Canon EOS Rebel K2

[MattKing]

So if I get good glass for the Canon EOS Rebel K2, or Nikkon F55, will it be worth a damn?

One of the things that you will eventually discover, is that to a great extent, the camera body you get will matter very little.

A rugged, flexible and adaptable body will end up lasting you for a longer time, and will open opportunities to you to do specialized tasks that other, more basic bodies might not, but it is a difference of degree only.

If either of these bodies fit well in your hands, and seem to intuitively respond to what you want to do, than you should seriously consider buying them.

The real question is - will they aid you in developing your vision, and will you enjoy using them to create photographs? If they will, they are truly great investments!

If you have the opportunity to handle and try a variety of choices - I would suggest you do so. Once you choose something, after taking a bunch of photographs, you may want to change, but you will have learned a lot.

If you put good glass on your first choice, you are more likely to be able to re-use it. I would be careful, however, about looking to APUG to advise you about the best choice of camera systems - you might end up with 3 or 4! .

Please understand, this advice comes from someone who, at 17, had had two 35mm cameras - a Kodak 35, and a Kodak Retina S1.

By 18, I had an Olympus OM1 (not OM1-MD, just an OM1) plus 3 lenses. They didn't make me a better photographer than my Kodak 35 or my Retina S1, just a more flexible and adaptable one. My skill and "eye" didn't (doesn't) come from my cameras, but rather from my experiences and my exposure to the work and feedback of others.

My advice - get your hands on something that is reasonably likely to be reliable and dependable and give quality results, and take, evaluate and share lots of photography. With the current cost of quality used equipment, once you are sufficiently experienced, it won't be all that difficult to switch, if you need to do so.

Enjoy the process, and the results - have fun!

Matt

 

[PatTrent]

I have had a couple of Rebel's over the years, as back up cameras to better Canon cameras that I owned at that time. I gave them away to family members not long after buying them (silly, wasteful me), because I got so frustrated having to turn on the camera just to "preview" a possible shot. Also, they ate batteries like crazy. Eventually I sold the Canons and switched over Nikon FM2n's because they only use batteries for metering (and even then, the battery lasts a long, long time), and when I want to preview a shot, I only have to pick up a camera and remove the lens cap.

Also, with the Rebels, looking through the viewfinder was like looking through a long dark tunnel, whereas the Nikon FM2n viewfinder is big, bright, and direct. With my aging eyes, I thought I might miss the auto focus, but actually I find that it's easier to focus with the bright Nikon screen than to try to find the little focusing marks in the tiny Rebel viewfinder/screen.

Just my opinion, but food for thought.

Pat

 

[Chazzy]

I have had a couple of Rebel's over the years, as back up cameras to better Canon cameras that I owned at that time. I gave them away to family members not long after buying them (silly, wasteful me), because I got so frustrated having to turn on the camera just to "preview" a possible shot.

I don't understand, presumably because I have never really handled one of these cameras. You can't just look through the viewfinder and see what you're getting? Or do you mean something different by "preview"?

 

[reub2000]

I don't understand, presumably because I have never really handled one of these cameras. You can't just look through the viewfinder and see what you're getting? Or do you mean something different by "preview"?

Yes you can just remove the lens cap. I think he means previewing an in focus shot. Autofocus only works with the camera on. Of course he could have just flipped a switch to turn on manual focusing

 

[Chazzy]

Yes you can just remove the lens cap. I think he means previewing an in focus shot. Autofocus only works with the camera on. Of course he could have just flipped a switch to turn on manual focusing

Now it makes sense to me. I've never used an auto-focus SLR.

 

[PatTrent]

I don't understand, presumably because I have never really handled one of these cameras. You can't just look through the viewfinder and see what you're getting? Or do you mean something different by "preview"?

It's been so long that I don't recall whether there's a scene visible or not, but I do recall that it wouldn't focus, etc., without the camera being turned on.

 

[reub2000]

It's been so long that I don't recall whether there's a scene visible or not, but I do recall that it wouldn't focus, etc., without the camera being turned on.

Theres a switch on the lens barrel of Canon EF lenses that allows you to manually focus. Lenses with a USM motor allow you to use manual focus at any time.

 

[dana44]

Well I bought a EOS Rebel T2.... Also bought a Quantaray 70-300mm lense... all for $400... You all will probably kill me for buying "off-brand" lense.. but damn! the freakin' Name brand is.. like 500!!!!

 

[reub2000]

Well I bought a EOS Rebel T2.... Also bought a Quantaray 70-300mm lense... all for $400... You all will probably kill me for buying "off-brand" lense.. but damn! the freakin' Name brand is.. like 500!!!!

The T2 is better choice than the K2. The DOF preview alone was worth the difference.

What standard lens did you pick out?

Edit: Some off-brand lenses can be quite good. I love the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro. However I doubt the lens you bought is one of the good one.

 

[dana44]

The T2 is better choice than the K2. The DOF preview alone was worth the difference.

What standard lens did you pick out?

Edit: Some off-brand lenses can be quite good. I love the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro. However I doubt the lens you bought is one of the good one.

I didn't get a standard lense.. That comes later down the road. I just got a 70-300mm lense.. Because I like the affects I can achieve with it

 

[reub2000]

I didn't get a standard lense.. That comes later down the road. I just got a 70-300mm lense.. Because I like the affects I can achieve with it

Canon 50mm f/1.8 is only $80 and one of the cheapest lenses. No excuse not to have a normal lens.

 

[dana44]

Canon 50mm f/1.8 is only $80 and one of the cheapest lenses. No excuse not to have a normal lens.

I plan on getting one soon.

 

[dana44]

So far so good. I like how the AF works.. And I also like how I can manually focus it. Also, Being able to open up the aperture and it automatically setting the shutter speed. I will post some pics up when I get them developed.

 

[film_guy]

I agree with the others on getting a 50mm 1.8. It might be the cheapest lens Canon has, but it outperforms a lot of the more expensive Canon zoom lenses. It's fast at focusing too, and will teach you more about composition and depth of field effects than a 28-XX or a 70-XX lens.

 

[dana44]

Here are a few new pictures with the Canon:


Dead Link Removed


Dead Link Removed

Rawr... Both are decent. W is my fav.

 

[reub2000]

So far so good. I like how the AF works.. And I also like how I can manually focus it. Also, Being able to open up the aperture and it automatically setting the shutter speed. I will post some pics up when I get them developed.

Don't put too much faith into the autofocus. It can suffer accuracy problems.

 

[dana44]

Don't put too much faith into the autofocus. It can suffer accuracy problems.

I know.. it's been VERY hit or miss...

 

[reub2000]

I know.. it's been VERY hit or miss...

That's not what I meant. If it's sometimes focusing, then that probably means that there isn't enough light, or your trying to focus on something with no detail. Use the center focus point, because it can focus on both horizontal and vertical detail. If your in a dark place, raise the flash so that it can fire an af-assist beam.

 

[Laostyle17]

Electronic gremlins... This is why I prefer my cameras to be of the mechanical variety. The job of a camera is conceptually very simple: hold the film in a light-tight container, open the shutter for a particular duration, move film on one frame. Repeat until end of film, then rewind. What does one gain by handing over any of the above to electronics? In my opinion, nothing whatsoever. And one stands to lose a lot, as evidenced by your N55 experience.

Get a mechanical camera. They're cheap and plentiful on the used market, vastly higher in materials and build quality, and do the camera's job so close to perfectly that it's not worth worrying about their individual flaws and drawbacks. If you still want a Nikon after your N55 problems try an FM2N.

Well said.