Photography
In the world of photography, the Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera has the best blend of quality and functionality. It is by no means, the most popular camera; that distinction has been enjoyed by the digital point-and-shoot since the early 2000's. But digital SLRs are gaining ground with entry-level models like the Canon 350D and Nikon D40. The most desirable feature of the SLR is the ability to change lenses. The right lens provides the best quality for its focal length(s). It is very difficult to create a lens that zooms from ultra-wide to long telephoto and maintains high image quality. Smaller than medium-format but larger that point-and-shoot, the DSLR is the only way to go.
In the summer of 2006, I bought my first camera, a Canon Rebel XT. The decision was spurred by my interest in photography and by the fact that my friend Jerod had had one for years. My first mistake was buying the kit lens along with the camera. The Canon EF 18-55mm is not a very good lens, but it is cheap and can produce pretty images. If I were to do it again, I would have bought a better lens to start with. But in the end, I have managed to pull together a pretty good rig.
I use Flickr to post my images online. The service has a few quirks, and it takes some time to figure out where everything is, but there are many, many users and lots of community. Flickr was the choice over a smaller startup because of the large-community factor.
July 2007
