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Ideal beginner's DSLR set up?

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Cainster

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I am new to this board and new to photography. I know very little, but I am very interested in photography.

I plan to take a photography course at our local Junior College.

I own a Pentax ZX-L (35mm) with (2) lenses. One lens is a Pentax 28-80 and the other is a Tamron 70-300 both are AF.

What would you recommend I buy with a $800.00 budget?
 
Hi Cainster!
Cainster said:
What would you recommend I buy with a $800.00 budget?
Click to expand...
Well, as this is the Pentax board:

Wait one or two weeks until you can get the new Pentax K100D with the kit lens. (Not sure about the release date in the US) You can use the lenses from your ZX-L on it and this should be quite a good kit for starters. The money you did not spent, I'd put into your savings account to take out once you know where photography is heading for you.

In the remaining weeks, try to read up a bit on the technical and artistic things - If I understood correctly, you said you are interested but know very little as of now. There are some nice resources online. Maybe start with the glossary here on dpreview and take it from there.

Just my $0.02 ;)
Jens

--
'LBA knows no bounds, and seeks no justification...' (Jim King, 2005)
http://www.jr-worldwi.de/photo/index.html - Photography, Tech and Geek stuff :}
'Why is everyone answering rhetorical questions?' (Me, 2005)
 
I was pretty close to buying a *ist DL with all the deals going on.

But the more I read, the more I want the K100D.

Thanks.
 
When it comes to lenses, which brand names should I get or stay away from?
 
I took your advice and read the glossary. Wow! There's alot to Digital photography.
I also down loaded the free demo 123 of di advertised on this page.

There's alot to learn.

What 's the average time (weeks, months, years) to become a good photographer?
 
Good advice so far. About a year ago I was where you are now. There is a lot of help here, and that is good because there is a lot to learn, I am just now beginning to feel a little comfortable when I pick up my DS. I would say the #1 thing at the start is to remain patient, you just need time and experience with your camera. If you are serious, it will come together. Good luck!
--
'This is more serious than I thought.....but it is still fun!'
 
Cainster said:
I am new to this board and new to photography. I know very little,
but I am very interested in photography.

I plan to take a photography course at our local Junior College.
I own a Pentax ZX-L (35mm) with (2) lenses. One lens is a Pentax
28-80 and the other is a Tamron 70-300 both are AF.

What would you recommend I buy with a $800.00 budget?
Click to expand...
Mind games....

*istDL + DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL: $400

FA 50mm f/1.4: $170

FA 28-80 is a poor lens; replace it with:
FA 28-105mm f/3.2-4.5 AL IF: $210

Tamron 70-300 will do for the long range I guess (is it a macro as well?)

You will have a setup that you'll enjoy far more than if you had splashed all your money on the new K100D/kit.

Save the $20 until you can afford the:
Sigma 180mm f/3.5 EX DG APO Macro IF: $660 :-)

And then wait for the 10mpx K10D with SR to arrive....

Best of luck.

sh
--

 
Cainster

I was in Circuit City in Scottsdale AZ today and they have a great deal on the DL. As I already own the DL I did not take much notice of the price but from memory it was less than US$500 with the Pentax DA 18-55 lens. There are a lot of deals around on the DL so if you take this path you will have more to spend on some good lens. The DA 50-200 lens gets positive comments on this forum and woud give you a good range to start with. When I bought my DL I initially went with the 18-55 kit lens and the Tamron 75-300 lens. I found the 18-55 a little short and recently bought a FA 28-105 which I am now using as my walkabout lens
 
Hi Cainster!
Cainster said:
What 's the average time (weeks, months, years) to become a good
photographer?
Click to expand...
Estimations vary between one shot and one lifetime.

It depends on your talent, your dedication and most importantly, what you define as "good". Do you need to satisfy your own requirements or requirements imposed on you by other people? Are these requirements realistic or too tough or too soft?

Cheers
Jens

--
'LBA knows no bounds, and seeks no justification...' (Jim King, 2005)
http://www.jr-worldwi.de/photo/index.html - Photography, Tech and Geek stuff :}
'Why is everyone answering rhetorical questions?' (Me, 2005)
 
Yeah, when I asked how long will it take to become a good photographer, I knew there's probably no correct answer.

Now imagine if I would of asked average time to become a GREAT photographer.
 
If I am spending that much on a lens, I better be making a living as a photographer.
Ouch! $5,500.00
 
It seems like newer and better Pentax cameras come out often.

I have been around Pentax for about 3 years, I believe Pentax since then have come out with *ist D, DS, DS2, DL, DL2, and coming soon K100D.

And I guess after the K100D, there's a K10D?

What to buy?
 
Thanks for your comments.

I'm just stuck between the DL and the K100D.

And I guess there's a K10D soon after the K100D.

What to buy?
 
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