Cliff3]

Check the used market. For example, I see a lot of listings ^on Ebay^ for Nikon D70's with lenses and sometimes external flashes in your price range. You can find some good gear on Ebay - I bought both of my longer telephoto lenses there.

[Sniz]

good advise. if you really do like to take pictures, get into the SLR's and have at it. Do your research and look on ebay and other sites as well (forums). find used gear.

[Nikki]

I have the Canon Rebel XTi with the kit lens and I love it. For around $700 it will keep you happy for a long time.

[RickE46M3]

I love good pictures, however when it comes to adjustments... camera and lense specs etc I am like a barbie at the Auto X. I know cars, specs, this and that like the back of my hand but cameras... I do not know. I have OCD so I'd be fidgiting with it for MONTHS before I'd even TAKE a picture.

[Nikki]

Even with a DSLR you can just put it in auto mode until you figure out the settings.

[Neema]

ahhh man, i thought you had a DSLR already becuse I was going to say that 700 bucks can buy a canon 17-40 L lens i've been wanting really bad haha. Well, I recomend buy canon XTi or a Nikon D40 (though I hear that Nikon's lower end DSLRs are not as worthy as canon's lower end DSLR's in that they purchase their sensors from Sony, unlike Canon who creates all of their own sensors. Also, Nikons dont tend to hold up better in the dark and images are usually grainier then Canons. I've used both and I was about to buy a nikon D80 so trust me Im not biased toward Canon, Im just stating facts. Of course a nikon D200 and D2x arent going to give the problems I just mentioned but both of those are well over 700$ and I still dont understand why Nikon insists on using croped frame sensors instead of full frame....but thats another arguement all in its own.) If you'd like, check out some of my shots or PM to see what I was able to do with a Canon 400D (i dont like calling it a "rebel") and the included lens. I was able to get my 400D for around 800 new on ebay. Once you do make the purchase, come back here and ask us question becuase this forum actually has some pretty good photographers. And the camera's manuel actually has alot of info too........theres plenty of reading you can do about photography and cameras (A LOT).

I included a few samples of what I have done with just a $800 setup

[Neema]

Check out nikki and remmib's shots too, they're using the same camera setup and her shots thier shots are great.

[Nyulak]

Those pics are straight up awesome, Boost! Amazing colors.

[Neema]

Originally Posted by Nyulak

Those pics are straight up awesome, Boost! Amazing colors.

thanks alot man

[TurboFan]

1. Used D70s or a D80 can be had if you look around.

2. It's a little bit the fiddle, much more who holds the bow.

You don't need an expensive camera to take beautiful pictures. Some of my best shots were taken with an N70 and a 28-80mm POS kit lens. That's a $300 kit all-in!

That said, better lenses make some shots more attainable. As I've said before, a camera is a light tight box with a hole in it. The lens and the photographer do all the work.

[TurboFan]

Boost

Those are some very nice images!

[Neema]

Originally Posted by TurboFan

Boost

Those are some very nice images!

Thanks man, and your right about the lenses and the photographers being more important then the camera bodies themselves. Thats why instead of spending money on a camera body or "kit" upgrade, i droped whatever i had on a new top notch lens. Those picks were taken with just the kit lens supplied with a canon 400D (XTi) and id say they're half decent, not the worst images. I've yet to post nice scenery shots with my new Canon L series lens becuase of 2 reasons, 1) i've been pressed with time, and 2) i've become alot more picky about the times and days i go on shoots due to the lighting and weather conditions, i've found that sometimes i've gone on shoots where the lighting/weather wasnt too good and i come home only to be disappointed by a set of photos that arent very impressive. So i'd rather wait for those clear and crisp days, or those beautiful skies, or bright clear mornings and sunsets, rather then hazy days, gloomy overcast mornings, or other poor conditions......its more worth while to pick an ideal time/moment and its more rewarding that way too.

[TurboFan]

Originally Posted by Boost_Nation

...I've yet to post nice scenery shots with my new Canon L series lens becuase of 2 reasons, 1) i've been pressed with time, and 2) i've become alot more picky about the times and days i go on shoots due to the lighting and weather conditions, ....

I hear ya. It's frustrating when ol' mother nature won't do what I want on my schedule!