DSLR's

[peejman]

I don't have a hood for my 50 due to space constraints in my kit, but if you have room a hood is almost always a good investment. As to the fragility of the AF these camera lenses are precision optics so treat them with care and you should be fine.

 

 

This.  A lens hood and a UV protector are always a good idea. 

[alingo2001]

I ordered my wife a Canon T3 with the 18-55 and 75-300 lenses.

[10-Ring]

I would also echo reading through Ken Rockwell's site.  He's a professional who writes reviews for all kinds of stuff, new and old.  He also takes the time to explain some of the terms so that someone who doesn't know about photography can learn.

 

For me, I bought a Nikon D40X a few years back and one of the best things I ever did was take it off "Auto" and put it on manual and start manipulating all the settings.  In the old days, you would have to burn up alot of film and developing to learn what the settings do.  Now, you just look at it on the screen and delete what you don't want.  One of my wants in photography was to be able to get a decent moon picture.  I had occasion when I was on vacation earlier this year in Cocoa Beach that the moon was full and rose over the ocean directly out from the balcony I was on.  Unfortunately, I didn't have my tripod or my remote shutter activator with me so I had to carefully prop up on a table and be as still as I could while pressing the button.  I won't bore everybody with all the shots but will show a couple.

 

 

 

 

This is what I was talking about earlier.  In the two moon shots, the only difference was the apperature opening setting.  In the old days, I would have shot up who knows how much in film to figure out which setting was the best and now all you have to do is shoot, observe, adjust, reshoot. 

 

P.S.  I'm not an expert at this by any means.  Some of the guys on this forum are leaps and bounds better than me.

I do a good bit of low light photography.  Of course a tripod is essential to taking longer exposure pictures, but also use a timed shutter release as well.  Most cameras have one built in.  Unless it is really dark I usually just use a 2 second delay, but I'm using a very stable tripod.  Otherwise I will use a 10 second delay.  The purpose of doing this is to eliminate shake will pressing the shutter button.

[tnguy]

I do a good bit of low light photography.  Of course a tripod is essential to taking longer exposure pictures, but also use a timed shutter release as well.  Most cameras have one built in.  Unless it is really dark I usually just use a 2 second delay, but I'm using a very stable tripod.  Otherwise I will use a 10 second delay.  The purpose of doing this is to eliminate shake will pressing the shutter button.

 

If possible, consider a remote. They are available for as little as $3 on ebay.

[10-Ring]

Shameless plug.  I have my old camera posted in the TGO classifieds.  It's more camera than most need, but I'm willing to wheel and deal on it.

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/73748-canon-1d-mark-iii/

[Ted S.]

Shameless plug.  I have my old camera posted in the TGO classifieds.  It's more camera than most need, but I'm willing to wheel and deal on it.

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/73748-canon-1d-mark-iii/

 

That's a lot of camera. Just hope whoever gets it knows how to optimize their pics with it!