ATTN: All Photographers

[TeeJay]

well im finally gonna move up to a high end camera but im not really knowledgeable yet, so i just wanted to get some pros opinions on what to look for. so far these 2 seem to be the best bang for the buck in my opinion, what do yall think??

http://hhgregg.com/ProductDetail.asp...roductID=14831

http://hhgregg.com/ProductDetail.asp...roductID=11915

[A.P. Photography]

Really it is going to be up to you and which one feels better in your hand. I shoot with the XT and love it but have heard good things about the Olympus. Just from glancing at the specs they are close with the canon having a better shutter range and ISO. The good with the Oly is it comes with two lenses out the box which will allow you accomodate different shooting circumstances.

Ask yourself this, what will I be using the camera for? Then once you have your answer look at the aftermarket support for the cameras and see which one would better suit your needs. Another good camera to look at would be the Nikon D50. It is a lower mp but still captures some great images. Both Deutchbag (Walker) and Nemesis Digital (George) either have or owned that camera and got some great shots with it.

[TeeJay]

thanks for the advice bro, i'll mainly be using it for car shots(mostly night), and other random bs, but i will also be using it for my gf's sister's upcoming wedding. her family wants me to shoot it, and they agreed to pay for half of the camera for me if i shoot it, so that is a big factor as well

[A.P. Photography]

thanks for the advice bro, i'll mainly be using it for car shots(mostly night), and other random bs, but i will also be using it for my gf's sister's upcoming wedding. her family wants me to shoot it, and they agreed to pay for half of the camera for me if i shoot it, so that is a big factor as well

Ok, couple of things. The Canon will be better suited for the night shots compared to the Oly, this is mainly due to the longer shutter speed of the canon compared to the oly. 30sec compared to 2.

Second, shooting weddings is not something that can be done just by getting an SLR. You have to be very familiar with the camera and its capabilities. Keeping this in mind you are going to have to find out if the priest will allow you to use flash or not (some will not allow it, better if he does and you have a hot shoe flash), what kind of conditions the church/hall will have (lighting will be key here), and is your lens suited for shooting a wedding. The 18-55 kit is a decent lens but not ment to shoot weddings.

[TeeJay]

looks like i have a lot to learn LOL, yeah i wasnt too sure about my abilities to do the whole wedding thing, but her fam seems to think i can do a decent enough job so they wont have to hire a photographer. the only thing im really not sure about is the lenses...understanding what each one is best for and so on..

[Nemesis]

thanks for the advice bro, i'll mainly be using it for car shots(mostly night), and other random bs, but i will also be using it for my gf's sister's upcoming wedding. her family wants me to shoot it, and they agreed to pay for half of the camera for me if i shoot it, so that is a big factor as well

Shooting a wedding isnt for amateurs. If you're shooting for a family member and they choose not to hire a professional, then that's their fault and can not hold you accountable for shots that are garbage. Weddings only usually occur once in someones life and having someone that has never shot one to capture their moments is a little crazy in my opinion, unless money was an issue. But even so they say they are paying for half of your 800 dollar camera? Why not spend a few more hundred and hire a pro photographer. But someone that has never picked up a DSLR trying to cover a wedding is a little on the side.


Either way, post your questions specifically asking for certain things and Ill try to answer them for you. Ive shot several weddings.

Second, shooting weddings is not something that can be done just by getting an SLR. You have to be very familiar with the camera and its capabilities. Keeping this in mind you are going to have to find out if the priest will allow you to use flash or not (some will not allow it, better if he does and you have a hot shoe flash), what kind of conditions the church/hall will have (lighting will be key here), and is your lens suited for shooting a wedding. The 18-55 kit is a decent lens but not ment to shoot weddings.

1. Knowing the camera and capabilities will get you 30 percent of what you need to know to shoot. There are at least 100 things that need to be covered for a wedding, and over a million variables that can occur during ceromonies and receptions.

2. It may seem Im coming off as harsh, but I think its a little misleading, that most people think that since they buy an expensive camera and a cool lens, they can go out and making a living from this. If that was the case, there would be tons of pro photographers out there.

3. There are many dynamics to shooting an event like this and if you are in the least not sure of your abilities , DONT DO IT. If you want to become a professional, shoot along side one for your first few times and learn from them.

[TeeJay]

Shooting a wedding isnt for amateurs. If you're shooting for a family member and they choose not to hire a professional, then that's their fault and can not hold you accountable for shots that are garbage. Weddings only usually occur once in someones life and having someone that has never shot one to capture their moments is a little crazy in my opinion, unless money was an issue. But even so they say they are paying for half of your 800 dollar camera? Why not spend a few more hundred and hire a pro photographer. But someone that has never picked up a DSLR trying to cover a wedding is a little on the side.


Either way, post your questions specifically asking for certain things and Ill try to answer them for you. Ive shot several weddings.

tell me about it right!!! i said the same thing, they have the money to do it, but what can you say theyre asian lol. her sister is FOB as hell and she is procrastinating like a mofo getting shit done, and shes also tryin to cut corners like a mofo, which, your correct, should not happen for a once in a lifetime event...but w/e

[TeeJay]

2. It may seem Im coming off as harsh, but I think its a little misleading, that most people think that since they buy an expensive camera and a cool lens, they can go out and making a living from this. If that was the case, there would be tons of pro photographers out there.

trust me bro, i know im nowhere near a pro and i never said i wanted to make a living out of it....they ask me to photograph the wedding, i tell them im not a pro photographer AND i need a better cam than a 6 megapixel HP digicam to shoot with...they say, we dont care, i think u can do a good job, well pay for half the cam...hell, i DONT wanna do it, lol, id rather sit and chill ya know??

[Nemesis]

trust me bro, i know im nowhere near a pro and i never said i wanted to make a living out of it....they ask me to photograph the wedding, i tell them im not a pro photographer AND i need a better cam than a 6 megapixel HP digicam to shoot with...they say, we dont care, i think u can do a good job, well pay for half the cam...hell, i DONT wanna do it, lol, id rather sit and chill ya know??

Oh I know man, I wasnt really directing that comment towards anyone in particular. Just saying in general, that's how most people think.

[A.P. Photography]

1. Knowing the camera and capabilities will get you 30 percent of what you need to know to shoot. There are at least 100 things that need to be covered for a wedding, and over a million variables that can occur during ceromonies and receptions.

2. It may seem Im coming off as harsh, but I think its a little misleading, that most people think that since they buy an expensive camera and a cool lens, they can go out and making a living from this. If that was the case, there would be tons of pro photographers out there.

3. There are many dynamics to shooting an event like this and if you are in the least not sure of your abilities , DONT DO IT. If you want to become a professional, shoot along side one for your first few times and learn from them.

1. I was actually going to give a little more credit and say 50%.

2. That seems like the norm now is once they buy an SLR they are "pro's".

3. I couldn't agree more.

I have only shot back up to a pro on one wedding and found that I needed to learn the camera a little more and the use of lighting in those situations. George has shot a couple of weddings and has found what works and what doesn't. It takes expierence to pull off the great shots that make the bride and groom estatic, but it is the ones you miss that will cause you the most grief with them. Remember, you can't just jump in because you bought an SLR and think you can pull it off, cause it won't work.

[imbosile]

I don't know a much about the cameras that you listed in the first post, but I can say the D50 is a great beginners camera. So far I have been really impressed with mine.

[TeeJay]

1. I was actually going to give a little more credit and say 50%.

2. That seems like the norm now is once they buy an SLR they are "pro's".

3. I couldn't agree more.

I have only shot back up to a pro on one wedding and found that I needed to learn the camera a little more and the use of lighting in those situations. George has shot a couple of weddings and has found what works and what doesn't. It takes expierence to pull off the great shots that make the bride and groom estatic, but it is the ones you miss that will cause you the most grief with them. Remember, you can't just jump in because you bought an SLR and think you can pull it off, cause it won't work.

i agree with both u guys 100%, you all do some amazing work. a wedding is the LAST thing i want my first experience with an slr to be, lol, so i probably wont do it, but i am still really interested in photography, and i want to learn more, and the only way to learn is to get out there and experience and practice...so thats basically why i was asking whitch camera you guys think is a better all around deal for a beginner like me

[TeeJay]

I don't know a much about the cameras that you listed in the first post, but I can say the D50 is a great beginners camera. So far I have been really impressed with mine.

yeah i was thinkin about those too