Brand New to Photography....need suggestions

[The New Guy]

Hey everyone, I am brand new to photography and am ready to buy a new camera. My name is Todd by the way.

My current camera is just a point and shoot digital canon and I have been interested in moving to a nicer camera for some time now.

My main interest is using a camera for HDR shots. I need to learn the entire process but I'm intrigued by the outcome enough that I am ready to start learning finally.

I have been looking at the sx10 and the g10. At this point, which would be the better camera for me?

Thanks in advance!

[The New Guy]

No suggestions?

[boki-san]

No suggestions?

i have a suggestion, ... stay far away from HDR.

it's the 'black velvet elvis painting' of photography.

learn to shoot properly exposed photographs, with a good, basic camera that allows full manual control.

WWJ&ED?
http://www.theamericanmind.com/images/treats/jesus-elvis.jpg

[Michael Wells]

Hi Todd...I'm not familiar with the sx10's control setup, but I've just started messing around with HDR with my G9, and I think it'll work just fine. As long as you can either bracket your photos, or control the exposure manually, any camera that provides you with a good image should work. "Black Velvet?" Whatever...it's kind of fun to play with!:D

Mike

[The New Guy]

Thanks for the comments although I don't get the jesus and elvis one??

I really would like any help / opinion on both of these cameras and which one would be better for a beginner interested in HDR photography. This is for hobby not work by the way...

[boki-san]

Thanks for the comments although I don't get the jesus and elvis one??...

it's just a cheeky example of a black velvet painting, ... cheesy junk art, ... like HDR

... help / opinion on both of these cameras and which one would be better for a beginner interested in HDR photography. ...

the g10 will give you much more to work with, in terms of learning, and progressing in photography.

my advice, again, ... learn basic photography first, and then decide if 'black velvet' is for you.

the main problem with HDR, is that it is most often a crutch, and a distraction from taking a good, properly exposed photograph to begin with.
it is also, most often, a ham-fisted digital effect, that ruins images, rather than improving them.

the absolute worst thing a beginner can do, is to get diverted by cheap gadgets that just get in the way of them learning the fundamentals of their art.

[Shellback]

I agree completely with boki-san, can't really think of anything to add to it.

[mteetank]

As a photographic tool for learning digital photography it would be hard to beat the G10. I have owned mine for about 6 months and do not have any regrets. It can be anything you want it to be, ranging from manual rangefinder to a full automatic point and shoot and just about everything in between. There are a few others cameras in this catagory that frankly I would own also but the G10 would still be my top pick for a non-SLR style camera.

Moving on to HDR, this is a great method to extend the dynamic range of a scene and when done correctly can produce a breath taking image. HDR software vendors like to portray the process as easy as 1.2.3. But the old adage garbage in garbage out holds true. On the technical side, to do it well, you need to have a solid understanding of exposure so you can plan your exposures based on how you your final result in you minds eye.

Back to the G10. It has a nice bracketing feature (AEB Mode) that enables you to shoot groups of 3 exposures, one at the standard exposue, one under exposed and one over exposed. The over and under exposed images can be be set at intervals range of up to 2 stops. As easy as 1.2.3. Then you can play with them in your HDR software.

I am extremely biased when it comes to my G10, but I enjoy using, holding it looking at it...etc. It is a beautiful image capturing tool and would make learning the technical and creative side of photography a joy.

hope this helps.
regards,
mteetank

[The New Guy]

Exact answers I needed. Thanks a lot. G10 it is.

[zerovision]

Hi New Guy, welcome to the world of photography. HDR is a great field to be interested in. Before you commit to the G10 take a look at some of the stuff below and do some serious research on what these guys do. One of the most well know HDR photographers is Ben Willmore. His website is www.whereisben.com

Ben Willmore's website has on-line training for beginners and up. This website will help with software choices as I know he uses photoshop and third party software for HDR as his opinion of photoshop is that it does not handle HDR very well.

I can't stress enough about learning for this man as I was able to attend one of his seminars and he is unbelievable when is comes to editing photos for HDR. Once you have gone over his suggestions and techniques, then decide if you still want to get the G10.

[Kevan_G9]

I think HDR has its place, thought I think people tend to get too carried away and the results are so often blown out. I like the simile with black velvet paintings, it's pretty much spot on.

You'll love the G10.

[tomd]

Welcome Todd to the forum.
the G10 is a great camera and it should do everything you need (for now)

[Kevan_G9]

Welcome Todd to the forum.
the G10 is a great camera and it should do everything you need (for now)


Yeah...my now is starting to itch.

[denncald]

New Guy,

The SX10 IS also offers Auto Exposure Bracketing, but the real question will be what else you would want in the camera. The SX10 and the G10 have very different zoom lenses, so if you wanted to have a long reach with the camera's zoom, the SX10 would be a better choice. If you don't care how long the reach is, then the G10 is the best choice of these two.

The G10 also has a larger image sensor, and should provide better images, if all things were equal, but they aren't. The G10 has 15MP on a larger sensor, while the SX10 has only 10MP on the smaller chip. In this case, you might say less is more, or at least as good. You might want to compare image tests for the G10 (http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_PowerShot_G10/sample_images.shtml)and SX10 (http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_PowerShot_SX10_IS/sample_images.shtml)on the links provided.

Both camera are very good, but I would consider the G10 my preferred choice. The G10 is smaller and more convenient for carrying all the time, while the SX10 is larger and heavier, especially with four AA batteries in it.

If you think you might want a longer zoom, you can purchase a tele-conversion for the G10, but you have to use a complicated lens adapter system, and carry a bulky lens. With the SX10 you won't need the adapter or lens, since it is built in. The G10 is limited (native) to 140mm equivalent max zoom, while the SX10 will take you out (native) to 560mm equivalent.

The G10 will allow you to capture images in RAW format, which will allow you to control portions of your exposures later on your computer. Not everyone thinks RAW is wonderful, but having it can be beneficial, IMHO.

The SX10 has a 2.5" articulating (vari-angle) LCD, while the G10 has a fixed 3" LCD. Some folks would love to have the articulating LCD, while others are fine with the fixed LCD. I am one of those that would love the articulating LCD, last seen on the G6.

Another factor is video recording, the SX10 records sound in stereo, and allows for optical zooming while recording. The G10 does not.

Dennis

[Glenn Abuja]

I just picked up a G 10 it's great. When I'm not able to sling my Mark III around it makes for the perfect light weight version with all the manual controls.
Cheers Glenn
www.gannet.ca