Some good rule-of-thumb things for photography.
- Too many people buy the best camera they can afford, then put cheap glass on it. Do the opposite, buy the best lenses you can afford, then hang a decent body off the back. Expect to pay at least $400-600 (or more) for a decent all-purpose lens, and at least double that for a pro-quality setup. My Canon 24-70 f/2.8L goes new for over $1300 (e-bay is your friend). I know it's a horrendous amount of money to spend on glass, but I have thoroughly enjoyed it. And if you're serious, well.. it takes good equipment to get the best pics.
- Practice. A lot. Then practice some more. Digital is great for studying the different aspects of photography because you get instant feedback. You can take all the pics you want virtually for free so make good use of your time.
- Don't be afraid to take a lot of pics. I may shoot several dozen pics and only end up with a few that I like. Again, digital is your friend in this respect.
- Decide what your primary output format will be. If you are only going to print the occasional 5x7 or 8x10 you can get buy with a 5-6 megapixel body. For up to 11x14 you need at least 6. For poster sized prints you are getting into the 8-10 Mp range (not to mention many more dollars).
- There are some really good point and shoot bodies. Don't be afraid to explore them for all-around shooting. But for the ultimate in versatility you will want to go dSLR and start collecting lenses. A good midrange zoom with some macro capability should be first, as this usually ends up being your most useful lens anyway. After that, an extended zoom for sports, wildlife, etc. Then the sky's the limit.
Hope this helps!
Brad
