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| Back in the Saddle | | Date Created: Aug 23, 2005, 10:08 AM |
 The last time I touched a "serious" camera was during my days with the Boy Scouts. For a Photography merit badge, I learned how to handle a semi-professional level Canon 35mm SLR in the mid and early 1980's. I also learned how to develop from negatives, crop photos, and enlarge photos in a dark room. Unfortunately, the chemicals used for developing the black & white prints I worked with made me itch like crazy. It has been "point and shoot" cameras for me ever since. From 35mm, to APS, to digital 1.3Megapixel cameras, they've been shrinking in size and level of difficulty to use.
Lately (the last 6 months) the old photo bug has suddenly caught up with me. Without the need to play with harsh itchy chemicals anymore, the prosumer SLR cameras available today have fostered a new itch... a Photography itch. Looking at magazine and online photos made by professionals and prosumer amateurs, I realized that, "I could do that" or more accurately, "I'd LOVE to do that!" |
 Yesterday, I scratched that itch. After months of research into various options that would fit my budget, and carefully balancing my resources so it wouldn't impact my wife and my quest to reduce our debt and save for a house (see my Personal Finance Tips for more info) I purchased the needed starter kit pieces for my new re-enabled hobby from Amazon.com. The core of my new adventure into the world of digital photography is the Canon EOS 350D digital SLR otherwise known as the Digital Rebel XT. I purchased the body only option since I was planning on getting higher quality lenses for my SLR. It tops out at 8Mp and uses the same DIGIC II processor as the higher end EOS 20D SLR. It uses CF media so I also purchased a Sandisk Ultra II 2GB CF card and the Sandisk Ultra CF to PC Card adapter for my PowerBook. |
| The most important part to most photographers for getting the best picture of course is the lens. Though I didn't want to skimp on features and capability, I really wanted to remain within a certain budget. After discussing with several pro-level photographer friends of mine and looking at reviews/opinions online, as well as actual shots, I decided on 2 Sigma lenses. I originally was only going to start out with a single high quality Canon lens with a relatively wide list of features that would be enough for general photography. Instead I settled on the 2 Sigma lenses which ended up being cheaper, while arguably being capable of higher quality and sharper shots. 2 Lenses also afforded me more flexibility in terms of shooting subjects from landscapes and portraits, to sporting events. |
 The main lens I'll be using is the Sigma 18-50mm F/2.8 EX DC. It has the same focal length as the default lens that comes with the full kit version of the Digital Rebel XT, but it has MUCH higher quality optics and is much faster at F/2.8. This will be for general use, close-ups, Standard Zoom, wide angle landscapes and similar photos. Its excellent low light performance also means that it will be an excellent night time lens. I expect this lens to be on my camera 80% of the time. |
 The second lens I purchased was the Sigma 55-200mm F4-5.6 DC. This is a nice Telephoto Zoom lens that will allow me to take nice sports shots from "the stands" and other photos requiring me to be at a distance. Though not quite as powerful as some other Telephoto Zoom lenses available, it is similar in size and actually lighter than my main lens, plus like the other Sigma lens I mentioned above it is much more affordable than similar lenses from Canon. |
 Last but certainly not least, I ordered the Canon Speedlite 420EX Flash. An affordable, but relatively powerful flash, it has many features that higher end flashes have including auto focus metering and an adjustable swivel while keeping within budget. It only loses some custom controls and LCD/LED readouts that the more expensive external flashes have. It's also useful for future upgrades because it can be "slaved" to higher end flashes. "Why should i get an external flash?" you may be thinking. Ask any photographer and they'll tell you that the built in flash of pretty much all cameras are essentially crap. The power, flexibility, and just sheer quality that an external flash adds to a camera setup is worth it. Most photographers list 2 main things a photographer MUST not do without (after the lens and camera itself of course): an external flash and a tripod. I already have an old tripod that I have to pick up from my parent's house that has gone years without any use. It's time to dust it off. Eventually I have to get a nice but compact camera bag to hold all this (except maybe the tripod), so if anyone has any opinions on good ones, please let me know in the comments. |
 This new section of Jedi's Lair will essentially be my photo blog. I'll host my photos on another site for sharing (maybe Flickr or Pbase.com; please let me know in the comments below your thoughts for the best Photo sharing site) but I'll link to the best shots here as well as keep a running log of my photo adventures/mishaps. First up (other than photos of Ricky of course) will be a chance to take some Telephoto Tennis shots at the US Open 2005. My friends and I will be going this Monday evening to the Arthur Ashe stadium. After I verified via a phone attendant with the USTA that still cameras are still allowed (the strict security measures these days ban video cameras and even cell phones at the USTA events), I figured this would be a great way to break in my new camera.
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