>>3266916Invest in a 7D Mark I that goes for about $300-$350 online. It's a tank and and gets you into the pro-sumer level of gear for not much money. I've never shot Nikon, so I can't recommend anything in their line, though I'm sure many bros here can.
Next, start looking online for old m42 screw-mount lenses. Most of them can be had for anywhere between $40-$75 a pop, and are really great pieces of glass. Yes, they're manual, but you know what? Everyone shot manual until, say, 1985 or so, and like you said, people produced great images then, too.
This will teach you a few things as well, mainly composition, because you won't be relying on your lens to find focus for you, and more importantly, the relationship between ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. Basically, it forces you to learn about your camera, and I think that would make you a better photographer.
When I got into photography, I had a limited budget as well, but I said to my myself, "Anon, if people have been producing great pictures with primitive gear for decades, so can you with even an entry level DSLR."
Go for the following three lenses to start out:
- Super Takumar SMC 50mm 1.4 ($70 on eBay)
- a 135mm f2.8 (I have a Vivitar 8-bladed one I love, but the Takumar 3.5 is also great and goes for about $30)
- A 28mm f2.8 (again, go online and read reviews, but they can be had for about $40)
- A Jupiter-9 85mm f2 (probably the most expensive piece of glass, but even at $100, it's a steal for what you're getting)
There ya go: A good, reliable, not-too-old body, and four great prime lenses for about $550. Is it the be-all, end-all setup? No, but if you're on a budget, and you don't mind a learning curve, this will make you a better photographer because it forces you to get the fuck out of auto.
