Digital camera/photography question?

Question

I want to start teaching myself photography because i cant afford to take a class in it. My question is, what is a really good digital camera for that....good quality but i am a college kid on her own so i'd like to keep the price low. Also, what do people use to edit photos for example make some things color in a black and white picture? Is it just photoshop?

Answer 1

For camera's......... the Fuji range of Digital Compacts do a pretty good job, but of course you can't change the lenses or stick filters on them.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/fuji_a500.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/fuji_a700.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/pr/fuji_02222007_a820-a900_pr.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/fuji_f20.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/fuji_f30.html

The next step up would be the Super-Zoom / Ultra-Zoom offered by Fuji + Olympus..... which are a sort of half way between a Digital Compact + a Digital SLR (like used for serious photography, but not as costly)........ I believe you can get a few accessories like filters for them, but can't use different lens on them.... which is kinda a good thing because I've heard that Digital SLR's can get a build-up of dust + other crap where the camera & lens connect to each other, and eventually need sending away for servicing as a result.
Here's the reviews for them:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/fuji_s5200.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/fuji_s700.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/fuji_s6000fd.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/sp500.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/sp510.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/sp550.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/s9000.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/s9100.html

To edit Photo's, there isn't just photoshop.... there's a huge choice out there..... some are free, some aren't... here's a few of them:

Picture Publisher 10
http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Publisher-10-Digital-Camera/dp/B00005Q5IN
This is what I use..... mine came free with the Webhosting package I use.

Paint Shop Pro
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1155872554948
Demo versions often to be found on Magazine CD-ROM's, or older versions given away free on them.

PICASA
http://picasa.google.com/
A free one, made by GOOGLE (not tried it myself)

SERIF Photoplus 6
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/PhotoPlus/default.asp

GIMP
http://www.gimp.org/
Freeware... GNU public licensed

Adobe Photoshop CS3
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/index.html
This one is a little bit pricey

Adobe Photoshop Elements
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/
A not quite as pricey version

Answer 2

You can google search on how to learn photography. I have the Sony Cyber Shot DSCN2, it's around $300. But there are a lot of cheaper cameras that will be exellent for photoshop. You dont have to use just photoshope for the colored black & white pictures, there are lots of different programs that do that, like Microsoft digital imaging. good luck!

Answer 3

Buy a used digital Cannon or Nikon 6 pix or higher. Remember its not the camera, it's the photographer who make a good photograph. Try E-bay or other camera shops on the internet for used equipment. There are many programs out there for editing, although photoshop is your best.

Answer 4

If you want to take more than mere snapshots I would recommend buying a digital camera that will allow you to adjust the three camera controlled variables of exposure manually: 1- Shutter speed 2- Aperture 3- ISO.
Most lower end cameras will do this for you automatically, which will deprive you of the control you need to create worthwhile images.

Answer 5

Yes its Photoshop.
Regarding camera u can use any thing say Sony or Nikon digicam or a handycam whichever u can afford.
Sony comes with a very simple to use interface also its absolutely possible to learn photography without a proffesional course in it....
all u have to possess is a good sense of colours and a bit asthetic view.

Answer 6

Most digital cameras nowadays give you the option of black & white or color. My advice would be to look at what's available on ebay and buy from a reputable seller, that way you'll stay within reason on costs. As far as model, i'd go with minolta...but you can just about get any of the new models.

Answer 7

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