My
first camera was Sony DSC S930, typical "idiot camera" with nice macro
(about 1:3 with good quality). I took many shots with this camera, but
it wasn't enough for me. I was searching SLR cameras for amateurs like
me ("entry level cameras") and I chose Canon EOS 1100D.
After
taking thousands of shots I came to several conclusions. I will write
about them in the "chronological" order - from my first thoughts to the
last.
Pros:
1. The camera is very light, about 0,5 kg (1 lb);
2. Menu, navigation is very easy to use;
3. Good quality of photos (depends on lens, kit-lens is poor) and movies (in 720p);
4. Iso 800 looks still ok;
5. About 380$ for body.
Cons:
1. Plastic look;
2. Battery is not enough for many photos with mounted flash;
3. No autofocus in videos when they're being recorded (and mono-sound in those vids, only 25 or 30 fps, no 60fps option and advanced video settings);
4. Lack of useful options and filters like "hdr photo" etc;
5.
There's no sense to buy this camera with kit-lens, because this lens is
for "everything and nothing", so quality will be just average (if you
want something really good you have to buy good lens);
6.
There's no matrix clean system, you have to do this manually (or give
camera to Canon service).
This is good camera from entry level in my opinion. As I know from many
reviews - this camera has good ratings (average 4/6). It's better than
Nikon D3100, but worse than Pentax K-R (if we are comparing
cameras with the same prices). But quality of photo depends on your
experience and interesting ideas, basis is a good lens and flash.
After 6 months with this camera I decided to buy new and much better Canon 60D camera.
Thanks to those people who are watching ads on my blog.
Canon 60D (previously Canon 1100D - note will be placed under the photos);
Sigma 610 DG-ST with diffuser-softbox (but I prefer natural light);
Optionally - extension tubes (65mm) for higher magnification than 1:1 and Kenko 1.4x extender;
No stacking.
NOTE - some shots I took with reversed Exakta 24mm f/2.8 lens (there will be info about this under the photos). It's cheap method for high magnification macro (with only one or two extension tubes).
You don't have to be registered to add comment (I will be grateful for your opinions and critique).
Macro scale from 1:3 to about 4:1 (first photo is in 1:1 and it's dragonfly called Migrant Hawker. It is one from my first photos which I took with Canon 60mm lens and mounted flash without any diffuser):
Aperture - f/6.3; shutter speed - 1/200; iso 800 (taken with 1100D)
Wasp:
Aperture - f/11.0; shutter speed - 1/25; iso 100 (taken with 1100D & with the extension tubes)
Big spider in the basement:
Aperture - f/8.0; shutter speed - 5s; iso 100 (taken with 1100D & with the extension tubes)
Damselfly:
Aperture - f/16.0; shutter speed - 1/125; iso 400 (with the extension tubes & Kenko 1.4x extender)
Migrant Hawker (male):
Aperture - f/4.0; shutter speed - 1/200; iso 100 (taken with 1100D)
Aperture - f/5.6; shutter speed - 1/200; iso 320
Aperture - f/6.3; shutter speed - 1/125; iso 400
Female:
Aperture - f/5.6; shutter speed - 1/125; iso 160
Aperture - f/4.5; shutter speed - 1/400; iso 100
Hover-Fly:
Aperture - f/4.0; shutter speed - 1/200; iso 200
Vagrant Darter:
Aperture - f/8.0; shutter speed - 1/200; iso 250
Aperture - f/8.0; shutter speed - 1/125; iso 500
Aperture - f/8.0; shutter speed - 1/125; iso 500
Black-veined White:
Aperture - f/5.6; shutter speed - 1/125; iso 100
Grasshopper:
Aperture - f/8.0; shutter speed - 1/50; iso 400
Crab Spider:
Aperture - f/8.0; shutter speed - 1/160; iso 250
Four-Spotted Chaser:
Aperture - f/5.0; shutter speed - 1/50; iso 200
Banded Demoiselle:
Aperture - f/13.0; shutter speed - 1/250; iso 100 (with the extension tubes)
Great Tiger Moth:
Aperture - f/9.0; shutter speed - 1/250; iso 250
The Common Blue:
Aperture - f/11.0; shutter speed - 1/100; iso 400
The Sooty Copper:
Aperture - f/6.3; shutter speed - 1/160; iso 500
Damselfly:
Aperture - f/16.0; shutter speed - 1/160; iso 500 (taken with reversed Exakta 24mm lens)
Aperture - f/16.0; shutter speed - 1/200; iso 400 (taken with reversed Exakta 24mm lens)
Chrysops:
Aperture - f/16.0; shutter speed - 1/200; iso 100 (taken with reversed Exakta 24mm lens)
Eye of Green-Eyed Hawker:
Aperture - f/16.0; shutter speed - 1/160; iso 500 (taken with reversed Exakta 24mm lens)
Aperture - f/16.0; shutter speed - 1/250; iso 100 (with the extension tubes & Kenko 1.4x extender)
Azure Damselfly:
Aperture - f/4.0; shutter speed - 1/500; iso 320
Aperture - f/13.0; shutter speed - 1/160; iso 250
Aperture - f/14.0; shutter speed - 1/125; iso 200 (with the extension tubes & Kenko 1.4x extender)
Caterpillar:
Aperture - f/10.0; shutter speed - 1/160; iso 500
Green Forester:
Aperture - f/4.5; shutter speed - 1/125; iso 200
Spider:
Aperture - f/13.0; shutter speed - 1/125; iso 100
Spider and his victim:
Aperture - f/8.0; shutter speed - 1/250; iso 100 (with the extension tubes)
Cabbage Butterfly:
Aperture - f/4.0; shutter speed - 1/160; iso 250
Damselflies (different spieces):
Aperture - f/8.0; shutter speed - 1/125; iso 800
Aperture - f/5.0; shutter speed - 1/50; iso 100
Aperture - f/2.8; shutter speed - 1/250; iso 200
Aperture - f/2.8; shutter speed - 1/200; iso 250
Aperture - f/4.0; shutter speed - 1/100; iso 200
Aperture - f/8.0; shutter speed - 1/80; iso 400
Aperture - f/13.0; shutter speed - 1/100; iso 2000
