Newbie saying hi!

c30new

c30new

Suspended / Banned
Messages
8
Name
Nick
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi All,

My name's Nick i'm new to the forum and in fact new to the game! I have a basic understanding of photography from my graphic design and product design studies but this was only @ A level and sloped off after i finished school, I've always maintained an interest in photography but more from the observers point of view.

I want to turn this around and learn a new skill, and hopefully put myself in a position to take some shots equal to the ones i admire on a daily basis!

when i say starting out i mean literally at the beginning, I'm looking to purchase my first 'proper' camera setup as we speak - Slightly backwards start maybe but id much rather sign up to a community like this and learn from the very beginning to get the most out of this, If i just go out and buy the first camera i see i will probably mess the entire thing up so research is my first move! - if anyone has any suggestions for starter/beginner equipment i can piece together this would be great, even down to the editing software, at the moment my experience lies with photo shop but i'm not sure if this is the best all rounder out there?

Anyway hello to everyone, it's good to be here and im looking forward to getting to know people and learn as i go, any help/suggestions/random thoughts... feel free to share!

:)
 
yeah a lot of people have said its a personal choice situation, i just wondered if there was a good all rounder beginner setup that was well known. i'm mainly going to be photographing motor sports related as i have a personal interest in this and still life but i'm interested in playing around with light and long shutter speeds as well as some after shot computer editing.

i think at least a 10 mega pixel setup to begin with and a couple of lens options, standard and wide angle maybe

Sorry i forgot to mention my budget, i want to start around 250/300 - i know this is low but im quite happy to go down the used body route, i don't want to splurge out on new and top of the line everything without a clue as to what i'm doing - i learnt to drive in a shed of a car before buying anything nice so i figure the same approach probably works!
 
Last edited:
c30new said:
yeah a lot of people have said its a personal choice situation, i just wondered if there was a good all rounder beginner setup that was well known. i'm mainly going to be photographing motor sports related as i have a personal interest in this and still life but i'm interested in playing around with light and long shutter speeds as well as some after shot computer editing.

i think at least a 10 mega pixel setup to begin with and a couple of lens options, standard and wide angle maybe

Sorry i forgot to mention my budget, i want to start around 250/300 - i know this is low but im quite happy to go down the used body route, i don't want to splurge out on new and top of the line everything without a clue as to what i'm doing - i learnt to drive in a shed of a car before buying anything nice so i figure the same approach probably works!
Click to expand...


Well, Motorsport and wildlife are also my main interests so Motorsport i can try and help out with :) iv'e also started out experimenting with long exposures.
I started out with a canon 500D with the 18-55mm and a 70-300mm kit lenses which were ok to learn how to use a DSLR and the basics of Motorsport photography, i picked up the kit for £579 with a few accessories but it is alot cheaper nowadays. I find the body itself very user friendly as an entry level DSLR, the FPS (frames per second) is also OK for the money but i will soon be upgrading to the 7D.
Your going to need some fast glass for Motorsport, i soon invested £1000 into a 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 which i'm having no problem with at all, however i would suggest something along the lines of a 70-200mm F2.8 which should have plenty of reach for most circuits depending on what type of Motorsport you will be shooting, if not then pick up a 1.4x extender and that will be just fine.

To be honest i could chat all day on the gear needed etc but make a choice between canon or nikon and then go from there.
Where abouts are you based?

Carl.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Carl that's brilliant, info like this is exactly why i joined! the Canon 550D keeps popping up and i hear good things, is it an updated version of the 500? i think safe to say i'm leaning towards Canon, the bodies are comfortable for me and seem to be laid out logically so i'll investigate further down this route and take a look at the second hand options.

i'm based in Harrogate, just North of Leeds not much by way of motor sports around here but we do get the odd hill climb, thankfully travelling around is something i quite enjoy so hopefully i can take in some bigger events in 2013 and have some reasonable footage to show for it!
 
c30new said:
Thanks Carl that's brilliant, info like this is exactly why i joined! the Canon 550D keeps popping up and i hear good things, is it an updated version of the 500? i think safe to say i'm leaning towards Canon, the bodies are comfortable for me and seem to be laid out logically so i'll investigate further down this route and take a look at the second hand options.

i'm based in Harrogate, just North of Leeds not much by way of motor sports around here but we do get the odd hill climb, thankfully travelling around is something i quite enjoy so hopefully i can take in some bigger events in 2013 and have some reasonable footage to show for it!
Click to expand...

The 550D is the next model from a 500D. It has 3.7fps rather than 3.4fps which is a pretty small difference. 17.9MP compared to the 15.1 on the 500D. It's slightly upgraded in pretty much every area to be honest.

I also put a 3rd party grip on mine which you should defiantly look as it improves grip and great for portrait shots. Also remember that DSLR's in the lower sort of range have APS-C not full frame so this means my 100-400mm at 400mm is actually around the 540mm range (this is known as a 'cropped sensor') which is great for Motorsport for that extra reach.
I'm going to try and do a lot of BSB next year :)
 
Last edited:
I also put a 3rd party grip on mine which you should defiantly look as it improves grip and great for portrait shots. Also remember that DSLR's in the lower sort of range have APS-C not full frame so this means my 100-400mm at 400mm is actually around the 540mm range (this is known as a 'cropped sensor') which is great for Motorsport for that extra reach.
I'm going to try and do a lot of BSB next year :)[/QUOTE]

Again, all usefull information! where did you get the grip from?..

i've never been to a superbike event, it's always been about 4 wheels for me but having seen some photos on this site i think i'd like to experience it
 
I ordered the grip on ebay, cheap and came with 2 3rd party batteries which last a life time! Done a quick search for you, Results:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=canon+550+d+battery+grip&rt=nc&LH_BIN=1

I'm the opposite to you :lol: I've always been to 2 wheel events but i'm really wanting to try out some 4 wheel :) especially Rally, up close in the woods or something! if you know of anything on? or that you might have already planned for next year?

I've only been photographing since March this year but Check out my website in my signature below or if your on facebook, www.facebook.com/carlevansphotography.canon
 
Hi and welcome.

I'm new here too and just starting out in photography like yourself. I purchased a canon 400d from eBay with a couple of kit lenses and I've since extended my kit with a nifty fifty, and some macro lens type things which I've not used yet. I'm waiting on a wireless shutter and I'm hoping for a tripod from Santa :) (both of which I've been told are essential bits of kit)
I'm not that into Motorsport although I can see the attraction, but I do like wildlife, landscapes etc.
I paid £300 for the 400 body and 2 lenses with battery grip, 1gb card, bag, and 2 batteries.
It seemed a good deal as it wasn't very old and used very little by the owner.

Enjoy the forum, I do. I've learnt loads from it, and I'm sure you will too.

I'm from Leeds also, we'll its more Wakefield but near enough.

Rich.
 
Hi Rich,

Thanks for the welcome, so far so good with the forum im already learning things! Main aim at the moment is to tick the camera and basic setup off the list, i've had a few pointers over the last few days and i'm going to make a trip into town over the weekend to have a look at some physically but how are you finding your 400D? i think Canon is going to be the way forward with me but theres so many options!

Nick
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top