new camera

xzibit · 10-03-2008, 06:07 AM

i would like to take up photography as a serious amateur. what camera would you recommend? i do not want to spend more than $1200.

MachielS · 10-03-2008, 09:56 AM

offtopic: i would love to be a photographer! i met one 2 weeks ago, told me everything about it. its great i think

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ontopic: i have no idea, maybe also a question for a profesional photographer forum

darkside_kiddo · 10-03-2008, 03:57 PM

For $239 you can get a camera like the one i've got, Fuji Finepix S5700.
It's the step above compact cameras but still not so advanced you can change lens on it. 7,1 megapixels, 10x optical zoom, lots of functions to get lost in and 12 preset functions (portrait, landscape, sport, night, fireworks, sunset, snow, beach, museum, party, flower and text). Light and easy to hold, good grip.

If you want a level up though you can have a look at Nikon d60, price ranging from about 780 and up. Haven't tried that camera myself though but here's a review:
NikonD60 Digital Camera Review Introduction

Wanna become a photographer myself ^^

**Dunnymonster** · 10-03-2008, 06:59 PM

Many pro photographers use digital cameras these days given the quality of these devices has improved so much and of course you can manipulate the images afterwards. However my advice is get a high quality 35mm SLR Camera and forget digital for now. These are availible second hand at great prices now everybody has gone digital these days. You will be able to learn the basics of Photography and gain an eye for the subject. You will not be able to make changes to the pictures you take thus it takes much more skill and this in turn will make you a better photographer. Remember all the high tech gadgets mean nothing without the skill to use it. Virtually all of the top photographers will tell you that nothing beats 35mm for the best image quality.

xzibit · 10-04-2008, 04:38 AM

thanks for all the help. dunny, is your knowledge from experience?

Candleguy · 10-04-2008, 10:13 AM

My bird is into all this stuff. Basically look at Nikon D50, 60, 80 and if you want to break the bank the NIkon D3 ( full professional camera).

OR altenrately Sony do some fantastic ones. You need at least a 12megapixel camera for a start and forget any digital compacts. Go digital for sure but a proper camera with removable options of lens.

**Dunnymonster** · 10-04-2008, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xzibit

thanks for all the help. dunny, is your knowledge from experience?

Sort of.....I had a good friend who studied Photography when we were both at Art and Design college, and I dought he would ever use a Digital Camera other than to take holiday snapshots. Take a look at any proffesional Photographer and they almost all still use real film, much like cinematographers, they can choose film based on grain, ISO Speed, etc., to enhance their pictures. They are artists after all.

MachielS · 10-04-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunnymonster

Sort of.....I had a good friend who studied Photography when we were both at Art and Design college, and I dought he would ever use a Digital Camera other than to take holiday snapshots. Take a look at any proffesional Photographer and they almost all still use real film, much like cinematographers, they can choose film based on grain, ISO Speed, etc., to enhance their pictures. They are artists after all.

cant agree 100%. ive seen a lot of profesional photographers that use digital cameras, where the pictures is saved on their Mac right away. Maybe its different in every branche of photographing

darkside_kiddo · 10-04-2008, 06:10 PM

Ones i've seen are digital, and most of the time people have used digitals in the local photo club as well

**Dunnymonster** · 10-04-2008, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MachielS

cant agree 100%. ive seen a lot of profesional photographers that use digital cameras, where the pictures is saved on their Mac right away. Maybe its different in every branche of photographing

Yeah perhaps I should have clarified, when I meant Proffesional Photographers I was reffering to Fashion shoots, nature ( National Geographic) and the such. Photographers who do weddings and family portraits ( they make a living from photography so they are proffesionals) will often use Digital Cameras because they can later manipulate the images better and add special effects, sorry I should have been clearer LOL