Originally posted by Javaslinger I've got to start somewhere right??? I'm a grad student so funds are limited....
However, if you'd like to bankroll me, that would be much appreciated !!
Ken
why do so many students use that excuse?
i'm a student too, but i also have a job, go figure
what i'm trying to say is that you will quickly learn that arbitrarily setting your limit to 500 dollars is a bad move, you will quickly realize that all of a sudden you've sunk more money into this than you previously planned
once you buy that body, you'll need a lens, and a memory card
you can make due with a kit lens second hand, but then you will start reading about fast glass, and will want a faster lens
then you will read about old glass, and will want to try the manual focus stuff, you will scourage ebay and craiglist for deals, but at the end of the day there goes another 100-200 dollars for a bag full of older lenses
at first you will not want to use your flash, then you will read about flash photography and give it a try, you will start off with cheap flashes, but in the end, end up buying a higher cost unit with cool features, you may even get into wireless and multiple flashes, then the amount of gadgets related to flash will fill a hole bag
speaking of bags, you might make due with a regular bag or just sling the camera around your neck, but then one day you will meet someone with a fancy camera specific bag, like a sling shot bag, you will give it a try and then wonder why you havent gotten one from day one
then comes other small junk you havent thought about
extra batteries
extra memory cards
software
computer ugprades
then random hardware
tripods
monopods
(yes, do note the s's)
maybe a low-budget light setup
ohh, and i havent even touched teh subject of owning multiple modern 300-500 dollar lenses.
so please, if your budget really is only 500 dollars, and anything more will put you in the poor house, step away now
if that budget is only arbitrary, then get the k10d and enter a world of much fun and wallet burning...
when i got into this, i thought i would only need one camera and a 50mm lens..... now i own 4 camera bodies, a tripod, a monopod, a flash, and 17 lenses.. and a recently aquired negative/slide scanner