HMMMM So what should I do?

[dragon300zx]

I just bought this cannon A80 camera. Its a great little camera and everything I wanted at the time. But after playing with it more and having a camera that didn't eat batteries like my kodak did (25 shots on a set of batteries over a two week period lots of on an off's vs 175 shots with lots of on and off's over a three-four week period) I want to start taking classes at a local school. Course requirement is an SLR camera. I can get film SLR's right and left and very low prices. I hate film. I have to pay to have it developed and all that crap. Which I'm sure wouldnt be a problem in school at learning all of that is part of the class however I would much preffer a DSLR as Digitals just work better for me. Are there any really good low cost DSLR's anyone would recommend or should I just bite the bullet and save up for the Canon 10D that I really want. Or even a Sigma SD9 which I really like the looks of (but know the 10D is a qualtiy camera as my dad own's one).

[cletus]

Actually, I'd bet that any photography class that wants you to use a SLR will want you to shoot on film. The instructor will want to be able to look at your negatives. By looking at your negs the instructor can tell if you are properly exposing your pictures. It is much more difficult for the instructor to evaluate your exposures by looking at prints (either from film or digital).

On the other hand, I could be completly wrong :dunno

Either way I'd make sure what equipment they want you to have before you buy anything.

[pathfinder]

I just bought this cannon A80 camera. Its a great little camera and everything I wanted at the time. But after playing with it more and having a camera that didn't eat batteries like my kodak did (25 shots on a set of batteries over a two week period lots of on an off's vs 175 shots with lots of on and off's over a three-four week period) I want to start taking classes at a local school. Course requirement is an SLR camera. I can get film SLR's right and left and very low prices. I hate film. I have to pay to have it developed and all that crap. Which I'm sure wouldnt be a problem in school at learning all of that is part of the class however I would much preffer a DSLR as Digitals just work better for me. Are there any really good low cost DSLR's anyone would recommend or should I just bite the bullet and save up for the Canon 10D that I really want. Or even a Sigma SD9 which I really like the looks of (but know the 10D is a qualtiy camera as my dad own's one).
A lot depends on what your goals are and what your budget will accept. If by SLR you mean an interchangeable lens camera, your choices really revolve around whether you want to be in the Nikon lens camp or the Canon Lens camp. This is an important and potentially a long term relationship that is not easily or cheaply changed - kind of like a divorce if you decide to change later. http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/Laughing.gif First you must decide which lens group you will stay with -black or white - Nikon or Canon

Canon is widely held to have the better IS telephotos and Nikon, many feel, has the better wide angles. Which is more important to you? Long or short? If your father has Canon, this may be a better choice for you or not. But if you can share and exchange with your dad, seems like the White hat ( some Canon lens are painted white ) would make more sense.

The only available interchangeable lens digital SLRS cheaper than the 10D which seems to be out of your budget, are the Canon 300D Digital Rebel and the Nikon D70. Both cameras are very nice imagemakers, and either will get you started in digital photography. But you will need to spend at least $1000 to $1400 to buy them with a single lens. The D70 is slightly higher than the Rebel.

An alternative, if you do not need an interchangeable lens would be something like the Sony 828 or the Minolta A2 - Zoom digicams with electronic viewfinders with 8 Mpxl sensors. These cameras can take very nice pictures - they have more pixels than a 10D for example - and used within their range can produce excellent pictures

Michael Reichman has an excellent article comparing the images created by the 8 mgpxl digicams like the Sony or the Minolta A2 or the Olympus 8080 with the Canon 1DMkii which is a $4500 professional camera- the results are very interesting and much closer in 11x14 prints than you might imagine. You can find the article here http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/8mp-alternatives.shtml It is well worth reading before you make a decsion to buy and DSLR.

[fish]

A
On the other hand, I could be completly wrong :dunno


I really like that caveat. :thumb

[dragon300zx]

LOL fish. See I never make life simple. Basically both wide and telephoto will be important to me. More telephoto for now I think. I am gonna go with a Canon Rebel Film body for now. That way I can use some of my dad's lenses, I am familiar with canon slr's as I used to have a T70, and I can use the same lenses when I get my 10D next year. And as Cletus pointed out the instructors will prolly want me to start with film at first at least. After that I will prolly start getting some Nikon SLR's as well. Expensive yes but well, I enjoy it so it will be worth it. I have three vices in life, my sports car, my gf, and my photography. I don't smoke or anything else so I might as well spend my money on the three things in my life that do help to releive stress.

[HarveyMushman]

I have three vices in life, my sports car, my gf, and my photography. I don't smoke or anything else so I might as well spend my money on the three things in my life that do help to releive stress.
Where'd you find a stress-relieving girlfriend? :huh :D

[dragon300zx]

LOL Harvey. Maybe I should rephrase that to usually stress relieving.

[cletus]

I have three vices in life, my sports car, my gf, and my photography. I don't smoke or anything else so I might as well spend my money on the three things in my life that do help to releive stress.
Dude, you better have a nice fat six figure salary with those three vices! :rofl

By the way, do you race the 300Z??? If so, what kind of racing (Auto-X, club, drag)?

I don't really think there is a need to plan on having both a Canon & Nikon dSLR. The two companies really push each other (A perfect example is the D100 -> EOS-300D -> D70). So I don't see one really starting to lag behind the other in any particular area.

Pathfinder mentioned that some people think that Nikon has the edge in wideangle glass. I'd point out that Sigma has produced some award winning wideangle glass over the years. The nice thing about the Sigma stuff is you could get it for Canon or Nikon!

[dragon300zx]

Good point Cletus. I really want the 10D but my A80 still has alot for me to learn and your point about the instructors liking to look at negatives is a good point. Plus I will be able to use the lenses I buy for the film SLR I'm gonna get for the 10D when I get it. The film just lets me start taking classes sooner.

Nope don't race the 300zxt just yet in the process of restoring it. Mainly my fun weekend toy that needs some work on her. But that should be done in the next 6 months or so.

Still working towards that 6 figure income though.