I am very eager to get myself a decent beginner’s camera as a hobby and also for work reasons.

I love experimenting with different scenery shots, people and cars etc, and am going further into the media/photography at work.

So it is important that i purchase a camera which will be easy to use but at the same time takes an amazing picture.

I am also learning more on the graphics and Photoshop/Fireworks side of things to use the photographs with once captured.

I enjoy taking different, maybe sometimes unusual shots, but professional wise i am not experienced, i just know i have to take a picture of certain moments!

Any idea's on which camera would suit me best? I haven't got a lot of money to spend but would save to be able to buy the best for a beginner

The pictures below are from my not so good at all Iphone 3GS camera! It does not do the scene any justice whatsoever! All i know is when i see something in a moment i want to capture it quick!

Any pictures of similar shots or your personal favourite would be great to see :yes:

The Reservoir By Early Night

Christmas Time 2010

You really need an SLR camera to do any sort of justice to a photo as the necessary control isn't available with a point and shoot camera.

Also, use the 'rule of thirds' to assist in your photo composition as whatever camera you have will benefit from that.

I'm sure others will be along shortly with more beginner info.

Excellent start! Get on Flickr, join some groups and get some tips and inspiration from there.

I'm a canon man myself and i have an EOS 7D. Started with an EOS 400D and it was awesome. The 550D at the moment is pretty much the same as my camera with a couple less functions and a third of the price.

Pay as much as you can afford, the more you pay the better the kit. The stock lenses that come with SLRs are fine to start off with and learn with. They do a good job.

Make sure you have a tripod. Before you get into using flashes and learning that part, get used to low ISO, long exposures.

If you want something smaller and with interchangable lenses, go for the canon G12 (i think that's what they are up to?). Loads of functions, size of a point and shoot

Andy Sweeney

http://ASweeneyPhotos.Tumblr.Com

http://www.Facebook.com/ASweeneyPhotos

My verd@mdt browser was refusing to let me post in this thread on Friday! to say that, with results like those from a phone camera, get an SLR, with a wide-angle for landscape work, and a short telephoto for portraiture.

Thanks guys

You say you have little budget but an idea of what 'little' is would help us suggest different options.

If little is something around or under the £200 mark, then look at something like the Canon G10/11/12 range. They offer the chance to use manual settings, gain an understanding of how aperture, shutter speed and ISO affect the image and help you to become a better (technical) photographer.

If you're talking budget between £200-400 then start having a look at DSLR's. Don't forget though you'll have to include glass so you'll be limited to secondhand really if you want a bit of selection. The Nikon D90, Canon 40D or even one of the newer, smaller cameras, like the Nikon D5000 or Canon 550D. Lens wise, you'll be struggling to get anything amazingly fast. You may have to get along with either a kit zoom lens (one of the 18-55 IS/VR) or go for a standard Prime lens - 50mm 1.8's can be picked up for between £70-90 depending on brand.

If you've got a budget of £500+ then I'd still suggest getting either a Canon 40D or Nikon D90 but investing more money in glass.

Check out TalkPhotography for a useful site with lots of great members who are always willing to help newcomers. Once you've hit 25 posts and been online a month you'll also gain access to the classifieds.

I do hope that helps a little...

DB

Do all of your research in terms of specs and prices and build a shortlist (less than 5 cameras). Then go into a shop and hold the shortlist of cameras in your hand and change some settings. There is no point in buying the camera with the best feature set if you hate holding it or navigating it's menu system. Select the camera with the best balance of features and usability.

i have a fujifilm s3200! my first camera and dam i had some nice shots from it!

Don't forget that there are plenty of places that sell used equipment so, when you've held and experimented with the cameras you're thinking of getting that, using common sense and perhaps with help from someone who is familiar with cameras, there's some good deals to be had out there so keep an open mind.

I started with a fuji S7000 (google it, excellent camera and cheap 2nd hand) but I am now a canon fan.

Start with a good used canon 350D and take it from there. You can get accessories and upgrade as required. I paid more for my lens than my camera body.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B0007R6CHQ/ref=dp_olp_used_mbc?ie=UTF8&qid=1323469069&sr=8-2-spell&condition=used

Like everything else, the more you spend the better it gets but you then have to spend 4x for twice the quality

I am very eager to get myself a decent beginner’s camera as a hobby and also for work reasons.

I love experimenting with different scenery shots, people and cars etc, and am going further into the media/photography at work.

So it is important that i purchase a camera which will be easy to use but at the same time takes an amazing picture.

I am also learning more on the graphics and Photoshop/Fireworks side of things to use the photographs with once captured.

I enjoy taking different, maybe sometimes unusual shots, but professional wise i am not experienced, i just know i have to take a picture of certain moments!

Any idea's on which camera would suit me best? I haven't got a lot of money to spend but would save to be able to buy the best for a beginner

1/ A decent camera will have full manual control and interchangeable lenses (i.e DSLR)

2/ You mention Hobby as well as 'work reasons' - what are these reasons? What will you be using it for work wise?

3/ Quote ... " a camera which will be easy to use but at the same time takes an amazing picture " NO - the camera captures the image only. It is the operator that makes the amazing picture. Believe me, I've seen people with £1000's of pounds worth of kit and take rubbish pics. It annoys the tits off me. Join an evening course at a local college. It's good to critique each others work, you can learn a lot.

4/ Best advice is - spend as much as possible on the lenses. A good lens will last 20+ yrs. A camera body will be replaced within 4yrs. (I'm talking about pro quality though)

5/ If you really are thinking about work related stuff - if it's for promotional stuff for a company then there is nothing worse than bad amateur images to sell or market products/services. It gives a bad public impression. It is worth spending money on this aspect unless you are sure you are as good as the professionals, if so then BE a professional.

HTHelps

nick

Edited 9 December, 201114 yr by Golf-Fiend

I only have a Canon G12 now.

My daughter has nicked my Canon EOS20D with all my lenses for her photography course.

I find the G12 take some amazing shots, it isn't too bulky unlike a SLR, which are quick big.

The G12 can do most of what a DSLR can do apart from the interchangeable lenses bit.

You will find may professional photographers will use a G12 (or G series) camera when they don't want to take a SLR with them, as you can have total control over virtually everything. I really am impressed with it. I use mine every day and carry it around all the time, but I do use it for work.

Got a Canon 7D and it is the best camera I've ever had.

If you don't wanna fork out a lot of cash pick the Canon 550D

Same sensor same quality just smaller and lighter.

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/CanonEOS550D/

Shark_^_Cheryl, I agree with Golf-Fiend, It is the operator that makes the amazing picture. I have a second hand Sony with a few lenses, Its not as easy as it looks. I see the picture but my Camera see's something different. But a DSLR is the best way forward.

Yup, nothing annoys me more as a photographer than when people say "what a great photo, and your camera must be really good".

Go and have a play with some in the shop and see what you like the feel of best. I went in to buy a canon originally but just couldn't get on with the feel of the camera and the menu system, the Nikon just felt better so I went with that. There are lots of good cameras out there. Do your research read reviews by all means but don't ignore the subjective how it feels factor

Sent from my MZ601 using Tapatalk

Another Nikon user here, started with D80, now have D300. It all depends what you want to do, will you need a sensor that is good with low light, or a buffer that can cope with lots of shots on continuous shooting etc etc. Or you could get a bridge camera as mentioned, or even one of these new mirrorless ones like the Nikon 1. Much smaller. There are loads of options, and as said, most of them are capable of giving a good pic so long as you know what you're doing.