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joelk04 · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 99 Location: Birmingham, UK

Hiya,

Whats a good digital camera to start out with ? Also what little bits and pecies would you think aid me in going the right direction.

Thanks for any help

Joel

Tim · Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 458 Location: UK

Ultimate difficult camera question!

Try looking through the cameras on www.dpreview.com

You need to consider so many things. What do you want to take photos of? How much are you prepared to spend? Where will you shoot? Do you want full manual controls? Etc... I'd go do some research first...

I'd recommend buying a tripod with you camera, and a GOOD camera bag. If you buy an SLR, get UV filters to stick on the end. In fact any prosumer, buy UV filters for. They've saved my 28-100 on my film camera once already.
Brushing the glass off the front element was kinda scary though incase it scratched. Think I got away with it though.

joelk04 · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 99 Location: Birmingham, UK

Thanks for the reply

At present I have a fujifilm s5000 zoom. I find I can take some decent pictures with this camera. Im not a proffesinal nor do I plan to be in the future but I do like taking photos and looking back on them.

I shoot mostly outdoors, nature, water.

Mabey somthing slightly better with better options to tweak things. I LOVE micro shots.

As you can probably tell I know very little about cameras but enjoy taking pictures.

Any questions that you would like to ask that may help you help me out go ahead.

Joel

Tim · Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 458 Location: UK

Okay, obviously this is subjective but here's my budget guide to Photography:

You've got the s5000, which is a fine camera. It's no pro camera, but it takes pictures and has manual controls.... So here's my wee guide:

First off, make sure you're not using the automatic settings. If you use Auto, the camera is making the picture, you're just aiming it. I recommend using Aperture priority as default.

Okay. Good cameras out at the moment. You're in the UK so I think I'll be okay to guide price it all (I'm in Glasgow):

So here's the What I would buy if I were you guide:

1.) Get a Tripod. Get a good one that is as sturdy as you can afford. I think you pretty much get what you pay for. The s5000 doesn't have a hot shoe, but If you buy a new camera, you can buy spirite levels that mount in a standard hotshoe to level your camera off. I use one on my tripod, and have marks on my head that allow me to level off the tripod, which can be useful sometimes. I reckon at least �40 for a good sturdy one. Make sure it's light enough that you'd bother to take it with you if you were out shooting

2.) Make sure you have something to edit your photo's on. If you can't afford photoshop, Try the GIMP (Do a search), It's free and powerful. It's available on a bunch of formats (including linux) too :-)

3.) Try buying a polarizer fr outsides and a filter adapter for your S5000, they're pretty useful outdoors and If you're stuck for exposure (Due to small aperture limitations) you can use it as "sunglasses" for your camera. Probably �30 or so

4.) If you're sticking with the S5000, buy a Cokin filter adapter and some ND grad filters. Fun for landscapes, especially if you struggle with midday light and high contrast. About a �10 for the adapter and step up ring, And about �10 per filter

5.) Try buying some close up filters for your s5000. I have an actual lens adaptor that I use with my film camera that I can screw on. You use the camera on "Normal mode" but the macro you can get using a close up filter is AMAZING. I think my adapter was �50 from Jessops. No idea how much the filters are.

6.) Buy some mounting board/ Poster board and try a bash at minimalist composition. Get a few sheets, Make them BIG. I have A1 sheets of black one side, white the other for �2.50 each.

7.) Get a decent camera bag and take you camera everywhere. Be careful not to get it out in dodgy places without making sure you're safe though. I got one second hand for �6. I have a sturdy one for my film cam though.

8.) What about a flash? You don't have a hotshoe but you could buy a flash and a slave driver (7dayshop sells them for about �15). The way it works is that your flash fires on your camera and the sensor detects a flash and sets off the other flash. It's nice because you can do quite dramatic lighting effects on the cheap. Not as nice as a studio flash unit, but more portable and fun to play with. I got a flash for my S7000 for �19 and it does the job, though I fire from the camera and have a reflector set up.

9.) Start dreaming of owning a fancier camera. I love the look of the Panasonic FZ20 as a portable carry cam. If you're loaded, I'd look at the Canon 350xt. If you're stupid, look at the 20d (I dream everyday, well, almost), If daddy is an international banker, get a D2x or 1dsII and get him to get me one while you're at it.

10.) Start printing photos and stick them up everywhere!

Or are you looking for a new camera for sure? What would you like it to do that yours doesn't?

joelk04 · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 99 Location: Birmingham, UK

That is an excelent reply and I thank you for it !!

I think I will stick to what I already have and buy filter/leanses and tripod to improve what I have with out spending a fortune.

Like I have said before I just enjoy taking photos and dont plan to go poffessional. I enjoy being out and taking pictures of what I see.

Thanks again, im now on the hunt for the aboce items lol.

Joel