I just bought a....

[BellyBelly]

Canon 400D!!! It's an entry level DSLR but I am so excited to make the move. After seeing the awesome pics a friend of mine is taking of her children and also with Sam taking the great birth pictures, I wanted one!!! I got a 2GB card, hope thats enough, and it will be great for our holiday coming up in January. Already doing some online courses someone recommended to me and they are great (will post the link in a sticky!).

Anyways, if anyone has one or any tips, let me know. Can't wait to get started - picking it up in a few weeks!!!

[briggsy's girl]

yay on the purchase Kel - you'll have lots of fun playing with your new camera!! i have a nikon digi slr and wouldn't be without it!

[~Raven~]

Yay Kelly Welcome to the world of SLR photography!
2 gig would be plenty.

Boo for Canon Had to get that in as my photography teacher said boo to me when I got a Nikon ROFL as he is Canon mad.

Have fun and I hope your kids don't run away from you like mine do from me

[MantaRay]

Oh congrats Kelly. We bought one when they first came out (just before Tom was born but sadly his unexpectedly early arrival meant it wasn't charged yet and we didn't get any photos until the next day). We love ours. DH is a keen (and talented) photographer and has taken some awesome shots with it (we have extra lenses for it too), and I am a complete novice so use it in fully auto mode *hangs head in shame*. But even my photos turn out quite well!

I hope you share some of your pics with us.

[slyder]

Once you start with digital photography it's hard to stop. 35mm film still has it's benefits, but digital is great for so many things.

Just make sure that any you are having printed are taken in the best possible resolution setting on your camera so that the clarity is good, and also be sure to back up your photos regularly onto CD or DVD. You can't trust them computas!

[BellyBelly]

Heheheh thanks everyone!! I am sure my kids will run away from me, Marisa doesn't like photos much anyway ans Elijah screws up his face to smile which is very cute but makes it hard to see his face!!! So I will have to attack the cat when I practise I have started that online course I have posted and I am already playing with settings on my analogue camera, it's not that scary anymore! I can't wait to get right into the lessons more. Imagine how cool photos will look of Vanuatu!!! I wonder if I will need something (filter? protector?) in case of humidity?

[{sarah}]

Yay!! Congratulations Kelly

Try the Digital Photography School website, heaps of great tips. Also Fodors is pretty good.

[~Raven~]

I would definatley get a filter for the lens. Compare the price to getting a new lens if it were to be scratched!
You don't need to get a polarising filter for every day. I have a clear UV filter on my lense all the time.

[{sarah}]

Yep, clear UV filter here too.

[Shanti]

congrats Kelly! they're great cameras!

we bought a canon 350D SLR (the one before your's) about 13mths ago now cant remember actually but about that! and its great!! i'm still learning how to use it but it takes the best photos!!!! DH is better with it than i am!hes really good at taking shots

if you want to buy an IS lense for it (image stabiliser) they are about $1100 here but we got one for $800 over in Singapore (much cheaper for things like that!) and like Sammi said, make sure you spend the money on a filter! u dont want to get it scratched and they only cost $30 or something cheap like that

have fun with it...!

[BellyBelly]

Yup have asked for a clear UV filter too Thanks ladies!!! I did buy a lens too, I got the 'twin kit' they had on special. You get the 400D, as well as 2 Canon lenses - EFS18-55mm & EFS75-300mm. She said something about a stabiliser lens, is that what it is? I dunno LOL.

[Astrolady]

Fantastic camera Kelly. Andrew has one and recommends it to everyone.

Love

[Tracey]

OOOh what is the link about photography online courses!???

[{sarah}]

Online Digital SLR advice and lessons for newbies - BellyBelly Forums ~ Pregnancy, Birth & Baby

I'm going to check if I can add on some links too