First off - thank you to everyone who has responded. I hope you all won't think me an ingrate looking to upgrade this early - I agree that the K10D is a good camera and that it was a generous gift. Even if I upgrade in the next few weeks or months, I would want to keep it and continue shooting with it in some capacity.
For those who are advocating waiting and learning before I upgrade: I concur that I have a lot to learn and although I am shooting and reading about photography daily, I have a long way to go. And there is no reason why that learning process couldn't occur only using the tools at my disposable. But for those times when my new skills 'click' or I get lucky, I wouldn't mind having a nicer image as the result. Would it any way slow my development as a photographer to use a newer camera body?
Originally posted by DeadJohn @Saxtonine, what do you like photographing? Landscapes, portraits, wildlife, etc. are different specialties that share some lenses but do best with specific lens characteristics.
My wife and kid are two of my favorite subjects so portraits are important to me. The 50mm is great for that. I'd post an example or two but I'm not too excited about putting images of them all over the internet. The other thing I'd like to get into is forest scenery. I'll attach an image that I took today - and I'll add that I want to try this scene again (it's quite nearby) with better light (it was actively snowing when I took this) a tripod and maybe steal my wife's polarizer.
Originally posted by DeadJohn Welcome to the forum. We're a good bunch most of the time. I see your location is PA. Lots of good spots for photography. I frequently visit for camping, hiking, and photography. Philly, Harrisburg, Gettysburg, Bethlehem, Jim Thorpe, lots of State Parks in the north-central forests - they all have good place for photography. That's mostly the eastern half of the State but I do mean to explore the western half as time permits.
Thanks! I'm glad to be here. As for PA - I'm a native who has lived in the west for the last 6 years or so and I'm impressed all over again by PA's natural beauty. I am really looking forward to shooting in some of the parks and forests you have mentioned this spring.
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Originally posted by pschlute I used a K10D for eight years until just recently. It is a good camera. Yes the technology has moved on enormously, but the basic camera controls are the same.
If you are new to photography my one bit of advice would be to consider the light you are shooting in as much as your subject. Early mornings and early evenings are times when there are plenty of better things to be doing than photography, but there are no better times to capture a great image.
Thanks! "Considering the light" is something that I'm working on and I think perhaps is making me more observant in general. Now if Mother Nature would cooperate and the sun would come out for more than guest appearance, that would help even more!