new to photography...

shanethemofo

Ok so im 15, in transition year and have found an enormous interest in photography recently. i now also have a reason to get into it because we get to do a photography project for art .

So my question to you experts is what camera should i go for?
I was thinking of a manual slr because the price of digital ones (ouch).
Any advice/ suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

Shane

JackKelly

Is there a digital point and shoot at home you can borrow?
It would be easier to get the very basics on a point and shoot before tackling a slr. Things can be a little mind boggling with them. Otherwise, you could pick up a cheap slr although developing will bring up the expensis.

edit: If you have a project in school , they might have a dark room you can use, which would be very handy and cut your costs.

shanethemofo

sorry should have mentioned that strangely enough i do not have a point and shoot at home and thats why im looking for advice. Would i be best just startng with a point and shoot, i mean i understand the slr camera, how it works, the functions etc.

Fajitas!

Well, if you can understand it, and can get someone (father, family member, teacher, friend) to show you the basics, then you're sorted.

The camera club is opening in the end of Sept in Waterford, I don't know anything about it,but it wouldn't be any harm to join if you were interested

Btw, don't buy from the camera shops in Waterford, head towards Dublin or t'internet

shanethemofo

ok thanks. anyone have any suggestions as to which camera i should buy?

5uspect

There's a wide spectrum of cameras from tiny pocket point and shoots to more capable P&S cameras up to prosumer to full blown SLR. It would be easier to help you if you could tell us your budget.

Also check out the sticky on where to buy etc.

leinsterman

Well ... I would not consider myself an expert but something to consider is the cost of photography ... i.e. film v digital ... each has its own merits.

If you really want to learn then get a camera with manual capabilities ... not necesserily an SLR ... though this is a good idea if you can afford it...

If you go for a film camera ... you have less flexibility .. as film developlent aint cheap ... and because of this you have less ability to experiment ... and therefore less chances to learn.

With digital the up front cost may be more ... but as long as you already have access to a pc ... then the running costs are less and you can shoot away to your hearts content to see how different settings camera affect your pictures ...

If it were me ... I'd try for the digital with manual capability and a good zoom from one of Canon (my personal favorite), Nikon, Olympus, Fuji, Sony. But then I have no idea what you can afford ...

You should be able to pick up an EOS 300d with 1 lens and 512MB CF card for around €300 - €400 second hand ... but this could be a lot for you ... or if you know someone who travels to the USA then you will get it cheaper there ...

all depends on your budget...

Fajitas!

Which do ye want to go for so, the film slr?

If I were you, I'd advise you to go with something that runs in a system, such as Nikon, Canon et al.

At least that way, you'll know the basics of each camera, like button placements and you can (generally) use lenses from one camera to the next.

That said, there's nothing wrong with a fully manual SLR with a 50mm lens...

shanethemofo

ok well im 15 so by nature im poor :P but i do have a bit saved up from the summer job so im looking kind of for a cheapish decent-semi decent camera if that helps

shanethemofo

about 300ish- 350 really id be looking to spend

Fajitas!

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Canon-EOS-300D-18-55mm-lense_W0QQitemZ190026329873QQihZ009QQcategoryZ31388QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.ie/CANON-DIGITAL-REBEL-300D-KIT-INC-LENS-EXTRAS_W0QQitemZ180023876003QQihZ008QQcategoryZ31388QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.ie/Canon-300D-Rebel-6-3MP-Digital-Camera-Bundle-Kit-Silver_W0QQitemZ140025762718QQihZ004QQcategoryZ31388QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Just to give you some ideas

That's for a digital Slr now, Canon brand. Check the D50 if you wanna go Nikon and digital.

If you fancy going down the film road first, check the Canon 300V and 500V, or an older model like 1000Fn. Not familiar with Nikon, but I'm sure someone can..em... 'guide' you to them

5uspect

Canon A700 is a good place to start looking, its a P&S with lots of options and a big zoom (maybe a little too big). It won't be fully manual but its a start.

artieanna

5uspect wrote:

Canon A700 is a good place to start looking, its a P&S with lots of options and a big zoom (maybe a little too big). It won't be fully manual but its a start.

the one above is like the fuji finepix camera I own (its newer so its got alot more pixels) the zoom is great. I don't know how I ever managed without it!!
Simple to use, can change setings manually, great quality pics, bit heavy on batteries though (can get rechargable batteries + charger don't know if this is better)

Fionn

look at any of the review sites for whatever is in your budget..see what you can afford
bottom line - at the end of the day you gotta live with your selection, do your research, make a short list and do your comparisons, ask here too about specific cameras in your wish list
then make an informed decision
oh and have fun!!!!

bp_me

Fajitas! wrote:

The camera club is opening in the end of Sept in Waterford, I don't know anything about it,but it wouldn't be any harm to join if you were interested

Started back nearly two weeks ago. Next meeting on Monday. Meetings every second week. 8pm. Waterford Crystal Swimming pool in one of the function rooms on the ground floor.

As a possible alternative to buying a SLR, possibly a decent "bridge" camera. The Fuji 5600 will give you most of the manual settings you require and is only about 230eur from Pixmania. Surely you would end up spending that on a film SLR anyway?


Or possibly a second hand 300d or 350d from ebay for your money. I dont know.