Monday, September 23, 2013

What cameras are good for a beginning photographer?

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stephanieb


I'm looking to go into photography and I was wondering what camera would be best for a beginner.I'm really not looking for anything way to expensive and debating between SLR and Non SLR.
Thank You :)



Answer
I think you should invest a DSLR camera. It is an investment but it can be well worth it. DSLR cameras have the larger sensor so you get a higher quality images. You can change lenses which can be valuable, by allowing to adjust to different needs.

There are a number of good brands so don't be sold on the idea one brand is better than another. I would keep your costs down. I would get a DSLR with a short zoom (like a 18-55mm) to start. No reason to spend more than $425 to $550. Either a 10MP or 12MP (MP means mega pixels) will do just fine.

Below, I listed some links, the first link listed below is to a web page that lists the 3 DSLR cameras I am recommending. This list will let you compare features and specs, also it has links to reviews of the cameras, the reviews include sample images from the cameras. Also I included some links to some dealers so that you can try and get the best price. Some dealers have some nice extras, free shipping is very common, and sometimes they are offering a free memory card and/or camera bag. Sometimes you have to click in the âadd to cartâ button to see the actual price.

Here are some models that I think are well worth researching:

Nikon D3000 10MP DSLR Digital Camera with 18-55mm VR Lens - $449
EOS Rebel XS 10MP DSLR Digital Camera Kit (Black) with 18-55mm IS Lens - $449
Pentax K-x 12MP DSLR with 18-55mm Zoom (has HD Video also) - $550

Pick a price range, some features you know you want, and even consider which camera feels good in your hand as a factor. Plenty of great cameras, get one you like and start learning the principles of photography and you will be on your way to making some great images.

If you want to stay under $500 then go Nikon or Canon but, I think the Pentax could be of special interest, since it can do HD video and has excellent quality at higher ISO settings which can be useful in low light places and helping get the picture. These features, especially the HD video, on a Nikon or Canon will cost you $100 to $200 more.

If you have any questions and if you think I can be of help then please do contact me.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Mark

marksablow.com

Any suggestions for a really good professional photography camera?




Sara B


I'm thinking about possibly going to school for photography so i need a good camera. I've asked around but everyone tells me something different as far as what their favorites are. I'm so confused and honestly overwhelmed by all the different brands and models out there. I just want a nice camera that I can take everywhere and play around with and as i mention possibly take me through photography school. Any suggestions?
I'm willing to spend up to $2,500. Possibly $3,000.



Answer
You don't need us to tell you which camera. Go to a camera store and try them out. Would you buy a car without taking it for a test drive to see how it feels? When buying a camera it is just as important to get a feel for it. I don't like the small DSLRs because I have big hands and it feels awkward to hold one. You may have small hands which might feel awkward holding a large camera. Then there is the layout of the buttons. You may prefer one manufacturer's set-up over another. You really should try them out. This might help you decide who to go with-Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony, etc.

Next, you need to decide which lens(es) will best suit you. That will be determined by your usual subject matter. Do you want to do portraits? Then a normal to short telephoto prime with a large max aperture like a 50/1.4 (on a smaller sensor) or an 85/1.4 (on a full frame sensor) would be good. Or do you want to shoot landscapes and cityscapes? Then a wide angle lens would be good for you. Or if you want to shoot wildlife or sports you will need a long to super telephoto. Or, do you not know yet what kind of shootin you might like? Then a zoom in the wide to telephoto range would do well to play around with while you find your style.

Once you know which lens you want, and have budgeted for a camera bag or case, and memory cards, and perhaps an extra battery, then you will know how much you can spend on the camera body. Suppose that the lens(es) and other accessories would come to $2000, then you would know that you could spend $500-1000 on the camera body. If you know which manufacturer you want to go with, then you just have to figure out which body within your budget is right for you.

Now, some things that may be important depending upon your use of the camera:

aps-c or ff-ff is full frame. The sensor in a full frame DSLR is about the same size as the frame in 35mm film. The aps-c sensor is maybe half that size. A ff camera will offer better resolution and is generally preferred by landscape photographers but they are also quite expensive. The aps-c is a very good and useful camera for any kind of shooting though. Just remember that with the lenses some are ff and some are for aps-c sized sensors. If you put an aps-c lens on a ff DSLR or 35mm SLR you will get vignetting but you can generally use them that way if you don't mind the vignetting in the corners. You can use a ff lens on any of the three.

fps-frames per second-this is important if you are going to want to shoot several consecutive shots. Very useful for sports photography. Not so much for wildlife and landscape shooters.

MP-megapixels-with a DSLR this number isn't as critical. So don't worry too much about it. I know there are people still shooting 6mp DSLRs. Personally, I would shoot for 8-12 but don't put too much stock in it. The size of the sensor and pixels is more important than the number of pixels.

IS-image stabilization-some cameras have it and some don't and then some lenses have it and some don't. It isn't critical, but it is sometimes nice.

ISO range-most DSLRs have something starting around 100 and going up to about 1600. Some go up to 6400 and a few even go up to the 20,000s. But most DSLRs don't handle very well above 1600 without getting serious noise.

You should also consider that most colleges offer both film and digital photography classes. Sometimes you have to start with film before you can move on to digital classes. This means you would have to buy a film SLR as well. Once you have the specifics on the DSLR worked out, and if you will need a film SLR, be on the look out for one that will work with your digital set-up so you can use the lens(es) on both cameras. In fact, if you get some lenses with a film SLR, you could also use them on the DSLR.

Don't let it get you flustered, it is really simple to pick out a camera when you just take a deep breath and relax and get some hands on experience with many different brands and models.

Have fun.




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