Anyone into photography?

Post by **Barracuda** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 1:55 pm

I am looking at purchasing a digital SLR camera, looking around the £500 mark, suggestions pls.

*Edit, looking around 600-700 mark now.

Thanks

Post by **-ReHaB-** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 2:13 pm

You mean you didn't get that Olympus from Apple store for £98?

out4zero · Post by **out4zero** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 2:37 pm

Panasonic FZ30 for my money.

I own the FZ20 and it's fantastic, the 12 OPTICAL zoom alone (and 4x digital = 48x if you must) made it worth the money I paid for it. The FZ30 has the same zoom and 9 megapixels (the FZ20 is 5.2) and has a hotshoe if you wish to use an external flash.

Really for the money nothing comes close in digital photography. I'd up some shots but they use a lot of space and the server would crawl, in the meantime I'd suggest reading this article.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz30/

The noise thing isn't as big an issue (all digital cameras produce it) as they mention.

Good luck and I'm sure you'll love it.

Post by **Barracuda** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 4:30 pm

Looking at a Nikon D70 kit ATM, but they are 635 so I will up my budget!

John Dee · Post by **John Dee** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:15 pm

Jesops has the D70 at £590 at the moment.
The cannon 350D is another good one.

Post by **Barracuda** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:38 pm

Only the Body though at jessops.

Lense is quite expense on top of it.

Post by **Me Too** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 12:21 am

Any particular type of photography in mind Barra? You can't go wrong with either the Canon or Nikon D-SLRs but they both have their own strengths. Don't be put off the Panasonic though. The optical image stabiliser (IS) is a handy feature which will help reduce the amount of image blur when the shutter speed drops. See this image for an example of a IS image from a Minolta Dimage A1. It was 1/60th second exposure at the equivalent of 200mm focal length a good 50m from the stage. FWIW I've not bothered tweaking the image. So no sniggering as I know the camera isn't that great but it was cheap and has given me some decent images the past year.

Post by **Barracuda** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 12:37 am

Right after thinking about it I am going to stick to a smaller budget, I will be mostly taking landscapes, and closeups!!

Looking at the Nikon D50 with basic lens kit at £460.

Still looking though.

Post by **Barracuda** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 12:56 am

Right settleing for the Nikon D50 + 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED LENS

£460.

Will sleep on it tonight, anyone used one or heard any nasty stories?

Post by **Wintermute** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 11:30 am

Don't know much about photography, but FWIW I've bought a couple of things from Bristol Cameras in the past.

Although I think the package you're looking at is £ 469 from them (plus £10 delivery), the times I've used them they've been competitvely priced and reliable - so thought it was worth giving them a

.

Post by **-=Alex=-** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 11:45 am

I prefer my manual for the moment untill i don't have access to a dark room

I've got some of my photos on the internet that i've taken (excluding the colour ones)

Post by **Me Too** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 1:46 pm

No nasty stories Barra. All I'll say is look at the cost of additional bits you think you'll need now. e.g. additional lenses, macro ring flash etc...

Ringflash:
Nikon £350
Canon £330

Wide-angled Lens:
Nikon (12mm-24mm / 35mm equiv: 18mm-36mm) £900
Canon (10mm-22mm / 35mm equiv 16mm-35mm) £550
Sigma (10mm-20mm / 35mm equiv 15mm-35mm (Nikon)) £335
Sigma (10mm-20mm / 35mm equiv 16mm-35mm (Canon)) £335

Macro lens:
Nikon (40mm / 35mm equiv 60mm) £370 (NB: Nikon don't make macro lenses for DSLRs yet, this is a 35mm lens)
Canon (60mm / 35mm equiv 96mm) £320
Sigma (50mm / 35mm equiv 75mm (Nikon)) £195
Sigma (50mm / 35mm equiv 80mm (Canon) £195

Pretty much everything else can be bought third-party made and the same quality - but much cheaper. So depending on what you want to buy you may find one camera system cheaper than the other. Also, if you haven't already, look at the reviews on www.dpreview.net

Post by **Barracuda** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 7:13 pm

hmmm, whats a ringflash for then?????

Post by **-=Alex=-** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 7:37 pm

for when taking photos it makes a pretty ring in someones eye reflection, very tasetful

Post by **Barracuda** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 7:40 pm

I would want a wide angled lens i rekon defo but at prices like that WOWZER

Post by **Me Too** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 11:49 pm

Barracuda wrote:hmmm, whats a ringflash for then?????

Other than providing a rather nice effect in portrait photography they're used in macro photography. They fit onto the front of the lens to provide flashlight covering the area you wish to photograph. Normal flashguns or even in-built flashguns are too high up and tend to illuminate the area above where you're focusing.

Post by **Barracuda** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:02 pm

Ok thanks for the help Me too and all, I have purchased a Cannon EOS 350D, no other lenses apart from the one in with the kit, just got a ultra violet filter.

So hopefully there will be some Mint pics for when I go to Lake Geneva with the Mrs in Feb on our 10 year anniversary!

Post by **Me Too** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 11:51 pm

Good choice IMHO. The 350D was my favourite of the budget DSLRs and takes a cracking picture so I'm sure you'll be happy with it. My only tip would be to set the White Balance setting to "Daylight" when actually outdoors in daylight. I've seen digital SLRs of all brands bugger up in tricky lighting conditions, especially predominantly green subjects, and render wierd off shade colours. Setting the White Balance setting to Daylight rather than Auto helped a few of the customers where I used to work. Just make sure you set it back to auto at all other times. Have a look into getting a circular polariser for when you go away. It'll cost £25ish but is very handy for adding punch to landscape photographs and often removing reflections on glass.

And advance congrats for Feb

Post by **Barracuda** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:01 am

thx for the help.

Post by **Barracuda** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:08 am

Ok just bought the filter too.

I am gunna look a complete T£$T if i have shitty pics when i get back LOL.

Lots of praccy next two weeks for me!

Peak district here i come