Camera recommendations...

[MGallagher]

I have been wanting to get a nice lens type camera but only want to spend $400 to $500. Any recommendations? Which way should I go, ebay, craigslist, etc...?

Thanks

[Steve Wilde]

Camera

I assume you mean a DSLR for boat racing pictures. All of the major camera manufacturers have $500 cameras at the low end of their range, and they all work very well. You will need telephoto lens of at least 300mm also.
Go to CNET.com on line to compare brands, models, and prices.

[Graham 18ce]

When you decide to go SLR, certianly when you are looking at lower end price points, i think you are best off to decide what you want to shoot as your primary and find a lens in the budget you are willing to spend.
For Racing as mentioned you will want at least a 70-300mm and may want more depending on the course you are shooting at.
You can find many second hand in good condition at your local camera shop, same goes for the camera itself. Also many websites have a good rep for used gear but you don't get the option of looking at them and seeing them for general bumps and brusies.

I prefer Nikon, however, head to camera shop and try them out, take a memory card with you and take some test shots in the store. play with the menu system and controls and find out what works beest for you and your grip.
Another thing is if you have friends with cameras around you, if you get the same brand, most lenses will work on the camera and you don't have to buy them.
Reading reviews are a good way to find the week points of a brand or model, however, many have a bias to a certain brand before they pick up a camera to test and many are already shooting high level pro cameras so they tend to nit pick at things missing or not done as well on low end price point cameras.

[PopPop]

Hey Matt; Scout around. But first decide what you want/have to spend.

Lots of camera discussion on dpreview;

http://www.dpreview.com/

For lenses go to;

http://search.dpreview.com/?q=70-300

[ricochet112]

I'm also a Nikon guy, but you can't go wrong with this Canon for an entry level purchase.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...S&Sp=C&topnav=

[PopPop]

I'm also a Nikon guy, but you can't go wrong with this Canon for an entry level purchase.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...S&Sp=C&topnav=

Great package for only $750

[Mrs blueskyracer]

I have the cannon camera (Rebel XS) you guys are talking about it absolutely love it. Paid $1500 for the 400mm lens to go on it and it takes great photos many of which we resize and post here on HR

[thepiranhabros]

I have been wanting to get a nice lens type camera but only want to spend $400 to $500. Any recommendations? Which way should I go, ebay, craigslist, etc...?

Thanks

Nikon. eBay. Look for a Buy It Now with free shipping from a serious seller. Done.

Michael Mackey
21-V

[gckphoto]

Matt,

I have bought a lot of new/used camera equipment from these sites. I am more comfortable buying from here than eBay and CL.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/board/10

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...splay.php?f=14

Garrett C Kline

[Ken Duffield]

I have found the best prices for lenses and camera bodies at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

[Bill Huson]

yes . . .

I have found the best prices for lenses and camera bodies at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

I've done biz with BH Photo and was pleased. Course my biz was chems and such for old school B&W processing and enlarging. What can I say - I dearly love film.

[blueskyracer]

I would like to say B&H photo was great to work with when we bought our 100/400 lense a year ago.

[racingfan1]

be smooth and steady

You can spend alot of money on equipment , there is always something better you wish you had , but the best advice is to be steady. When taking boat racing pictures you have to keep the camera as still vertically as possible. Stay smooth and steady as you swing with the action and have a light trigger finger and can get good pictures. Remember the farther out you zoom , the more steady you have to be !!!

[MGallagher]

Thank you very much everybody. I am just looking for something to take nice pictures of my family and do nice pictures for marketing purposes. I am sure I will shoot some racing pics, but I love pit pictures. I like the B&H site so far, but it looks like I have a decent selection of good cameras for the $500 +/- range.

Thanks again!

[ricochet112]

You can spend alot of money on equipment , there is always something better you wish you had , but the best advice is to be steady. When taking boat racing pictures you have to keep the camera as still vertically as possible. Stay smooth and steady as you swing with the action and have a light trigger finger and can get good pictures. Remember the farther out you zoom , the more steady you have to be !!!

This is the reason why Nikon and Canon put the vibration reduction in their lenses, which makes the glass more $$$, but it's more effective than in the camera body vibration reduction like most other (and cheaper) brands do.