The right Digital SLR set up for the job?

[Geo]

I am new to the forum, so I hope this question has not been asked already. I am ready to graduate from my Kodak Easyshare to a real camera. No offense to Kodak, I do love my Easyshare. But, I am ready to pick up my first Digital SLR and need some advice. I looked for it and found similar information, but not exactly what I need to know.
I will be shooting mostly indoors(most people seem to ask about outdoor shooting). I have a friend who will let me use his small studio to practice on portraits and artistic expression. I also plan to purchase a small set up myself for portraits(full body, head and shoulders and headshots). My nature and outdoor photography will be minimal compared to my indoor work. Of course I would like the capability to take some beautiful outdoor shots, but people are my passion, so my camera set up should reflect this.
These are the camera set ups I am looking at for my current budget(around $1000):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7599841501&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7600823953&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1


http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EOS-Digital-Rebel-XT-350D-USA-Camera-2300PKG-NEW_W0QQitemZ7600195482QQcategoryZ107909QQcmdZView Item

I don't need to set the world on fire, I just want to take some good photos. I can move into a better lens later, right now I just need a working set up. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank You!
Thank You!
Thank You!

[Geo]

Just in case some people have slow connections(there are alot of pictures of the items included on the links), I will post the three kits I am looking at here:

1 - Nikon D50 Digital SLR Camera & 2 Lens + 512mb Kit
Items Included with
The KIT:
• Sigma 28-70mm f2.8-4 HIGH SPEED lens
• Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Lens
• 512MB Secure Digital Memory Card
• USB Secure Digital Card Reader
• Deluxe All Weather Proof Carrying Case
• Deluxe Video & Photo Tripod
• Professional 3 Pc. Lens Cleaning Kit

Price - US $728.98

2 - Nikon D50 Digital SLR Camera & 3 Lens + 1gb Kit
Items Included with
The KIT:
• Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm lens
• Nikon 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF Zoom-Nikkor
• Titanium .45x Wide Angle Lens
• 3 Piece HIGH Resolution Filter Kit
• 1GB Secure Digital Memory Card
• USB Secure Digital Card Reader
• Heavy Duty Aluminum Hard Case w/Dividers
• Deluxe All Weather Proof Carrying Case
• Deluxe Video & Photo Tripod
• Professional 3 Pc. Lens Cleaning Kit

PRICE - US $998.00


3 - Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT 350D & 3 Lens + 1gb Kit
Items Included with
The KIT:

• Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom
• Canon EF 75-300 F/4.0-5.6 III Lens
• Titanium .45x Wide Angle Lens
• 3 Piece HIGH Resolution Filter Kit
• Sandisk 1GB Ultra II Compact Flash Card
• USB Compact Flash Card Reader
• Sunpak Auto Bounce Digital Flash
• Heavy Duty Aluminum Hard Case w/Dividers
• Deluxe Carrying Case
• Deluxe Video & Photo Tripod
• Professional 3 Pc. Lens Cleaning Kit


PRICE - US $1,088.00

...there they are for your opinions.

Thanks.

[jcon]

I dont mean to sound rude, but perhaps this was better served for the "Which Camera Should I Buy" forum. If you have a question about a Nikon Product, myself, along with many others would gladly help you out. I am sure someone will also reply to your initial post here. Good Luck!

[Jason25]

Between the 2 Nikon kits, #2 is the better kit.

[Geo]

I dont mean to sound rude, but perhaps this was better served for the "Which Camera Should I Buy" forum. If you have a question about a Nikon Product, myself, along with many others would gladly help you out. I am sure someone will also reply to your initial post here. Good Luck!

That's why I began my post letting everyone know I was a newbie. Forums can be very finicky and it's easy to do something someone has a problem with, So, I didn’t want the post killed by that kind of thing.

To be honest the reason I posted in this particular section is because I am looking at the D50 pretty strongly and I cannot seem to get enough feedback on it as much as I can on the Canon 350D. So, I thought I could get more opinions from people who have actually used the camera (as opposed to the "Nikons always do this so I use Canon" crowd) if I posted here.

It is harder than I thought to find feedback about DSLRs and photographing people. Everything I seem to find is about nature, macro or landscape photography. So, I hope I can get some help with my questions here.

[Jason25]

That's why I began my post letting everyone know I was a newbie. Forums can be very finicky and it's easy to do something someone has a problem with, So, I didn’t want the post killed by that kind of thing.

To be honest the reason I posted in this particular section is because I am looking at the D50 pretty strongly and I cannot seem to get enough feedback on it as much as I can on the Canon 350D. So, I thought I could get more opinions from people who have actually used the camera (as opposed to the "Nikons always do this so I use Canon" crowd) if I posted here.

It is harder than I thought to find feedback about DSLRs and photographing people. Everything I seem to find is about nature, macro or landscape photography. So, I hope I can get some help with my questions here.
Check out this forum over at Nikonians, as it deals directly to studio and people shooting with Nikon gear:

http://www.nikonians.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID49&conf=DCConfID5

There's also a forum specifically for the D50:

http://www.nikonians.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID201&conf=DCConfID3


With that said, I have a D50 and love it. I am starting to see some quirks that would be fixed if I traded up to a D70 or D70s, but those are mostly related to my type of shooting (landscape/nature).

[jcon]

Like I also said, wasnt trying to be rude, just trying to help out. As for your two package deals for the D50, I agree #2 is the better of the two. However, for your needs, indoor people photography, I think you would be better served just bying the D50 body and a 3rd party lens for indoor photography, like the Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 or the Sigma 24-70mm 2.8. I am sure you are aware, lighting can be difficult indoors and a fast lens is critical. The 2 I mentioned have been talked about at lengths on this forum. Myself, I am getting into wedding photography and I am going to be getting the Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 for wedding work. Atleast until I can afford the Nikon version of this lens(which is over 1 grand). The sigma is around $400. Those are just my thoughts, others may disagree. Like I said, lighting and speed are key for indoor photography. If the subject isnt moving, you may be able to use a slower lens.

[Geo]

Like I also said, wasnt trying to be rude, just trying to help out. As for your two package deals for the D50, I agree #2 is the better of the two. However, for your needs, indoor people photography, I think you would be better served just bying the D50 body and a 3rd party lens for indoor photography, like the Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 or the Sigma 24-70mm 2.8. I am sure you are aware, lighting can be difficult indoors and a fast lens is critical. The 2 I mentioned have been talked about at lengths on this forum. Myself, I am getting into wedding photography and I am going to be getting the Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 for wedding work. Atleast until I can afford the Nikon version of this lens(which is over 1 grand). The sigma is around $400. Those are just my thoughts, others may disagree. Like I said, lighting and speed are key for indoor photography. If the subject isnt moving, you may be able to use a slower lens.

jcon, no harm done. Believe me, I really appreciate the help. Most of you guys have way more experience than me and I love to get tips from you. Also, I really do appreciate you pointing out the "which camera should I buy" section. I came here originally on a link and had missed it on the main page. It’s a great section for me to browse through. So again, my thanks to you and the forum members for any help in this difficult decision.

[coldrain]

These "deals" seem to exist just to unload a lot of crap out of their inventory.
Why do you want 3 unspecifies "filters"? A crappy adapter wide angle add on lens? A sub par 70/75-300mm lens? A partitioned aluminium case? A "deluxe" case and tripod, pretty obviously cheap crap?

To you this whole list may seem like a good deal, but you would be better off just getting a camera body and some lenses you know are good.

Frm the 70/75-300 lenses all 3 options are not so great, if you want a lens like that you best go for the Sigma APO DG version. It performs better than the Sigma, Nikon and Canon listed in those "deals". And it costs around 200$.

Getting just a D50 with its 18-55 kit lens and a 70-300 APO DG from Sigma would be a good start, for instance. Add a memory card and a nice bag and you are set to go. Then just learn what you need/want for the rest. Don't bother with these ultra cheap tripods, they are not stable enough for their use.

[erichlund]

I agree with Coldrain. Buy the best glass you can afford, and stay away from deals that seem too good to be true. They are. A quality filter will have little or no image degradation. A poor filter is little different from just rubbing some vaseline on the front of your lens (really, really not recommended). I have two cheap tripods. The first was fairly sturdy, but the built in head would not hold the weight of an SLR anymore. The second did not even have the quality of being sturdy. They've been replaced. Get a bag a bit bigger than you think you will need, because you will fill it. With the Nikons, if and when you get a flash, the SB600 and SB800 are the units to consider.

As far as filters, I don't use protective filters, but some people do. In that case, the plain UV filter is what you want, but you want it from a quality manufacturer, like Hoya or B&W. The only other filter you should initially consider is a circular polarizing filter. This filter will cut through glare and haze, darken skies, make water appear more clear, etc. They basically work the same way a pair of polarizing sunglasses work. Again, get it from a quality maker.

I don't know what the filter size is on the lenses you will finally choose, but of course you will have to either get filters for each size lens, or you will have to get a filter for the largest lens and get step up rings for your other lenses. The problem with the latter solution is that step up rings can interfere with a lens hood, which you should always use when shooting outdoors.

When you can afford it, you want an extra battery for the camera and extra memory cards. When your memory cards are full, you've used all your film and you are out of business until you can download your photos.

[Geo]

Thanks, that is the kind of advice I need. I was wondering about the quality of the "extras". I do have a couple of questions on your feedback.
As far as the filters:
-Does anyone know where can I get a good circular polarizing filter and UV filter? I looked on B & H and all I could come up with was lens hoods for circular polarizing filters.
-What will the cost be(average) for the filters (for the lenses I mentioned and the suggested lens by Coldrain)?
Also, does Tiffen not make quality filters?

[Jason25]

Thanks, that is the kind of advice I need. I was wondering about the quality of the "extras". I do have a couple of questions on your feedback.
As far as the filters:
-Does anyone know where can I get a good circular polarizing filter and UV filter? I looked on B & H and all I could come up with was lens hoods for circular polarizing filters.
-What will the cost be(average) for the filters (for the lenses I mentioned and the suggested lens by Coldrain)?
Also, does Tiffen not make quality filters?
I got great deals on filters from Spotlight Photo (slphotogear on ebay). I would recommend them to anybody. $2.50 shipping as well (US). I had to bid to get a deal on my Hoya polarizer, but it was $70 off retail in the end.

[Geo]

I got great deals on filters from Spotlight Photo (slphotogear on ebay). I would recommend them to anybody. $2.50 shipping as well (US). I had to bid to get a deal on my Hoya polarizer, but it was $70 off retail in the end.

Jason,
I meant to thank you for the great link to nikonians.com, great site! Lots of info for Nikon users, both future and present.
Also, you said you bought your filter on eBay. I was looking at your gear(you listed).
Did you purchase anything else from eBay? Your present gear looks like what I am working toward for myself.
What lens do you prefer for your D50 on people photography? Either indoor or outdoor?

[coldrain]

For portrait like outdoor and indoor photography the f1.8 50mm nikkor would be great. If you want groups of people, you might want a wider lens.

[Geo]

Thanks for that suggestion Coldrain. It had been suggested that I use a fixed lens before. Where would you suggest I pick up that lens for a fair price? Mr. Riehm had suggested sigmaforless.com for another lens. Do you know of a site with similar prices for the nikkor lens? I am not familiar with shopping for lenses and would appreciate any pointers.

[jcon]

Geo, before you make ANY purchase on the net I suggest you read the following forum. It is VERY VERY helpful and shows you the scammer stores on the net. Unfortunatly, some dont do research before laying down cash, then wonder what happened after. Here is the forum thread...

http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14677

[Jason25]

Jason,
I meant to thank you for the great link to nikonians.com, great site! Lots of info for Nikon users, both future and present.
Also, you said you bought your filter on eBay. I was looking at your gear(you listed).
Did you purchase anything else from eBay? Your present gear looks like what I am working toward for myself.
What lens do you prefer for your D50 on people photography? Either indoor or outdoor?
I use my 50mm f/1.8 mostly for people indoors without flash, and the 18-70 with my SB-600 otherwise. I didn't buy any of my gear on ebay but the filters and my Lowepro Nova 5 AW bag. I got my 80-200 Tokina on keh.com (KEH.com is a fantastic vendor.), and my 18-70 Nikkor on Nikonians buy & sell forum. The 50/1.8 can be had pretty much anywhere for right around USD$100 new. I bought my SB-600 and 50/1.8 on Amazon, who I use quite frequently for other purchases as well.

[D70FAN]

Thanks for that suggestion Coldrain. It had been suggested that I use a fixed lens before. Where would you suggest I pick up that lens for a fair price? Mr. Riehm had suggested sigmaforless.com for another lens. Do you know of a site with similar prices for the nikkor lens? I am not familiar with shopping for lenses and would appreciate any pointers.

This is a good place. Not the cheapest (although less than B&H for this lens)but very reliable. I have bough all 3 of my Nikons (900, 990, D70) from them.

http://www.normancamera.com/shop/SearchResults.asp?ProdStock=2137

[Geo]

Thanks for the guidance on what and where to buy. The information and links provided have really helped with questions I have been asking for some time. I have enough information now to make a much more informed choice on equipment and vendors.

Again, much thanks to all!