Starting out

Hello;
The name is Bray and I'm somewhat new to photography. I am wondering what camera will fulfill the needs of a newbie and also is moderately priced. Also, what are some techniques I should look for and beginners instructions, links, websites, tutorials etc. Thank you for your time

Bray

well, first off, what do you intend to shoot? and how much do you want to spend? are you looking to get a Digital SLR or just a point and shoot. answer a few of these questions and we can be much more helpful to you.

Welcome to the forums! youve come to the right place.

Welcome, Bray. BEWARE of the L bug and you'll be fine.

Okay, here's the talk: if you think $1000 is too much money, get an XT and 50 1.8 and go from there. If $1000 is a decent amount for you, get the Xti and 50 1.8. If you have a lot more money to spend, then the 30D with 24-70L .

As for starting out, get a good book like "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. It is a great read and written as a tutorial so you can start one step at a time. Once you get your camera, read the manual cover to cover. This forum has "stickies" that lead you to good reviews on lenses, etc. You'll really need that advice as you start collecting gear.

Just remember that good computer skills with PhotoShop or another kind of software is crucial to getting nice pictures. Gear is only part of this new hobby. Learn the 3 parts of exposure and how your camera and lenses give you the best results, learn PS skills or Post Processing (PP) skills and you'll be fine.

SuzyView wrote in post #2231127
Welcome, Bray. BEWARE of the L bug and you'll be fine.

Okay, here's the talk: if you think $1000 is too much money, get an XT and 50 1.8 and go from there. If $1000 is a decent amount for you, get the Xti and 50 1.8. If you have a lot more money to spend, then the 30D with 24-70L .

As for starting out, get a good book like "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. It is a great read and written as a tutorial so you can start one step at a time. Once you get your camera, read the manual cover to cover. This forum has "stickies" that lead you to good reviews on lenses, etc. You'll really need that advice as you start collecting gear.

Just remember that good computer skills with PhotoShop or another kind of software is crucial to getting nice pictures. Gear is only part of this new hobby. Learn the 3 parts of exposure and how your camera and lenses give you the best results, learn PS skills or Post Processing (PP) skills and you'll be fine.

good advice all around suzy.. I'll add to it.. if you choose a DSLR be prepared to spend some time getting it wrong.. you won't be thrilled with your results right away you'll wonder if something is wrong with the camera and why your point and shoot photos or film shots look better.. the initial investment is just that.. an initial investment.. now, you don't have to go crazy.. beware L fanatics.. but, there is a lot of 'extras' that after shooting for awhile don't feel like extras but rather 'necessary' purchases.. But, this is a great hobby a wonderful outlet for creativity it will last you your whole life and once the lessons are learned they never go away.. welcome to POTN and I hope you choose whatever is best for you....

sari

OK, thank you for the input. I am going to dabble in still-photography and I would like to move into film. I am thinking that a foundation in still-photography would give me some good background and even some insight into film, am I right to believe this?

brayshakes wrote in post #2231891
OK, thank you for the input. I am going to dabble in still-photography and I would like to move into film. I am thinking that a foundation in still-photography would give me some good background and even some insight into film, am I right to believe this?

not sure what you're referring to.. the kind of photography vs. your composition choices are two seperate venues.. whether you want to shoot urbans, portraits, macro, landscapes etc... you can do any of it with digital or film.. the learning curve I believe is a little different. Digital is faster to learn and ultimately cheaper than film.. but, the way you take a photograph is pretty similar.. you have to learn the same techniques with digital as with film.. You just get to see your end result a lot faster with digital.. but, ultimately the lessons stay with you with film because you have to work harder for them...

sari

saravrose wrote in post #2232271
not sure what you're referring to.. the kind of photography vs. your composition choices are two seperate venues.. whether you want to shoot urbans, portraits, macro, landscapes etc... you can do any of it with digital or film.. the learning curve I believe is a little different. Digital is faster to learn and ultimately cheaper than film.. but, the way you take a photograph is pretty similar.. you have to learn the same techniques with digital as with film.. You just get to see your end result a lot faster with digital.. but, ultimately the lessons stay with you with film because you have to work harder for them...

sari

im sure he'll correct me if im wrong, but since hes saying still and film, i believe by film he means video, not film still cameras, i was confused by that too, but it made more sence when i looked at it that way.

at one time i enjoyed video editing and had to make a decision whether to buy a better video camera and the adobe video collection or a DSLR and Creative Suite, and i ended up going with the still camera. i used to love making movies though, its a different animal. im sure though with the knowledge you would gain from still cameras some of it (use of good perspectives and lighting) would transfer over to film, but theres a lot to learn in film aswell that a still camera cant teach you. that being said, whether you choose to focus on video in the future or not, still photography is an amazing amount of fun, and ive honestly forgotten about video all the way by now . its a heck of a lot of work to put a movie or presention together, enjoyable, but im busy with a lot of other stuff, and i much perfer to go out in the sun and take photos over editing video and sound in my room

oh.. that does make more sense.. I think you're right..

sari

brayshakes wrote in post #2231078
Hello;
The name is Bray and I'm somewhat new to photography. I am wondering what camera will fulfill the needs of a newbie and also is moderately priced. Also, what are some techniques I should look for and beginners instructions, links, websites, tutorials etc. Thank you for your time

Bray

If it were me, I would initially go for either a used 10D or 20D.

[QUOTE=SuzyView;223112​7]Welcome, Bray. BEWARE of the L bug and you'll be fine.

"Just remember that good computer skills with PhotoShop or another kind of software is crucial to getting nice pictures. "

No offense SuzyView, but why good computer skills? Isn't it about photography. I hardly use any PS, just for cropping.
This is the thing that bothers me about photography today. It's not about your photography skills, it's all about how good you are in PS.
Again, SuzieView, I'm not picking on you, nor do I disagree, it's just that why wast time in PS when if you do it right with the camera the first time, you could be out shooting more.
Just my venting - I'm sorry, I'm in a bad mood today. Too many people pushing me around on the subway this morning.

I have an XT and I'd say get the XT and some good lenses. Once you have good lenses and have completed your lens collection then you might consider a more upmarket body. As I said, I have an XT. I'm considering buying a second XT if I finally take the plunge and start my own wedding photography business.

[QUOTE=fstop212;223389​1]

SuzyView wrote in post #2231127
Welcome, Bray. BEWARE of the L bug and you'll be fine.

"Just remember that good computer skills with PhotoShop or another kind of software is crucial to getting nice pictures. "

No offense SuzyView, but why good computer skills? Isn't it about photography. I hardly use any PS, just for cropping.
This is the thing that bothers me about photography today. It's not about your photography skills, it's all about how good you are in PS.
Again, SuzieView, I'm not picking on you, nor do I disagree, it's just that why wast time in PS when if you do it right with the camera the first time, you could be out shooting more.
Just my venting - I'm sorry, I'm in a bad mood today. Too many people pushing me around on the subway this morning.

There are many here in the forum who feel like you do, so I'm not insulted, just realistic. I'm hoping with my 5D, the PP will be less, but I've been shooting now for almost 3 years with dslr's and slr's since I was 16. I shoot events and weddings and clients, even though they may be friends, want pictures they can enlarge to put on their walls. I do more than just pass the CD along when asked to do something like that. I spend about $50 a week printing pictures I took myself either for friends, clients or myself. I am now so expert at using my PS that I can crop a 4x6 ratio without thinking about it. I also don't print every shot, I'm picky and cheap. I wish I was better choosing exposure settings on my cameras, but I'm not easily satisfied. I will sharpen, if needed. Very rarely do I plug my 20D directly into my Canon compact printer.

If you are that adept with your dslr, I applaud you. I think that's great. When I get a batch of 100 or so shots to print, I may just drive over to Costco or Sam's to print them up to save my printer ink, but I always turn off the automatic color correction because my shots better be as sharp as possible for me to spend my $.16 a copy.

As for the comment about it's all the photography, I agree. That's why I go nuts trying to learn about that and why I enjoy this hobby so much. But to be fair, a newcomer to dslr's generally think they can print from the CF card directly and then wonder why it doesn't look all that great. Happened to me first thing after getting my 10D. After learning about USM and curves and layers, it's a whole new world. I'm not even close to having skills yet that most have here in the forum. Just ask Tim how much time he spends PP after a wedding.

rklepper wrote in post #2233839
If it were me, I would initially go for either a used 10D or 20D.

If it were me I would either go straight to video if that’s where you interest is, as the skills needed for video will service you much better if your ultimate goal is to get into film. The post processing workflow for video and stills are completely different and there is not a lot of overlap. Even the setup, lighting, angle and such is different.

Now if you are looking to get some experience with still photography and do not know if you’re going to make that a long term thing, I would go the Canon S3, Nikon 8800, or Fuji 9000 rout as those three will get you near DSLR capability for a fraction of the cost. Then if it is something that appeals to you and you want more, make the move to SLR.

[QUOTE=SuzyView;223407​3]

fstop212 wrote in post #2233891
There are many here in the forum who feel like you do, so I'm not insulted, just realistic. I'm hoping with my 5D, the PP will be less, but I've been shooting now for almost 3 years with dslr's and slr's since I was 16. I shoot events and weddings and clients, even though they may be friends, want pictures they can enlarge to put on their walls. I do more than just pass the CD along when asked to do something like that. I spend about $50 a week printing pictures I took myself either for friends, clients or myself. I am now so expert at using my PS that I can crop a 4x6 ratio without thinking about it. I also don't print every shot, I'm picky and cheap. I wish I was better choosing exposure settings on my cameras, but I'm not easily satisfied. I will sharpen, if needed. Very rarely do I plug my 20D directly into my Canon compact printer.

If you are that adept with your dslr, I applaud you. I think that's great. When I get a batch of 100 or so shots to print, I may just drive over to Costco or Sam's to print them up to save my printer ink, but I always turn off the automatic color correction because my shots better be as sharp as possible for me to spend my $.16 a copy.

As for the comment about it's all the photography, I agree. That's why I go nuts trying to learn about that and why I enjoy this hobby so much. But to be fair, a newcomer to dslr's generally think they can print from the CF card directly and then wonder why it doesn't look all that great. Happened to me first thing after getting my 10D. After learning about USM and curves and layers, it's a whole new world. I'm not even close to having skills yet that most have here in the forum. Just ask Tim how much time he spends PP after a wedding.

Hi SuzieView,
I had a feeling you might take this the wrong way and I did't want to sound like a snob, which I might have come off as. I do apologize. I'm really not a snob.
Everything comes with time and I am aware of that. I've been into photography for 15 years and I'm still trying to learn.
I'm sure that my photos would look dramatically different if I used PS, but to be brutally honest, I suck with PS. Maybe this is why i don't use PS so much.
I really feel bad and hope that I didn't offend you in any way shape or form.