I am thinking of upgrading to a new camera, would this be a good choice? Do my pictures look good too?
April 6, 2011 by Action Warrior
Filed under aviation pictures
Hello, I have been wanting a better camera for a few reasons now. I have an interest in aviation/space related and try to get pictures of different objects, but because of speed, I miss it/gets blurry/etc. I am also interested to see if the camera in the link would be able to support wide-angle lens. I’m not a professional, but not a beginner.
If you can, please judge these pictures.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4467271241_5efaac4e40_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2757/4467271247_14cde355bb_b.jpg
Also, here is the camera I was thinking about: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Canon+-+EOS+Digital+Rebel+XSi+12.2-Megapixel+Digital+SLR+Camera+with+Lens+-+Black/8794691.p?id=1205537713445&skuId=8794691
How can I get great quality pictures? Anything else is appreciated. Thank you.
The XSi will do everything that you want to accomplish. There are a couple of newer Canon DSLRs out there to consider in the same price range, but the XSi is a fine camera.
You will get more information if you put each question in a separate question. It would take an essay to answer all of the questions you have included and some people are more interested in helping with equipment while others are more interested in analyzing photos or talking about special techniques, such as aviation photography.
Hi there,
I actually currently own the xsi, and it is a great camera. It can be an expensive investment however, you can’t expect to buy just the camera and do what you are wanting to do with it (high speed, aviation space photography). The camera itself comes with a pretty poor lens, poor build quality and resulting in only decent photographs. If you buy the camera, I would recommend this lens for it
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM
and here is a link with some photos taken with it
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sample-Pictures.aspx?Equipment=113
lenses are often times more expensive than the camera body. You can get it refurbished here for aboug $1500
http://www.adorama.com/CA100400ISUR.html?sid=1269721266407203
And if you get that lens and use it when it is zoomed to the max, you definitely would need a tripod to steady your shots.
But ya those are some great photos you have taken, and the lens I recommended would definitely help you get and ultra zoomed shot that won’t be blurry.
I guess the good news is that when it comes to buying a good camera, there are many excellent cameras that both amateurs and pros use. The end product is what is important, not the tool you use to create it. Sure better tools will last longer and can be depended on to do the job consistently but my colleague who shoots NBA games, uses both his little Nikon D40 as well as his new Nikon D3s bodies. The D40 is the perfect lens when attached to his 300 mm f/2.8. He can reach across court and get amazing shots that print perfectly well in newspapers and magazines.
It the field of photography where you seem to be standing you are going to need long lenses. That alone means you will be spending some rather large dollars on the lenses.
When I shoot air shows, I use my 200-400 mm f/4 lens. It can cover all the air to air fly overs with not compromise in sharpness or contrast. The problem is it cost more than my Nikon D3 ($,4700) and my other longer lens for shooting rocket launches (as well as baseball and football) the 600 mm f/4 is over $10,000 and needs a good sturdy tripod)
As an entry level camera the XSi is just fine, but for what you are doing, you need to pick the camera system that will cover aviation/space and that means lenses before camera bodies.
When shooting the inside of a C-17, I use a 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens on a Nikon D3 … perfect. When shooting the Golden Knights leaving their aircraft, the 600 mm f/4 is perfect. Stick it on the end of my D300 it becomes an equivalent of a 900 mm f/4 .. again perfect for my purposes.
For getting around your issue with blur you have to have a camera body that allows you to shoot at shutter speeds of from 1/1000th second to 1/8000th second. Blur is nothing more than camera or subject movement during the exposure which at slow shutter speeds becomes problematic.
Here are the two entry level cameras, the Canon SXi next to the best selling Nikon D5000. On a performance comparison you can see why the D5000 is so popular with new users. The very popular but a step above entry level Nikon D90 out performs many cameras used by pros that cost twice the money.
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/Image-Quality-Database/Compare-cameras/(appareil1)/185%7C0/(appareil2)/320%7C0/(appareil3)/294%7C0/(onglet)/0/(brand)/Canon/(brand2)/Nikon/(brand3)/Nikon
Take your time. Once you buy a Nikon or Canon DSLR, you will be married to that system for decades. Why? Because once you start building a system, to later replace it with all new compatible lenses of a different system can become cost prohibitive
Go into a camera store and actually hold the different cameras in your hands and see which fits the best. Use the cameras menu and see which is easiest to navigate and then you will be closer to knowing which camera system is best for YOU, not me, not my colleagues and not others here, but you. You will be living with the camera system for years not us.
Enjoy your new camera and lenses.
Pentax K-x is a good camera for the price.