Beginner Camera for beginner

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hugosv91

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Hugo
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Hi,

I have been photoing always with phones, recently with my wife iphone 15 Pro and my Pixel 9 Pro but I would like to do a step with a real camera.

After a few researching I thought on get a Z6III. The purpose is general photo, (family, travels, portraits, landscape), so I thought to add the 24-120 F4 for this.

I dont know if this is overkill for a beginner and I could get overwhelmed with the options and if I should get different lens to start.

I would appreciate any help to do the right choice and enter this hobby more seriously.

Thank you.
 
That sounds like a great starter outfit.

You will probably also find some kind of processing software helpful, since phones do a lot of processing in order to present the user with a bright, punchy image that looks exciting. More serious cameras leave choices about processing up to the user, and you should be aware that pictures from a good camera can sometimes look a bit dull to begin, requiring careful processing to get the best from them after taking.
 
It's more than you need but it will do everything very well once you've learnt to work it. And yeah that'd be a good lens & versatile.

The thing with cameras is that they usually have far more menu settings / operational choices than you are necessarily going to use, but hey - you don't have to use them all! I certainly don't!

The way to play it is to have the handbook, go into the menus and set the camera up how you think it should be for 'general photography'. This is to set the camera to a base-line of your choice so that you don't have to be changing too many settings every time you take a photograph. After that, you can penetrate different aspects in your own time at leisure, as and when.

A lot to take on board even to do that, but I think it's a good strategy.

Buying used can be a lot more budget-friendly, especially with cameras a generation or two old. Plus if you didn't get on with it you can get something like your money back.

Good luck!
 
ancient_mariner said:
That sounds like a great starter outfit.

You will probably also find some kind of processing software helpful, since phones do a lot of processing in order to present the user with a bright, punchy image that looks exciting. More serious cameras leave choices about processing up to the user, and you should be aware that pictures from a good camera can sometimes look a bit dull to begin, requiring careful processing to get the best from them after taking.
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Yeah, I am aware that phones, specially the Pixel, do a lots of post-processing and taking photos in RAW may require some user software post-processing. This is my weak point, I have zero knowledge of modifying photos with photoshop, as with phones almost don't need tweaks and you can do in the phone itself.

I am also open to DSLR recommendations. I would't mind to sacrifice video to have better photo features. Something I would love is to have a good low light performance, it is terrible in phones and I love day to dusk photos.
 
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hugosv91 said:
I am also open to DSLR recommendations.
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OK, first off, compared to 10 years ago this is a fantastic camera. TBH there aren't really any bad cameras sold these days, and they're all incredibly capable. Possibly the most important think is for you to actually handle one and see f it feels comfy in your hand, if you can see through the viewfinder easily and the controls fall to your fingertips. This has a full frame senor, and it should be very very capable in low light. If you want to do shots in really dark conditions then you'll probably need a tripod and possibly a lens with a larger aperture (the lens you suggested has an aperture of f4, which isn't very wide - as aperture gets wider the f number gets smaller - you would want f1.8 or f1.4 for hand-held low light. We can talk more about that later, and you could research.

I have my own set of preferences (I use Sony kit) but the camera you suggest is absolutely fine and much better than anything most of us started with in the digital age - I was a film user long before digital and even before autofocus cameras.

hugosv91 said:
This is my weak point, I have zero knowledge of modifying photos with photoshop, as with phones almost don't need tweaks and you can do in the phone itself.
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OK, first off software really falls into 2 categories, although there is some cross-over between: Image development and pixel-level editing.

Pixel level editing is for making major changes that are irreversible: photoshop is a pixel-level editor, and is a very complicated tool that's not really suited to your needs.

Image development is for processing pictures to enhance them, so changing exposure levels, tone and colour, applying sharpening, controlling contrast, removing dust spots etc. This is the kind of software that you will need to enhance your images. Nikon have their own software tha should be free to a Nikon owner, and there are also other packages, paid for and free that are suitable for this. We can advise as your needs develop (pun not intended).


Don't get too hung up on the camera or software at this stage. Also don't get sucked into the idea that to use a camera everything must be set manually - use of automated modes makes life much easier for most of us, and we only use manual when necessary. But pprobably the most important thing will be to just get out and take pictures, developing an eye for a photo and not worrying so much about the technical details.
 
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All talk is cheap & pointless - at some point, you've just got to dive in & hope to come up for air some time later. As a beginner, it's mainly up to you. Impossible to be prescriptive ... ;-)

As a generality, there are 2 choices - shoot in RAW (look it up) or jpg. RAW files have lots of headroom & tailroom (tonally speaking) for post-processing. Jpgs have less, & degenerate more the further you try to push them. But all that's probably a step ahead of what you're grappling with at this point.

Dive in, & blunder into your own path. There may be bruises, but you can abort at any time without it affecting life at large.
 
ancient_mariner said:
If you want to do shots in really dark conditions then you'll probably need a tripod and possibly a lens with a larger aperture (the lens you suggested has an aperture of f4, which isn't very wide - as aperture gets wider the f number gets smaller - you would want f1.8 or f1.4 for hand-held low light. We can talk more about that later, and you could research.
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My experience is that f4 on a modern full frame sensor is very capable in low light at previously alarmingly high ISOs, and current noise reduction software makes it even more so. There's only a need to go for wider lenses when you find f4 is providing disappointing results.

Small steps are best when it comes to expanding a lens collection!
 
So, I went to the camera section of my trusted mall and I could try the Z6III in my hands.

The grip feels really nice in my small-medium size hands and they recommended to pair with the 24-120 F4 to start due to its versatility and extend to other lenses in a future for specific needs.

They have few kits of the Z6III + 24-120 coming for thursday plus they have it on offer with 12 free month installment, 3 years warranty and 1 year free accident insurance (can extend later paying per year until the model is deprecated). It is quite tempting. I will go on Thursday again to try again but I really want to get this.
 
I suggest looking at a 24 or 28-70mm f2.8. It's a shorter zoom range than the 24-120mm but the f2.8 would appeal to me a lot more than having an f4 lens. A wider aperture would give you the option of using faster shutter speeds / more control over depth of field.
 
Z6iii for a 'beginner' - WOW!! Some of us began with a box camera!

I respect what Alan just said, but if the price is right on the f/4 I'd go with it - it'll get you tuned in & is very capable in a general way. Really there's no end to options, & it's little use trying to balance on the head of a pin when you've got both feet missing & no experience - just dive in. It could last you for years! Anything & everything's a learning tool.
 
I'd also suggest an evening class (or 2!) in Post Processing so the OP doesn't get frustrated with trying to get good results from raw files. Or shooting in raw and JPEG so they have reasonable files SOOC.
 
droj said:
Z6iii for a 'beginner' - WOW!! Some of us began with a box camera!

I respect what Alan just said, but if the price is right on the f/4 I'd go with it - it'll get you tuned in & is very capable in a general way. Really there's no end to options, & it's little use trying to balance on the head of a pin when you've got both feet missing & no experience - just dive in. It could last you for years! Anything & everything's a learning tool.
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Never thought on that, I said begginer pointing to an endgame camera hehe. Probably most of you started when you were young and the budget was a problem. Perhaps I am a bit late to the party, many years saving and now a I have a newborn, so I thought it is time to change my old single hobbies to start seriously in the photography with my family and travels :P

The kit is very tempting as on sale have almost same price than both items together in second hand. It is worth taking into account the long warranty and added insurance.

I have been investigating the lenses too and I think I would like to get soon the 50mm f1.8 dedicated to family portraits (2 o 3 people no moving on all lighting conditions), is that lens good for this purpose?
 
hugosv91 said:
Never thought on that, I said begginer pointing to an endgame camera hehe. Probably most of you started when you were young and the budget was a problem. Perhaps I am a bit late to the party, many years saving and now a I have a newborn, so I thought it is time to change my old single hobbies to start seriously in the photography with my family and travels :p

The kit is very tempting as on sale have almost same price than both items together in second hand. It is worth taking into account the long warranty and added insurance.

I have been investigating the lenses too and I think I would like to get soon the 50mm f1.8 dedicated to family portraits (2 o 3 people no moving on all lighting conditions), is that lens good for this purpose?
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Yes, but just use the zoom for a while to start with, and note the focal lengths in its range that you tend to gravitate towards in those situations - that'll give you a clue about what prime to get, with a larger aperture. There's no rush. Quell the buying fever!
 
hugosv91 said:
Never thought on that, I said begginer pointing to an endgame camera hehe. Probably most of you started when you were young and the budget was a problem.
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I'd guess I'm not the only old fart who started out a long time ago with just a 50mm lens on 35mm film!

If you can afford it you might as well buy a more featured camera than an entry level one because if you do get the bug you'll waste a lot more cash upgrading. ;)

When it comes to fast aperture lenses, if you are looking to get that soft background look there are other ways to achieve it with an f4 (or smaller aperture). And you'll get both eyes in focus in portraits. :D

As droj says, hold off on the gear buying until you know for sure what you need.
 
So the kit arrived today and I ended getting it. I have been playing with the camera options and this was my first photo, the first item I got in hands. This is the photo exported from RAW without applying any post processing and max JPEG quality. I even didn't notice the item had dust until I load the photo in the PC.

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I am happy with the results, also made a lot from my wife and newborn and all the photos crispy so far even in RAW. I expected a bit of noise but nothing of that even in some photos day to dusk I made to them around 10k-12k ISO.

Like you said, with my knowledge and the 24-120 lens is more than enough to learn to master the camera and make any type of photo.

What I really want when they implement the Bird mode end year is a beefy lens to start with birds :)
 
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hugosv91 said:
This is the photo exported from RAW
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Hi Hugo, if you want to post photos then you can either reduce them in size to 1024px on the longest side and upload them, OR you can host them online (a site like Flickr) and then embed them using the BB code link. Unfortunately your picture isn't showing.

Glad you're enjoying the camera outfit and finding that it works well. :)
 
ancient_mariner said:
Hi Hugo, if you want to post photos then you can either reduce them in size to 1024px on the longest side and upload them, OR you can host them online (a site like Flickr) and then embed them using the BB code link. Unfortunately your picture isn't showing.

Glad you're enjoying the camera outfit and finding that it works well. :)
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Thanks, I coudn´t succesful upload here.

As I told, I even couln't notice the dust until I load the photo on the PC.

https://flic.kr/p/2qZxpiF
View: https://www.flickr.com/photos/202665833@N02/54472422117/in/dateposted-public/
 
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I think a Z5ii or Z6ii might be a cheaper option than the Z6iii, but with the excellent Z24-120. I had the 24-120G FX lens for my older Nikons and even though I thought it was/is an excellent lens, the Z version is superior.

For a beginner I think the Mk2 Z5 or Z6 will be able to deliver all that you need, then you can always upgrade the camera.
 
welshwizard645 said:
I think a Z5ii or Z6ii might be a cheaper option than the Z6iii, but with the excellent Z24-120. I had the 24-120G FX lens for my older Nikons and even though I thought it was/is an excellent lens, the Z version is superior.

For a beginner I think the Mk2 Z5 or Z6 will be able to deliver all that you need, then you can always upgrade the camera.
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Read his intro to post #15 ...
 
bandeau_rouge said:
that image scares me.. so much blurry ness... i delete images like that.
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It's only a test image, trying out a new outfit by someone freshly moving to stand-alone cameras. If that image scares you, wait till you see pictures from some other forum users.
 
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