The first time I tried a DSLR... (many pics)

[Russian Blue]

Try putting less money into the body and more money into the lenses. The body will have to be replaced at some point, but the lenses will remain.
And, when you see some of the lenses out there, that's all you dream about.

Believe me, the kit lenses are 'ok' for learning, but knowing how strongly you are into photography, you will want to upgrade quickly. So, you might want to consider getting a year or two year old SLR and getting more value by investing in the lenses.

Try going to your local camera store and trying out the lenses. You'll see the difference.

[Glacier]

Try putting less money into the body and more money into the lenses. The body will have to be replaced at some point, but the lenses will remain.
And, when you see some of the lenses out there, that's all you dream about.

The best camera advice I ever got was "bodies come and go, glass is forever". The guy who owns the only camera shop up here told me that while I was debating between Olympus and Nikon. He was right...my D80 has lasted almost three years, through heavy use and more than a little abuse! It needs to be replaced(although I'm giving it to Stuart; it will last him another 10 years as he rarely takes pics and shoots mostly in full auto mode)

Saving up now to add a macro lens to my gear.

A few weeks ago I got to play with a Nikon D3 with a 400mm zoom on it....that combo is costs more than my truck. I nearly fainted from the camera envy!!

[Kirsten]

Thanks for your advice everyone! It's going to be hard for me to purchase all this addional stuff, I'm lucky if I can affort the camera! It's kind of frustrating because I really love taking pictures, and I'm not happy with the results of my S5 for a long time now. I just feel there's more I could do with a cam, but I just don't have the money!

Right now I have the Sony alpha 100 here, but that's only for a couple of weeks.

Kirsten

[Sonia59]

Good pics!

I fully agree with Glacier and Russian blue! The Sony alpha 100 is the one I have. I chose it because I had a Minolta film camera and I wanted to re-use the same lenses, especially the 75-300. I did not invest into more lenses, only an expensive flash (someone bought it for me in the US 2 years ago, with the dollar lower than the euro, it was a very good deal! ). But now I am seriously considering changing the camera itself (well, I mean when I'll have money...), and as the lenses are not such high quality, I am also considering taking this opportunity to change brand I'd like to go for a Nikon. As for lenses, someone in my family has a 50 mm fixed focal lens (used with a Canon 5D)...my dream lens!! The pictures are really different from you can take usually because the focal corresponds approximately to what you see with your eyes.

Besides, I still use my compact Canon Powershot S80, that I can bring everywhere. Actually, I use both in parallel, and I would miss not having a compact camera

[Pinot's Mom]

I took photography classes in college, was very used to an SLR, joined the digital era and NEVER liked the problems with the regular digital cameras, and I had good ones! The digital delay drove me NUTS, and the fact that the camera would NOT let me do what I wanted. I was ready to go back to my old SLR; seriously! Not this past Christmas, but the one before, my husband surprised me with the Canon EOS Rebel xti digital SLR - I was back in love with photography again! The difference is amazing!

Mine was a package deal. You can have a great deal of fun, and take amazing pictures, with the lenses in the package. Upgrading will come, but don't rush it; you're a good photographer and can use those lenses very well.

[Barbara]

Kirsten I am glad to see there are specialists here who can give some good advise- at least it sounds good to me.
Me, being unable to take a focussed picture even when I'm using an autofocus I say: Problems with one lens? Can't see it.
I love the fur of your kitties in the sun- they could be sisters to my poor Tigris.

[moosmom]

Kirsten,

You have an obvious gift here. Your pictures are spectacular!!!

Glacier,

Great advice!! Exactly what my Dad, a news photographer, told me!!!