New member needs help

[lurechunker]

I am new to the forum and asking for help. Our granddaughter plays basketball and I would like to photograph her. I kayak and would like to photograph birds. Is the EOS 760D the camera for me? Other? What lens or lenses? How can I protect my equipment form damage from saltwater? Thank you.

[ebiggs1]

"That's the best solution for an experienced user, but not for someone new to DSLRs."

Why is it that all new to photography folks are not capable of learning the hobby.  It is utter nonsense to think that a 7D Mk II would inhibit a person's ability to learn how to use a DSLR.  It is as automatic or as manual as anyone wants it to be.  Maybe it is just me, because of my DSLR 101 classes, that I believe anyone can learn photography if they want to.

A 7D Mk II, a couple of lenses and a couple zip lock bags and the OP is ready to shoot.  Ocean or birds!  Sounds pretty simple to me.

[Waddizzle]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"That's the best solution for an experienced user, but not for someone new to DSLRs."

A 7D Mk II, a couple of lenses and a couple zip lock bags and the OP is ready to shoot.  Ocean or birds!  Sounds pretty simple to me.

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Of course, it sounds pretty simple.  That's my point.

[TCampbell]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"That's the best solution for an experienced user, but not for someone new to DSLRs."

Why is it that all new to photography folks are not capable of learning the hobby.  It is utter nonsense to think that a 7D Mk II would inhibit a person's ability to learn how to use a DSLR.  It is as automatic or as manual as anyone wants it to be.  Maybe it is just me, because of my DSLR 101 classes, that I believe anyone can learn photography if they want to.

A 7D Mk II, a couple of lenses and a couple zip lock bags and the OP is ready to shoot.  Ocean or birds!  Sounds pretty simple to me.

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The key to the above is the last part of your sentence... "if they want to."  I recall the days when products came with instructions manuals that people actually read.  Today, many products don't come with instruction manuals at all... they assume the consumer will just figure it out as they go.  

While cameras still come with instruction manuals, those manuals explain how to operate the camera, but not how to do better photography (e.g. the manual doesn't explain why you should choose one mode over another given the type of shots you plan to do.)  But there are books and courses that teach that.  Even though I've been shooting for years, I picked up a few of these books to decide if I should be recommending them to new users and generally the answer is 'yes'.

However... did you happen to see the announcment of the new Canon T7i and 77D that was released last night?

But I bring this up because these two new cameras now have a mode that helps new photographers learn.  You can enable an option (it's on by default on the T7i but it's off by default on the 77D) that uses a cartoon diagram to help the photographer understand how a change to the exposure triangle will alter the image.   For example, if you adjust aperture, they show how the background may change from more blurry to more focused as you alter the f-stop and they show how the depth of field is being changed.  It's a visual diagram much like you've probably seen in books, but the diagram is live in that as you change your camera settings, the diagram changes to show the effect.  

I'll be very interested to try this out on the camera to see how it works for myself (all I can see now are very short clips that talk about all the features of the new cameras and only flash this feature for a few seconds.)  It seems like it may be very helpful to those trying to learn to shoot in modes other than just full automatic.

[ebiggs1]

"...many products don't come with instruction manuals at all..."

Tim,

I can only assume if a person invests the money to buy a 7D Mk II and a couple of decent lenses, they would be willing to learn how to use it.  I know some people buy for the bling factor but I suspect most of us will put forth the required effort.

Some may be pleased with a certain level and stop there. Some will go on to greatness.  But to assume a new to photography person can't buy a 7D Mk II because they are doomed to failure is nuts.

The camera that is most likely to survive salt spray or water is the 7D Mk II.  It is a camera that can be as little or a fantastic as the OP or anybody wants.  The 7D Mk II and the ef 400mm f5.6L lens is going to be a tough combo to beat for birds or BIF, also.  Win, win and win.  You guys all need to give people cut the OP some slack, here.  She just might be smarter than you apparently think!

[Waddizzle]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

  But to assume a new to photography person can't buy a 7D Mk II because they are doomed to failure is nuts.

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No one said that.  That's you making false assumptions again.  Assuming that anyone can pick up a professional camera and can get the most out of it is no different than assuming anyone can walk into a professional kitchen and be a gourmet chef.

[EDIT].

I guess best solution depends upon one's definition of "best".  Sometimes, I believe it to mean "best fit", not "best gear". 

[lurechunker]

How about a T6 with a 75-300 for backyard birding?

[RobertTheFat]

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lurechunker wrote:
How about a T6 with a 75-300 for backyard birding?

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If by "backyard birding" you mean that you set up a feeder and then hang out until the birds get used to you sitting there in a lawn chair and taking their pictures, that rig would probably be sufficient. But for anything beyond that, I think you'd be seriously under-equipped.

[ebiggs1]

"...anyone can walk into a professional kitchen and be a gourmet chef."

Maybe not but anyone can walk into a professional kitchen a cook a hot dog.  That is all that is required to own a 'professional' kitchen or professional camera.  The 7D Mk II has the green square!  It is included for a reason.  Just because you can not get the most out of a professional camera doesn't indicate some one else will not.  Maybe they won't or can't on day one but later?

"That's the best solution for an experienced user, but not for someone new to DSLRs."   Hmmm, false assumption?

[RobertTheFat]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"...anyone can walk into a professional kitchen and be a gourmet chef."

Maybe not but anyone can walk into a professional kitchen a cook a hot dog.  That is all that is required to own a 'professional' kitchen or professional camera.  The 7D Mk II has the green square!  It is included for a reason.  Just because you can not get the most out of a professional camera doesn't indicate some one else will not.  Maybe they won't or can't on day one but later?

"That's the best solution for an experienced user, but not for someone new to DSLRs."   Hmmm, false assumption?

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Suppose you're a newbie and you buy a 7D Mark II. It works great for you. but by the time you learn to take full advantage of it, the Mark III is out - or even the really good APS-C mirrorless that Canon seems to be inching towards. Maybe you'll wish you'd bought an entry-level camera and saved your money for an upgrade, now that you're good enough to take advantage of it.

I'm not lobbying for that course of action. I'm just saying that there are two sides to the argument.

[ebiggs1]

" I'm just saying that there are two sides to the argument."

There is and it seems like mine is the most unpopular!  Why?  I don't know.  It is just one of several solutions and really not deserving of all this banter.  Is it?