Hi,
A quick search on google threw up this site, thought it was the best to join as it is UK based and is more relevant and I won't be bombarded with talk of $'s and the such! Apologies now for the length of the intro!
I've always enjoyed photography, back in the days of 35mm, on holiday, snapping away, get home, submit film for developing and then admire out of focus, poorly exposed, badly composed pictures, most with your thumb in the corner. I remember getting a very, VERY early casio digital camera, it was 320x240 resolution and could store about 30 pictures in it's built in, non expandable memory, awesome stuff.
I've had various cameras over the years, I went through a bit of a fuji phase, nothing spectacular as I never really had any major money to invest. A few years ago I came in to some cash and treated myself to a Sony Alpha A200 and fell in love with photography all over again, going from an "ordinary" camera to an SLR was like going from film to digital, a real breakthrough moment.
I started off just using it "point & shoot", auto mode, auto focus, aim, fire, photograph. I then started to experiment with the myriad of controls at my disposal, with some "interesting" results. I was initially using the bundled 18-55mm Sony lens, which was a decent starting point, I then bought the 28-75mm Minolta lens as a lightweight, cheap lens that I wouldn't feel too bad about knocking around, then came the Sigma 75-200mm for some zoomy action and finally, just recently, a fully manual Rokkor 50mm lens for some nice lowlight and bokeh shooting.
My most recent purchase (actually should be delivered tomorrow!) is a vintage-ish canon EOS 1D Mk2 and a 50mm EF lens. After much searching, chin scratching, umming arring and just general indecisiveness, I was stuck between a EOS 5D Mk1 and the EOS 1D Mk2. The majority of reviews I read steered me towards the 1D as being more suitable for my needs and I pulled the trigger. So I'm looking forward to having a play.
All this is building up to my first "job" next year, photographing a friends wedding, a big responsibility, so I'm reading books, taking loads of random photographs and buying some new kit to try and get prepared.
So I'll be fishing for some advice on here shortly, regarding lenses and general tips & tricks for starters. Hope I haven't bored too many of you to death.
A quick search on google threw up this site, thought it was the best to join as it is UK based and is more relevant and I won't be bombarded with talk of $'s and the such! Apologies now for the length of the intro!
I've always enjoyed photography, back in the days of 35mm, on holiday, snapping away, get home, submit film for developing and then admire out of focus, poorly exposed, badly composed pictures, most with your thumb in the corner. I remember getting a very, VERY early casio digital camera, it was 320x240 resolution and could store about 30 pictures in it's built in, non expandable memory, awesome stuff.
I've had various cameras over the years, I went through a bit of a fuji phase, nothing spectacular as I never really had any major money to invest. A few years ago I came in to some cash and treated myself to a Sony Alpha A200 and fell in love with photography all over again, going from an "ordinary" camera to an SLR was like going from film to digital, a real breakthrough moment.
I started off just using it "point & shoot", auto mode, auto focus, aim, fire, photograph. I then started to experiment with the myriad of controls at my disposal, with some "interesting" results. I was initially using the bundled 18-55mm Sony lens, which was a decent starting point, I then bought the 28-75mm Minolta lens as a lightweight, cheap lens that I wouldn't feel too bad about knocking around, then came the Sigma 75-200mm for some zoomy action and finally, just recently, a fully manual Rokkor 50mm lens for some nice lowlight and bokeh shooting.
My most recent purchase (actually should be delivered tomorrow!) is a vintage-ish canon EOS 1D Mk2 and a 50mm EF lens. After much searching, chin scratching, umming arring and just general indecisiveness, I was stuck between a EOS 5D Mk1 and the EOS 1D Mk2. The majority of reviews I read steered me towards the 1D as being more suitable for my needs and I pulled the trigger. So I'm looking forward to having a play.
All this is building up to my first "job" next year, photographing a friends wedding, a big responsibility, so I'm reading books, taking loads of random photographs and buying some new kit to try and get prepared.
So I'll be fishing for some advice on here shortly, regarding lenses and general tips & tricks for starters. Hope I haven't bored too many of you to death.
