I am really getting interested in it and thinking about adding as a minor to my education. Can anyone recommend a good camera that I can start out with. Also, is there a specific place i would need to go to buy a camera? I've been looking at a Canon at Best Buy. Also, what type of features should I look for? as you can see, I have alot of questions. Thanks! ~ONYX~
2007-01-02 18:41:06 · 11 answers · asked by onyxanya 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
If your serious about photography, you need an SLR, or a Single Lens Reflex camera. That means that when you look through the viewfinder (the little window at the top of the back of the camera), you see exactly what the lens (the piece of glass in the front of the camera) sees. This works because there is a mirror inside the camera that reflects what the lens sees onto another mirror that you see. When a picture is taken, the mirror flips up, allowing the light to expose on either the film or the CCD (a little chip that measures the intensity of the red, green, and blue light of what it is capturing. The sound of the mirror flipping up is the distinctive "click" that you hear on professional cameras.
These days I would go for digital for its established advantages (immediate picture review is the big one), as its image quality has caught up with film, but if your interested in working in dark rooms and developing your own film, then you might want to look at a traditional SLR. I'm not as familiar with film cameras, but if you are looking at digital, then the Digital Rebel XT is good starting camera. As a general tip, don't buy it with it stock lens. It's a nice camera because it can use the full range of available Canon lenses. There is a 50mm fixed focal length lens for around $70 I think if you want an affordable, nice, quality lens. Beware, however that $70 is extremely cheap for a lens, and you'll eventually have to supplement your camera with more expensive lenses. They generally range from $250 to $1500, although the lenses can get a lot more expensive (generally the extreme telephoto ones, which have very good zoom).
Canon is a good brand, especially with digital. It's my personal favorite, but others will have their own preferences. Other good brands include Nikon, Olympus, and Leica. Sony, Kodak, Panasonic, Fuji etc... generally aren't too hot if you're looking for a high quality camera.
As far as features go, megapixels isn't terribly important. As long as it's above 5 megapixels, you should be good. The size of the default memory chip also doesn't matter much, as you'll have to buy your own. 1 or 2 GB is a good size, depending on how many pictures you take. You should always take pictures at the highest quality your camera can take, if only to future proof yourself. You never how you're going to use your photos. When you're researching cameras, dpreview is a good site to look at, as they have very comprehensive reviews. Then, look at amazon.com to see how people review them. Generally if you're looking at a good quality camera, the reviews will be informed.
That's only the crux of it, but also realize that a good camera is only a small part of the battle. Cameras weren't always as easy to use and versatile as they are now. You're going to have to invest a lot of your time into learning how cameras work and understanding photography. Taking good pictures is all about light. If you find situation in which to take a picture, it often won't matter which camera you use, only that you know how to control your camera and that you're in the right place at the right time. Photography is fun and rewarding hobby.
Good luck!
2007-01-02 19:14:59 · answer #1 · answered by john 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
What everybody says. It just depend on what's your budget, and what you want to do. DSLR or SLR are probably the best cameras to take pictures, but not necesarily the best for you, depending on your use.
I do a lot of mountain biking, so a DSLR is too big to carry along, so a point and shoot Canon SD700IS is perfect for that aplication, even if it doesn't have manual modes for exposure and shutter time. Probably a Canon A710IS would be a better choice since you can adjust those values and have more freedom.
I just bought a Sony Alpha DSLR, which is a very, very good entry level DSLR. The kit lens is good (18-70mm), and can take any Konika/Minolta Maxxum lens, has a Super SteadyShot that helps on not too big focus ranges (Canon and Nikon build the image stabilizer on the lens, not the body, but every lens has different settings, but more $$$ if you want a lens with that feature).
I also looked at Canon Rebel XTi and Nikon D70, but the Sony was a little cheaper than the Nikon (at least in Mexico) and I've heard very good reviews on the Sony.
I've had two different Canons and they're pretty good too.
2007-01-03 06:19:51 · answer #2 · answered by Roberto 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I recommend an hp photosmart 435 3.1 MP to start with. It gets the job done for beginner's like yourself and is affordable. Take a look at my online photo blog and you will see that it is all about how you use your camera and like the gentleman said, being in the right place at the right time. I wouldn't overthink this because you might get frustrated with a camera that has all the bells and whistles; that is what happen to me when my step father gave me his Nikon SLR to use. It was too much camera for me at the time and my pictures were blurry and out of focus. I gave up on it. Digital camera's were not around back then, and I was used to taking pictures with a disposable camera, so to make a long story short, I should have started small and worked my way up. Reading the owners manual at the time was like reading latin! Anyway, to get to the point, don't change your major and don't spend more than $100.
2007-01-03 03:56:27 · answer #3 · answered by Maine Landscapes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your first answer is the best... offering so much detail...
My thoughts are "heart n soul"... should I be a photographer... can I afford the investment.. initial and long run...
Do I have it in me... am I frustrated when I can't photograph something we see., Thus rule one: ALWAYS have your camera with you...and keep a Press Pass handy. You check with your local law dept for information on restrictions, then make one for you self on the computer using picture ID.
Your organization can be generic as your name. co.
make sure PRESS can be seen from some distance. That and your photo are Most important, next is you Affiliation. You can join a press agency like AP,IFOP and such they will send you a nice passport type PP for about $200 US.
International Freelance Photographers of America.
They have a price list and catalog of packages for PRESS kits.
They do give you a catalog with various packages.
you should check them out on your own.,
But the truth is you may not need anything but your business card if you are convincing enough you can do a job... you will get the job... or past the guard...I'll bet!
I am a member of IFPO and I have my own photographer organization here... I have had no problem with access.
beaux
2007-01-02 23:46:54 · answer #4 · answered by beauxPatrick 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Canon is very good. It's been recommended by lots of reliable sources online. I'm planning on getting one at Walmart sometime. The best thing you can do is, I'd say, get one and just experiment. That's the way I did it! :)
Megapixels are what you need to keep your eye on...definitely nothing lower than 5. I'm getting the 4x zoom with 8 MP Canon Powershot...did a lot of searches online and even posted a question about it.
2007-01-03 05:12:28 · answer #5 · answered by ♫ ∫aoli 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is your course over digital, film, or both. I recommend testing before buying. Go to any chain camera dealer and ask to actually handle the cameras. Get a feel of how it fits in you hand and how much it weighs. I love my Nikons but Canon has some pretty good image quality. I recommend going with digital, in the long run, it's cheaper. So test them out!
2007-01-02 20:43:00 · answer #6 · answered by laurabristow5 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Canon EOS 30D is AWESOME!
It has so many modes... it's AMAZING!
If you want a point and shoot for simple things... it's there.
If you need it to be fully manual for special asignments... it's there.
You can change lenses, it's durable, has great resolution....
Best Buy may have it... I know it can be special ordered at Sam's Club for a reasonable price...
You might want to check out some of the package deals on EBAY (Sunshine Electronics has some good bundles...)
BEST of LUCK!!! HAVE FUN!!!
2007-01-02 19:43:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
They have a camera at Walgreen's.It is by Kodak it;s a digital and does video it;s very cheap and you can learn both for a very low price .and it;s easy to use . Foe about &100.00 or a little more.Tinker
2007-01-06 17:08:24 · answer #8 · answered by Tinker 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
from personal experience. the Nikon D70s and D80
They got me into Brooks Institute of Photography. in California
:)
give em a try
2007-01-02 20:57:30 · answer #9 · answered by Leechwife 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Any digital camera is an imporvement from a toy camera.
2016-03-29 05:38:00 · answer #10 · answered by Bonnie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋