Does anyone have any advice for a inexperienced person interested in photography as a hobby?

Question

I would like to take up photography as a hobby and I would like to know if anyone can recommend a camera that I can start off using. I have no experience and would like some pointers as to how I can go about picking up this interesting hobby. Thanks.

Answer 1

Every photographer I know, amateur and professional, started out by reading books, magazines and everything they could find on the photography. Today, moreso than in the past, reading is so make surevital with the changes and advances that are occurring in the many different areas of today's field of photography every few months. Knowing how to handle a camera is somewhat like a carpenter knowing how to use his hammer; it's only one of many tools used, right?

Start off by going to the library and pick up an old book on black and white photography. You’ll find chapters on camera parts, different types of films, filters, different types of lenses and their uses, etc. These are essential bits of information that you will use once you start toying around with photography. Learn the vocabulary (f/stop, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focal range, etc) and you'll find photography so much easier to understand.

Take a Beginner's Course at a local college (they usually offer this through the Adult, Evening & Continuing Education Department) or at a local YMCA/YWCA or some other similar organization near you. You'd be surprised how much you can learn in a matter of a few sessions, and how much fun it is. You can also join a photography club.

There are a few fine manual film cameras still on the market but I suggest that you look into a camera that can be used in a variety of ways. If you’re looking into a film camera to learn with, nothing beats a Nikon N80 with the Nikkor AF 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6D lens for beginners and advanced beginners; a slightly cheaper alternative lens is the Nikkor AF 35-105mm f/3.5-5.6D(macro) lens, a bit older, more affordable but equally as good. (If or when you move to digital technology afterward, you'll want to keep the Nikon N80)

The N80 can be used manually (you set the aperture and the shutter speed in either auto-focus or manual focus), semi-automatic (either in aperture priority or shutter speed priority; with manual focus OR auto-focus), or in total automatic mode where it sets the aperture and shutter speed, either auto-focus or manual focus. It is the preferred camera for beginners to take classes with. The options and features are similar to the pro-level camera, Nikon F100. This camera is ergonomically made, sturdy with a no-nonsense feel and also has three metering modes: center-weighted, spot metering as well as matrix metering. This camera will also set the film's ISO automatically for you, it will advance the film automatically as you take a photo and it will rewind the film when you take the last shot; it also has a few extra features to customize the camera to your personal comfort. It also has a built-in strobe!

I recommend the most versatile lenses put out by Nikon, the Nikkor AF 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6D lens, which can be used as a wide angle, a regular lens, a portrait lens, a short telephoto lens and as a macro-lens, too. Nikkor lenses are known for their superior build and superior glass formula. If, you can also afford to get the Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8D lens (about $70-$75 used), you will also have an excellent lens for low-light situations that is easy to carry and will save the day when you most need a fast lens. When you buy a camera, remember that you're also buying into a lens system, and you will want other lenses for other uses in the future, and the AVAILABILITY and QUALITY of lenses will play a major role in your future purchases. With Nikkor lenses (yes, that's what Nikon lenses are called), you'll find that they will also fit cameras from 1959 and all present-day modern camera mounts, including digital Single Lens Reflex cameras; the quality of lens build and the quality of glass formula is superior to those commonly found on the market. (If the 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6D is a little too pricey, consider the Nikkor AF 35-105mm f/3.5-5.6D-macro, the older but equally as versatile and equally good alternative lens but it says, "macro" because there's a much cheaper lens that cannot be used for macro-photography).

You will NOT outgrow this camera or the lens anytime soon. The features are there to help you, not to confuse you; it also has on-demand grid lines to help you keep the horizon level when you're shooting landscapes and/or seascapes! The camera will set the film's ISO for you automatically, and advance the film as you take an image and rewind the roll as you take the last image. It’s the preferred camera for photography classes, too, because you can use it as a totally manual camera, or semi-automatic camera or as a totally automatic camera. Be sure to also get the instructions manual or Hogan's book on the N80, which is also very, very handy and most helpful.

Some camera manufacturers change their lens mount every few years or have different lens mount on different camera models, which limits the camera owner; Nikon has NOT changed its lens mount since 1959 and has no plans on changing it, either. So, you can, basically, mount any lens made since 1959 and those to be made in the future, with the only restrictions that you cannot get auto-focus from manual lenses or metering from those without the contacts to send info back and forth to the camera. Lenses normally outlast cameras unless deliberately abused/misused or submerged in water or dropped on a hard surface; so, don't hesitate to buy used if the lens is good quality (no dents or obvious signs of abuse/misuse) from a reputable place. If you're not sure on what camera to get, go to any camera shop and ask to see the N80 and compare it with any other camera brand/model you may be considering; hold them both in your hands and look through the viewfinder and see which feels more comfortable in your hands.

If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a digital SLR to learn with, there are a few cameras that you can consider: the Nikon D50 or the Nikon D80; both are recent vintage with excellent features. If you’re already familiar with cameras, I suggest that you consider the D80, which is the most popular model today, aside from the semi-pro-level D200. Otherwise, consider the D50, the entry level digital-SLR camera, at the most affordable price tag.

Check with www.keh.com for the N80 and the recommended Nikkor lenses, and see what you can find; they have excellent and competitive prices (and they're very courteous and helpful, too). If you don't see what you want, go back in a couple of days; they get new merchandise in almost everyday, but be ready to buy when you see what you want because their merchandise doesn't stay on the shelves very long.

And check with B & H at www.bhphotovideo.com for the D50 and D80 camera models.

Don't buy gray market digital cameras... too many problems with repairs and servicing will follow. DO NOT EVER BUY form pawnshops... you don't know what you're getting and there are no warrantees or guarantees. Buy only from reputable places even if "Joe Blow" from down the road is offering the same item cheaper!

Photography is a great hobby, which has therapeutic properties (helps sooth tension, relieves stress), and you can participate in this hobby for the rest of your life, always learning something, always finding fun and interesting things to capture and always an adventure.

Check out these great reviews:
http://www.photosig.com/articles/1227/article
http://www.bythom.com/n80.htm
http://bythom.com/d80review.htm

Good luck and best wishes!

Answer 2

I like kehkohjones answer (as usual), but I would suggest one factor in favor of digital. If you are interested in photography as a hobby, start in the digital world right off the bat.

Once you have a decent printer and learn how to use some image editting software, you will find you can produce prints as nice as those you do in the darkroom. Once you get over the hump of the initial investment, you will also realize that you're done spending money. No more film, chemicals or processing fees. You are able to take all the pictures you want FOR FREE and this is the right way to learn photography.

If you can find it, the new Nikon D40 is a decent quality DSLR for $599 with a lens. There are reasons to argue against this camera for an experienced user, but that does not include you at the moment and it costs half as much as many other so-called "entry level" DSLR's and not much more than a really good point and shoot digital camera.

Answer 3

If you are just starting out and have not purchased any equipment yet I'd recommend digital. With digital you can shoot pretty much for free after you've made your initial investment (camera, memory card). I'd also recommend a camera that has manual settings as well as the automatic ones. It would also be good if you could control aperature manually as well as shutter speeds,but now your starting to get expensive. If you go with a film camera most 35 mm slr's will have these features,and film cameras are pretty cheap now days. Also with film start out with slide film right away so that you can get an accurate Gage on your exposures. print film is OK but there are too many variables when processing, from processing the film to printing the image the person can change the way the final image looks and you would never know if it were shot right or not with slide film that's not the case. Good luck.

Answer 4

A digital camera will give you instant results as you progress.
A good digital camera (removable lens) will cost about $600 - $800 for a D50 Nikon or Digital Rebel (maybe even an XT).

You will have to learn from somebody via books or classes...you can't just wing it!

Practice makes perfect.

Once you find the aperture priority button you'll be off to a good start!

Answer 5

A suggestion: start with a simple, manual-mode 35mm camera such as a Pentax K1000, and learn the basics of photography before you sink a lot of money into equipment. If you can learn to compose through the viewfinder and estimate shutter/aperture settings by gauging the ambient light manually, you'll be miles ahead of most people when you do get a really good rig.

Similar suggestion for darkroom work: try it in someone else's darkroom first, to see whether you like it, before you put a lot of money into a darkroom of your own.

Answer 6

Go to pawn shops and look at SLR cameras. It's really best to learn on film SLR's in my experience. You can find some film SLR's for cheap there. Go to the liberary and pick up a book for beginners or go to your community college and take a class to get started. Then you can also learn about developing your own film and pictures which is so wonderful. It's my stress reliever.
Then after some time upgrade to a digital SLR and learn about those cuz they have all sorts of different features.

Answer 7

I have the same your hobby - I bought kodad camera and a printer - I keep practising any time I can - and then I find out I 've been improving everyday - I think you will do the same - Be patient - Enjoy and good luck

Answer 8

Practice makes perfect for starters. Also, learn about composition and lighting. Both are important.