What to buy??? Suggestions needed!!

[WillMac4Food]

Well I want to first say that you guys and gals are frickin awesome!! I have been reading your forums since last September, and have learned sooo much. I bought my 12" Powerbook about the same time and have loved every minute of it. If I had enough money I would change my entire house over to Macs, but you gotta start somewhere. I have been putting off actually posting on the forums becasue I know once I start I will be sucked in and be a constant presence here.

Now to business. I have a little money to spend from my tax return and am not sure which way to go. I would love to start getting more serious about photography. We currently have a kodak 5mp digital camera, usually takign pictures of our 5 kids. I am somewhat unimpressed with the overall quality. I know alot has to do with the user not the device, but I would really like to take the plunge on a Nikon D50. I think that I will be able to take better pictures and now that my kids are gettign older I can take pictures at their sporting events. I also would like to build a base of pictures for web sites. I am startign to dabbel in them on my spare time. (With 5 kids, a full time job, and going to college full time, it is hard to find time.)

My other interests are getting a Wacom tablet (I think a 6x8 would do). I have never used one but I think that I would get a lot of use out of it. Like I mentioned before starting to learn web design, and would love to learn photoshop and other designing applications. If I go this route I would also dump some money into books. To learn these things and for my intended profession in computer networking. I have found a lot of books that I want to read from O'reilly and alot of others.

So to make it simple, should I go for the camera or the tablet and books? Oh wait, I also would throw in I really want a dell 24" widescreen monitor. That I guess it my third option. (Currently I use a dell 21" flatscreen CRT) I can only get one of these options so I need persuasion. All three would be great and I will probably get there eventually. I'm just not sure what would be the best to start. What would you do?

Sorry if this is too long or if I have rambled on but I've never really posted anywhere before.

Thanks in advance, and I can't wait to get to know alot of you better.

 

[bah-bah'd]

... I can take pictures at their sporting events.

... books, O'reilly and alot of others.

1. Go Nikon D50! I remember when I saw the first D series model back in 2000, I think it was. You will love that camera and yes you will beable to take stop action photos at your favorite games...

2. Then I would get a subscription to O'reilly's Safari, for viewing their books online for $19.00.

3. Then comes new monitor, expecially if you need a great display to design on.

4. Once you perfect your bowstaff and mouse skills, then go Wacom pen tablet... You will really realize the benifit of the pen tablet after your learn how all the mouse-head designers do it. A pen tablet is not really a necessary tool for web/product packaging design, etc. so it would more be like the 'big extra'

EDIT: that is $19 a month by the way....

 

[WillMac4Food]

I thought about O'reilly's safari, but there is something I like about having a hard copy of a book infront of me. Even more if it is a reference book. Easier to skim, and after looking at a screen all day at work, school, and play, I find it easier on my eyes to read from a book.

I think it is making more sense to get the camera first. If I have the images to use and keep then I can do anything with them. As far as books, there is plenty of information online to read. Once my skills advance I can benefit from a new monitor and tablet, and by then there might be better one availabel to me for the same price.

 

[rjphoto]

That's my vote, too

Get the camera and a good lens.

The folks around here have made many post regarding which lens for a beginner to get, so just read some of the post in the Digital Photography forum.

Oh, I love your User Name.

Welcome and happy shooting.

 

[xparaparafreakx]

4. Once you perfect your bowstaff and mouse skills, then go Wacom pen tablet... You will really realize the benifit of the pen tablet after your learn how all the mouse-head designers do it. A pen tablet is not really a necessary tool for web/product packaging design, etc. so it would more be like the 'big extra'.

Get a Bluetooth Tablet, its fun and wireless.

 

[bah-bah'd]

Get a Bluetooth Tablet, its fun and wireless.

I was just about to say I after checking out those tablets, I moved it way up on my list, but not above D50...

 

[matperk]

As for Digital SLRs, I have a canon EOS digital rebel and it's a great way to start into high-end digital cameras. They have a new EOS digital rebel that is 8mp. The benefit is that not only does it have most, if not all of the pro camera's features, but it's under $1000, and it uses any canon lens all the way from the $300 ones to a $6000 one that I threw on it the other day.

I love knowing pro photographers.

 

[WillMac4Food]

Thanks for all of the input guys. I am going to start looking for the best deal I can get on the D50. I am going to look for the 2 lens kit. Where do you all suggest to look? (of course I'm going to google the heck out of it, but any suggestions would be great!) I know it is not all about price, service and quality is weighed in too.