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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Best Camera for Newbe in (Wedding) Photography?
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 02/24/2006 02:42:56 PM · #1
Hi everyone!

This is my first post so bare with me :)

I studied film in uni (including an introductory course to photography), went to the UK to gain experience (I\'m from South Africa) but got absolutely nowhere! So I decided to concentrate on photography to keep on honing my skills.

I have been playing around with an Olympus C750 but quickly got bored with its limited functions and excessive noise. I really enjoy photography though (more than I expected) and even got a few good pics out of the C750!

My question is this.

I have already contacted a photographer to be his \"sidekick\" at weddings, but I don\'t know which camera is the right one for me!!!??? I think I\'ll concentrate on weddings, abstract portraits and the odd landscape for this year. I\'m very much into the unusual (dark, moody, stuff like the works from Baz Luhrman or Salvidor Dali) just to let you know what I\'m looking for in a camera.

I\'ve got about £800 to spend (MAX!!!). I\'m looking for a good camera with a basic setup so that I can do amateur shoots on my own, and build the kit as I progress in the industry. I\'ve been looking at the Canon EOS 350D (really like it!) and the Olympus E500. Both looks really good, but to be honest, I don\'t really know what to look for.

I know this is a lot, but I\'ve been reading up for ages, and not getting anywhere. Plus, I only have another 11 months in the UK before I have to go back to South Africa so I can\'t hang around too long. Hope you guys can give me direction. Any advise will be appreciated. THanks!!
 02/24/2006 02:44:47 PM · #2
You will probably get more feedback if you only post this in one section. As far as a camera, I dont know what 800 is but i would go for a nikon d50 or d70
02/24/2006 02:49:02 PM · #3
I locked the duplicate thread... please only post new threads in one area. Thanks!
 02/24/2006 02:51:55 PM · #4
Best thing is to go into a shop and handle the two you mention. What film camera do you have? If it's an slr and not too old you may have a head start on lenses.
 02/24/2006 04:22:25 PM · #5
Originally posted by AChelton:
You will probably get more feedback if you only post this in one section. As far as a camera, I dont know what 800 is but i would go for a nikon d50 or d70


Hi Guys! Thanks for the quick reply and sorry about the duplicate listing.

You can't really convert £800 into dollars, but at the moment it's worth about $1350. Let's work with $1250 as a ballpark figure.

Also, would you please elaborate why you would prefer the d50 or d70.

Thanks.
 02/24/2006 04:50:56 PM · #6
Well, you definitely have more than enough money to get a great camera to start with. As "cpanaioti" mentioned, if you have a film camera from Canon or Nikon, you may want to consider sticking with that brand b/c of the ability to use the lenses you may already have. When I got my D70, I already had 3 Nikon lenses from my film camera, so I wanted to take advantage of that. I have been VERY happy with my D70, although the Canon people will definitely come out of the wood work soon to sing the praise of the Canon brand. The amount of money you have could definitely get you started with a good camera body and start lens. You may find as others mentioned that one brand feels more comfortable in your hand versus the other brand.

Message edited by author 2006-02-24 16:52:11.
 02/24/2006 05:17:20 PM · #7
No lenses unfortunately so I'm starting from scratch. One other thing I picked up is the ISO levels. Which camera (between the Canon EOS 350D, Olympus E500 and Nikon D70) will give me the cleanest images. I'm thinking about high contrast or poorly lit images.

Thanks guys. This is the best forum I've ever joined!
 02/24/2006 05:31:21 PM · #8
Originally posted by petrikleynhans:
No lenses unfortunately so I'm starting from scratch. One other thing I picked up is the ISO levels. Which camera (between the Canon EOS 350D, Olympus E500 and Nikon D70) will give me the cleanest images. I'm thinking about high contrast or poorly lit images.

Thanks guys. This is the best forum I've ever joined!


I used the 300D, I used it for a couple of weddings, it was fine for that, I can't really comment on the Nikons you mentioned, but I am sure the 350D is a good step up from the 300D, so I think that will be a good bet, nice size sensor, images are pretty clean up to ISO800, lots of lenses available, good stepping stone for when you get more experienced and decide to go for a 20D/30D or even the 5D (my 5D arrived today, hurrah!! Awesome, awesome camera)..
 02/24/2006 05:38:57 PM · #9
Ah... work got in the way there for a few...

$1250, first dSLR and second shooter for a wedding, I might be inclined to tell don't short yourself on the glass.

Go entry level body and get better glass...if you are second shooter you want a faster lens than the kit lenses offer.

If you could find a Canon 300D (black - sorry silver body owners IMO black just looks more pro-ish) body only (no kit lens) and invest in a couple pieces of sharp fast glass to get you started.

Add a Tamron SP 28-75mm 2.8 ($350us) for your low light and portraits, maybe throw in a Canon 50mm 1.8 MKII ($70us) for those indoor Hand/Ring/Guestbook close-ups.

A wide would be nice but the budget you are working with makes it a little tougher, so I might go with the Battery Grip ($120us) for 300D for easier veritcal shooting the extra battery instead.

Then there is Compact Flash you will want a couple gig if shooting jpg and a lot more for RAW.

Just throwing out some ideas...

Message edited by author 2006-02-24 17:42:45.
 02/24/2006 05:48:02 PM · #10
Thanx Everyone!!

I'm finally beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel!

Message edited by author 2006-02-24 17:49:48.
 02/24/2006 07:03:53 PM · #11
Went through Ebay quickly. Can get everything awpollardrecommended for around £700! (300D body, Canon ES50 1.8 MKII, Tamron SP 28-75 2.8, Battery Grip and extra Battery, 2 Gig Memory and a Bag)

Does this sound like a good deal? Also, which of these products should NOT be bought second-hand? And lastly, are there any loopholes or catches that I should be looking out for when it comes to batteries, Memory and stuff like that?
 02/24/2006 07:24:16 PM · #12
I agree with going into a brick and mortar place and handling the two you've mentioned.

Between the two tho, I have the E-500, and couldn't be more thrilled...of course, I'm a huge Oly fan anyway ;) Seriously great camera for a good price. I'd take it highly into consideration.

Oly lenses are typically more expensive I've found, but they're fab. I have the 14-45mm, 40-150mm (I think, or is it 145, I forget), and 50mm. Love them all. No complaints whatsoever on the camera or the glass. Definitely worth the $$ in my book.

Good luck to you!
 02/24/2006 10:09:55 PM · #13
As to batteries my spares are generic off ebay (2 batteries were less way less than on canon) and have been working fine in both my 20D and powershot pro1 for a couple of years now.

They sure don't look as nice canons batteries but the ones I got seem to work well. Plastic is this olive drab color and smooth as opposed to the nice gray plastic that canon uses.

Andy
 03/06/2006 04:22:53 AM · #14
Hello my friend,

Im a second shooter of a wedding. i believe you should choose canon 350D. Its a good starter. You must investmuch more on lenses especially those L series from canon. a 17-105mm would be nice. Please include camera battery grip, flash and lots of memory card backups.

Enjoy shooting!
03/06/2006 07:33:34 AM · #15
I have used the Canon 300D (model before the 350) for a few weddings and will never use it again. I try to avoid flash and use as much natural light as possible. In cathedrals and small churches, this is next to impossible without pumping the ISO up to 1600. My rebel just did a dirt poor job at that. I ran images through Neat Image, but they just don't look sharp enough. I'm keeping my Rebel as a backup body, but purchased a Canon 5D for real work. (though I did get a lightsphere II so maybe I'll be pulling out the flash a bit more often). Have you considered the Canon 20D or 30D?
 03/06/2006 08:36:33 AM · #16
ON a 300 you don't need the battery grip. YOu can shoot 400 shots and 8 hours on one battery. so a second should be enough.

get 4Gb of memory (the sandisk ultra2 2Gb cards here in the US are $89). Get ultra2 80x cards - no need to go faster and you can use slower of course, but all canon cameras after the 300 can use the faster cards so get them now and you'll have them for your next camera.

teh 300D is fine at weddings. Not perfec, but works. Load the 'hack' - the undutchables (search the web or PM me) - it give you 2 things - ISO3200 if you need it, and more importantly flash exposure compensation.

lenses - if you're gonna use flash, then you don't need super fast glass so something like the tamron 24-135 SP is a good choice.

If you can't use flash (during a ceremony or your choice) then you need fast glass. There was a thread over at fred miranda's wedding forum - 'if you could only have 2 lenses' - and the recults?
money no object: canon 16-35 2.8, 70-200 2.8 IS ($2700 or so)
Lesser cost alternative: sigma 18-50 2.8, sigma 70-200 2.8 ($1250).

It is possible i suppose to shoot without flash, but not around here. Most churches are dark, and receptions halls are abysmally dark. I shot a small bright white painted church and did shoot mostly at ISO400, but then mostly with flash too. No flash and f2 or bigger required ISO800-1600. And don't kid yourself, neat image is good, but you shoot at 3 different ISO settings you have mmore PP work to do sorting them and cleaning them up.

If you're doing formals in the church BRING FLASH - these are the shots they want blown up BIG - so they gotta be the best of the lot.
 03/06/2006 10:45:41 AM · #17
the "best" camera doesn't exist, but the Hasselblad H2D comes close...

for a second shooter go for the 350XT, the 300D is too slow...

and for a lens.. get the tamron 28-75 f2.8 XR it's fast and cheap and a good piece of glass.

and get the batterygrip for the camera, the possibility for vertical shooting is neccesary in weddings and the camera gives you a much better balance and control over it.

2x 1GB cards should be enough for a second shooter, and flashes are not important, if you're a second shooter and need a flash the 1st shooter can always lend you one..

a longer lens is not neccesary, just get closer :)
 03/06/2006 10:55:00 AM · #18
Originally posted by DanSig:


a longer lens is not neccesary, just get closer :)


He he he...
That's my thinking too, though not having done a wedding yet, I don't know how effective a fast 50mm prime would be!!!
 03/06/2006 11:08:41 AM · #19
And no matter what you do don't forget to invest in a copy of photoshop if you don't already have a copy.
 03/06/2006 11:13:07 AM · #20
Originally posted by DanSig:


a longer lens is not neccesary, just get closer :)


That's known as "sneaker zoom"
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