Photography: Camera Question

xoxo
Py

Since you got "an extra telephoto lens", then you got some sort of SLR, whether film or digital. But here's my general view for those starting out in photography:

I'd recommend starting off with a compact digital - the smaller size would mean you can take it with you, and take more pictures. That's the best way to get better - just keep shooting and trying various things.

I'd say one with a decent zoom, 3-5x or so, and a lens that would allow you a bit of widescreen capability, so the focal length on the minimum side something in the 20-30 range or so would be fine. From there, a fair F-Stop/aperture range for the lens is good for quicker shots of animals while moving and giving you control over depth of field for closer-in shots, or macro shots if you want some really close shots of a flower or an insect or something like that.

I generally don't recommend jumping right in to a digital SLR until you have some experience with photography and learn what you can do with a camera. That way you'll figure out what body and lenses you'll want and so on. Plus, they're a lot more expensive.


Edit: Forgot to mention - if you're going with 8x10 prints or so and no larger, 6-8 Mp is more than enough. If you want larger prints or some really big files for photomanipulation, then you'll want more pixels to work with.

Also, Optical zoom is the only thing you should consider - digital zoom is worthless, since all it does is act like "zoom in" to the picture you have, so the pixels get bigger, and the picture less crisp. You can zoom digitally all you want in Photoshop or whatever you use.

I use to work part-time in a photography studio. DE's advice is pretty sound; the SLRs even the entry level ones are fairly pricey (the Rebels start at $650-700). You'll see alot of Nikon vs. Canon debates on the internet; I'd say go to a store and pick which one feels more comfortable in your hand. The differences in the SLR category, especially for beginners and intermediate users, are minimal at best. It's just that whatever SLR camera you end up having will "limit" you to that manufacturer's lenses. (ie. You can't buy Nikon lenses and fit them onto your Rebel XT for instance).

I'm a Canon Rebel girl. I don't have a digital SLR yet, but I find having the film to work with is fine, and the ability to get a disc with my pictures satisfies my need to play in photoshop. Here's some of the images I've done with my camera:








(which I turned into)












Did all of that with the 35-80mm lens that I got with the camera when I bought it. It's good stuff.

I agree with Bayani though. Find the camera that you like and are able to work with best, and go with that one.

Great pics!!

And, if you do get a DSLR, consider taking a one day course in how to use it.

You young'ins have it so easy with yer deegital kameras. I remember hand rolling film in bulk loaders and sloshing chemicals around in a red lit closet with a sink.

Nikon, Cannon, I could care less as long as it's reliable and works well.

My personal opinion...


Start out with a fully manual film camera.


You heard me right. No digital, no auto anything. This way you learn exactly how everything works. THEN you can upgrade to something with bells and whistles.

Yes, it can be a pain, but learning the basics of how to do anything is well worth the effort.

I've done a bit of digital and film photography, The pictures i took with the film camera were much better than the stuff i take with the digital one. Mostly cause i had to take my time steady the shot and actually think about how and where to take the pic, cause i always only had a roll or two on me. So 60pics on a good day. Now with the digi i shoot and shoot and shoot with a 2gig card i can take 700 10MP pics. Changes the way i look at my picture opportunities, i honestly put a lot less effort into it. For learning i agree film is good.

As for cameras my biggest complaint about my digital camera is blacks and solid colors. A lot of time they show up noisy and generally not so great. A night scene takes on a whole new tone when you can see all the shades of grey that make up the night sky.

(PS. I played with can openers film and developer and all that too.)

I enjoy film photography, but have a different insight for starting out.

If you begin with a digital camera, you can take a look at what you've shot, see how you like it, reshoot, delete, make adjustments, shoot again, etc.

With a film camera you take your shots and, once the roll's done, drop it off to be processed. Once you get it back, then you know how your shots turned out. Try looking at a shot right after you take it and you'll be disappointed. Try deleting a shot that you got a fingertip in and re-taking it, and you'll be disappointed.

I really think for experimenting with framing, aperture settings, angle relative to the sun, etc. a newer photographer can do better with a relatively simple digital camera.

I suggest taking a photography class, actually. I went through Photo 1 and Photo 2 at my local community college, and it helped me a lot. I had this guy as an instructor, and man, he really hammered some lessons home. I wish I could scan the B&Ws (which was all the we used the majority of Photo 1) I did for that class. I have my portfolio somewhere.

Anyway, really learning the "craft" has it's benefits.

I've dabbled a little in photography, and took classes in college (lo, many years ago)

What I'd like to offer here is this: step back and take a little perspective. On the advice in this thread and on learning photography in general.

The advice everyone so far has posted is good. All of it. Even if it contradicts other advice offered. Film vs. Digital, manual vs. automated, classes vs. not classes. There are advantages and minuses to all of it.

Just step back a little and realize an underlying idea - that there are fundamental things about photography, things like framing, lighting, depth of field, what telephoto does to the subject matter vs what wide angle does, color, effects, composition. THOSE things are true *regardless* of what type of camera you use; digital, film, manual, automatic. You can learn them in a classroom, research them in books or online, or just try to learn them by trial and error.

and don't scrimp on reading the owner's manual, either. Knowing all its features can only help.

Happy shooting!

Oooo shiny. A college classmate of mine is a professional photographer working for Rolling Stone and she uses that camera as her backup. I dunno how much you'll be using it for video stuff but for stills that'll be more than enough. I noticed you got an extra lens. Did you get a flash too?

Wow, I want one of those.

Have fun!!

I have a 300 mm lens and I <3 it! It's amazing how close you can get with those buggers. Congrats on an awesome looking camera.

...I want it. Trade? For a little while?

Oddly enough, I've been thinking of making almost this exact thread. Well almost. I don't have a camera yet, but it's something I've wanted to get into. So extra thanks for all the advice and such.

Here is the "trinket" I bought to upgrade my olympus 2.3 MPix compact.
I have only had it for a month or so (bought it for my trip to the Vancouver Olympics) but I have been enjoying it quite a bit.

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EOS 50D with Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS




camera type
dSLR (digital Single Lens Reflex)

resolution
15.1 effective megapixels

image sensor type
22.3mm x 14.9mm single plate APS-C CMOS

image processor type
Canon DIGIC IV: Developed to maximize performance between capturing and recording stages of digital photography, Canon's DIGIC 4 chips use advanced signal processing technologies to enhance captures from Canon's CMOS sensors. Sophisticated processing algorithms help to speed up all operations, including write times to UDMA cards.

image stabilization technology
Canon IS (for supported lenses)

startup time
0.1s

Lens and focus
lens type
Canon EF-S Zoom

lens construction
15 elements in 12 groups (including 1 UD element) : 18-200mm lens

optical zoom
11.1 x zoom

maximum aperture
F3.5 (W) - F5.6 (T) : with 18-200mm lens

focal length
18mm - 200mm

focusing area mode(s)
One-Shot AF, Predictive AI servo AF, AI Focus AF, auto (AF), manual focus, 9-cross-type AF points

focusing distance
0.38m (minimum focusing distance): with 18-200mm lens

Exposure and imaging

shooting (drive) modes
continuous (3 fps up to 7 shots in RAW, unlimited in JPEG depending on memory, battery & compression), self-timer (2 and 10 sec delay), single frame, high speed continuous (6.5 fps for 60 frames JPEG, 16 frames RAW)

exposure (capture) modes
aperture priority, auto, depth of field AE, manual, program AE (shiftable), shutter priority

scene modes
close-up, flash off, landscape, night portrait, portrait, sport

Evaluative metering (linkable to any AF point)
Partial metering (approx. 9% of viewfinder at center)
Spot metering (approx 3.8% of viewfinder at center)
Center-weighted average metering

exposure compensation
±3 EV (1/2 EV steps or 1/3 steps)

sensitivity

Automatically set, ISO 100-6400 (in 1/3 stop or 1/stop increments)
Basic Zone modes: ISO 100-3200 set automatically
Extension settable (with C. Fn I-3-1): ISO 12800
High tone Priority Settable: ISO 200-1600

shutter type
vertical-travel, mechanical, focal-plane shutter

shutter speed
1/8000 sec to 30 sec, bulb

white balance mode
auto, cloudy, color temperature, custom, daylight, flash, shade, tungsten, white fluorescent light

Flash and lighting

flash type
built-in retractable: guide number 13m/43' at ISO 100

flash effective range
up to 13m (43 ft) at ISO 100

maximum flash synchronization speed
1/250 sec

flash compensation
±2EV in 1/3 EV or 1/2 EV increments

Physical characteristics

dimensions (W x H x D)
145.5mm x 107.8mm x 73.5mm

weight
730 grams

Viewing features

LCD monitor type
3.0 inch, 930,000 pixels LIVEVIEW TFT LCD

approximate battery life
640 shots (Liveview Off)
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Here are my two slideshows of the games if you feel like seeing a few pics

Olympics Part 1
Olympics Part 2
(the comments are in French ... sorry about that)

But as mentionned by others ... the camera is one thing ... the other is just like drawing ... you have to practice, practice, practice ... to get a good handle on the tool and to see things in a different way. So yeah ... I'm still working on that part ... I need to take more pictures and try stuff.

Pryo you will enjoy your purchase! Like everyone said keep shooting and you will see things improve as you go. I work in a commercial studio where we shoot mostly bedding and home furnishings for major companies. So I haven't looked at SLRs in quite some time. But I know Canon is the preferred brand for most of our photographers that shoot on the side.

Ironically our oldest photographer did exactly like Dark said and went and bought himself a really good point and shoot for his vacation trips and what not. He was very surprised at the quality and control he was able to get. This was after spending $5000 on a Canon 10D just the year or so before which was only 6.3megs. His point and shoot was 10 megs and only a few hundred bucks. lol

I know you've bought your SLR already but this may be a note for others looking to start out. One thing about buying point and shoot as a "newb" is it gives them the chance to test out if this is a hobby they REALLY want to do. I did and to be honest... I don't lol. I barely use my point and shoot.

I had a nice film SLR about 10 years ago and let me tell you the salty ocean air on a cruise was not kind to it at all. It ended up dying on me right afterwards and when I went to get it repaired they said it was rusted inside. LOL.

Also just as anecdotal conversation, our studio cameras run in the neighborhood of $20,000 to $80,000 depending on megs... Our largest is a 60meg camera... So this can become an expensive hobby fast! lol

Viv - great pics. Very good eye!


Edit - Almost forgot. Someone mentioned manual vs automatic to learn the camera's functions. Most camera still have a manual function so you can still learn how to do things the "old fashioned" way but with a new tech twist. Usually it's pushing buttons instead of turning knobs. Ya dang kids and yer fancy toys! :-P

I got one shot of mine on the cover of a map, but it was a work-related thing, so the "pay" was a large print of the cover and my name inside. But it's something, anyway. Copy of that pic is on my DA page, with a few others.