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02/21/2006 05:17:47 PM · #1 |
Hello everyone!
Im a begginer who wants to take up photography as a hobbie.
Could I get opinions on the best modest priced Cameras.
All Information is greatly appreciated! |
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02/21/2006 05:19:01 PM · #2 |
How much are you looking to spend / what's your budget? What is important to you in a camera? What do you plan to shoot, if anything?
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02/21/2006 05:26:24 PM · #3 |
My Budget is up to 500 (I hope thats enough)
This will be just for fun. So landscapes,Animals,People etc. |
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02/21/2006 05:29:52 PM · #4 |
I will advise you away from the Point and Shoot cameras. You will quickly become tired of it's limitations.
Might want to try e-bay for a used Nikon D50 or Canon 300D dSLR kit.
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02/21/2006 05:31:26 PM · #5 |
| Thankyou Im searching right now! |
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02/21/2006 05:40:31 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by cmselbeach:
My Budget is up to 500 (I hope thats enough)
This will be just for fun. So landscapes,Animals,People etc. |
I'd suggest looking at Philip Greenspun's site, although his articles are mostly geared towards SLRs. Bas Scheffers' article focusses on a compact camera though. While it's a bit dated, it will let you know what to look for.
From there, Phil Askey's Digital Photography Review site is invaluable for finding the best camera for you.
Another option is to just look around this site, and see what everybody's shooting. I like my Pentax Optio 555, which is now a few years old, and hasn't really come down in price. If you want a camera which gives you less control (just point and shoot, and magic happens) I like the Canon Powershot SD series (Digial IXUS outside the U.S. I believe). I have a several friends who have it and love it, and it produces nice photos. Easily fits in a pocket or purse.
Message edited by author 2006-02-21 17:45:20. |
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02/21/2006 09:18:07 PM · #7 |
I consistently hear good reviews of this camera line.
//www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz5/
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02/21/2006 09:50:14 PM · #8 |
I'll second Yido's suggestion of the Panasonic line, but only if you want to go Point and Shoot.
If you want to go simple and Point and Shoot, go with the FZ20 if you can find it second hand.
It's actually one model up from the FZ5 and the most notable difference is that the FZ20 has a ring for manual focus. As a P&S user currently I can tell you that this becomes a MAJOR handling issue when you try to expand your horizons from the simple snapshot area.
However, If you can swing it (it might cost an extra 100-200 dollars), I would STRONGLY recommend getting a DSLR such as the D50 or 300D mentioned earlier. Indeed, from your point of view, if you were able to find a second hand Konica Minolta 5D for a price suited to your budget, then I would take it over either of these cameras in a heartbeat. The bang for your buck is SIGNIFICANTLY better with that camera because it effectively makes all your lenses equivalent to IS or VR (something which typically adds several hundred dollars to the price of any lens) and can be a REAL asset to a beginner.
I say this partly because I have IS on my Point and Shoot (as do the two panasonic cameras mentioned above) and I do appreciate it a LOT.
If the price is right, you should be able to get either camera plus the kit lens and then check out the Sigma 70-300mm APO lens for a bit more reach. That lens is around 200 dollars, which is considered cheap, and is a perfect complement to either kit lens. It will provide you with an excellent starting range.
The P&S cameras are grouped into to primary families. There are Low range zoom's and Big range zooms. Low range zooms typically have about 3-4x optical zoom and Big range zooms typically have between 8-12x zooms.
An entry level DSLR with the Sigma 70-300 and the kit lens will give you the same range, but with drastically improved picture quality in nearly all shooting situations. It might cost a little more, but the difference really shows as soon as you lose that optimal "bright shooting conditions" scenario.
I shot a bunch of shots at an amusement park this last weekend and I was cursing the fact that I only had a P&S with me thanks to an overcast day.
There are of course other factors which I haven't mentioned.
Message edited by author 2006-02-21 21:56:51. |
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02/21/2006 10:02:46 PM · #9 |
| I highly recommend skipping point and shoot and just getting a dslr. As someone who shot with a point and shoot for a year and a half before getting a dslr i cant tell you the difference in quality and ease of use is unbelievable. I would recommend the Canon EOS 300D, but that is because I am a Canon user. I am sure you would be just as happy with a Nikon D50. |
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02/21/2006 10:10:31 PM · #10 |
A 300 D EOS Canon Prosumer DSLR 6.3mp camera is what I recamend as well.
There are plenty of people dumping theirs in the market to get that upgrade.
If Ebay is a dead end...
check out Craigslist.com as well.
Remember this however, when purchasing lens sets for your dslr, whatever brand you get, they are the most important part of the system. Think of them as you would think of your own eyes. If you get a bad lens, then you will not get great images.
Back to my bottle of beer.
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02/21/2006 10:16:56 PM · #11 |
Ummmmmmmmmm sounds a little out of her league...she sounds more like a point and shoot in the P mode kind of user..
Originally posted by American_Horse:
A 300 D EOS Canon Prosumer DSLR 6.3mp camera is what I recamend as well.
There are plenty of people dumping theirs in the market to get that upgrade.
If Ebay is a dead end...
check out Craigslist.com as well.
Remember this however, when purchasing lens sets for your dslr, whatever brand you get, they are the most important part of the system. Think of them as you would think of your own eyes. If you get a bad lens, then you will not get great images.
Back to my bottle of beer. |
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02/21/2006 11:11:23 PM · #12 |
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02/21/2006 11:21:55 PM · #13 |
Get the Fuji e900...looks to be pretty cool and very compact. I want it!!
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02/21/2006 11:30:10 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by fotoshootme:
Ummmmmmmmmm sounds a little out of her league...she sounds more like a point and shoot in the P mode kind of user.. |
No offense, but I kind of agree with fotoshootme. As yido and eschelar have both said, the Panasonic FZ line of cameras is excellent. I have the FZ4 model and love it. Only 4mp, but it does a great job. The FZ5 and the newly released FZ7 have 5 and 6mp. The FZ20 and FZ30 are both great cameras and offer both a hot shoe for external flashes and the said manual focus ring. Those two are 5 and 8mp. You can get an FZ5 for about $400 and an FZ30 for about $490. I'm sure the lower models go for less, but you would most likely have to find them used.
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02/22/2006 03:59:55 PM · #15 |
A great resource for all types of digital camera's is www.dpreview.com. Even if you get down to 2-3 different cameras, dpreview allows you to do side by side comparrisson.
That said you can get a new Nikon D50 w/Nikkor lens for under $600 and it is an awesome camera for the price. |
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02/22/2006 04:26:58 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by SamDoe1:
Originally posted by fotoshootme:
Ummmmmmmmmm sounds a little out of her league...she sounds more like a point and shoot in the P mode kind of user.. |
No offense, but I kind of agree with fotoshootme. As yido and eschelar have both said, the Panasonic FZ line of cameras is excellent. I have the FZ4 model and love it. Only 4mp, but it does a great job. The FZ5 and the newly released FZ7 have 5 and 6mp. The FZ20 and FZ30 are both great cameras and offer both a hot shoe for external flashes and the said manual focus ring. Those two are 5 and 8mp. You can get an FZ5 for about $400 and an FZ30 for about $490. I'm sure the lower models go for less, but you would most likely have to find them used. |
And I have to disagree with both of them. If you can muster the money, go with a digital SLR. Better resell value if you decide you don't like it, and also why go with a point and shoot if you are going to spend up to $500? Plus, as someone else said earlier, you will tire quickly of the point and shoots limitations. If you can swing the DSLR go for it. Also, you will learn quickly either way you go. Nothing is over your head if you are willing to learn! And, I think it is a bit condecending to assume something is over someone's head when you have no idea what their capacity for art or learning is? Just my thoughts on it.
You can probably find someone willing to part with a 300D for around 500 WITH a lens.
K |
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05/01/2006 10:21:09 AM · #17 |
dSLR vs Point-and-Shoot is the never ending battle.
Either way, please use MANUAL mode. It is invigorating to know that your image is better because you set it up. I only say this because i was using the different "priorities" that cameras have for the longest time ... but I never learned much.
I've chosen both dSLR and point-and-shoot.
My setup is as follows: I just purchased the Panasonic FZ7 for its 12x ZOOM and image stabilization. To acquire a lens like that for a DSLR is just not affordable to me (more than any point and shoot camera for the most part).
The D70 (dslr) is reserved for portraits, macros and wide angle shots until I can afford a super-zoom in which case i will probably be much older and wiser :)
Again, if you're in it for learning, just get a camera that has all the manual over-rides ... it doesn't have to be dSLR - especially if you don't wanna keep switching lenses. The benefit of a dSLR, however, is that you learn more and more as you go along (wait til you clean the sensor for the first time :) ... Can't do that on a point-and-shoot!
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05/01/2006 10:43:41 AM · #18 |
A Pany FZ5 would be a good starter choice; it's pretty easy to use, has a very fun zoom range, and has other niceties like good optics and image stabilization. I still think very fondly of mine, even though I never use it anymore.
Although if one were inclined to get a dSLR, it seems now is the time to get one, seeing as the current generation of entry-level dSLRs are getting old in their product life cycles, and thus can be had very cheaply. I just got an E-300 2 lens kit for my gf for $450 shipped from Cameta Camera on eBay, which if you look at new retail prices is essentially like buying 2 lenses and getting a camera for free. Also, Beach Camera has their $379 Nikon D50 refurb. body deal, so there really isn't any financial reason not to get a dSLR these days (well, not counting lens upgraditis).
Honestly, I think I was better off cutting my photographic teeth on P&S cameras though; dSLRs aren't as forgiving and usually need good post-processing on the images, which I doubt a beginner would be inclined to do. |
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05/01/2006 11:10:50 AM · #19 |
I agree with fotomann and the others that recommend a dSLR. If you get "bitten" by this new hobby, and chances are you will, you can so easily go forward with a D50 or D70 or a Canon. Try to get one of these used, and take it from there. You will get much much more for your money that way.
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05/01/2006 11:18:48 AM · #20 |
I'd have to recomend mine: the Fujifilm S5200. It is a very versatile PS with a great zoom, great picture quality and manual controls to really learn at a great price.
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05/01/2006 12:06:52 PM · #21 |
Get a grip people. The OP is a beginner with no camera. It's irresponsible to reccommend she buy a DSLR. There are literally hundreds of fine P&S and prosumer models available that would suit a beginner much better than a DSLR. And with a budget of $500 she will be able to get one that she will not outgrow soon, and have a few bucks left over for accessories. Fuji, Panasonic, Olympus, Pentax, Canon, Kodak, Samsung and Nikon all make good beginner digitals.
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05/01/2006 12:26:14 PM · #22 |
Okay, I bought my S1 in June of last year, It took all of my cash avalable and I love(d) it! Within the past 3 or 4 months, i have REALLY noticed the limitations! The quality i want is near imposable in anything but perfect natural light; the manual focus is anything but convenient and I find it way too automated!
If you’re not sure how far you want to take this, you should pick up a high quality P&S and play with it for 6 or 8 months before you potentially waste the money on a camera you might not use. If you do plan to continue this, make sure you buy it at a dealer like Henry’s that will offer a 50% buyback within the year. Because I bought my S1 at a Bestbuy, The best offer I can get is roughly 30% of what I originally paid. It’s pretty sad when you get as much for your lenses as your camera ;-)
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05/01/2006 12:49:09 PM · #23 |
I've been more than impressed with my camera. I bought it about a year ago now. This summer I'm saving up for either a Canon 350D or 20D.
The s5100 takes great pictures, has plenty of manual controls, and has good zoom. I bought it for just under US$300, so it's most likely even cheaper now. I don't have many good pictures at all in my portfolio here, but many on www.kevin-mulder.deviantart.com if you want to check them out. |
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05/01/2006 12:54:26 PM · #24 |
I just bought the Panasonic FZ5 as my first digital camera about two months ago. Although I briefly tinkered with my Dad's rarely used SLR about 15 years ago, I really didn't have any experience with anything but point and shoot. I wanted to be able to play around with the settings, but my husband wanted something he could pick up and snap pictures with without having to read the manual every time. This camera has a simple mode option for people like my husband where you only set film speed and one or two other items, plus a variety of other mode choices as well as a manual mode for nearly complete control. After reading lots of online reviews and handling cameras a little in stores, I choose the FZ5. It really is a great beginner camera.
I was able to get mine online from Circuit City for ~$370US and I picked it up at a local store the next day. I had originally orded it from Amazon.com, but delivery was to be in about two weeks and when 2 weeks came, they said it would be another two or three weeks. Amazon might have it for a nice price, but these days, a month is a long time to wait. (also, you will want to get a bigger SD card than the one that comes with the camera... an extra $30-$60)
However, I started here on DPC around the same time I got my camera so that I could learn more about digital photography and how to get the most from my camera. The one thing that I definitely would like on my camera is a manual focus ring (which apparently the FZ20 and FZ30 have). I have three young children and trying to get the camera to focus on them while they are zooming around is quite a challenge. There is a focus setting option so the camera doesn't have to refocus with every picture, but the kids just don't seem to stay in range for long. Also there are other times when the camera doesn't focus the way I'd like it to and I have to figure out how to outsmart the camera. I think of my FZ5 as a sort of P&S/DSLR hybrid. Once setting up the right values becomes easy for me, moving to a DSLR will be less intimidating where I would have lenses to change around, filters to tinker with, remote flashes to consider, a bigger bag to carry, etc.
The menus are very easy to follow and you can adjust shutter speed and aperture with one button push and up/down/left/right arrows. The optical zoom is 12X, but there is another 4X digital zoom on top of that (although the digital zoom losses a little quality). The Image stabilization is great and that alone is a strong reason to choose this point and shoot over many others. With all that zoom, you would always need a tripod without the stabilization.
I do like my camera quite a lot, but using it for two months, I think I might have liked the FZ20 or FZ30 even more given the focus issue.
Using DPC, I've also discovered that I should probably look into buying a new version of Photoshop. I currently have Photoshop 2.0.
Sorry this is so long, but I hope it is helpful.
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05/01/2006 01:01:25 PM · #25 |
A DSLR is a big...huge first step for a beginner. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy, if I heard they were thinking of photography as a hobby. In fact, I'm shocked that people are even suggesting that route to a beginner.
Try starting with a P&S (maybe a used one)that won't break the bank....get a feel for things. If you go used....you may be able to get more features (megapix etc) and then figure out where you wish to take it from there. Upgrading is all part of the game...so get used to it....it never ends.
I happen to like to like Fuji's which all(3)treated me well before I went for the DSLR.
Message edited by author 2006-05-01 13:06:46.
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