I`m beginning to think I need a degree for this game!!

ash59uk

ash59uk

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I`m beginning to think I need a degree for this game!!

Not for the photography part but the equipment.

Camera models for example. I`m guessing that model numbers over a thousand are entry level and those over 100 are mid range and below 100 are high end, this I think applies to canon but what about the others?

Lenses. Well the specs on lenses might as well be in chinese, I know that those with the widest apertures are best but thats about it as far as quality is concerned.

You can`t just go by price either, you might think you`re buying a Baby Jaguar when really all you`re getting is a Mondeo in a party dress. Perhaps lens wise all you want is a VW Golf and not a Rolls or a Yugo How can you tell?
 
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it is a bit like that isn't it, have just about got the camera models, but am still learning on the lens front, have sussed that a lower f is preferable, and that L series are top end as well as the IS (image stabilised) but haven't sussed which are the mid level ones are, but thats why i keep reading this forum
 
It can be a bit daunting at first, but this place makes it a bit easier.

Just wait till you get into off camera lighting - you'll need a doctorate ;)
 
It is like that with everything though, there is a ton of details to know and you either can keep up or not. Even if you can't places like this help you get the information you need.
 
Glad its not just me, I thought buying a camera and taking phots would be easy. Not so!
 
I use my camera mainly for recording my families lives a bit of everything really.

I have read on here about spending money on glass rather than the best bodies but why? Are kit lenses so poor for general use even? I can understand having specialist lenses for sport or for those who have a particular interest in a certain field but if you are only going to print to A4 max or put onto photodiscs will you notice that much difference?
 
Just wait till you get into off camera lighting - you'll need a doctorate
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Light's easy. You can see it :)

lenses... don't worry about 'IQ'. buy a lens with the range and length that you want, it'll be good. modern lenses are good.

and just go out and take photos. Don't tell anyone, but I work in A mode quite a bit....
 
vrapan said:
It is as hard or as easy as you want to make it.
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Oh really!! I guess it is easy if you just grab the first camera within budget.

You don`t just buy a camera by how many Mp`s it has but apart from that info there seems to be very little to separate a top spec from an entry level camera.

It is like buying a pc with a fast processor then finding it has onboard graphics and barely any ram and a slow hard disk. No where in the specs of a camera do you find anything stating how good the sensor is compared to others only ccd or cmos.
 
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This is what i meant that it is everywhere the same. Computers, cars, cameras, bikes, coffee machines the lot.

I also meant though that a lot of people get a camera they can afford and go out and take pics by clicking a button. That is the easy way about it. From there on you can make it as hard as you want. It does not mean it is bad or less enjoyable. Probably it is more fun that way but still it is up to you to make the choice.

Same way everybody laughs at me when I refuse point blank to drink instant coffee or even preground stuff from the local Tesco. But it took me six months to buy my first grinder and another 6 months to settle on an espresso maker. I am making it hard for my self but that is the way I like it :)
 
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ash59uk said:
I use my camera mainly for recording my families lives a bit of everything really.

I have read on here about spending money on glass rather than the best bodies but why? Are kit lenses so poor for general use even? I can understand having specialist lenses for sport or for those who have a particular interest in a certain field but if you are only going to print to A4 max or put onto photodiscs will you notice that much difference?
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The lens will make the biggest difference to quality and what you can do. There are cheaper bodies out there that share the same sensor as some pro bodies. So lenses should take priority if on a budget. The lens takes the image, the body just records it.

Also the bodies are outdated so quickly. Any dslr you buy new today is better than the best pro body you could shell out for 8 years ago. But good lenses are like gold.
 
Camera model number ranges vary for different manufacturers and can be very confusing. :shrug:

I think nearly all the manufacturers have started the DSLR naming process with very little foresight.

Nikon first.

Nikon had their professional series with one digit, D1, D2, D3 and presumably the next will be D4. They have also had X, H and S variations. The professional range changes every 4-6 years, so it will be awhile before they get to D10. ;)

Then there was the D100, which was aimed at the enthusiast. This was followed by the D200 and D300. The next will probably be the D400. This range changes every 2-3 years, so again, if they do the odd S version it will be a few years before they get to the oop, D700. :bang: :bonk: :lol:

Then Nikon brought the D70 out which was aimed at beginners, but later turned into the mid range Nikon DSLRs. You would have thought the they would have started with the D10 as they did with the other series but by choosing D70 they put themselves into a limited numbering system for that range, so that was followed by the D80 and then the D90, logically the D100 would have followed that, but they have already used that. :bonk: So they followed the D90 with the D7000, again depending on what route they go with that replacement, D7100, D7500 or D8000 will determine how long before it gets a lot more confusing again. :shrug: :lol:

They then decided to have a camera range below the D70-90 range, and started with the D50, again, not leaving them much room number wise before they hit the D70 again, so they go D40, the D40X, then D60 and then! D5000, quickly followed by the D3000 and the D3100.

So they are all over the place with their naming, and the other manufacturers are not much better. :bonk:


Best do a bit of reading up before you jump buying cameras. Generally lens prices relate to quality unless they have particular feature, large zoom range for example. ;) :lol:
 
lensflair said:
The lens will make the biggest difference to quality and what you can do. There are cheaper bodies out there that share the same sensor as some pro bodies. So lenses should take priority if on a budget. The lens takes the image, the body just records it.

Also the bodies are outdated so quickly. Any dslr you buy new today is better than the best pro body you could shell out for 8 years ago. But good lenses are like gold.
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I don`t know if my old lenses are any good I have a Soligor 200mm F3.5 telephoto and a 28mm wide angle that I know is Japanese but can`t remember the name, I had some good results with my old me super though.

I have my eye on a Pentax K7 or a Kx but will have to wait for the prices to drop a bit yet.
 
redhed17 said:
Camera model number ranges vary for different manufacturers and can be very confusing. :shrug:

I think nearly all the manufacturers have started the DSLR naming process with very little foresight.

Nikon first.

Nikon had their professional series with one digit, D1, D2, D3 and presumably the next will be D4. They have also had X, H and S variations. The professional range changes every 4-6 years, so it will be awhile before they get to D10. ;)

Then there was the D100, which was aimed at the enthusiast. This was followed by the D200 and D300. The next will probably be the D400. This range changes every 2-3 years, so again, if they do the odd S version it will be a few years before they get to the oop, D700. :bang: :bonk: :lol:

Then Nikon brought the D70 out which was aimed at beginners, but later turned into the mid range Nikon DSLRs. You would have thought the they would have started with the D10 as they did with the other series but by choosing D70 they put themselves into a limited numbering system for that range, so that was followed by the D80 and then the D90, logically the D100 would have followed that, but they have already used that. :bonk: So they followed the D90 with the D7000, again depending on what route they go with that replacement, D7100, D7500 or D8000 will determine how long before it gets a lot more confusing again. :shrug: :lol:

They then decided to have a camera range below the D70-90 range, and started with the D50, again, not leaving them much room number wise before they hit the D70 again, so they go D40, the D40X, then D60 and then! D5000, quickly followed by the D3000 and the D3100.

So they are all over the place with their naming, and the other manufacturers are not much better. :bonk:


Best do a bit of reading up before you jump buying cameras. Generally lens prices relate to quality unless they have particular feature, large zoom range for example. ;) :lol:
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I saw this in a post "D40 v D70" when someone said the D40 was the newer model. They don`t make it easy do they?
 
Work backwards to define the spec of your camera - do you take:
Macro, portraits, family, architecture, landscapes, aerial, sport - and so on. That should define the spec. Why buy a camera with hundreds of Bells and Whistles, when you won't use them...
The lens is the all seeing eye,, so good glass and control essential?
 
Fotomann said:
Work backwards to define the spec of your camera - do you take:
Macro, portraits, family, architecture, landscapes, aerial, sport - and so on. That should define the spec. Why buy a camera with hundreds of Bells and Whistles, when you won't use them...
The lens is the all seeing eye,, so good glass and control essential?
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portraits, family, architecture, landscapes, definitely, macro possibly and aerial and sports rarely.
 
You'll get a feel for what goes where in time - no point trying actively to learn it as it's just a headache.

Sensors rarely can be valued by their spec - you'll have to search out reviews, samples etc.
Rule of thumb though, pro cameras are generally full frame (35mm film equivalent in size), whereas enthusiast/beginner cameras have "crop" sensors, i.e. smaller than that (to what extent depends on manufacturer.

For bodies, you're best looking at reviews, same for lenses, but you can judge more from a lens's spec.

The more you spend, generally the better the lens. As you get acclimatised to these and other forums you'll pick out common favourites; Tamron 17-50 non-VC f/2.8, nifty fifties etc.

For the moment a cheap body and kit lens (or even just sticking with your bridge camera until you know what you want) will be enough. I spend a lot of time drooling over photography gear and reviews, and yet in my kit bag I've only got my dad's D5000 and two cheapo zoom lenses (saving up for good glass).
 
Ksanti said:
You'll get a feel for what goes where in time - no point trying actively to learn it as it's just a headache.

Sensors rarely can be valued by their spec - you'll have to search out reviews, samples etc.
Rule of thumb though, pro cameras are generally full frame (35mm film equivalent in size), whereas enthusiast/beginner cameras have "crop" sensors, i.e. smaller than that (to what extent depends on manufacturer.

For bodies, you're best looking at reviews, same for lenses, but you can judge more from a lens's spec.

The more you spend, generally the better the lens. As you get acclimatised to these and other forums you'll pick out common favourites; Tamron 17-50 non-VC f/2.8, nifty fifties etc.

For the moment a cheap body and kit lens (or even just sticking with your bridge camera until you know what you want) will be enough. I spend a lot of time drooling over photography gear and reviews, and yet in my kit bag I've only got my dad's D5000 and two cheapo zoom lenses (saving up for good glass).
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All I would probably need is a decent zoom up to say 200mm, I already have a 28mm Mf lens and a 200mm telephoto so those and the kit lens would do for now if I stick to pentax, the Me super is still going strong after 32 years so I do have a certain loyalty to them.

I also do video so I don`t want to be overloaded with gear when on family outings, yes I know some cameras do video too but prefer to use a proper video camera for movies and a proper still camera for photos.

nearly forgot to ask, what does non-VC mean?
 
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redhed17 said:
Camera model number ranges vary for different manufacturers and can be very confusing. :shrug:

I think nearly all the manufacturers have started the DSLR naming process with very little foresight.

Nikon first.

Nikon had their professional series with one digit, D1, D2, D3 and presumably the next will be D4. They have also had X, H and S variations. The professional range changes every 4-6 years, so it will be awhile before they get to D10. ;)

Then there was the D100, which was aimed at the enthusiast. This was followed by the D200 and D300. The next will probably be the D400. This range changes every 2-3 years, so again, if they do the odd S version it will be a few years before they get to the oop, D700. :bang: :bonk: :lol:

Then Nikon brought the D70 out which was aimed at beginners, but later turned into the mid range Nikon DSLRs. You would have thought the they would have started with the D10 as they did with the other series but by choosing D70 they put themselves into a limited numbering system for that range, so that was followed by the D80 and then the D90, logically the D100 would have followed that, but they have already used that. :bonk: So they followed the D90 with the D7000, again depending on what route they go with that replacement, D7100, D7500 or D8000 will determine how long before it gets a lot more confusing again. :shrug: :lol:

They then decided to have a camera range below the D70-90 range, and started with the D50, again, not leaving them much room number wise before they hit the D70 again, so they go D40, the D40X, then D60 and then! D5000, quickly followed by the D3000 and the D3100.

So they are all over the place with their naming, and the other manufacturers are not much better. :bonk:
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Good summary. Here's the Canon story.

Canon's flagship pro range is the 1D series, but there are two variants: the 1Ds has a full frame sensor and the 1D has a unique 1.3x crop sensor. The models numbers have been 1Ds, 1Ds Mk II, 1Ds Mk III; and 1D, 1D Mk II, 1D Mk III, 1D Mk IV. All fairly logical and plenty of room for future model numbers: Mk V, Mk VI, etc.

Canon also has a mid-range full-frame body, the 5D, which was replaced by the 5D Mk II. The next one will presumably be the 5D Mk III.

The mid-range crop sensor bodies are denoted by 2 digits: 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D, 50D and currently 60D. These are replaced about every 1½ years so the 90D will probably be around 2016 and then they'll need to decide whether or not the next one is 100D.

But just to confuse things, they recently introduced the 7D. This sots above the 50D/60D range but below the 1D range. When they replace this, it will probably be the 7D Mk II, to follow the conventions of the 1D and 5D series names.

The entry-level bodies have three digits: the first was the 300D and then they've gone up 50 at a time: 350D, 400D, 450D, 500D, 550D, and currenty the 600D. A new one of these comes out every year so they'll probably release the 950D around 2017 and then they'll have to think of something new.

Finally a couple of years ago they released the 1000D as an even lower entry level. That's been replaced by the 1100D, and presumably the next one will be the 1200D but there's not really enough data to predict when that will be.

So in hierarchical order:
- 1100D - entry-level
- 600D - consumer grade
- 60D - prosumer grade
- 7D - pro grade, crop sensor
- 5D II - pro grade, full frame
- 1D IV - flagship pro grade, crop sensor
- 1Ds III - flagship pro grade, full frame.

Make sense?
real
 
I see you have as much time on your hands as me Stewart. ;) :lol:

Just to add to the Canon story, the 60D was a repositioning of the xxD range in the market according to reviews, and not the logical upgrade it should have been from the 50D, and missing some features Canon owners were expecting.

Again starting with 1D made sense, but starting with the 300D! :shrug:

The 7D came out of the blue, and was an odd choice imho as it fractures their range even more after the introduction of the 1000D.

As with Nikon, and Sony to some degree, too many niches just confuses the consumer imho. Whilst sales have been on the rise though they've been trying to get as many customers as possible.

There's a good graphic overview of the Canon range here.

There's a good graphic overview of the Minolta/Sony range here.

There's a good graphic overview of the Nikon range here.

There's a good graphic overview of the Olympus range here.

There's a good graphic overview of the Pentax range here.
 
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