Darksbanes Cameras

Camera Body

CANON EOS-1 EOS1 FILM SLR CAMERA BODY S/N : 169956 $186.00

Leica MP 0.72 Rangefinder Film Camera Body – Silver $3,356.00

Canon Rebel T1i 500D Digital SLR Camera Body 6 lens Kit $1,066.00

Canon 7D Digital SLR Camera Body +6 Lens: 2 IS ON SALE! $2,072.00

Nikon D90 Digital SLR Camera Body +5 Lens 16gb * NEW * $1,269.99

Canon EOS Rebel XSi 450D Digital SLR Camera Body 3 Lens $609.99

SLR Rear Lens Camera Body Cover Cap for Pentax PK $0.99

D5000 Digital SLR Camera Body +4 Lens: 2 Nikon KIT. NEW $924.00

Nikon D90 Digital SLR Camera Body 5 Lens: 18-105 VR USA $1,522.00

Nikon D90 Digital SLR Camera Body +2 VR Lens **NEW** $1,333.00

Nikon D90 Digital SLR Camera Body + 4 Lens Kit ON SALE $1,079.99

Nikon D5000 Digital SLR Camera Body + 5 Lens: 2 VR NEW $1,155.00

D700 Digital SLR Camera Body + 7 Lens: 2 Nikon, 1 VR $3,228.00

Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR Camera Body BRAND NEW $844.95

D5000 Digital SLR Camera Body 5 Lens: 3 Nikon NEW &MORE $1,122.00

Rear Lens + Camera body Cover cap for NIKON AF AI DSLR $2.20

FULL BODY 1/3 SONY CCD SECURITY VIDEO CAMERA $72.07

Canon 7D Digital SLR Camera Body +7 Lens * CHECK IT OUT $2,272.00

D300 Digital SLR Camera Body +5 Lens: 2 NIKON VR Kit $1,832.00

NEW Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR Camera Body + 5 Lens Kit $1,229.99

Nikon D5000 Digital SLR Camera Body + 3 Lenses +8GB NEW $729.99

Nikon D3000 Digital SLR Camera Body +4 Lens Kit *NEW* $717.00

Canon EOS 7D Digital SLR Camera Body +7 Lens: 28-135 IS $2,534.00

Nikon D5000 Digital SLR Camera Body +5 Lens NEW ON SALE $1,099.99

Nikon D3000 Digital SLR Camera Body + 4 Lens Kit + 8GB $669.99

Nikon D300s Digital SLR Camera Body +5 Lens &MUCH MORE! $1,999.99

Camera body Cap fit+ Rear Lens Cover for Canon 400D 20D $2.20

Nikon D5000 Digital SLR Camera Body + 6 Lens LOADED KIT $1,122.00

Canon EOS T2i 550D Digital SLR Camera Body 5 Lens: 2 IS $1,444.00

Nikon D90 Digital SLR Camera Body +18-55 VR &MORE *USA* $1,124.00

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Omron Body Fat Monitor and Scale Fat loss monitor with scale. Easy to read 2″ extra large digital display. Measures body fat percentage in .1% increments. Weight capacity up to 330 lb (.2 lb increments). Four person profile memory plus guest mode. Displays previous reading. Chrome metallic finish….

Health o Meter SAB602-05 Dial Scale, Black with Silver Accent $9.95 Health o Meter SAB602DQ05 Dial Scale, Black with Silver Accent has large platform. Also has chrome bezel and pointer. It is very accurate. Accurately measures weight up to 330lbs….

Sunpentown WC-1271 ThermoElectric 12-Bottle Slim Wine Cooler $104.59 WC-1271 Features: -Holds 12 standard bottles. -Slim silhouette. -Touch-sensitive controls with LED temperature display. -ThermoElectric cooling system. -Quiet operation (30dBA). -No vibration (bottle sediment is not disturbed). -Temperature display in F or C . -5 Slide-out shelves. -Tinted double pane insulated glass door. -Platinum trim and cabinet. -Soft interior light. -Front leveling legs….

Crossing the Border Trad & Baroque Flute Music $10.77 …

The History of the Saxophone: In Words and Music …

Surefire G2L-Single-Output LED Flashlight The G2 LED is a compact high-output flashlight featuring a body made of tough, corrosion-proof Nitrolon polymer and an aluminum bezel. It uses a virtually indestructible power-regulated LED and a precision micro-textured reflector to produce a smooth 80-lumen beam—four times the light of a big two-D-cell flashlight, and more than enough to temporarily blind and disorient an aggressor by impai…

Vivitar Deluxe Power Grip fits Canon EOS XSI EOS 450D $59.95 The Vivitar Power Grip holds 2 LP-E5 batteries, providing twice the power. It also includes an adapter that allows you to place 6 AA batteries for extended shooting time….

Philips Norelco Bodygroom Shaver …

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD for Apple iPhone 4 (Full Body) $24.99 The Zagg Full Body Maximum Coverage Invisible Shield is precision cut to cover the front and back of the Apple iPhone 4. It uses a patented film with nano-memory technology that covers and shields the phone. It has a self-healing feature that will stretch and return to its original configuration. The shield protects the phone from unsightly scratches while not adding any bulk or taking away from t…

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD for Apple iPad (Full Body) $34.99 InvisibleSHIELD for iPad Full…

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Building a Camera System

Building a Camera System

R. Dodge Woodson

World Photographers Organization

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to benefit from a component system. But, if you want to become a pro, you have to go this route. What is a component system? It is a group of photography equipment that makes up a viable tool for handling a variety of photographic situations. At the least, it is a camera body and some interchangeable lenses. It can include independent light meters, filters, flash units, and much more. When you get into component systems, you are stepping up in price, but you can build these systems over time without breaking your bank account. If you are truly serious about wanting fantastic photos, this is the only way to go.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When you shop for a camera system, you should approach your selection process in much the same was as you would buy clothes. The gear you get has to fit and feel right. Camera designs vary. Some are more comfortable than others. Finding just the right fit is an individual thing. What works great for one photographer may not work well at all for another. You have to handle different brands and types of equipment to find what is right for you.

Most serious photographers start with 35mm systems. A few jump right into large format cameras, but they are the exception, rather than the rule. When I say this, I’m talking about serious amateur photographers. A good number of professionals start off with large-format equipment because it provides them with definite advantages in some types of work.

Medium-Format

Medium-format cameras are used to take professional pictures at weddings and in studio settings. The big advantage is the size of the negative. It is considerably larger than its 35mm cousin. This makes retouching and cropping easier. If you plan to get into darkroom work and super high-quality portraits, a medium-format system is the way to go. Most photographers, however, are better served by the versatile 35mm system.

Pick A Brand You Can Stick With.

When you choose a particular brand of camera to build a component system around, you must be judicious. Once you start with a brand, you should stick with it. There are many brands of cameras available that will give you professional-quality photos. Some brands offer more lenses and accessories than others do. This is important to a person who is building an extensive system.

When I think of professional 35mm equipment, two brand names come to mind. Other manufacturers of 35mm equipment get some professional attention, but there are clearly two, or maybe three, leaders. In medium format equipment, one name is king, while others are also respected. You don’t have to buy into the best-known brands to get good service and quality, but it doesn’t hurt. The important thing is to pick a brand that you can grow with. Check the No-Bull Reviews at World Photographers Organization for any recent equipment reviews.

How will you know what brand of camera to work with? Many factors may play a role in your decision. The amount of money you are willing to spend for various types of equipment is one consideration. Top-notch names command big prices. You can go with a lesser-known name and get good quality for a lower price. But, make sure that your budget-minded camera has enough lenses and accessories available to keep life interesting as your skills and interests grow.

My first 35mm camera was a Minolta®. It was a good camera that gave me thousands of wonderful pictures. This brand is respected among professionals and it offers a wide variety of options for building a component system. When I grew into a new level of photography, I switched to Canon® equipment, which I still use today. I love it! Canon is a major contender in the professional market. Over the years, I’ve spent well over $10,000 to develop my system. Nikon® is known for its reputation among professionals. The name is almost synonymous with professional. Any of these brands will provide you with more options than most people can afford to buy. And, there are other good brands, like Olympus®, to choose high-quality products from.

Before you buy a camera body, research your options. Look at a listing of what accessories are available within the brand. Check prices on the various brands. If you can see that there is a depth of support accessories and that you are comfortable with the price ranges, you’re well on your way to picking a brand. Handle various cameras and operate them in the camera store. Have someone at the store run through all of the controls with you. Once you buy your first camera body, you are setting the tone for your entire system. Don’t do this until you are sure that you like the brand.

Lens Quality

Generic lenses can be used on most camera bodies, but this is somewhat self-defeating. Why pay a small fortune for a professional camera body and then attach a dime-store lens to it? This doesn’t make sense. Your lenses have a tremendous impact on the quality of your photographs. Try to keep all of your purchases within the same brand. This will normally produce the best results.

A lot of people don’t know what type of camera they want even after buying a new camera. If you haven’t been shopping yet, I can tell you that cameras aren’t cheap. Maybe you know some people who have cameras. These individuals would probably be glad to share their experiences with you. Ask if you can go with them on their next photo excursion. Some photographers are very protective of their stuff, so don’t stand too close when you ask. Using the equipment of other people under real photography conditions is an excellent way to pinpoint your needs and desires.

Used Equipment

Cameras are like cars in that they are very expensive when new and lose a lot of value once they are used. Some types and brands of cameras hold their value very well, but most don’t. If you are willing to buy used equipment, you can save a ton of money. Well, maybe not a ton, but a lot. It’s likely that you will pay half-price, or less, when buying used equipment. There are some risks involved with the purchase of broken-in gear. Notice I said broken-in, not broken-down. Let’s talk about some of them.

There are three basic ways to acquire used photography equipment. You can consult one of the many mailorder advertisements, go to your local camera store, or watch classified ads where individuals are selling their old equipment. If you are dealing with a reputable company, you should gain some protection from cameras that are duds. Buying person-to-person doesn’t afford this protection.

If you know enough about the type of gear that you are buying, you can test it before purchasing it. Since you may not yet have this type of knowledge, a reputable dealer who sells used equipment is probably your best bet. Dealers charge more than most individual sellers do, but you should be getting some peace of mind for the higher price you pay.

Regardless of who you are buying from, get a full demonstration of the equipment before you hand over your cash. Ask for all manuals and documentation that should accompany the camera and accessories. If no documentation is available, you might want to pass on the sale and continue your search. It may be possible to order new manuals from the original manufacturer, but don’t count on this being the case. Used equipment provides an economical and sensible way to enter the field of photography, but make sure that what you are buying is in good working order.

Choice of Champions

The most versatile type of camera that you can buy is a 35mm format. You can do almost anything with this type of rig. Large- and medium-format cameras have certain advantages over 35mm units, but the handy 35mm is, by far, the more popular. This popularity is well founded.

What makes the 35mm system so desirable? It is light in weight and easy to use. The cost of 35mm equipment is much less than that of larger formats. You can equip a 35mm camera body with a wide-range zoom lens and meet most of your photo needs without ever changing lenses. Many zoom lenses incorporate a close-up feature in the lens so that you can shoot anything from insects to airplanes with the same lens.

If you want to get serious about photography and build a component system, the 35mm format will most likely be the best choice. As long as you buy into a major brand name, you will find a seemly endless supply of accessories to add to your collection. Gee, I wonder if manufacturers planned this?

Start with a camera body that accepts interchangeable lenses. Add a zoom lens, and get a protective filter to cover each lens you buy. It’s much better to have an inexpensive, replaceable filter take the knocks and scratches that are common with some types of photography than it is to damage an expensive lens. If your camera doesn’t have a built-in flash, buy a small electronic flash to compliment your system. This is all you need, in terms of hardware, to get started in taking serious photographs. You can add more to the system as you define your needs through experience.

Remember, the camera body is the foundation of your system. The body you buy will play an important role in the development of your overall system. Once you know what you want to do and which brand you prefer, buy the best body you can. Cutting corners on a camera body will hamper your growth as a photographer.

Buy well, shoot often, and enjoy the wonderful world of photography.

Life is best when seen through a Canon L® lens.

R. Dodge Woodson

About the Author

R. Dodge Woodson is a full-time internationally-known, best-selling author and photographer. He created the World Photographers Organization (WPO) as a serious resource for all photographers from point-and-shooters to pros. Photographers of all skill levels come to WPO to learn, to increase sales, and to take advantage of the extensive resources offered by WPO. Having been a pro photographer for more than 30 years and a full-time writer for 17 years, Dodge now feels it is time to share his tricks of the trade with up-and-coming freelancers. Woodson’s most recent photo book is: Maine Unseen: A Photographic Adventure That Few Witness(Available at Amazon). Life is best when seen through a Canon L lens.