40d for $260?

T3 w/ 18-55 $350

That is a great picture. The photographer knew what they were doing.

The subject however isn't moving, and it's outside or at least decent light.

 

The photographer is ~14 too.  

 

For the most part I do think you guys are over complicating what you need to take quality pictures though.  Sure, low light with digital is an issue, so you've got two options, faster lenses or bump up ISO, when you bump up ISO quit your pixel peeping!  Forget autoISO, set that shit on at least 800 and go to town if you are in doors, you should be able to hand hold to 1/60th, moving shit, panning is your friend.  

You wouldn't fare so well in a museum.  To get even a reasonable exposure in the vasa museum I was shooting 3 second exposures at ISO 400.

Heck, low light with anything becomes an issue especially if you can't add more light artificially, but buy a decent flash for the hot shoe, forget the onboard one for the most part if you are further than 8-10' away.

And much of the time a flash can't be used.

Then again I've been on a minimalist kick lately so I've been taking a lot harder look at what I use/need/carry for general tasks so I've been kicking shit to the curb and I just don't see a DSLR needed for day to day activities unless you draw a paycheck from it.  Time magazine covers have also been shot with an iPhone too.  

Ha, I take shitty pics even with an SLR.  Put a P&S in front of me and I will miss absolutely everything cute my kids have ever done.

Then again I've been on a minimalist kick lately so I've been taking a lot harder look at what I use/need/carry for general tasks so I've been kicking shit to the curb and I just don't see a DSLR needed for day to day activities unless you draw a paycheck from it.  Time magazine covers have also been shot with an iPhone too.  

I am pretty minimalist as well...but with a slightly different budget.

40d for $260?

A lot of body for that, but I'd buy a lens.

T3 w/ 18-55 $350

I should wait for the next post....however, it is actually a worse deal IMO.

 

The 18-55 is a throw away ie, you can't sell it for jack.  There is a reason for that.  I'd MUCH rather have an older body with a better piece of glass.

 

At the same time, it is a reasonable start and better than you'd do buying new.

And Ryan your comments are 1000% valid; however, what I want to shoot only happens once in life.  Having a tool that misfires or an operator who is unable to perform at that time completely destroys the purpose.  Memories are better when you can not only remember them but see them clearly sa well.

That and both my wife and I suck at liking other peoples decorations.  I've taken an approach I want to push further to solve this.  I've built a few frames and am populating them with pictures I've taken.

 

I have a new goal since we are listing our house as well.  Pretty much golden rule of listing are NO photo's of people that look like family.  Has to be their family, not yours.  Best way to install the second part of that is for me to take pictures of really scenic things with my kids having their backturned doing something cute in a corner, or a scene with many people/tourists and my family hiding way in amongst them but with the resolution to still see them.  

 

Really caught the bug in Scandinavia.  Wish however, I would have caught it BEFORE I went.

Then again I've been on a minimalist kick lately so I've been taking a lot harder look at what I use/need/carry for general tasks so I've been kicking shit to the curb and I just don't see a DSLR needed for day to day activities unless you draw a paycheck from it.  Time magazine covers have also been shot with an iPhone too.  

I am pretty minimalist as well...but with a slightly different budget.

 

 

Probably little more than slightly.... 

I see the sense in it for me. For me a P&S doesn't always cut it due to lighting conditions and distance. I have used mine in the past to generate income, and document some of my best memories.

Now it will take on a new direction. Just gotta see what that will be yet.

J

And Ryan your comments are 1000% valid; however, what I want to shoot only happens once in life.  Having a tool that misfires or an operator who is unable to perform at that time completely destroys the purpose.  Memories are better when you can not only remember them but see them clearly sa well.

 

 

Now I'm sure it'll change if we ever decide if we will have or even can have kids, but with my 4 nephews/nieces I've yet to miss something on a Christmas/Easter/birthday/etc that was due to camera/operator error and not just my not having a camera up with a Sony HX9v P&S.  Now the wife does just hand me the camera and ask for me to take the family pictures since they turn out better and easier for her. 

 

Money spent on a DSLR with quality glass for the reasons of capturing family moments is perfectly valid and I'll never question for that, but it certainly isn't the only way to get good pictures, but some times you need all the help you can get.   

 

Same with if its a tax writeoff for work/business/etc, hard to not enjoy tax free purchases. 

 

 

One thing though for all you folks who like to photograph everything.

 

PUT DOWN THE DAMN CAMERA AND LIVE SOME EVENTS IN REAL LIFE, NOT THROUGH THE VIEW FINDER.

Did get a power supply on a MTS 407 controller repaired today, problem card -valve driver- isolated on another 407 unit, got a damn Ford 8n pulled in the shop for a rework, and then found a busted tie rod on the forklift.  Been a week of busted things. 

And Ryan your comments are 1000% valid; however, what I want to shoot only happens once in life.  Having a tool that misfires or an operator who is unable to perform at that time completely destroys the purpose.  Memories are better when you can not only remember them but see them clearly sa well.

 

 

Now I'm sure it'll change if we ever decide if we will have or even can have kids, but with my 4 nephews/nieces I've yet to miss something on a Christmas/Easter/birthday/etc that was due to camera/operator error and not just my not having a camera up with a Sony HX9v P&S.  Now the wife does just hand me the camera and ask for me to take the family pictures since they turn out better and easier for her. 

 

Money spent on a DSLR with quality glass for the reasons of capturing family moments is perfectly valid and I'll never question for that, but it certainly isn't the only way to get good pictures, but some times you need all the help you can get.   

 

Same with if its a tax writeoff for work/business/etc, hard to not enjoy tax free purchases. 

 

 

One thing though for all you folks who like to photograph everything.

 

PUT DOWN THE DAMN CAMERA AND LIVE SOME EVENTS IN REAL LIFE, NOT THROUGH THE VIEW FINDER.

It's a balance between living life camera in hand and living it for what it is.

J

 

Left to right, 338 Edge, 338 Lapua, 338 Allen Xpress and 338 Allen Magnum with 265 gr AT RBBT.

.375 cheytac.

For instance:

 

 

Had I known I thought further ahead if he were randomly playing here so you didn't see him as much as a focal point it could work too.  

 

I really wish I realized this more clearly before I left.

You were right. The second picture is absurdly great, so touching even if the children are anonymous. But for you it's like a magical damn secret.

Really amazing.

$500 lens is ruining the bottom pic too

.375 cheytac.

 

.408 or gtfo

You were right. The second picture is absurdly great, so touching even if the children are anonymous. But for you it's like a magical damn secret.

Really amazing.

Just needs an interesting sky.

 

I don't really want to photoshop anything, but if I am going to print it I just might.

My lens is better than the one in the video though.  ROFL.  That guy is a douche

Dad's computer is built, loaded full of all his software, all backed up, and imaged.  

Fucking bitch to get Outlook to work with AOL for email and ANYTHING to sync with the Google Calendar (& Contacts) on a Droid.

 

End fix was to get an Outlook.com account for the Calendar & Contact sync and to IMAP the AOL.  I'm not used to having an exchange server which is way nicer.

 

Between that and a bunch of 32 bit programs (even a 16, lol) it completely was frustrating.  Done now.    He's happier than a pig in shit....or will be tomorrow.  He came over for a test run and to check his other online accounts to make sure I have EVERYTHING setup.