Recommend a first "real" camera? (Read the FAQ, specific questions.)

oq4v3ht0u76kf2

Hi folks,

I want to start taking a whole lot more pictures, so far I've just got a metric boatload of pictures taken on various crappy cameraphones.

I now want to by My First Real Camera. I figure my budget for everything I need... camera, cases, batteries, memory cards, whatever... is about 300 EUR.

So... school me, I'm a complete newbie but I want to learn and I want to get the best bang for my buck. I'm definitely not opposed to buying online but brick and mortar suggestions for here in Dublin would be much appreciated.

I'll mostly be taking fairly close range shots in and around Dublin City - no mountain panoramas for me. I'd like them to be quite high quality as I love a printed photograph rather than just always looking at them onscreen. I'd like to buy a camera that will last me the first couple of years as a budding amateur photographer so something that will allow me to learn the ropes fairly well would be great.

Finally, I'd love to take some nice photos of sports matches so perhaps I need something fairly responsive as I imagine it can be very spur-of-the-moment to find a shot worth taking during a match?

oq4v3ht0u76kf2

A guy on another forum recommended the Canon S5 IS which I found on Komplett for just over three hundred euro... http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=335838

Does anyone have any experience with this camera?

Vitoldus

Well, when i moved to digital photography i started with canon s2 is. I learned a ton when shooting with it, but i got it only because i couldn't afford a dslr. With your budget i'd rather go for second hand canon 350d - you can find them on ebay or buy and sell for 300-500 depending on what's included.
Cheers
V

mehfesto2

I got a fujifilm 6500fd there about a year and a half ago. Not technically a dslr, but enough to get me involved and master the basics. It also has a fantastic camcorder in it. Cost me about 375 at the time. Here's the info on that cam anyway:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Fujifilm/fuji_finepixs6000.asp

Kinda regretted not investing that money into something more serious, but to be honest, if I didn't like photography as much as I do now, it wouldn't have been much of a loss if I didn't use it. Anyway, if you're intrested in it, I'm sticking it on adverts.ie soon enough.

But I'd recommend heading down to your local camera shop and asking around, showing your genuinely intrested in buting there (even if you're not) just to get your hands on the equipment and see which you prefer and what best suits you. eBay is great once you know what you want then. I got my D80 there for 750 (saving me around 400 in total - all extras taken into account).

TJM

The Fuji bridge cameras are good all round compromises and now extremely good value. I wouldn't like to use them for sports photography though. It's very difficult indeed to follow fast movement on their lcd screen / lcd viewfinder.

I haven't used the S5 so can't comment specifically on that. Generally though if you're serious about sport photography then you need a SLR, in which case I'd second looking for a used 350d.

If the sport is very much a secondary concern then I'd buy a Fuji, S5, or perhaps even the Canon G9 (if you can find one in your price range). You should have no problem reselling any of these if (and when!) you decide to move up to a SLR.

oq4v3ht0u76kf2

Another recommendation I recieved was for the Elph SD750? Whilst not a dSLR it might be more suited as I start out taking pictures?

I basically want to buy a camera that is better than I am at taking pictures, which at the moment, wouldn't be hard. As I read, learn and practise my photography then I will possibly (hopefully) come to a point where it is not my own lack of skills or knowledge that is holding me back, but the camera in my hands at which point I will need to invest in a better camera.

For the moment though, I want a good, solid machine to start me off...

Choices are more or less narrowed down to:

S5 IS Elph SD750 Used 350d Fuji S6000fd

Anybody have anything extremely good, or in any way bad, to say about these cameras?

Solarina

a used 350D is a good idea! Ebay is also great, the 400D is really cheap there now (often with lovely extras thown in)

But if youre going for a lower price, I'd recommend one of the better Canon Powershots, (this is just from personal experience with a few) my favourite being the SD450, I used it for months and was really happy with it!

Solarina

As for the camera being better than you- nah!

Its all about developing your own eye for composition I think, and you can do that with any camera, a good enough point and shoot will allow you to see your own strenghs and stretch your imagination! Good luck btw

mehfesto2

Solarina wrote: »

a used 350D is a good idea! Ebay is also great, the 400D is really cheap there now (often with lovely extras thown in)

But if youre going for a lower price, I'd recommend one of the better Canon Powershots, (this is just from personal experience with a few) my favourite being the SD450, I used it for months and was really happy with it!

Yeah, totally agree with this. You obvious are quite serious about photography, reading what you've said. Personally so, I'd recommend saving up a bit more and investing in a really good solid camera such as the Canon 350d, the 400d, the 450d or Nikon's D70 or D80. Or explore the new Sony Alpha range which has been getting great reviews.

It's an investment at the end of the day. The resale value from the other, cheaper cameras wouldn't be great and if you had one of the one's I've listed, chances are you won't need to upgrade for a good long time. Thus saving you money in the long term.

I've a brother in law who's mate does Sports photography freelance, mostly for the braodsheets (actually in Moscow tonight, as far as I know) who sells his pictures reguarly to the Times and he still uses his D80 (obviosuly with some serious lens'. He didn't bother with the newer models, as he didn't need them.

You could spend a fortune, but unless you have the knack for it, you might as throw your money away.
Id advise getting a decent model, something that will allow you to show off your abilities and allow you to learn as you go, but something that you won't outgrow either.

Personal opinion: Get a secondhand d80.
Hope I've helped!