*Some links in this post may contain affiliate links. This post was originally written in 2014, pricing has certainly varied over the years! Want to see a photographers eyes bleed? Hand them a black Friday ad. This morning was no different. I am a loyal Best Buy customer having bought oodles there… tvs, refrigerators, games, etc….. just not cameras or anything to do with them. This morning I got the black Friday preview email…. cue eyes bleeding. Please don’t fall pray to the “deals” on these kits, as they are just going to be a let-down for anyone who knows anything about SLRs (or anyone who’s willing to learn). They’ll quickly realize the lens is plastic (all kits lenses are!) and will only produce a good image in broad daylight (not at 6AM when the kids want to open their Christmas gifts) and that camera bag…. well…. it’s fugly and will prove to be too tiny for all the gadgets you’ll inevitably collect. On the left is the ad I received via email this morning…. bundles that will “save” you! Not. That camera bag…. yuck-o! That lens…. crap-ola! On the right is the same camera body, with 2 prime (they don’t zoom… use your feet, people!), a flash and a sexy camera bag! Check below for links of everything. The camera $449 through Amazon. 35mm 1.8 $196 A good all-purpose wider lens that will work well in lower light 85mm 1.8 $496 A good all-purpose longer lens that’s great for capturing across a room or anywhere some distance is needed. It’s also good in low light. SB-80DX $133 …. even the greatest camera won’t work clearly in darkness… a flash with a swivel head will be your BFF. (I own this flash, and love it!) Super nice camera bag: Ona Chelsea bag $369 (obviously you can find something for much less) = $1279 without the bag or $1643 with the bag…. still FAR less than the kit in the Best Buy ad, and much higher quality lenses!!! Want to gift a camera (or maybe someone has a nice camera) and want them to learn to use it properly…. meaning NOT on auto or P mode…. I love teaching my Camera 101 class. 1 on 1 classes are $225 for 2-3 hours and groups are $145 per person (with a minimum of 3 people, max of 5). Email me to set up a class for someone special or gift it to yourself!
