Would like to buy a beginner-level DSLR - need help

[mvssysprog]

Hi...

I have been using a point-and-shoot camera with tripod and photo tent to build my gallery on my website (www.stoppersnstuff.net). I continue to be really unhappy with the coloring coming out of the camera (I know that this is not what the p&s cameras are meant for). I would really like to buy a beginner's DSLR that will take truer colored photographs and works well on closeups (within the photo tent). I have been looking at Nikon D3100, D5100, and the Canon rebel t3i. But the problem that I have been reading about is that the standard lens that comes with all of these cameras are not suited for closeups. I realistically spend at least 10 minutes a photo, using Corel Photoshop X4, trying to get the colors more realistic.

I would really appreciate any recommendations that anyone has about which is a better camera to start out with as well as the type of lens I would need to get if I was just buying the camera box and getting the lens separate.

I am hoping to take some camera classes this summer at a local community college after purchasing the camera.

Thanks in advance for any assistance anyone can provide.

Dave

[pauland]

It might be a problem with your lighting rather than the camera. What lighting rig do you have?

[mvssysprog]

Hi....

Thanks for your quick response. I'm not using any artificial lighting... I use natural light under an awning to cut down on the glare.

Dave

[pauland]

How about a before and after?

[mvssysprog]

I usually clear out my Corel auto-preserve but I did find one that is fairly representative... This is an ambrosia maple bowl... .

The one designated sign2 is the result after lightening it up a bit and cutting down on the color. It's still not completely accurate but it is closer to the actual color. The problem also is that the coloring and lightness/darkness of the woods I photograph were not consistant, even during the same day. It's really frustrating.

I have shown my photos to a professional sports photographer and he agrees that the quality of the photos are not good. He did say that often it was the person behind the lens, which I can probably concur with, but he also said that the sensors in the p&s cameras are not normally configured for closeup shots... I always check the white balance to ensure that I am specifying full sun or shade (depending on the light).

Thanks in advance.

Dave

[pauland]

My feeling is that you'd be better off with a better lighting system, rather than an expensive camera. If you do a lot of product photography you can make or buy a simple lightbox, to evenly light the product. It can be as simple as a couple of natural light bulbs and a sheet.

I can't help but think that buying a new camera might leave you in the same place.

[Big Frank]

I have an EOS30D but if the lighting is rubbish then the camera cannot do magic for you. I built a lightbox and put aluminium foil on the left and right insides to try and get the light to bounce around more. I have been quite happy with the results. I'm still using the standard lens that came with it but for very close up work I simply added a couple of stepping rings. You get great depth of field and real close zoom. But I'm no expert so my experience stops there.

[Burone]

Hi...

I have been using a point-and-shoot camera with tripod and photo tent to build my gallery on my website (www.stoppersnstuff.net). I continue to be really unhappy with the coloring coming out of the camera (I know that this is not what the p&s cameras are meant for). I would really like to buy a beginner's DSLR that will take truer colored photographs and works well on closeups (within the photo tent). I have been looking at Nikon D3100, D5100, and the Canon rebel t3i. But the problem that I have been reading about is that the standard lens that comes with all of these cameras are not suited for closeups. I realistically spend at least 10 minutes a photo, using Corel Photoshop X4, trying to get the colors more realistic.

I would really appreciate any recommendations that anyone has about which is a better camera to start out with as well as the type of lens I would need to get if I was just buying the camera box and getting the lens separate.

I am hoping to take some camera classes this summer at a local community college after purchasing the camera.

Thanks in advance for any assistance anyone can provide.

Dave

Can you Pm me some pics, other details and exact price you want

[gwpriester]

Burone - You are a new member and cannot receive PMs until you have made more posts. I think it's around 10-15 posts.

[pauland]

Dave, it's been over four months now - how goes things on the photography front?

Paul