What i use...
I'll be the first to admit...there's better equipment and better technology out there. Much better actually, but this is what we're using right now (my better half and I). It's the Canon Rebel XTi. This model of the Rebel line was released more than 5 years ago. And at the time it was decently high end at the consumer level, and had enough strengths to accomplish everything I wanted. I'm ready for a trade up now to the new T3i (yet another consumer kit), but I really have no choice but to continue to click away with what I got until the time and funds present themselves. You'll find the specs for the XTi here, but in short it's got a 10 MP censor, 100 - 1600 ISO, full manual, full auto modes, with a little of everything in between. Anymore how technology marches forward, my little camera was nearly obsolete the moment I bought it. But if you wait for the bigger better deal, you'll never get anything.
It's been a great little starter camera, and we've taken over 20,000 shots with it since we got it. I've been able to learn quite a bit about it, and can get to any setting I need really quick. One of the features that has been invaluable, is figuring out the light metering capabilities. More accurately, the meter locking...pointing at the lighting you want to expose for, then locking that metering in to get the lighting you want (instead of letting the cameras processor pick it out for you).
The Lens...
The one thing that I've done to improve our photos more than anything else, is to buy this lens ------> It's gotta be pretty much the cheapest lens that Canon sells, the EF 50mm f1.8. If you go to look it up, you'll see that I've gone above and beyond (or down and out) to buy the cheapest lens out there. But as the review in the linked article states it "hits a price:performance ratio that's very difficult to beat." So if ratios interest you, as they do me when two factors such as quality and price are concerned, I'm there. I haven't shot with any high end professional studio equipment, so I wouldn't know what I'm missing, and have really loved this lens.
Otherwise when it comes to peripheral equipment, I'm kind of a make shift jury-rigger. The cheap 12 dollar tri-pod and old SLR flash (that I have to manually sync up) work good enough for me to be happy and get decent results.
If you are at all serious about capturing higher quality pictures, you need to seriously consider buying a digital SLR camera. SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex, and refers to the mechanical movements within' the camera. Anymore, the different brands are pretty competitive in what they offer, and what can be done. I chose Canon, as it definitely has a strong presence among professionals, and a very wide and proven track record. Otherwise, I've seen amazing award winning photography with all brands of camera. If you're looking for a recommendation, you can plainly see I've gone Canon. Research it out, and see what people have to say about each brand. You may be surprised that someone elses reason could be yours, and lead you to your next purchase.
Otherwise when it comes to peripheral equipment, I'm kind of a make shift jury-rigger. The cheap 12 dollar tri-pod and old SLR flash (that I have to manually sync up) work good enough for me to be happy and get decent results.
If you are at all serious about capturing higher quality pictures, you need to seriously consider buying a digital SLR camera. SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex, and refers to the mechanical movements within' the camera. Anymore, the different brands are pretty competitive in what they offer, and what can be done. I chose Canon, as it definitely has a strong presence among professionals, and a very wide and proven track record. Otherwise, I've seen amazing award winning photography with all brands of camera. If you're looking for a recommendation, you can plainly see I've gone Canon. Research it out, and see what people have to say about each brand. You may be surprised that someone elses reason could be yours, and lead you to your next purchase.