Should i buy an actual camera or will my iphone suffice?

Sh0ckw4v3 · 01-07-2013, 08:50 AM

Hey guys, I'm getting back into the game heavily and I really want to start doing photography with some friends of mine that play.

My price range is about $500. What recommendations can you make about anything in that price range for paintball photography? Something durable, with a case/whatever that can be shot (not on purpose obviously).
What is the biggest bang for my buck?

skwirnmn · 01-07-2013, 12:16 PM

30D with a 55-250 lense. Find both used, and you'll have plenty of money left over.

Drex17 · 01-07-2013, 01:26 PM

Yea for any kind of PB photography you'll need a real camera with decent glass. if you go canon the 70-200's are great lenses.

IncompleteSpork90 · 01-07-2013, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skwirnmn

30D with a 55-250 lense. Find both used, and you'll have plenty of money left over.

.

I loved my 30D when I jumped from a Rebel series when I truly started to shoot, but I wished I had picked up a 40D.

But seeing how much the 30 is going locally and on places like FM I have no hesitation picking another up for a backup-backup, you won't be disappointed.

Sh0ckw4v3 · 01-07-2013, 02:19 PM

Alright, alright. Getting a little more information on this, thanks y'all.
Another question, what about protection for the camera itself? How can I protect it from being damaged if it were to be shot? Does it matter all that much?

skwirnmn · 01-07-2013, 04:35 PM

You're not going to be able to afford a 70-200 or a 40D
The 30D and 55-250 can be had for less than 300 bucks. The best protection for your camera is your brain. Keep your head up and you won't get hit. I get hit at least a hundred times more when shooting video, I go entire events with out getting hit with paintballs while I'm shooting photos. I wouldn't bother with protection for your camera other than common sense while you're on the field. Filters aren't worth the trade off with such a cheap lens. If you actually bought a 70-200, then I'd recommend spending the extra 60 bucks for a nice filter. But for a hundred dollar lens, protection is not needed.

Sh0ckw4v3 · 01-07-2013, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skwirnmn

You're not going to be able to afford a 70-200 or a 40D
The 30D and 55-250 can be had for less than 300 bucks. The best protection for your camera is your brain. Keep your head up and you won't get hit. I get hit at least a hundred times more when shooting video, I go entire events with out getting hit with paintballs while I'm shooting photos. I wouldn't bother with protection for your camera other than common sense while you're on the field. Filters aren't worth the trade off with such a cheap lens. If you actually bought a 70-200, then I'd recommend spending the extra 60 bucks for a nice filter. But for a hundred dollar lens, protection is not needed.

Alright, thank you for the well put answer

Veyron109 · 01-08-2013, 02:04 PM

/threadhijack

Debating what DSLR to pick up for myself, gotta give back the T3 that I was borrowing over the last 2 months so I'm looking to get my own camera now.

T3 vs T3i vs 40D, opinions? $500-650 price range

reddogphoto · 01-08-2013, 06:26 PM

40D, or a 30D even if you want to save. You get better controls and stronger construction on a prosumer body, and moving up to the more advanced cameras from an 30D/40D is pretty intuitive.

skwirnmn · 01-08-2013, 07:21 PM

30/40/50D if you're only doing photos. If you're doing video, obviously the t3i.

benji25 · 01-08-2013, 08:52 PM

Always spend more on lenses when starting out. In terms of picture quality when you are starting out every DSLR will be almost indistinguishable. Well newer camera have bells and whistles? Yes but when you are starting out you the only things you need to change are basic setting (aperture, ISO, shutter speed) all of which are adjustable on DSLRs. The more lenses you get the more situations your camera will excel in. And the best part is that when you upgrade your body the lenses stick with you.

Veyron109 · 01-09-2013, 06:26 AM

Seems like most people are pointing me to the 40D, time to do some searching...

Quote:

Originally Posted by benji25

Always spend more on lenses when starting out. In terms of picture quality when you are starting out every DSLR will be almost indistinguishable. Well newer camera have bells and whistles? Yes but when you are starting out you the only things you need to change are basic setting (aperture, ISO, shutter speed) all of which are adjustable on DSLRs. The more lenses you get the more situations your camera will excel in. And the best part is that when you upgrade your body the lenses stick with you.

That may be some of the best advise I've heard so far

JOHNNY G · 01-23-2013, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drex17

Yea for any kind of PB photography you'll need a real camera with decent glass. if you go canon the 70-200's are great lenses.

I just ordered a 70-200 L Series

To go with my xti and my t3 and my newly added 40D

Also have 18-55 and 28-135

Oonlooz · 01-23-2013, 08:17 AM

Well, i personally own a 1Dx and a variety of L lenses and i would say the 30D is a great camera and you can get em in a good price range i do know that the older 1D mark 2 goes for about $400 for just the body and those are pretty much the most durable body out there and it has quite a good shot quality... I'd say the 30D or and older 1D if you can get one... Dont cheap out on lenses because if you have a ****ty lense it doesn't matter what your using behind it

Sh0ckw4v3 · 01-23-2013, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oonlooz

Well, i personally own a 1Dx and a variety of L lenses and i would say the 30D is a great camera and you can get em in a good price range i do know that the older 1D mark 2 goes for about $400 for just the body and those are pretty much the most durable body out there and it has quite a good shot quality... I'd say the 30D or and older 1D if you can get one... Dont cheap out on lenses because if you have a ****ty lense it doesn't matter what your using behind it

Thanks for some more advice!

Oonlooz · 01-23-2013, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh0ckw4v3

Thanks for some more advice!

Check ebay aswell there are some good deals there just make sure the guy has good feedback or even better if they are a store

.Outlaw. · 01-23-2013, 10:53 AM

Also pay attention to your field layout. My first DSLR had a cropped sensor so it brought my 70-200 right to the borderline of being too close on snake side- where I usually was. A 55-250 would solve that or a full frame sensor (with the cheaper option being the former).

[i.e. Canon cropped sensor adds 1.6x to any lens.. so my 70-200 was then a 112-320]

wafflecakee · 01-23-2013, 12:12 PM

A 1d mk II n would be a really good idea.

40d rules. the 55-250 or whatever it is blows. Don't cheap out (too much) on glass. Get an 18-200, assuming you don't get a 1D, it's not the greatest but it will do everything you need for awhile. Pick up at 50 1.8 on the side later.

ef-s lenses will not work on a 1d as they are mostly 1.3 crops.

The idea of a crop sensor multiplying a lens' focal distance is not the best way to describe it. You're using a smaller sensor so imagine taking an image then cropping it smaller. That's what's happening.

.Outlaw. · 01-23-2013, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wafflecakee

The idea of a crop sensor multiplying a lens' focal distance is not the best way to describe it. You're using a smaller sensor so imagine taking an image then cropping it smaller. That's what's happening.

True. I know it's not technically correct, but it's easier (for me at least) to think about it that way (i.e. I use the 70-200 on my 5D instead of my Rebel because the resulting image is cropped too tightly--which I translate in my mind as being "too zoomed in"). But yes, you are right.

outkast kid · 01-23-2013, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wafflecakee

the 55-250 or whatever it is blows

I disagree. The 55-250 has great image quality and is pretty damn good for sports or general purpose use. I shot with one for the first year I had a dslr and managed to get some great images out of it. Albeit I was still very novice to photography but all in all it wasn't a bad lens.

55-250:

70-200 F4L:

As was said, you won't be able to use the nifty-two-fifty on anything but a 1.6x crop sensor so keep that in mind. Also think about more than just paintball photography for a body purchase. Everyone is shouting 40D but a t3i is going to blow that body out of the water in every technical category except frames per second.

wafflecakee · 01-23-2013, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outkast kid

I disagree. The 55-250 has great image quality and is pretty damn good for sports or general purpose use. I shot with one for the first year I had a dslr and managed to get some great images out of it. Albeit I was still very novice to photography but all in all it wasn't a bad lens.

That's ok, but I'll never agree. I've shot L glass for too long I suppose.