No kidding huh? Did your parents do anything to try raise a more polite, mature son? You must be a hit at parties. Although you have brought up a good idea.

Chris, I've only got an XSi still, but if you want. I'll bring it to the awards banquet and if sue wants to play around with it during the event or even longer that is cool with me. I rarely use my camera anymore.

 

Hey lay off! j/k I appreciate you!

 

aw shucks chris, i had an extra nikon d200 i could have lent you!
but either a nikon or canon dslr would be good, even used ones are probably fine.
i have a few canon lenses you can try, barry and jon mats also have tons... if she doesn't like it, she can probably sell it for the same price as well, so get at least a semi good body.

btw, lenses make the pictures nice, the body itself is secondary

 

Chris if you want i have a pentax k10 you can borrow to see she like carrying a full sized camera

 

body and lens help the person make the picture nice...kind of like an unexperienced driver autocrossing a fast car

...ok, i'll stop being an ***

 

lol, sounds like me! my car has FTD'd 8 times, but usually not me.

lens is first though, you can't have a canon 1d with a crap lens and take good pics. you CAN take a 7d with an L lens and take awesome, almost pro quality pictures though.

but of course, user skill will be first and foremost, just like autox!

 

Take her to a camera store and have her play around with them. Feel, size, and the user interface are just as important as megapixels and lenses. Don't go for the bottom end body and then plan to "upgrade" unless you have a few extra hundred bucks you want to throw away. Get something middle of the road and in your price range so she can grow into it. The lenses are NOT the only thing that matters.

$500 low end body sold used for $350, and then upgrading to an $800 body is a loss of $150.
An $800 body sold used for $650 if she decides she isn't into photography is still only a loss of $150, buy if she does decide she wants to stick with it, you don't have to go through the hassle of selling and upgrading.

FWIW, Canon, Sony, and Nikon are all great brands, with a great selection of bodies at many different price points and all with a great range of lenses available by the manufacturer and third-party companies such as Sigma and Tamron.

Two good sites for reviews are
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php I love their sensor analysis, but their lens reviews are somewhat anemic in information and analysis.
http://www.dpreview.com Great in-depth reviews, I use this site quite often


-Proud Sony user-

 

A photographer is someone that takes pictures, therefore anyone that uses a camera is a photographer. I think what you're confusing is the difference between a photographer and a GOOD photographer. The invention of the digital SLR has been both a godsend as well as a source of aggravation for the true business-focused photographer. If you're not trying to make a living with photography, then who cares the quality of images coming from the next Joe-shmoe.

 

good points brother!

fwiw, that was just my honest opinion...it really is all subjective. it's not even about business, it's about a hobby. a lot of people aren't trying to make a living, but care about the quality of images they create because they love art...like me

 

I agree with everyone! I do have an opinion though! I am 50 years old. I've been taking pictures since the camera I used before I too photography in school was square on on a bar consisting of about 4 to 10 flashes... lol.... those were the days. With-in the last to decades, as a freelancer, my pice's have landed in the newspapers of Alaska to Mememories in Weddings, Graduations, Funerals, Birthdays, Invitations, fun "Wow shots" with family, and even the Na Hoku Hano Hano Awards of the Artist Kona and 95% of his website www.musicbykona.com! Great fun! So like I said I agree with everyone. Everyone is correct. AS far as brand name though! Flip a coin! lol... yup understanding although that most softwre for begginers are for Canons! Your not shooting film anymore. My Android Phone, "EVO" has 8MP, and flash, with apps galore. Digital is digital. It's not film, It's amazing what you can do with photo shop. It's even more amazing what you can do as an artist and submit your pic's "Virgin". No fix um' brah! Das Photography! Shooot, and give um jus ladat'! RaJah! unkonino said it!!!! I miss you guys!