Camera ramblings

**Disclaimer: I had photos on this post but they kept acting up. But if you google these items then you can find plenty of info on them. Good luck!**

I am going to try and make this post as basic as possible. I have been getting emails now that Christmas is right around the corner about what kind of camera to get if an SLR camera is what is wanted. I am a Canon junkie, although Nikon is the other company to consider. Since all I know is Canon, all my recommendations are Canon. I recently upgraded to a better camera but bought a used camera body. So two of my three recommendations are for older cameras that you could buy used. And they are all using a crop factor, meaning whatever lens you get you multiply 1.6 to in order to get the proper distance. So a 50mm lens is really 80 mm away. This is one of the reasons I was wanting a switch - I was tired of being so close to a subject when I looked in the viewfinder. Just extra info, so take it with a grain of salt. Just something to think about when you are talking a out a budget. And beware - this is not a cheap habit!!!

One camera I enjoy playing with is the Canon 20D. It has a quick shutter speed, an easy to use screen, and takes some great photos. They have since released 30D, 40D, and now their newest in the line, 50D. The 20D has been around awhile, so both used and new camera bodies are available. The key is to see how many clicks the camera has. This means how many times the shutter has been used, which is just slang for how many pictures it takes. A great camera has a shutter that will last about 100,000 clicks, and then you spend a few hundred bucks to replace the shutter. So check on that if you are looking at used bodies.


The camera I just replaced was the Canon XTi. The reason why this camera is so great is because I took some fantastic photos on this thing. It's been around awhile as well, and people like me are getting rid of this model after 1.5 years, which is short in the large scheme of things. So lots of used bodies are on the market right now, and many haven't been used that much. Just remember - it's the lens that you use, not the camera that the use. You can have the best camera, but if you have the cheapy lens, your photos won't look great at all.



The upgraded version of my XTi is the Canon XSi. Great camera that quite a few of my friends have bought here in Houston. Takes photos quicker than my Xti, but only someone like myself would notice it. They key to an SLR is a quicker shutter speed, which is what those handheld cameras just can't seem to get. I know that you will have to carry a bigger purse when toting it around, but once you see how much better your photos are, you'll never go back to the days of blurry, horribly overexposed photos. Promise.



Now all the above cameras can be sold in a set with the 18-55mm/f 3.5-5.6 lens. This lens is okay, but it really is not that great of a lens. If it were me, I would buy a used camera body and get an upgrade on a lens with more versatility. Just my opinion.


I wish this lens would fit on my camera, but I have now entered the realm of very pricey lenses. The Canon 18-200mm/f 3.5-5.6 lens is a new one and the range is amazing. It's basically a wide angle and a zoom lens all in one. I love this lens - takes great photos! I used it some this summer and wish I could purchase this lens as an all purpose take around lens. It is a little bit heavier, so it has Image Stabilization (IS) in case you can't hand hold the lens very well. Fantastic lens but the most expensive of the bunch of these recommendations.



This is another great lens. Canon 18-135mm/ f 3.5-5.6 lens is a little bit cheaper, weighs less, and still gives you the zoom you might need on the go. I used this lens today when I was taking photos of a friend getting baptized at church. Great lens.



Here is the cheaper version of my fixed (meaning can't zoom) lens. The Canon 50mm/f1.8 is less than $100 and takes great photos with the low aperture (f-stop number). It lets in a lot of light but the photos are not as crisp or as creamy as my lens. But for less than $100, it's pretty fantastic and a steal.



Hey there precious lens. I have been using this puppy for over a year, and I love it. My favorite photographer uses this lens, and this is currently the only lens I use. I don't use any other lens, and my next purchase would make your head roll on price, so for now it's what I love. Pricier than the 1.8, but the photos are just get to look at and have incredible bokeh (blur).
Canon 50mm/f 4



A lens with a fixed f-stop/aperture will always be heavier. The lenses that are 3.5-5.6 depend on the zoom that you have. The more you zoom in, the more aperture that you sacrifice. The less blur you get, you more will need to use your flash. I am not even suggesting my current camera since it does not have a pop-up flash.

Where to start searching: B&H gets the best Canon products from the best Canon factories. I will sometimes just call and talk to a sales person for 30 minutes and not make a purchase. They talk you into the right purchase, not the most expensive one. Fred Miranda is a website where is doesn't cost you anything to buy something. And of course, Ebay & Craiglist or just word of mouth.

I know I probably rambled too much and used words that didn't make sense. Just start shopping around and maybe you will find a steal of a deal! And while you are at it, sign up for a camera class to learn that new piece of machinery that you now own....