One thing I knew would be a necessity for this blog was a new digital camera. It was a goal of mine from the start to have really nice and large photos on the site. My small point and shoot wasn’t going to cut it. A decent DSLR was always on my buy list and after weeks of research and pouring over review sites, I finally bought a Canon Rebel T1i / 500D!
I had an interest in photography since high school. They had a photography class and there I learned the basics and how to develop my own film. Many years later I bought an SLR film camera, a Canon Elan 7e. It was a great camera, and it cost me a lot of money, but it was not easy for my novice skills since I had no idea if my settings were right until the pictures were developed. Right around that time digital cameras were starting to become a competitive alternative for professionals and hobbyists. My film camera was neglected and eventually replaced by a cheap point and shoot digital camera.
When making plans for this blog I wanted to be able to take good, high-quality, photos. Especially with my BJD on the way. So with that the journey began to find a new digital camera. At first I was going to get one of those mid-range cameras that look like a DSLR, but with the lens permanently attached. However, they typically use a CCD imaging sensor, which tend to have problems with glow effects and low light.
As I read more reviews I kept going up the price range to the more expensive models. Eventually, I finally settled on the mid-range true DSLR cameras that have removable lenes and use CMOS imaging sensors. I eventually narrowed it down to the Canon T1i or the Nikon D5000. The Nikon had a nice flip out screen, but the Canon had a bigger screen with a higher resolution. The Nikon was better in lower light, but the Canon had a wider tonal range. The choice was tough and it took me a while to decide.
Due to my Canon Elan 7e, I already had a flash head and a lens that could be used with the Canon DSLR. So the choice seemed pretty clear.
I bought the camera off of Amazon (thanks to a new store card). Now that I’ve had the camera in my hands, I can say it feels well built. It’s such a large difference from my old point and shoot. The lens it came with is a fairly standard 18-55mm “kit lens.” While not the best, it does the job for someone that has to relearn how to use a camera with so many options. I would like to pick up a better lens down the road, especially a 50mm lens—the old standard lens for taking sharp portraits.
The kit lens has a built in stabilizer for camera shake.
The 3 inch screen on the back has a very high resolution, which is great when you use Live View. Live View allows you to see what you’re shooting so you don’t have to use the viewfinder.
I also bought a high speed memory card. This camera can also shoot HD video, but you need a fast memory card to save the large video files. To top it off I picked up a book to help me learn to use the camera (hopefully) and a small reflector.
The new Canon T1i next to my old Canon Elan 7e. The Elan has the optional grip added on the bottom, which is why it’s taller. The grip doesn’t fit the new camera, unfortunately.
With a simple test you can tell the difference between the old point and shoot digital camera (left) and the new Canon DSLR (right). From here on out the pictures on the site should look better and more professional!
