I need advices before purchasing a camera

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hadri

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Hello,
I've been interested in photography for a long time now and I decided to buy a camera.
I am mostly inspired by comtemplative movies, especially the work of Terrence Mallick and Jeff Nichols

Here are some examples :
to_the_wonder_terrence_malick_81.png


tree-of-life-terrence-malick.jpg
tumblr_mbjiayefXh1qg7zl2o1_500.jpg

97607558693-the-tree-of-life-2011-dir-terrence.png

tumblr_mk4bho8x6o1qzbykto1_1280.png


I would use it mainly for landscapes photographs with the sun glow. and I would like to be able to do good looking close ups, and be able to take good photos at night too
And if possible I would like the camera to have manual focus and have a decent quality for shooting videos.

If you have any books recommandation on how to take photos and all the technical apsects with good advices I would be interested too.

My budget is around 500$ I think it's pretty low for what i'm looking for but I would like the best deal I can for that amount
Thanks
 
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Are you thinking of buying an advanced compact, bridge camera or DSLR plus lens?

Given your budget, a good option would probably be something like a Nikon D3200 plus 18-55 kit lens plus a tripod and remote shutter release. How good a deal this is in the US, I don't know:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-D3200...732505?hash=item33b2a8b359:g:-ZoAAOSwv9hW4ZPk

but for $389 it has everything you need to get started and you can upgraded/change lenses later at will.
 
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I have no clue whats the difference between all of that maybe I should do some research
But I would like a pretty compact camera that I can carry easily. I did a little bit research and mirrorless camera seemed attractive are they worth or some cameras are more efficient?
I would like the best to achieve the results I am looking for.
Thanks
 
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hadri said:
I have no clue whats the difference between all of that maybe I should do some research
But I would like a pretty compact camera that I can carry easily. I did a little bit research and mirrorless camera seemed attractive are they worth or some cameras are more efficient?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Well, a compact camera is just that. It's small, sometimes pocketable and will normally have a reasonable zoom lens. Good ones to look at would be the Fuji X30, Sony RX100, Canon G5X etc.. A bridge camera tends to be pretty much the same size as a DSLR with lens but the lens will be a fixed zoom and not interchangeable. A DSLR is body only and you add and change lenses as you wish.

A mirrorless camera could be a choice, yes. I myself use one. You could look at the Fuji X-Pro1 or the X-T10, for example, both excellent cameras. The X-Pro1 is very reasonably priced at the moment but Fuji also do several cheaper mirrorless options, too.

That said, the D3200 is a very small DSLR so there's not much in it. I would go to a camera store and handle the cameras and see for yourself.
 
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Ok thanks I wrote down those references I think i will do as you said see of they're in a store and handle some before making a choice
But yes pocket camera seems to be what I'm looking for I will check the D3200 too
 
I am from France I might have confused you with those dollars
I have some questions about lens too. Aren't some that are most effective for really bright photographs like when the sun is part of the coposition?
I think I can go up to 400£
 
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hadri said:
Ok thanks I wrote down those references I think i will do as you said see of they're in a store and handle some before making a choice
But yes pocket camera seems to be what I'm looking for I will check the D3200 too
Click to expand...

If you don't want to change lenses and want something "pocketable" you're really looking at compacts like the Fuji X30, Sony RX100, Canon G5X/G7X etc.. and there are many on the market. I myself have an X30 which I use as my travel camera and it's very good. The handheld low light capabilities are not the best of the best but if by night shots you mean "at night on a tripod" then it's very good, as it is in good light. It will manual focus and you can put it into completely manual mode, which is how I shoot it a lot of the time. It also has a very nice viewfinder which the Sony RX100 does not, I believe, meaning on the latter you'd only be able to frame and focus using the rear screen. Within the advanced compact range you're currently blessed with many capable cameras, however, so plenty of choice. The Canon G range are always good and the new G5X looks extremely capable. Good luck!
 
The X30 seems attractive I will really consider that one I will see if I can find one in store to handle it.
I've also look at the Fuji X-pro1 this one is attractive too and have good reviews. I understand that you can change lenses on this one, this would be more interesting I think but I don't seems to be available as refurbished
 
hadri said:
The X30 seems attractive I will really consider that one I will see if I can find one in store to handle it.
I've also look at the Fuji X-pro1 this one is attractive too and have good reviews. I understand that you can change lenses on this one, this would be more interesting I think but I don't seems to be available as refurbished
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Yes, it's available at the refurb store for £299:

http://shop.fujifilm.co.uk/fujifilm-x-pro1-refurb.html

However, whilst it's fairly small, with anything other than a pancake lens it's not going to be what you'd call "pocketable". Even the X30 would require a large jacket pocket.
 
If you want small and pocketable but have ambitions to take some fairly serious photos then I'd recommend looking at the Olympus OM-D E-M10. With the kit zoom lens it's a similar size to a Panasonic LX100 and smaller than the X Pro 1. Lenses are significantly cheaper too.
The Sony A6000 is good but physically quite a bit larger.

I'd strongly recommend finding a retailer where you can pick them up and play with them.
 
Ok i've wrote this one down too thanks ! I've also find the fujifilm Xm-1 who have some really nice reviews would you recommand this one?
I've check online for the olympus I can't find one with a lens under 550gbp
Wich are the difference between the xm1 and the Olympus OM?
Thanks
 
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hadri said:
Ok i've wrote this one down too thanks ! I've also find the fujifilm Xm-1 who have some really nice reviews would you recommand this one?
I've check online for the olympus I can't find one with a lens under 550gbp
Wich are the difference between the xm1 and the Olympus OM?
Thanks
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Xm1 doesn't have a viewfinder and has a smaller sensor for starters. Not a bad camera though.
 
I found someone near where I live who sold the olympus with a lens for 190gbp It seems like a good deal
I will go and see !
Thanks for your help
 
If you like shooting towards the sun, I'd suggest a body / camera with good dynamic range for shadow recovery, as no matter how perfectly you expose shooting towards the sun, the exposure will always be dominated by the bright levels of the sun, even at sunset. Being able to pull the shadows back from a raw file can make or break the photograph in this situation. I love shooting this way and it's something I've been playing with a bit recently :) (oh and when you do, don't use an optical viewfinder, always an EVF or rear screen for obvious reasons!)

Also for night shooting, Do you mean Astro stuff or just general low light landscapes? For Astro you'd need a body with good mid to high ISO and a wide, fast lens.
 
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landwomble said:
Xm1 doesn't have a viewfinder and has a smaller sensor for starters. Not a bad camera though.
Click to expand...

Sorry to be pedantic, but the Fuji XM-1 is a APS-C size sensor so bigger than the OM10 which is micro four thirds.

Myself, I wouldn't buy a camera without a viewfinder, so in this instance I would go for the OM10 as they are supposed to be cracking little cameras. If size wasn't an issue I would get a Xpro-1 as they offer excellent value at present. Sorry I sold the two I had, but Fuji delaying their long lenses made me switch back to Nikon D750.
 
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