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03/05/2005 11:28:10 PM · #1 |
| Hi! I am thinking about buying my first digital camera. I love taking pictures, but I am still very new and inexperienced. I went and looked at some digital cameras today, and I think I really am leaning towards the Fuji FinePix Model S5100. It got really great reviews, and I am looking for a camera that will work with me as I progress in the art of photography. Does anyone have any comments/suggestions on this camera? Is there any other camera you'd recommend? Thank you! :) |
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03/05/2005 11:34:43 PM · #2 |
the 5100 is a great camera with a good zoon range and plenty of featuresc you might also look at the S7000 it ihas come down in price and I have one and find it an excellent one with the S7000 you have a flash hot shoe for aN external flash or for studio flash..
its a6MP camera. |
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03/06/2005 12:09:57 AM · #3 |
| If you want something to grow with I would look for somehting with interchangable lenses. Like a Canon. That way when you buy a new body you don't have to pay for the glass all over. Do a google search and think about a used one for starters. |
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03/06/2005 12:18:45 AM · #4 |
I would have to agree with gwphoto! If you are serious about wanting to pursue photography - I would definitely get one that you can interchange the lens. I could only dream of one day shooting with a Canon 1Ds Mark II - But if that day comes I am only looking at the body to get started since I have been building my lenses as I can. The nice thing is if you have lenses - they alway hold their value provided you take care of them - Expensive - yes - but worth it for sure! I currently shoot with a Canon 20D and also have the Canon 300D - both work well for me.
I hope that helps.
ebertdj@hotmail.com |
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03/06/2005 12:31:18 AM · #5 |
Sorry, but I am completely clueless - what is the benefit of being able to change out lenses? Why would I want to build up a lens collection (I guess what I am asking is, why won't the one that comes with a camera be enough?)? Thank you in advance!
Message edited by author 2005-03-06 00:32:37. |
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03/06/2005 12:40:59 AM · #6 |
Sandhya - interchangable lenses are just that, you use different lenes for different types of photography. Like what is used in 35mm SLR (single lens reflex) camera. A digital SLR is the same thing.
Now, if you are new to digital then the first question you need to ask is:
"How much will I be willing to invest in my hobby for the next two years or so?"
If you want to keep your cost down while learning then the types of cameras you are looking at (Fuji S5100 and the like) are fine. They do not have a lot of ongoing costs. I started with a Fuji 4900Z and used it to learn for three or more years. It has manual functions so you can get a good start on moving up in the future.
The SLR's (interchangable lenes) mentioned here, inlcuding my Nikon D70 are great cameras but have a large ongoing cost for lenses and the like. In the thousands of dollars in the long run. You probably do not want to move directly to these unless you are really sure you love the hobby and want to stay with it for a long time.
Hope that helps. |
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03/06/2005 12:41:04 AM · #7 |
| It really depends on what your goal is! If you like to travel and keep a camera handy at all times - I would go with a more portable camera with a high pixel count and good optical zoom - Digital zoom is ok - but starts to deteriorate the quality the more you go. I rarely keep the same lens on in a day - The quality of lens does make quite the difference when you need high precision - When you take into things like light conditions, distances, and the amount of Zoom you would like - also many of the lenses are available with Image Stablization "IS Lenses" Which are awesome when shooting at bigger zooms and lower light conditions. |
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03/06/2005 12:51:51 AM · #8 |
I don't recommend starting with an SLR. And even if you were to buy an SLR, like many of us, you would want a second, more portable camera. So you might as well start with that, and get the SLR when you are ready.
I think the Panasonic Z3 or Canon S1 IS is an excellent starter camera. It uses CF cards and AA NIMH batteries, so you can releverage those, even if the camera breaks.
And the camera is "only" $320 or so.
These are "only" 3 megapixels, but that's good enough for an 8x10, and more than enough for this site and online use. Both the Z3 and S1 have terrific zoom ranges, all the manual settings you need (my S1 has more manual settings than my SLR, the 300D).
The Panasonic has a slightly better zoom range and a better lens, but doesn't have the articulating LCD, which is one reason I went with the S1. The S1 also has a full movie mode with sound.
There are a number of good review sites, steves-digicams.com, and www.dpreview.com, which will give you lots of details about various cameras.
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03/06/2005 03:10:39 AM · #9 |
| Thanks for all your suggestions everyone! So excited to get my first digital camera!! :) |
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03/06/2005 08:46:35 AM · #10 |
Hi Sandhya,(indian?)
I have been reading a lot of reviews of different cameras all over the Internet and I have to agree even I have narrowed it down to the three discussed here. However I might add that read about the features of the camera you're going to buy and also know all about the features that are generally available on cameras. then match them and see how many of them you have on the camera you've selected. A few of them e.g. I would like to have in my camera would be bulb setting(for longer than normal exposure for good night shots), versatility in selection of exposure timings and apreture settings, as far as possible clean images out of the camera (to reduce post processing cleanups), no harsh flashes (some of the cams have really harsh flashes which give a very plasticky feel to the picture-from experience stay far away from them) and most of all noise & sharpness. thats my list. I beleive you must read up on all features of the digi cams before you decide what you want and form a list then and then match them to the cameras that are available.
Thats my amateurish 2 bits :-)
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03/06/2005 10:41:39 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by shtrbg929:
Hi! I am thinking about buying my first digital camera. I love taking pictures, but I am still very new and inexperienced. I went and looked at some digital cameras today, and I think I really am leaning towards the Fuji FinePix Model S5100. It got really great reviews, and I am looking for a camera that will work with me as I progress in the art of photography. Does anyone have any comments/suggestions on this camera? Is there any other camera you'd recommend? Thank you! :) |
Welcome to DPC Sandhya. The Fuji 5100 would make an excellent first digicam. You can do a lot of growing with it as you define more clearly what type of shooting appeals to you. I think of the Fuji line as cameras that give very good images right out of the camera without the need for extensive manipulation with editing software. But there are many fine digicams available today. Do your homework and you'll find one that suits your needs well.
Here's some links to review sites:
DPReview
Imaging-Resource
Steve's Digicams
Digital Camera Resource Page
megapixel.net
pcphotoreview.com
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03/06/2005 12:05:03 PM · #12 |
I have recommended the S5100 to several friends, and all of them are delighted with it. The price is VERY attractive and the performance is outstanding.
I don't get the impression that this particular user would be well-served by investing more in a camera at this point. If and when s/he is ready to move up to somethign more complex and costly, the Fuji wills till eb an excellent, light back-up camera.
Robt.
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03/06/2005 12:11:52 PM · #13 |
| Thanks everyone! Yes, I am Indian and female. :) Anyway, I think from what all of you have said, I will stick with the Fuji camera. Sounds versatile, and easy to use for a beginner like me. Also, it sounds like it will grow with me. I found a great deal online too, so that makes it nice. :) Thanks once again! |
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03/06/2005 12:15:03 PM · #14 |
| Another inexpensive but versitile "starter" camera is one in the Canon "A" series -- A75/A85/A95 I think are the current designations. They use standard AA batteries, regular (cheap) CF cards, and have both automatic and fully manual controls. |
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03/06/2005 12:15:53 PM · #15 |
There ya go, and good luck! Your camera will be very similar to mine, and mine serves me very well. Since I'm a retired professional photographer, I "know what I'm missing" by not having a dSLR, and I have to say I don't miss it much.
Robt.
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