Starting to shoot...?

Question

I'm looking for practical advice as to starting to shoot with lenses. Firstly, what would be the best make of camera to use, and how do i start off with lenses, >deep breath

Answer 1

The first thing I would suggest is to find a local camera club and ask them for help. You'll get a lot further with a mentor than you will by yourself. I was learning photography about 6 months before I got my first 35mm -- it was a little range finder. It was about a year later that I got my first SLR. But I had been using the camera clubs equipment during most of that time.

When you are ready to purchase your first camera and body, I would suggest you take a look at the used equipment market. You can usually find good equipment at reasonable prices. One company I use is KEH Camera Brokers -- http://www.keh.com/onlinestore/home.aspx . I've had good response from them and the lenses I've bought have been exactly as advertised.

Answer 2

Lots of different answeres. Depends on how far you want to go with this. Lens picking depends on what you want to shoot. How close, how far away. How blurry background. How wide a view. A good camera is probably better then THE BEST. I USED a Cannon and had a Nikon. Couldn't tell the difference. When using good quality lensis. You might find someone that you can shoot with that has half of what you need and you can share. Some lenses you need some of the time and others you need a lot. But when you need em, It is difficult to run down to the C store and buy one. When you get the lens ask the saleman about cleaning.
Take a breath then start saving money.

Answer 3

Hello Megan.

Are you wanting advice about film or digital cameras and lenses? Knowing that would help but here goes.

There are numerous film camera bodies and lenses available from Minolta, Pentax, Canon and Nikon. Minolta and Pentax will probably be less expensive. I've used Minolta cameras and lenses for over 36 years so I'm very familiar with them.

The Minolta SRT-202 is a fully manual camera. You set the shutter and aperture (aka f-stop) and focus. You should be able to find a good one at KEH or B&H or Adorama. If you shop on ebay you can also find one occasionally. Just be sure to ask the seller if the meter works*. It will probably need a battery so look for a WEIN Cell 1.35 volt battery. Should be available at your local camera store or on ebay.

A Minolta MC ROKKOR-X 50mm f1.4 lens should be your first lens. Later, you can add the MD 35-70mm f3.5 and 70-210mm f4 constant aperture** zoom lenses***. Those 3 lenses should fill most all your photographic needs.

The Pentax K1000 is comparable to the SRT-202. Both are excellent student cameras.

If you're looking for digital, everybody says Canon or Nikon. Both are good choices. It wouldn't hurt, though, to at least read the review of the Pentax K10D in the Aug. 2007 issue of Shutterbug Magazine (available at shutterbug.com).

* If you find one on ebay and want me to question the seller just email me the Auction number and I'll check it out. Please include your email addy so I can answer you direct.

**Constant aperture means the aperture stays f3.5 or f4 throughout the zoom range. Most zooms have a range, such as f3.5/f5.6 which means at its shortest focal length its an f3.5 but at the longest its f5.6.

*** Minolta trivia. In the mid 1970's Leica sought Minolta's technological help in developing an Auto exposure camera. (Back then it was "A" Aperture Preferred or "S" Shutter Preferred.). Minolta developed the XE-7. Leitz worked with Copal to design the shutter. The Minolta XE-7 was sold, with a Leica lens mount and metering system, as the Leica R-3. Their next generation was the Minolta designed XD-11 which was the world's first 35mm camera to have both "A" and "S" auto metering as well as Manual Mode. Leica sold the XD-11 as the R-4 & R-5. Later, Leica was so impressed with the quality of Minolta lenses that they had Minolta install a Leica mount on the Minolta 16mm fisheye and on the 35-70mm and 70-210mm zooms which Leica sold. I saw a Leica-mount 16mm recently advertised in a magazine for close to $1,000; the Minolta mount goes for about $250 on ebay - talk about paying for a name!

To my knowledge Leica never partnered with any other Japanese camera company until the digital age.

Answer 4

OK, don't use words like "best." Best + thousands of dollars.

You need to fix a budget.

Film of digital

Camera has two parts, a body and a lens. An expensive body will last longer than a cheap one (film camera) and won't really effect the picture quality. The lens is the most important part. put you money in that.

If you go digital, God help you. It's pouring money down a hole.

Before you buy any goodies, get some books and learn about photography. You will sve money in the long run.

I like Pentax, nice middle of the road camera. about $300 can get you a decent set up.

Answer 5

See if that shooting range rents guns. If they do try them out and see which one you like