Beginning Photography

Enygma

Hey everyone,

I'm about to get my first proper camera. I'm thinking about either the Canon EOS 30 (if I can get it on e-bay) or the EOS 3000V. What should I be looking for in a camera?

I'm going to be signing up to a photography course in Cork (probably the college of commerce) can anyone recommend a good one?

Any other tips or advice? I'll be taking a lot of shots on or near the beach so sand is probably an issue, what can I do to keep the camera clean?

Thanks!

Flankerb

Why not go digital?

IANOC

yes mate some of the digital cameras out there cant be beaten on picture quality.
have a 5 megapixel konica minolta myself and the quality is superb

Enygma

Well, eventually I plan to get a digital SLR but for now a film SLR will do me fine.

If I'm doing a course then a digital is no good to me, plus I have a whole load of equipment at home for developing and enlarging (my dad used to be into photography) that I'd like to learn about.

If I get an SLR now, any lenses I buy will also fit a digital SLR I buy in the future (if I stick to the same brand).

I had a compact digital (Canon A70) that I was very impressed with but I got the dreaded 'E18' error. Now I'm looking for something a little more flexible without spending a fortune on a digital SLR.

Is it a really bad thing to not get a digital?

IANOC

for ease of use and practicality, they are the tops mate

but professionals hate them

bit like someone in a dodge viper 8.3ltr hating a wrx

one does the job massively , the other does almost the exact same but with a fraction of the cost/trouble

dublinguy05

IANOC dont' understand why you say most 'professional photographers' hate digital. All professional photographers I know use digital and would never go back to film, the speed of digital work flow is light years ahead of film. I think you don't know what your talking about to be honest. Enygma, I think you should invest in a digital slr camera if are going to take photography serious, as you will come down this road again in the future if you invest in 35mm...you will learn quicker than using 35mm film, you can take 1000s of test shots with the digital, were as it would cost you a fortune to take the same amount of test shots with film, not only that you have instant feedback with your digital camera, were as with film you have to get developed and write down the settings of the camera, to see how you achieved your shot. Also you would need a failry decent pc with a software package such as photshop cs, this would replace your darkroom! alot of expense to consider initally, but worth it in the long run.

Enygma

Hmmm, ya ye're right I guess.
I love that about digitals alright; don't like a shot, delete it.
I guess I could save up a bit more for a digital SLR and buy online.

Any recommendations for a camera for that then?

IANOC

dublinguy05 wrote:

IANOC dont' understand why you say most 'professional photographers' hate digital. All professional photographers I know use digital and would never go back to film, the speed of digital work flow is light years ahead of film. I think you don't know what your talking about to be honest. .

hmm so these are all certified photographers , you know that have a career in photography? and its your opinion? or FACT?
if you have read my first post you would see i think digital is ahead also :rolleyes:

dublinguy05

Yes IANOC, these are certified photographers working for newspapers and freelance photograpers, also some teach photographry courses in temple bar irish-photography, http://www.irish-photography.com/ , maybe if you took one of these courses you have a better understanding! but you did say 'professionals hate them', total rubbish. In medium format photography alot of photographers still use the film backs because the digital backs are so expensive (around 12,000 mark), alot will convert over to digital when price comes down.

Metacortex

IANOC wrote:

but professionals hate them

Wrong.
I work for a professional commerical and pr photography company. We use nothing but digital.
For commercial and pr it has to be used to get the images processed and sent out quickly. I think you'll find most professional companies use digital.

IANOC

dublinguy05 wrote:

, maybe if you took one of these courses you have a better understanding! but you did say 'professionals hate them', total rubbish.QUOTE]


lol

either way i dont need to go on a course to tell me what I LIKE

dublinguy05

Enygma I use canon gear, so in the canon range I would look for a secondhand canon 10d or 20d and a good walk around zoom lens some were in the range of 28-135mm...a budget of around 1000euro would set you up in the second market. these sites provide a wealth of information about what type of equipment to buy etc...they also have a buyandsell section I have bought alot throught these websites...anyway have a look,

http://www.fredmiranda.com/
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/

minnie_mouse

Youre right to start with film, theres great bargins as film cameras are going so cheap now saw cannon 300v for 180 yo yos in camera exchange, :eek: plus you have all the dark room equipment thats much more fun then pressing keys on the computer in photoshop

DotOrg

What should I be looking for in a camera?

the lenses you use are far far more important than the camera body which does little more than capture the image the lens makes

what's your budget? do you want to go digital eventually? what previous experience do you have?

Enygma

Well,

after the posts on this thread I've decided to save up a little extra and try to get a Canon 300D either second hand or on ebay.

I have a bit of experience with the A70 and I loved it but just wanted something a bit more flexible.

I was thinking about a film SLR because the course I was looking at recommended them for that particular course. I might still get one and do the course, then get a digital SLR later on. We'll have to see how the funds are looking