DSLR course for hybrid camera

S

Smarty

Suspended / Banned
Messages
53
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all,

I have a hybrid camera - a Panasonic FZ18 - and have enrolled for a course all about digital SLR photography. I don't really know much about hybrids vs SLR's but do you think I'll still get something out of this course even without an SLR ?

Has anyone had both and is familiar with the differences between the two ? Are they quite similar other than changing lenses or are they like chalk and cheese ?

Thanks
 
Smarty, I can't answer your question from my own experience as I haven't had any yet, but I've been asking the exact same question (on here as well as among more experienced photographers at my local camera club) and I've usually been led to believe that there are an awful lot of similarities, and that the only difference worth worrying about is not being able to change lenses. It seems that "hybrids" will allow you to change more or less everything else manually that you can on an SLR.

I've just acquired a used FX8 (the model previous to yours, I think) and I am seriously thinking of enrolling on a course myself. I emailed the tutor and he responded to say that although they do hire out SLRs for the weekend (it's a weekend course), he was sure I would be able to learn everything I wanted to know using my own camera.

Hope this helps.
By the way, what is the course you're doing? I've struggled to find one that suits my needs.
Cheers
Melanie
 
Thanks for that Melanie.

I'm doing a course here:

http://www.zoom-in.org/

It's the beginner's digital SLR course. After reading your comments I phoned the college. They said that I might be disappointed with a hybrid because often the hybrids don't have the same level of functionality (other than lens changes) as SLR's. But I've decided to do the course anyway as I'm hoping to progress to an SLR once I understand a bit more. So even if just a little bit of the theory sinks in it'll be fine.
 
Most hybrid cameras should be able to take as good a shot as any Dslr. More often than not it is down to the photographer as much as the camera.

Take the course ... Learn the basics ... Then decide if you want to move on to a Dslr.
 
Hybrids.....:thinking:

I was thinking maybe its half film half digital, now that would be ineresting.
Sounds like marketing speak for bridge camera.

Bridge cameras are great because many offer exactly the same controls (except lens changes) as full SLR's.
I think they are slightly disadvantaged by the size of their sensor, noise/stuff, but you should be able to participate pretty much fully with the course with it.
 
I think you're right to go ahead with the course despite what the tutor said - I've haven't even been out and used my bridge camera yet but from reading up on it and asking around I'm pretty sure there is nothing that you can't adjust manually, which is (I believe) the main thing if you're trying to learn the technical theory.
Lack of lenses might be disappointing later on when you want to learn more, but for the moment you seem to be at the same stage of learning as me, and I'm convinced that this camera will do the job.
Good luck with the course - not much use to me as I'm in Yorkshire!
I'd be interested to hear about how it's going once you get started.
 
I agree with Joxby's comments.

I tried a quick search to try and find out what the course entailed but couldn't find anything.

However as it's a beginners course I would suspect most of the students wouldn't have much in the way of additional lenses, probably just the kit lens that came with the camera. Putting you in the same situation.

Enjoy the course
 
Other than not being able to change lens (28-504), sensor size and the lack of raw files, there won't be that much difference. IIRc most dslr owners stick with the kit lens anyway, go figure.
If you got "the eye" then the camera only captures what "you see", bit like a computer rubbish in = rubbish out. As long as your not blowing them up too big, quality won't be a big issue.
I expect there'll be someone there festooned with all manner of kit which can both complicate and ruin your photography/enjoyment.
The spec of your pani will give a few/lot of dslrs a fair run for their money, so go and enjoy yourself and if there are any snide remarks about your kit; take up the challenge and rub the salt in.
 
I`m doing a basic photography course at the moment.

As long as you have control over the aperture, shutter and ISO on your camera, then that`s the main thing.

There are people on my course with point and shoots.

It is a very basic course though. At the moment, I think I`m the back up to the teacher.... :lol:
 
thanks all for the great responses. I'll update after I've done the course :thumbs:
 
By the way, I think you WILL be able to shoot raw - I can with mine (if I knew what the heck I was doing I could, anyway!) and mine's an older model than yours.
Keep us posted
:thumbs:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top