Buying my first digital camera...help!!!

Mickeroo

Hi there,
I'm going buying a digital camera in the near future but i don't really have a clue about them! I want it for more than just holiday snaps etc. more interested in buying a hobbie than just a camera if you get my drift, i have my eye on the Fujifilm FinePix S7000 Zoom. What you reckon?? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

joolsveer

I bought an Olympus C-5000 in Texas in the summer for $399 and I'm very happy with the results. (It wasn't my first choice but I had to take what they had in stock cause my existing digital camera from Lidl wasn't great) It gives 5 megapixels and I get just over 200 photos on a 256MB card.

DotOrg

what's your budget and apart form holiday photos, what kind of subjects would you be shooting?

KlodaX

sorry to hijack but I am kinda in the same situation myself.... just did a wee photography course ... now want a camera. This is probably a bad discription but I'm looking for a digital slr that doesn't have interchangable lenses. something like Nikon D70 or Canon EOS Digital Rebel/300D ...

any suggestions? or if you have tried either of the above what do you thinK?

Mantel

A friend has the Finepix S5000 and it's a very nice camera, he's gotten some really good pictures with it.

If you want an idea of what the pictures it produces have a look at

http://www.deviantart.com/view/8008134/
http://www.deviantart.com/view/10313266/
http://www.deviantart.com/view/11913660/
http://www.deviantart.com/view/9107840/

I've used it a few times and like it aswell. Good shape and easy to use. Looks like they've released a 4 mp version of it aswell (S5500)

'm looking for a digital slr that doesn't have interchangable lenses. something like Nikon D70 or Canon EOS Digital Rebel/300D ...

Both of them have interchangable lenses Most of the cameras in the Finepix S range (well as far as I can see) don't have changable lenses while still haveing a SLR style body.

beer enigma

I spent weeks looking at all of the options for a digital camera after my previous one gave up the ghost....

I opted for the Fuji Finepix S5000 & I gotta say I'm delighted with it. Mine is only for home use, so the 5000 more than does what I want with it, I'd say the S7000 would suit you down to the ground.

The weight & balance of the Fuji is just beautiful, easy to use & easy to configure if you want to go manual on any of the settings. Some of the cams I tried would take a month to learn full functionality - I found the S5000 almost second nature (even through previous cam was an early 1Mb Kodak).

Anyway, Fuji gets my vote for what its worth. Let us know how you get on.

KlodaX

Mantel wrote:

Both of them have interchangable lenses Most of the cameras in the Finepix S range (well as far as I can see) don't have changable lenses while still haveing a SLR style body.

ha ha .. can you tell I'm a pro?

The Muppet

I have an S5000 mysellf. When buying I got the spec of a couple of cameras in my price range and gave them to a Professional photographer and he recommended the fuji. I like yourself had great intentions of a new hobby but that has not transpired yet . I am very happy with the S5000 so I assume the 7000 is a good camera too. There are plenty of websites that do reviews of cameras I found this one http://www.dpreview.com/ particularly helpful and http://www.pixmania.com are a reputable online supplier that ship to Ireland.

Happy snapping whatever you choose

Mantel

The Nikon Coolpix range have good cameras that built in lenses. I have a 3.2mp Coolpix that takes great photos but the battery life is dire on it (could be cause it's quite old now) hmmmmm finepix, coolpix, I wonder if there's a relation

ha ha .. can you tell I'm a pro?

Gotta start somewhere!

KlodaX

there is a hell of a jump in price when it comes to interchangable lenses.

In the course I have been doing we have not covered lenses, just apature and shutter speed and aranging the picture... simple things ... but I want to take this as a serious hobbie, I need to make a portfolio out of it. Do you think it would be worth the while going the extra euro and getting one with interchangable lenses?

DotOrg

you should buy a cheap old film SLR for less than €50 and play around with it for a month. You'll soon learn the huge benefits SLRs have over point and shoot cameras, then you'll know whether you want to go spend hundreds or a thousand or two on a digital SLR.

DotOrg

also, can you even get non SLR digital cameras where you have full manual control over the iso, aperture and shutter speed?

KlodaX

I got to have a wee play with the film slrs in a photography club I joined ... but never really did anything with the lenses....

also, can you even get non SLR digital cameras where you have full manual control over the iso, aperture and shutter speed?

this is kinda what I was looking for, I saw photos taken by one that I liked but I can't remember the name of it. Are there any like this made by Nikon or Cannon?

Mantel

DotOrg wrote:

also, can you even get non SLR digital cameras where you have full manual control over the iso, aperture and shutter speed?

You can, the old Nikon Coolpix I have lets you do that through the menus. The S5000 is the same. dpreview doesn't have any field that indicates which cameras which indicate manual controls I'm not sure where you might get that kind of info. Good idea might be to pick out some cameras you like the look off and then heard in to town to Camera Exchange or the new Jessops shop and give them a maul in your hands You'll be able to get a feel for the camera and have a look through the menus.

DotOrg

I saw photos taken by one that I liked but I can't remember the name of it.

just remember, a good camera does not a good photographer make.

If you do photography as a hobby, an SLR is the camera you will end up using at some point. one you realise the creative flexibility in different lenses you'll wonder how you could ever have used a point and click camera

nutkase

DotOrg wrote:

you should buy a cheap old film SLR for less than €50 and play around with it for a month. You'll soon learn the huge benefits SLRs have over point and shoot cameras, then you'll know whether you want to go spend hundreds or a thousand or two on a digital SLR.

You say to yourself after getting the SLR this is not digital, however after saving money by taking above advice you can bridge the digital divide by getting hold of a decent flatbed scanner. I have a "Microtek ScanMaker 6000" paid about $60 ( I don't know how that translates into Euros) as well as scanning the developed photo I also have the option of scanning negatives.

Beware of the sales pitch my digital is a point and shoot "Olympus C4000" happy enough with it. The digital sales pitch: megapixels/the camera that came out 6 months ago obselete close your ears. Borrow a friends camera. When you are in a shop play with a floor model and close your ears when the salesperson starts telling you what you need. Driving a Porshce 911 will not garauntee you beating a Morris Minor in a race.

Mickeroo

DotOrg wrote:

what's your budget and apart form holiday photos, what kind of subjects would you be shooting?

Budget is well, around €500, maybe stretch it to a bit more if i have to. As to what kind of subjects i'd be shooting, just about anything, mostly landscapes i would say.

Thanks for the advice folks!

John mac

Just like to say i have recently got a panasonic DMC-fz20 It is great for close up and landscapes http://www.dpreview.com/news/0407/04072202panasonicfz20prev.asp

I bought it on Pixmania.com
John

KlodaX

just a side question... I've been advised of a second hand camera shop in Dublin.

Is it wise to purchase a second hand digital camera?

KlodaX

I went for the finepix S7000 ... I love it. Got it for €680 in harvey normans with free case worth €20 and free 64MB chip. The normal price for it is €750 with no case and just 16MB chip, its on special offer. I'd recommend it Mickeroo. *Not that I know much about cameras, but I really do love my new toy*

Flankerb

Hi,
If you want to experiment with photography Canon 300D or Nikon D70.
If you can afford to buy 1 of these you will have a camera that will last you a lifetime. I have a Digital Rebel (300D) that I got a friend to bring back from New York. it worked out at about 800 euro's it was $950 that was 6 months ago the are $700 now or 530 euro's. If you just want holiday snaps any of the Fuji's or Sony or Nikons. If you want to be creative 300D or D70.
Lot of money but best money I have ever spent.