What's the best camera for...?

Question

a beginner (17 year old girl) who would like to be a photographer as a career

And wants to take black and white pictures

Answer 1

I was of the same opinion as Petra for a long time. Now I am not so sure. Cameras can do everything automatically it took me 30 years to learn. Nikon is not making any low end film cameras any more. Slap a digital print into Adobe Photoshop (TM) and you can change depth of field, hue, saturation and any of 5000 things we used to have to do manually. Do you need to know how to bracket a shot? I am not so sure. The kind of camera is much less important than your vision.

The camera can not tell you when to snap the shutter. The camera can not tell you how to frame a picture. The camera can not tell you how to make a model laugh.

1. Go to the library and decide what kind of photographer you want to be. Look at the shots of the greats and see what you like.
2. Buy the best camera you can afford and then become expert in what ever its benefits or limitations are.
3. Emulate your artistic mentors and stretch your skills.
4. Find your passion - to make this a career you must have passion because there are too many people out there that think if they simply have enough money to buy a Hassleblad they are a photographer.

Good luck, too many of us are doing other things to support our photographic addiction other than being a professional photographer.

Answer 2

I noticed you said for black and white pictures, so unlike everyone else, I am going to assume she would like a film camera instead of digital. Older fully manual cameras are easier to learn how to do everything manually on since that is the only way they are designed to be used. I learned on an old pentax. BUT if you are going to be investing a lot in lenses you need an outfit that she can grow into as she advances and that isn't possible with the older stuff. I shoot all canon, so I can't speak for nikon, but start her out with any consumer grade slr and a lens or two. As she learns more lenses can be bought or upgraded the camera can be upgraded even to a dslr and the lenses can still be used. I have a home dark room and I truely love it for b&w... color I shoot with a dslr.

Answer 3

im going to have to go with the Nikon D-100. Anything in the Nikon D range is nice. D70/D1 etc. a bit pricey. however, even if you need to get a job or whatever.. its worth it. Only go with either Nikon or Cannon. anything else is pretty much crap in my opinion. Only get an SLR. Don't waste your time with some crappy consumer grade camera. im not going to bore you with all the small details of why.. one day you will understand.
If you want to go the film route... I used to love my old Nikon FM2 that camera could have survived 9/11. But anymore.. digital is the way to go. anyone who thinks that real photographers only use film at this stage in the game is gonna get left behind. In addition.. you need to aquire Adobe Photoshop. learn it, live it, love it.

Answer 4

You will want to learn the basics....that way you know what you are doing when you get a camera that is fully automatic. I would go for a pentax or richo fully manual, that way you are learning everything you need to know about f/stops and stuff like that. Then, after you have gotten the hang of that, then you should get a good, automatic camera like a Nikon or Cannon. Go to KEH.com to look at their cameras...you can get a slightly used camera for a very nice price and the cameras are good. Good luck!

Answer 5

Look, I am not that good as you might think I am, I love pictures; all kinds of pictures. I have a few friends who are photographers. And I am gonna give ya a tip. Look for a Nikkon Coolpix E-995. (IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT, I CAN'T) But anyways, look for cameras Nikkon, you will probably thank me. (If you can find me when you achieve success) Because I am wishing you the best!!! Good luck

Answer 6

I don't know about the best, but I needed a versatile, and affordable camera for every day use, so I read a few consumer reports, and decided on the Kodak easy share and its worked great for me plus it has that printer that comes with it.

Answer 7

kodak dx7590 or the z series of this model is the best camera to start with and later use as a amateur its simple to use very very good results and can have prints upto 20" by 30" u can use it in auto mode program mode or manual mode. u can log on to www.kodak.com and check the specifications on it.

i am using it and u can see the results on my site
www.piyushsatra.blogspot.com

Answer 8

I would say go for an entry level DSLR camera. Nikon D50 or a Canon EOS 350D. :)