1Ds Mark II ease of use fore first time buyer?

I have regular cameras (non pro) and have been real disappointed with the
quality of the pictures etc.. and since my wife is pregnant I decided to get
a pro camera to capture moments and get the same pictures I see the pros get
with those cameras.Everytime I see photos a pro photographer takes with
those high end SLR camera I am amazed at how nice they appear I figured this
is worth the investments to get real nice pictures/memories along the way
which would be irreplacable and money should be no object. I budgeted about
5000 dollars for this new camera and lenses+accessories. What lenses do I
need to get someone told me tokina zooms are nice and not very expensive.
The 1D Mark II seems to have a DIGIC II computer that does most of the work.
Is the 1D MArk II as easy to use as the regular cameras, is it basically
turn on and select the different icons like
auto,sunlight,cloudy,flash,sport? The camera by the pictures seem a little
intimidating.

 

Lets see... ekiM doesn't mean anything to me. Is that for real, Mike?

 

I am confused what do you mean, I just a few questions for a first time
purchase.

 

Mike,
No offense, but a lot of questions like this are being asked in this
newsgroup, but they are by people wanting to stir up controversy,
meaning trolls. Many spoof their email and spell their email
backwards, like llort (troll). So is your question legitimate?

The reason is that pros take good photos because of their skill
and experience, not so much the camera they use. After all, putting
a $10,000 wrench in a person's hand does not a car mechanic make;
a $10,000 brush in a person's hand does not an artist make, etc.

Then you ask about a cheap lens to put on a pro body. It simply
smells of another troll.

If you are truly interested in a good digital camera system and a
$5k budget to photograph a new baby, my recommendation would be
a canon or nikon dslr already on the market (like 10D or D100).
As I'm familiar with Canon equipment, I'll suggest some
(Nikon users can post equally good systems and I'll divert to them).

Get a Canon 10D with a 28-135 IS zoom lens. You'll likely want 2
1-GByte compact flash cards (but real fast ones, like Lexar 40x,
currently $399). Buy a couple of extra batteries, a 540 flash,
a good tripod and a good camera bag. This will set you back over
$2-3k. Be sure you computer is up to speed, and if not,
upgrade it with remaining money. A good photo printer too.
If your computer is up to the task, buy some additional lenses.
Stick with Canon L lenses, and IS is REALLY nice, and helps
sharpness in hand-held shots. Do your shots at ISO 100 or 200,
and only higher in very low light.

Why DSLR? lens selection and low shutter lag are the main advantages.
Would you want your baby's first step missed because the camera
couldn't focus, determine exposure and take the picture fast enough?
DSLRs are best in this regord (or regular film SLRs).

Roger Clark
Photos, digital info at:
http://www.clarkvision.com

 

Kibo informs me that "Mike" <> stated that:

This *has* to be a troll. I also notice that he's posting from a free
news server.

 

First time purchase, eh? Then where did you get your other cameras? Given
to you? Did you ever figure out how to use them?

You want to spend $5k for gear, let that plasticy 35mm crap alone and let me
sell you a real camera! Made of fine tropical hardwood with brass
fittings, like the real pros use, but these require absolutely no knowledge
to use and produce pictures that are always in focus. I can get you one of
these for at least 10% less that you were prepared to waste on these new
gaudy toys. Let me know, okay?

Bill Tallman

 

Just as a note. Many people post from free services. Hell. I do when on
the road and away from starbucks.

 

Very true. (In fact, I noticed that it was a free server because it's
one of the ones that I use myself.) It's just that the combination of a
trollish content & a free server nearly always indicates a genuine
troll, rather than just a clueless newbie.

 

I don't believe that any camera is quite as "easy" to use as its advertising
might lead you to believe. When I purchased my Canon 10D, there was quite a
learning curve, even when coming from the Oly E-20, a somewhat similar
camera. And it seems that more sophisticated (and expensive) cameras leave
more of the work up to the photographer-- Digic II might be very nice, but I
found that those "dummy" modes in the 10D (sunlight, sports, etc) did not
always produce the best pictures-- you really do need to learn how to use
shutter priority, aperture priority and manual mode if you want to make your
camera sing for you. My g/f produces very nice pictures right out-of-camera
with her Sony 717--- with my 10D, a little more post-processing work is
required (and I shoot 95% in RAW mode), but the payoff is worth it. Have
fun with whatever new camera you decide on, and with the new baby as well

 

The pro cams (1D, D1H, etc) are great but big honkin' cameras. Something in
the 10D, D100 or even the 300D, D70 realm are better suited to general use.
They are all very responsive, take great pictures, and are pleasing to use.
Save some $$ on the body and get some nice glass, good flash, ample CF
storage, monopod/tripod, bag, extra battery. You'll be at $5K in no time!

 

When I think moders DSLR I think... histogram? I don't know anything about
it.

Now I could give the camera to my fiance, and, DoF and focus will be off...
maybe. But she would have perfect composition (cheater, she has been
painting for pay for like 16 years; love her though).

Robert Meyers

 

Why should he spend all that money just to get a pro picture?.

Learn on an old manual Nikon or Canon, and some fast primes, a quality flash
unit, and you can certainly get a pro pix on an old camera once you learn
the fundamentals.

I always tell people, that if they want to learn photography, learn film
first. Every photographer I know knows that you don't need an expensive
rig to get a pro shot.

My brother uses a Nikon 8008 for stock, and licenses images, no problem.



Patrick

 

I don't think a high end DSLR will be something you'll be able to whip out
of your pocket to catch moments. They are big. They are luggy. If you
want good results, you'll want a 540EX or similar flash.

 

(Please do not top-post. Thank you.)

You might also note that the address was spoofed. Do you suppose that there
really exists such an address at aol.com? So far as I know, aol.com
addresses are a bit more complex than "".

So there is nothing in the OP that indicates otherwise than "troll".

Bill Tallman

 

Then here's some sincere advice. You don't need a 1D-II to make good
pictures, but I won't try to talk you out of it. The truth of the matter is,
you'll hate whatever else you might buy if I gave you that advice. Everytime
a picture comes out less than perfect, you would look back and think I told
you wrong. So, if you truly can afford it, and seeing as how it's tugging on
your heart strings, by all means you should go and buy it. From the specs
and my previous experience with Canon digital and film cameras, it will be a
stellar performer. You can get by with less, but I don't sense that's what
this is about. Likewise, you would be hard pressed to find better. I want
one, too, but it's not on the top of my hit list yet.

Mike.

 

It's worse than that. If you can't get good pictures out of a cheap camera,
you won't be able to get good pictures out of an expensive camera.

Cameras are like violins. Give a bad player a Strad, and he'll sound worse;
the bad notes will be louder and more obnoxious. Give a bad photographer a
good camera, and he'll find more mistakes to make.

David J. Littleboy
Tokyo, Japan

 

's'alright, David. It needs to be pointed out, but I doubt anyone pays much
attention to that kind of advice. I know I don't, so I don't try to give it.
Besides, starting without the "helper" modes might actually force him to
learn a thing or two he might not otherwise have. That's a good thing.

 

hehe there is no green box mode on the Mk II or any of the pro bodies.

 

I wish Canon hadn't wasted potentially useful mode positions on *seven*
goddamn dummy modes for the 10D. It would be incredibly useful to have
seven custom configs that I could select with the mode dial.

 

For that kind of money you could get a Hassy, a Metz 60, and a much thinner
manual. By the time the kid graduates, the Hassy will be broken in and
you'll need batteries for the Metz. Also a case of NPS and a fridge to keep
them in. And a Domke. And some filters. And a case of Pampers. And a huge
tip for the driver on the way home. Bob Hickey