Getting started and what camera!?

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AK86

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Amy
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I am looking into enrolling onto a photography course to help me learn the basic, I know hardly anything at the moment but know I enjoy taking photo's.

Even if this turns out to be just a hobby rather than a business later on I still want to purchase a good camera. Any advice would be great, there are so many camera's out there and because I don't know enough i don't know what one to get! I don't want to get something so basic that if I take the studying further and want to start making money then I have to get a new one but I don't want to spend loads when I might not need to if I just use it for a hobby....

I understand you will probably need to buy a lens seperately but again I don't know where to start or what lenses you'd buy for certain things....

Maybe I need to invest in a book...."Photography for dummies" perhaps! :-)

Thank you
Amy
 
What's you budget? That's the most important question if you want some suggestions.
 
Go and try some dSLRs and see what sits well in the hand?

What sort of stuff do you expect to be photographing? This will have an impact on what lenses you will need.
 
It comes down to budget.

I spent....

£670 on a Nikon D3100 and 2 lenses
£190 on another lens
£150 on 3 UV and 2 polarising filters
£60 on 2 memory cards
£30 on a 2nd battery
£80 on a camera bag
£110 on a flash (cheapest Nikon, can be a lot more)

So that's £1290 spent on the camera and accessories in the first week.

The camera and a single lens is only £440

So think about your budget and don't put it all in your camera and don't expect your camera to be the only big expense.
 
KC Leblanc said:
Go and try some dSLRs and see what sits well in the hand?
.
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this is a must, how it feels, how easy are the controls/menus. does it feel right, can i work with it.
Dale_d3100 said:
It comes down to budget.

I spent....

£670 on a Nikon D3100 and 2 lenses
£190 on another lens
£150 on 3 UV and 2 polarising filters
£60 on 2 memory cards
£30 on a 2nd battery
£80 on a camera bag
£110 on a flash (cheapest Nikon, can be a lot more)

So that's £1290 spent on the camera and accessories in the first week.

The camera and a single lens is only £440

So think about your budget and don't put it all in your camera and don't expect your camera to be the only big expense.
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This is a great post, dont just look at a camera and lens - £440, there are lots of other things to think about too. A good start up kit to work with and you can bolt on and move up with.

Forget the canon/nikon debate, get a hold and see what works for you.:thumbs:
 
Dale_d3100 said:
It comes down to budget.

I spent....

£670 on a Nikon D3100 and 2 lenses
£190 on another lens
£150 on 3 UV and 2 polarising filters
£60 on 2 memory cards
£30 on a 2nd battery
£80 on a camera bag
£110 on a flash (cheapest Nikon, can be a lot more)

So that's £1290 spent on the camera and accessories in the first week.

The camera and a single lens is only £440

So think about your budget and don't put it all in your camera and don't expect your camera to be the only big expense.
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Brave man adding that up! I daren't do the same.
 
You probably only need one lens to get started, and a memory card.

I guess a bag is handy for storing the cam and transporting it while travelling (car, train, plane), but I HATE having to ever carry a bag while shooting!

Things like filters, extra batteries can be got at a later date.
 
it depends on your budget, i'm new to photography as well, and enjoy taking pictures. there's no point in spending loads of money for your first camera, I've got myself a canon 350d, im still learning on how to use it, they say that camera is a good starting point. get yourself the 50mm lens, good choice for a lens on a budget and they are not all that expensive either, If you don't wanna spends loads. some people go crazy and spend hundreds of pounds on something they are new too, and they might just get bored and forget about it, so get yourself a camera you think right for the job and practice with it a lot and then go from there. :)
 
I assume you mean a F/T course? If so maybe think about a part time/evening course or similar to give you a feel? These may also supply equipment, but will also be able to make recommendations.

As for more general advice, ignore the Canikon debate and buy whatever feels right to you, set a realistic budget, go handle some cameras, research the "other" brands (Sony, Pentax etc), don't expect miracles from the outset.

Consider buying used, it's rare to lose significant money on camera gear if you buy smart, especially lenses. Bodies will hold their value for a good few years, but will eventually become worth next to nothing as technology marches on, lenses are slightly different as you can still use 50 year old lenses on modern digital SLR's.
 
Thank you for all responses/advice. My budget was around £700, I "think" I am going to go for the Nikon D90 which comes with a 18 -105mm lens, it seems to have great views too. Does anyone have this camera? The course I am going to do it an evening course, 3 hours 1 night per week for 10 weeks, they say you need a camera to start the course.

Dale_d3100 mentioned a £150 was spent on 3 UV and 2 polarising filters - what are these???

Thanks again everyone!

Amy
 
gad-westy said:
Brave man adding that up! I daren't do the same.
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I'm having to hide things as they appear in the house (or make sure anything that gets delivered does so when the wife is at work) so she doesn't know what the costs are - it was bad enough trying to justify getting the camera in the first place!
 
Amy, I've just read your question about the D90. I got mine about a month ago - and I'm a newbie to proper photography as well. The camera is great. It has the basic idiot settings as well as having access to all the other features you will need so allowing you to "grow" into it.

I may be proved wrong, but unless I was ever to become a full time professional photographer, I can't see why I would need anything more than the D90 offers.
 
AK86 said:
Dale_d3100 mentioned a £150 was spent on 3 UV and 2 polarising filters - what are these???

Thanks again everyone!

Amy
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You don't need these, don't worry about them yet.

The d90 is a corked of a camera. Great IQ , great handling. Just all round good egg.
 
Chappers. said:
I'm having to hide things as they appear in the house (or make sure anything that gets delivered does so when the wife is at work) so she doesn't know what the costs are - it was bad enough trying to justify getting the camera in the first place!
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I am having to do the same thing - justifing the expense to my fiance. I have to keep reminding him that one day, I could make us loads of money ;-) (yeah right!)

I have heard nothing but good reviews on the D90 and this has confirmed it.

Thank you
 
D90's a fantastic camera, great blend of ease of use and advanced features so you can really grow into it... some good deals available presently too :thumbs:

Definitely don't worry about filters for now, they'll tell you about them on your course and you can then make an informed decision about whether or not you'll need them :)
 
razorfish said:
it depends on your budget, i'm new to photography as well, and enjoy taking pictures. there's no point in spending loads of money for your first camera, I've got myself a canon 350d, im still learning on how to use it, they say that camera is a good starting point. get yourself the 50mm lens, good choice for a lens on a budget and they are not all that expensive either, If you don't wanna spends loads. some people go crazy and spend hundreds of pounds on something they are new too, and they might just get bored and forget about it, so get yourself a camera you think right for the job and practice with it a lot and then go from there. :)
Click to expand...

The 350D is a great camera - I know because I've owned one and it has given me thousands of great pics.

And the 18-55mm kit lens is also a good lens to start with.

Also the 50mm f1.8, although being the cheapest lens Canon make, is also one of the sharpest (as good as an "L" glass lens).

If you keep an eye on the classifieds here you can often pick up a well looked after camera such as the 350D or 450D for an excellent price.

.
 
I would look at 500d and 50mm prime but that's just me and my vote
 
AK86 said:
Thank you for all responses/advice. My budget was around £700, I "think" I am going to go for the Nikon D90 which comes with a 18 -105mm lens, it seems to have great views too. Does anyone have this camera? The course I am going to do it an evening course, 3 hours 1 night per week for 10 weeks, they say you need a camera to start the course.

Dale_d3100 mentioned a £150 was spent on 3 UV and 2 polarising filters - what are these???

Thanks again everyone!

Amy
Click to expand...

Try to get hold of a D90, from a friend or in a shop, to see if you like holding it and accessing the controls. Some people do not like Nikon others find Canon uncomfortable. You need to be relaxed when holding the camera and similar price/spec from the main manufacturers will give similar results so comfort is important.

Re: Filters - have a look here http://www.great-landscape-photography.com/camera-filters.html
 
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