Quick(ish) Tips For Buying The Proper Camera For The Digital Photography Class
By: Ryan Ellis
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2016
Selfie at Harrison Park After Bike Ride (enjoying the first day of SUMMER). Harrison Twp., MI. June 2016.
Photo credit: Ryan Ellis
Taken with a vintage Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 MF lens bought for $50 at a garage sale. Compare to $250 for a new model of the same Nikkor MF lens.
Get a DSLR camera with the ability to interchange lenses; must have at least one lens with camera body. Any newer DSLR will have manual function capabilities. Listed below are some bodies, lenses, and kits (body/lens sets) that will not break the bank and will work beautifully in the class.
I am here to help you. They would not pay me otherwise! Hahaha. Feel free to email me any questions you might have.
ryanellisphoto[at]gmail[dot]com
Even better deals on used gear can be found on Craigslist, and—of course—feel free to buy new. B&H Photo, being the world’s biggest camera store, sets the standard used-value for items. As a rule of thumb, never pay more for any camera gear than what it costs at B&H Photo.
That is about it. For those of you with more time, feel free to read the following suggestions for the class
Rule #1: Do Not Break The Bank!
Unless your little Johnny or Suzie is definitely going to become a professional photographer, do not spend money you do not have on a camera.
Stay within an affordable budget. All that matters is that the camera can be manually-controlled (exposure and focus) and that the lens is removable (so they can try out different focal lengths).
Rule #2: Buy Used Instead Of New
Like many specialized fields, photography has a high turnover rate in “pro-sumer”-level gear. Take advantage of someone else’s frustration by buying used gear for cheap. In class, I will show the students how to make the most of their manual-mode-capable cameras.
Canon and Nikon, respectively, are the world’s two biggest camera companies, which means their used markets are swelled to the brim with older models lacking some of the latest bells and whistles. Many of these cameras are perfectly acceptable for shooting spectacular images. In fact, I shoot with a used camera I bought in 2016 that was new in 2012.
Every day, I am looking online for used gear for the brand that I use (Nikon), and I would be more than happy to help you sort the good deals from the bad ones. Hit me up!
Email: ryanellisphoto[at]gmail[dot]com
ALSO: If you should decide one day to sell your camera to either give up photography or upgrade your gear, you will have a larger buyer’s market, provided you bought a more well-known and respected brand, like Canon or Nikon.
For those of you with a bigger budget, here are some pricier used camera options:
Rule #3: Buy A DSLR Camera Body
These film cameras from yesteryear are NOT appropriate for this class! Haha. Harrison Twp., MI. June 2016.
Photo credit: Ryan Ellis
Taken with a Nikkor 35-80mm f/4-5.6D AF lens bought for $25 on Craigslist (compare to $150 for the lens new). The 35-80mm is “just” a kit lens, yet look at what can be done with it.
Digital Single-Lens Reflex cameras are better than point-and-shoot cameras, because they allow you to change lenses. They are also “better” than mirrorless cameras, because mirrorless cameras are presently cost-prohibitive.
The reason why I use Nikon over Canon, personally, is because I can buy a Nikon lens (F lens mount) from as far back as 1959 (the year the F lens mount was launched) that will fit my 2012 Nikon D800. I have gotten fantastic Nikon lenses from garage sales for a song. While you can find vintage Canon lenses, they will not always fit on modern (EF lens mount) Canon cameras. Sadly, Canon cannot brag about that wide of a compatibility-range. The oldest lens that will natively-fit a modern Canon would date back to only 1987 (The year the EF lens mount was launched).
Rule #4: Do Not Overspend On Memory Cards!
These 64 GB Class 10 SD cards from Micro Center are only $20 apiece. Quite a steal when you compare with prices anyplace else. Harrison Twp., MI. June 2016.
Photo credit: Ryan Ellis
Taken with a Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8 AF FX lens bought used for $400 at Westborn Camera in Dearborn, MI (excellent little store; competitive prices). Retails at $850 new. It is an ultrawide lens just short of being a fisheye, and it makes the world look whimsical with its linear distortion. It is one of those pretty lenses that you pick up down the road in your photographic journey.
I get Micro Center-branded memory cards from Micro Center at the cheapest price point around. It is only $20 for a 64 GB SD card at Micro Center, compared to $20 for only 16 GB at most other places. That one 64 GB SD card will get me over 500 “RAW + JPEG FINE” photos, or over 2,000 “JPEG FINE” photos.
Micro Center
32800 Concord Dr,
Madison Heights, MI
48071
Phone: 1-(248)-291-8400
Hours: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Rule #5: Buy The “Nifty Fifty” / “Fantastic Plastic”
My very own “Nifty Fifty.” It is so old, it is made out of metal (instead of plastic) and uses Manual Focus (MF) instead of Auto Focus (AF). I bought mine used for $50 off Craigslist. Harrison Twp., MI. June 2016.
Photo credit: Ryan Ellis
Taken with a vintage Nikkor 135mm f/3.5 MF lens that cost only $50 (compare to at least $1000 for a newer model at f/2 with AF).
The 50mm f/1.8 MF or AF is "the” inexpensive Jack-Of-All-Trades lens that sells used for $100 all day long. The pro is that it renders “fantastic” photos while not costing much. The con is that it is a “prime” lens (it has no zoom function [unless you “zoom” with your feet]).
If your camera already comes with a lens, like an 18-55mm f/4-5.6 AF, and you are on a tight budget, skip the extra lens. The 18-55mm f/4.5-5.6 AF is the “kit” lens that comes with almost every new camera kit for all models and brands of cameras. I will let the students try out other focal lengths, provided they have a Nikon camera body, and I am looking into buying lens mount adaptors to let kids with Canon (and other brand) camera bodies try out my various Nikon lenses (I just have to see who has what before I buy the adaptors). Trying out different focal lengths of lenses is a great learning experience that inspires creativity, via the changed perspective.
ASIDE: I carry an old 50mm f/1.8 MF ($50) as well as a new 85mm f/1.8 AF ($300) when I shoot my personal and professional work in Detroit, and I find myself using the cheaper 50mm over the much more costly 85mm, because it is the perfect all-around lens for almost anything nearby.
Simply put, the 50mm f/1.8 is an inexpensive, catch-all lens that is wonderful for beginning photographers all the way to advanced ones.
I LOOK FORWARD TO TEACHING YOUR KIDS THE ART AND SCIENCE OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY!
Good photos do not come from expensive gear; they come from positioning oneself in the right place at the right time. Here are some photos that share such an origin —
Here is a photo taken with a $50 lens:
Roseville Fireworks Show. Roseville, MI. June 2016.
Photo credit: Ryan Ellis
Taken with a vintage Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 MF lens that cost only $50 (compare to at least $80 for a used Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF lens or a new Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF lens for $130 [the “nifty fifty,” “fantastic plastic” 50 mm f/1.8 AF is sold used for $100 all day long anyplace; do not overpay])
Here is a photo taken with a $20 lens:
Swans on Lake St Clair in Harrison Twp., MI. March 2016.
Photo credit: Ryan Ellis
Taken with a vintage Quantaray 75-300mm f/4-5.6 MF that cost only $20 (attached to a $50 Nikon 2x Teleconverter). A new 75-300mm would sell for $200 for Nikon or Canon.
Here is a photo taken with a $50 lens:
Meat Market Worker with Customer in Eastern Market. Detroit, MI. June 2016.
Photo credit: Ryan Ellis
Taken with a vintage Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 MF lens that cost only $50 (compare to at least $80 for a used Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF lens or a new Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 AF lens for $130 [the “nifty fifty,” “fantastic plastic” 50 mm f/1.8 AF is sold used for $100 all day long anyplace; do not overpay])
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