I'm recently retired and fancy taking up the hobby of photography. I think of myself as a 'serious beginner.'
My History:- Did some B/W photography including my own developing, etc. about 50 years ago (when still at school.) Bought a Praktica SLR 40 years ago (after starting work.) I've never done any serious photography, just holiday snaps and the like. Bought digital cameras since they became affordable (about a dozen years ago?) and taken thousands of 'holiday snaps' since. Always a small and simple 'point and shoot' camera, never any attempt at serious photos.
And now:- I fancy taking up the hobby of photography on a slightly serious level; i.e. taking the kind of photographs you guys show and talk about!
My current camera is a Nikon Coolpix L26. Its 16MP, 5x optical zoom and cost somewhere around £45. Dead easy to use and takes decent 'snaps' for my memories. It has a few settings but no control over the important bits which I'll now need (shutter speed, aperture, etc.) I'll be looking for a camera shortly but thought I'd try to avoid spending any money just yet until I know more about what I need and can use. I have the funds ready to spend but don't want to waste it on stuff I can't use. So for the moment, I'm reading lots and absorbing all I can. I'm studying composition now and will try to avoid buying any real hardware until I can produce some half-decent shots with what I've got. Once I can produce some content worth looking at, I'll start the upgrade path to improvement. Am I on the right track here or should I dip into quality equipment immediately?
I'm hungry for any sort of advice. Oh, and especially any encouragement not to start buying stuff which I'm not worthy of using yet! I'm SO itching to go out and buy lots of shiny new Black Plastic, Electronics and Glass which I feel I shouldn't have yet! Its difficult to resist, though.
Yes, I do ramble on a bit, don't I?
Hi !
Steve
My History:- Did some B/W photography including my own developing, etc. about 50 years ago (when still at school.) Bought a Praktica SLR 40 years ago (after starting work.) I've never done any serious photography, just holiday snaps and the like. Bought digital cameras since they became affordable (about a dozen years ago?) and taken thousands of 'holiday snaps' since. Always a small and simple 'point and shoot' camera, never any attempt at serious photos.
And now:- I fancy taking up the hobby of photography on a slightly serious level; i.e. taking the kind of photographs you guys show and talk about!
My current camera is a Nikon Coolpix L26. Its 16MP, 5x optical zoom and cost somewhere around £45. Dead easy to use and takes decent 'snaps' for my memories. It has a few settings but no control over the important bits which I'll now need (shutter speed, aperture, etc.) I'll be looking for a camera shortly but thought I'd try to avoid spending any money just yet until I know more about what I need and can use. I have the funds ready to spend but don't want to waste it on stuff I can't use. So for the moment, I'm reading lots and absorbing all I can. I'm studying composition now and will try to avoid buying any real hardware until I can produce some half-decent shots with what I've got. Once I can produce some content worth looking at, I'll start the upgrade path to improvement. Am I on the right track here or should I dip into quality equipment immediately?I'm hungry for any sort of advice. Oh, and especially any encouragement not to start buying stuff which I'm not worthy of using yet! I'm SO itching to go out and buy lots of shiny new Black Plastic, Electronics and Glass which I feel I shouldn't have yet! Its difficult to resist, though.
Yes, I do ramble on a bit, don't I?
Hi !
Steve
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to the Forums......... 
but graduated from Zenit and Practika. Good luck in your search and enjoy your retirement.