Labster
New member
Bought myself a Reble XSi!
What camera?
- Thread starter Labster
- Start date
WAS
Driven
ShineShop said:
I love the elph series just for its compactness. I take mine EVERYWHERE, literally, it sits in my jackets pocket. I've taken so many photos "on the spot", it's become invaluable. Granted, yes, a DSLR will produce much better quality pictures, I just can't see myself packing one around 24/7. That said, in a shop environment, absolutely, DSLR is the way to go.
Dan
Well-known member
IMO, a DSLR won't product much better quality photographs, most modern P&S's that cost $150+ will do just fine in good light (indoors, everything changes, but we are talking about pictures of cars).
What a DSLR does buy you is manual controls that will help teach you the principals of light, and that will make you a better photographer.
If you buy a DSLR and leave it in full auto you are wasting your money.
What a DSLR does buy you is manual controls that will help teach you the principals of light, and that will make you a better photographer.
If you buy a DSLR and leave it in full auto you are wasting your money.
VroomVroom
New member
FWIW, I'll offer two recommendations.
1. Point & shoot. Canon G11 (or if you want to save some Samolians, a used G10).
Awesome camera with an amazing sensor. Great size and good battery life.
2. DSLR. Nikon D90. These things can now be had for $740, which is a steal. Two years in, and the sensor is still notorious for being cutting edge. Ridiculous low-light capability.
Now, the caveats:
No matter what, get a decent tripod. Detailers need to take long-exposure shots. (This is often called "night time landscape" or something similar on P&S cameras.) You definitely don't have to have a huge interest in photography to capture a nice matte finish on a dashboard, but you do need a few good tools for capturing dark-ish subjects without a flash.
If, however, you are interested in photography, a good DSLR is invaluable. Just like a rotary buffer, though...don't get it unless you want to commit the time to gaining value from your investment. I'm just about four years in myself, and am learning every day. Two weeks ago I handed down my trusty D80 and went with the D90, and couldn't be happier. First day I got it, I took this shot @ 3200 ISO (35mm @ f/2.2):
BTW, not trying to demonstrate my photography skils - they still suck
- but rather what the camera can do.
Probably stating the obvious, but there's a big difference between a compact P&S and a DSLR. Lots of learning time...certainly more than I expected. At first, my shots were horrible, and I asked myself why I just didn't invest in a really good P&S. Fortunately, I had the mentorship of a few talented photographers, and I started reading books ('Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson...do it, you won't regret it!). Took me a while...and I'm still going...but once I started to grasp the relationship between shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, I was finally able to leverage the advantages of a DSLR. I remember being proud of this shot, captured with my D80 and a 50mm lens:
Lots of great advice in this thread, and of course it's really worthwhile to visit sites like dpreview and many, many others. For me the only true moral of the story is to consider your goals carefully before buying. If you want to capture the moment as ideally as possible with the least effort, get a good P&S and let the camera do the hard work for you. However, if your mind's eye sees the shot a certain way...and if you're willing to invest the time to learn how to translate that vision into reality...DSLR for sure. Good luck!
1. Point & shoot. Canon G11 (or if you want to save some Samolians, a used G10).
Awesome camera with an amazing sensor. Great size and good battery life.
2. DSLR. Nikon D90. These things can now be had for $740, which is a steal. Two years in, and the sensor is still notorious for being cutting edge. Ridiculous low-light capability.
Now, the caveats:
No matter what, get a decent tripod. Detailers need to take long-exposure shots. (This is often called "night time landscape" or something similar on P&S cameras.) You definitely don't have to have a huge interest in photography to capture a nice matte finish on a dashboard, but you do need a few good tools for capturing dark-ish subjects without a flash.
If, however, you are interested in photography, a good DSLR is invaluable. Just like a rotary buffer, though...don't get it unless you want to commit the time to gaining value from your investment. I'm just about four years in myself, and am learning every day. Two weeks ago I handed down my trusty D80 and went with the D90, and couldn't be happier. First day I got it, I took this shot @ 3200 ISO (35mm @ f/2.2):
BTW, not trying to demonstrate my photography skils - they still suck
- but rather what the camera can do.Probably stating the obvious, but there's a big difference between a compact P&S and a DSLR. Lots of learning time...certainly more than I expected. At first, my shots were horrible, and I asked myself why I just didn't invest in a really good P&S. Fortunately, I had the mentorship of a few talented photographers, and I started reading books ('Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson...do it, you won't regret it!). Took me a while...and I'm still going...but once I started to grasp the relationship between shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, I was finally able to leverage the advantages of a DSLR. I remember being proud of this shot, captured with my D80 and a 50mm lens:
Lots of great advice in this thread, and of course it's really worthwhile to visit sites like dpreview and many, many others. For me the only true moral of the story is to consider your goals carefully before buying. If you want to capture the moment as ideally as possible with the least effort, get a good P&S and let the camera do the hard work for you. However, if your mind's eye sees the shot a certain way...and if you're willing to invest the time to learn how to translate that vision into reality...DSLR for sure. Good luck!
Labster
New member
TSC17 said:
I definitely will. I still have your number handy from that little detail I had to do on that 330xi with the cement caked all over the lower half!
RaskyR1
Rasky's Auto Detailing
Congrats Jacob!
I've been eying the Tokina 16-50mm f/2.8 ATX-Pro lens Todd mentioned and almost bought it yesterday but I know my fiancee will kill me if she finds out!
I've been eying the Tokina 16-50mm f/2.8 ATX-Pro lens Todd mentioned and almost bought it yesterday but I know my fiancee will kill me if she finds out!
Labster
New member
RaskyR1 said:Congrats Jacob!
I've been eying the Tokina 16-50mm f/2.8 ATX-Pro lens Todd mentioned and almost bought it yesterday but I know my fiancee will kill me if she finds out!
Mines about to kill me once she sees the camera when it gets here..lol
imported_rydawg1
New member
Labster said:
Congrats on the new camera!!!!!! :bigups
She will understand that you need it for your business right?:nervous2:
Labster
New member
rydawg said:
Thanks Ryan! The only thing she understands about detailing is that it paid for her engagement ring. lol.
tkr128
New member
Canon Rebel T1i at the moment (still getting used to it). Looking for an SD1300 or SD1400 as a P&S since my SD700 died.
RaskyR1 said:Congrats Jacob!
I've been eying the Tokina 16-50mm f/2.8 ATX-Pro lens Todd mentioned and almost bought it yesterday but I know my fiancee will kill me if she finds out!
Let's not be getting my name involved in this one Chad...the last thing I need is a mad fiancee calling me! :bolt
Labster
New member
TSC17 said:Let's not be getting my name involved in this one Chad...the last thing I need is a mad fiancee calling me! :bolt
hahaha, yeah. I hear ya. I got the :bat look this morning when I told her what I spent some of my tax return on. lol
RaskyR1
Rasky's Auto Detailing
TSC17 said:Let's not be getting my name involved in this one Chad...the last thing I need is a mad fiancee calling me! :bolt
Actually I mentioned it last night and she said that AFTER the wedding it would be ok if I bought it.
We are paying for the wedding ourselves so I can see where she is coming from. :chuckle:
Then she asked for your number..... :nixweiss
imported_rydawg1
New member
Heres a tip!
Print out pictures and put them in a portfolio book. Once you show your clients your work on numerous cars, the job is sold in a second. So a camera is an important tool.
My DSLR paid for itself after one shoot and showing my pictures to one client. It landed me a $3000 correction job with ease. Explaing the process with clear, sharp photos is the key.
Print out pictures and put them in a portfolio book. Once you show your clients your work on numerous cars, the job is sold in a second. So a camera is an important tool.
My DSLR paid for itself after one shoot and showing my pictures to one client. It landed me a $3000 correction job with ease. Explaing the process with clear, sharp photos is the key.
Labster
New member
rydawg said:
Already a step ahead of you. I just need to take care of getting some in progress pictures of corrections. Luckily I have enough cars that I'll be able to document, a z06 being next friday. Hopefully I can get a few shots although I'm afraid it'll be shot mostly in auto for this detail at least until I'm more comfortable with it.
Labster
New member
The guy I was suppose to buy the XSi from flaked on me 
back to the drawing board (aka Ebay and Craigslist)
back to the drawing board (aka Ebay and Craigslist)
Labster
New member
So I got the fiance to not kill me, she just demands being able to use the camera every now and then. So I can't complain.
RaskyR1
Rasky's Auto Detailing
So did you find another one then?
I just looked at my buddies new Nikon D3000 and I really wasn't very impressed with the UI and the body looks cheap. I'm sure once you get used to how things are laid out it's fine but I really like the way my XSi is.
I just looked at my buddies new Nikon D3000 and I really wasn't very impressed with the UI and the body looks cheap. I'm sure once you get used to how things are laid out it's fine but I really like the way my XSi is.