if i were to buy a new camera... doesnt matter which cause im kinda oblivious to the camera world and what is good and what is bad.

basically, i'd like to know what i would want to look for, specifically, in a camera if i were to invest in buying a really really good one. just want your profession opinion, because its quite obvious you know a little more about photography than i

what are you looking for... give him more info.. you will get a better anwser
price range
digital?
use
blah blah blah

If you want a shitty digital camera to kick around, you can get a Sony 2.0 megapixel for 170$ at Best Buy.

sorry what i meant was, if i were to purchase a manual camera.
price is not an issue. just... what would i need to take into consideration
when buying or searching for a camera. i plan on persuing photography
and i'd figure a good start would be to buy a really good camera.

i own a shitty digital one but im looking for something a lot better
and more adjustable (aka manual). im pretty much STUPID when it
comes to manual cameras, or the higher priced digital ones (if you
have not noticed so far)

well, there are tons of manuals out there. My advice is pick either a brand right now that you think you are going to be happy with later on. the main reason is so that you can buy nice lenses and are able to use them on future cameras.

if you are just going to stick with film and aren't going to go with a digital or hybrid, the minoltas are pretty slick with lots of features.

if you might go with DSLR later, the canons or nikons are where it's at. They both have high/low-end film, plus high/low-end digital. Personally, I don't like canon lenses.
for starters:
canon elan 7e = $350
nikon N80 = $430
given those two, I like the nikons better... you get a 50mm 1.8 lens and you are set for $500

Though where are you thinking of going to school for photography? If you are thinking of something like the hallmark inst. you should look into getting something used on the film side now cause when you go into photoschool, it's all about the Mamiyas and Hasselblads.

so.. what do you want to do with this camera?

if you want to get a digital:

http://www.dpreview.com/

I'm on that site so much.
their forum is awesome.

it's a funny forum...

for now im taking up some photography classes in my last year in high school (im still in high school... tyqw9ity98gh9reghret) but band photography would be something i'd love to do sooner or later.

I'd try to get a used nikon n80 with a 50mm f-1.8 lens.
that's what I would get.

i second what my old man said...that lens is best for concert photography...mainly when you cannot use a flash and for bigger venues...it depends on the shows you will shoot though..i suggest perhaps a zoom lens too...don't you think so aaron? esp if you are going to be shooting more than shows

get a 50mm 1.8 first ($100 brand new) and then look at other lenses.
also, make sure you if you get a zoom lens, make is a f-2.8 or lower lens.
3.5 and up sux balls unless you are going to be out side in bright light shooting.

lens 24mm 1.8 (sigma)
f 2.0 @ 1/15 freaking low lighting ISO 1000


lens 28-70mm 2.8 (sigma)
f2.8 @ 1/30 semi-low lighting ISO 800


all the other pictures on this site (after 2/21/03) are with my 17-35mm f2.8-4. it's awesome at 17mm in low light, aove 20mm (f 3.3) it sucks. and in lots of lighting it sucks. Succubus has the 24-70mm 2.8 sigma lens. it's alot bigger than my 28-70 2.8, and gives you a touch more in the wide end.

thanks a lot. i notice that your camera is digital to the extend of uploading and the lcd screen, all that stuff, so yours must be a hybrid then.

for now im learning how to take black and white photos and developing and all sorts of the basic stuff, but thats just for school use. for personal use, i'll take into consideration of all of the above. thanks again.

it's not a hyrib, those are like $20K

it's a DSLR,
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Nikon/nikon_d100.asp

...and thats where my ignorance takes into play. live and learn. awesome i'll check it out.

well, there are hybrids.
you can snap a digital back on to some brands.
I read about the hassleblad one in last months photography magazine.

get the sept 2003 issue of popular photography
they have 3 pages comparing all the 35mm manual and digital cameras (51 of them).
It's pretty awesome.
if you want me to scan it for you , I will.

oh.. and I've taken 32,000 shots with my d100 since getting it 2/24/2003.

lenses I bought:

17-35mm sigma f-2.8-4 ($439) use for all concerts
28-70mm f2.8 sigma ($300) use for no-flash concerts and outside shots
24mm f1.8 macro sigma ($300) never use except for macros. however, when I forget and leave it on my camera and go to shows, I get awesome shots

lenses I want:

17-55mm DX f2.8 Nikon ($1100-1800) give me 20mm over my 17-35mm AND it's 2.8 straight through
70-200mm f 2.8 sigma ($600-$900) zoom range, low light and with a 2.0xTC I can shoot lunar shots
50mm 1.8 ($100) I would never use it, but I want it.