School me on Cameras

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jason

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mccannfarms

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If you are looking at a DSLR I would go to a local camera shop and talk to the people even if you don't make your purchase there... But Cannon and Nikon both make great products with lots of lens options. I personally use a cannon and have had great luck with it.
 

jason

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mccannfarms said:
If you are looking at a DSLR I would go to a local camera shop and talk to the people even if you don't make your purchase there... But Cannon and Nikon both make great products with lots of lens options. I personally use a cannon and have had great luck with it.

Is a DSLR a must or can you get away with a point and shoot?  In the end result I want is professional photos.  I know the camera is only half the equation, so willing to take classes.
 

lightnin4

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I just bought (last fall) a Canon T3i and couldn't be happier with it.  The photos I've taken in just the auto mode are so much better quality than what I took with my point & shoot.  The interchangeable lenses do offer alot more freedom than just a simple zoom.  I am signed up for a basic digital photography class starting in May.  I'm looking forward to learning about more of the features of my DLSR and how to get even better shots.
 

shortyjock89

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We just got a Canon sx500is. It's a good in between a basic point and shoot and a pricey dslr. It's got a 32x optical zoom, making it easier to take quality pics from a bit of a distance. We've taken some cattle, people, and nature ish pictures with it and they look about as professional as I've seen without spending a few thousand on a camera. It might help that our photographer (my girlfriend) is really quite good, but we love the new camera!
 

Jacka

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I recently purchased the Canon T3 for the main purpose of taking pictures of cattle.  It is a great camera and very easy to use.  Since I was not a "skilled photographer" I also purchased a book entitled Canon T3 Rebel for Dummies.  The camera I was able to purchase around the Holidays as part of a package with the standard lens and a telephoto lens ($449.00).  I ended up purchasing the camera from Best Buy as they had the best price and free shipping.  The book I purchased from Amazon.com.  I do intend to also purchase a card reader so that I do not have to attach the camera to the computer to upload pictures as I am afraid of dropping the camera.
 

upthecreek

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We bought a Nikon 3100 at christmas time.  It is very easy to use and takes great pictures. It is comparable to the Canon T3.
 

jason

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Olson Family Shorthorns said:
We just got a Canon sx500is. It's a good in between a basic point and shoot and a pricey dslr. It's got a 32x optical zoom, making it easier to take quality pics from a bit of a distance. We've taken some cattle, people, and nature ish pictures with it and they look about as professional as I've seen without spending a few thousand on a camera. It might help that our photographer (my girlfriend) is really quite good, but we love the new camera!

Does video too?
 

jason

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As much I am a nerd when it comes to electronics, I know absolutely nothing about cameras.

Are lenses a requirement or will the normal lense do everything you need?
 

willow

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mccannfarms said:
If you are looking at a DSLR I would go to a local camera shop and talk to the people even if you don't make your purchase there... But Cannon and Nikon both make great products with lots of lens options. I personally use a cannon and have had great luck with it.

Ditto. I wouldn't go with anything that has a digital zoom.  I have a Canon DSLR and my favorite lens is the 18-200mm.
 

dknupp

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Orion, IL
Go with the Cannon T3i.  Great camera for the price, and the video is what really sets this camera apart from the others in the same class.  With the right lens, a tripod and some practice you can make the same video that the people doing it for a living can do.  Of course you have to know how to edit, which is not hard to learn.  The sensor in the T3i is what makes the video quality so good.
 

rf21970

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I'm not a photographer by any means but we bought a Canon T3i last year and I can honestly say it one of the best purchases we have made in while. Takes great pictures of everything-still family photos to fast moving action shots. Got some great pics of my boys on a trip to a shooting preserve a few weeks back. Check out this great website before you buy anything.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/

 

Mueller Show Cattle

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Jason said:
As much I am a nerd when it comes to electronics, I know absolutely nothing about cameras.

Are lenses a requirement or will the normal lense do everything you need?
Jason me and my wife have a Cannon 4-D that was purchased a couple years ago which was a top of the line camera (professional) then, I think now they are up to a 6 or 7D. But for lenses, depends on what you plan to shoot with it (High speed, long distance, really up close shots etc). If you plan to just shot family functions and cattle at normal distances, you can get by with the lense that comes with the camera. I like to do some long distance shooting in Yellow Stone in the spring and stuff like that, a high quality lense can cost as much or more than a high quality camera.
 

KSanburg

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Jason, I have used both Nikon and Canon, I perfer the Canon but both are excellent cameras. I am currently shooting a 7D and love it but for just an everyday camera any of the rebels will do a great job for less money. All of the EOS lenses will enterchange so if you get a rebel and decide to step up any lenses you buy will work with your new camera, and spending the money on prime glass is worth every penny you spend. Canon, Nikon, Sigma or Tamarron all make some great lenses that you will be very happy with.
 

firesweepranch

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lightnin4 said:
I just bought (last fall) a Canon T3i and couldn't be happier with it.  The photos I've taken in just the auto mode are so much better quality than what I took with my point & shoot.  The interchangeable lenses do offer alot more freedom than just a simple zoom.  I am signed up for a basic digital photography class starting in May.  I'm looking forward to learning about more of the features of my DLSR and how to get even better shots.

We have the same camera also Jason, and love it. We use it to take photos for sale catalogs, along with daily use. It is a great camera, way better than a point and shoot camera
 

rtmcc

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Peterson, MN
Jason once you get a DSLR and get used to it you will wonder how you got along with out it.  We got a NIKON D-90 a couple years ago.  It has payed for itself just with doing our sale pictures.  Sure is nice for the kids sports also.
Nikon and Canon both make great gear. 

Ron
<cowboy>
 

KSanburg

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There are lots of choices from Lowepro that do a great job and many other brands too. And if you are really concerned about having it in the truck/car you can find a hard sided case like a pelican case and fit it to your camera. Find your self a nice wide neck strap or what I have done if get a pair of Nikon bino-buddies, they are more like a harness that go around your shoulders so if you are hiking or carring for an extended time it isn't pressure on your neck all of that time. A little odd to get use to at first but works really well.
 

Mueller Show Cattle

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Like Mtnman said, I would get a hard case for it, I see it as cheap insurance for the camera. I also have a wide neck strap, is worth it. My camera is actually a Cannon 40D and suspect Mtnman's is a Cannon 70D, we forgot to put the zero in it. If you take care of the camera, it will take care of you and last many years.
 
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