What digital camera is the best to start out with if want to do professional photography?

Question

Im currently studying Fine Art, but id like to do a course of photography next year.I want to work digitally,but i have no idea which brand?Or what type of camera?I do know that it should be able to change its lenses.On a tight budget, whats the best option, and how much(an estimate) would i have to spend?

Answer 1

Go with either Canon or Nikon. They both have a fantastic selection of lenses, and that's where image quality comes from. Start with something simple and add lenses, a flash, a tripod, etc. and upgrade your gear over the years as the need arises.
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To start with Canon, get a 350D (a.k.a. Rebel XT) with the very solid 17-85mm zoom.
Body: $750
Lens: $510
Memory (2GB): $100
Total initial cost: $1360 + tax (a bit less if you buy it as a kit)
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With Nikon you can get started for less - they're generally not cheaper or more expensive than Canon, but they do have a better selection of entry level gear. Get a D50, and their 18-70mm zoom lens (that generally comes as a kit with the more expensive D70s.)
Body: $550
Lens: $320
Memory (2GB): $100
Total initial cost: $970 + tax (a bit less if you buy it as a kit)
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To compare prices & eventually purchase (in the USA), start with B&H, Ritz Camera and Beach Camera.

Answer 2

I agree with Registration001 totally. I just wrote a reply to someone asking about the choice of a Nikon D50 vs. D80 and my conclusion was pretty much identical. My wife has a D50 with the Nikkor AF-S 18-70 f/3.5-4.5G ED DX lens as Regi' mentioned and it is wonderful, for what it is. Once you enter the Nikon line, you can buy any number of lenses to fit your D50 that will work on the "better" cameras when you upgrade, so you will not be losing your investment. Of course, the same can be said for Canon, which is a top quality company also. You might see if you can find out if your instructor has a preference between Canon or Nikon, as I am sure that those would be the two brands in contention. It might be helpful to have "THE" brand he/she uses, because then it would be easier to follow along in class without figuring out how to do [whatever] on the other brand of camera.

See my answer under http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlnRev2MA_eNiCD4yFdUDkvzy6IX?qid=20060824122741AAxpNtQ for more detail.

Answer 3

The Nikon D50 and D70 are both good cameras. so is the Canon Rebel.

Answer 4

Sony point and shoot for a Pro?

Sorry bad answer......

SLR is the way to go. AS for who.... Take your pick BUT each have pros & cons

Sony/Minolta - New Kid on the block, rebandaged 10 meg minolta
Canon XT (nice resolution, but kit lens is plastic and very cramped grip)
Nikon D50 ("Feels nice", also kit lens is plastic junk)
Nikon D70 (Very nice, excellent, but more expensive with kit lens)
Olympus E500 (best value 8meg 2 lens <$800, limited lens choices
Pentax K100D (SR "Shake Reduction" in body at <$700 with metal mount lens with full ability to use older K-Mount and S-mount/M42 mount lenses with an active meter. Not a lot of AF lenses on the market (like Olympus) but largest selection thoughout complete system.

to quote Bloomberg.com on June vs July % of sales of DSLR's

Japan Digital SLR Market Share by Unit Sales
Vendor July June
==========================================
Canon 33.3% 51.6%
Nikon 27.4% 32.6%
Sony 21.6% 2.3%
Pentax 14.0% 7.6%
Olympus 2.8% 4.8%
Matsushita 0.8% 0.1%

complete link here
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=a1tNArNUlcUU

Canon/Nikon/Olympus have taken dramatic hits on sales to Pentax and Sony/Minolta

Answer 5

Sony would be the way go, Cyber-shot 4.1 MegaPixel Digital Camera. It has 3X optical zoom with 10X SmartZoom for great photos both near and far and a Vario-Tessar lens that is specially engineered for quick auto-focus and great zoom range. It's about $280.00 or more or less depends where you are or where you get it from.