Photography

For the longest time I've been interested in Photography. When I was in highschool I wanted to take the course my school offered but I grew up in a family where we couldn't afford the things that I needed for the class, same in college. I found myself in highschool going to parks or just outside to take pictures of plants or just trying to get creative with what I'm taking a picture of even if I didn't have a very nice camera. I did get a really nice digital camera for christmas 2 years ago and since then I've had a good time taking pictures but it's just a digital camera. I've visted a few websites to see what kind of camera would be good as a starter camera but I can't seem to find any answers!

I know theres a few people on this forum that are into photography so I was wondering if you could give me your opinion. What's the best type of camera for a newbie? What am I looking at spending?

Oh here's a couple pictures I took on the 4th of July at OB. The couple pictures are my friends and the last one is at sunset looking at the pier/surfers.













Any suggestions/comments welcome.

Thanks
Ericka 

I'd suggest going with a good 35mm SLR (Single-Lens Reflex) camera.   Film is readily available in different formats (prints/slides) at a more reasonable price than some of the other formats, and it's a well-known format which produces good results with a decent camera.

I'll have to leave it to others to recommend a current make/model.  I still have a 30-year-old Zenith 35mm SLR -- made in the (former) U.S.S.R., rugged, and given excellent service.   It's also a good idea to make sure anything you buy has a standard lens attachment; proprietary fittings severely limit the choice of alternate lenses.

Take a look at ebay, older SLRs are getting pretty cheap.  Canon, Olympus and Nikon are all good choices.  I like the Canon AE-1 and the Olympus OM-2 for ease of use.  You should be able to get a body with a few lenses and filters for a few hundred pounds.

(Just replaced my  body for the third time in as many years, though... the OM-2's are starting to die. I don't like my new OM-20 body at all.)

Try to get a manual with whatever you buy. 

As far as film goes... I'm having trouble finding what I usually use.  (High-speed b+w).  Never was a fan of Ilford film, and that's all there is around my house for b+w, and only up to 1600.  Developing/printing is the fun bit, but I'm not set up for it here.  Paper and chemicals are no problem to find, though.

After using a digital, you may not be happy with a straight SLR.  They're heavier and certainly less convenient.  Fun once you get used to them, though!  The DSLRs look good... but I don't have the cash right now. Like Paul, I run old gear.  (Are we both 1966 models?)

As far as film goes... I'm having trouble finding what I usually use.  (High-speed b+w).  Never was a fan of Ilford film, and that's all there is around my house for b+w, and only up to 1600.

Even some years ago (15+) Ilford was the only easily obtainable B&W film in many places, certainly if you wanted 400 ASA or upward.

In the UK or elsewhere?  I like Kodak T-max, and can still get it in Japan and Canada.  (Along with T-max chemicals... maybe not special, but they seem to do a better job on that film.)

In the UK or elsewhere?

Sorry, I should have clarified that I was talking about the U.K.

I vaguely recall getting some Kodak B&W film at one time, but that must have been several years earlier.  Certainly around 1989/1990 time when I had to use a fair amount of B&W film for projects Ilford was the only one I could obtain easily and reliably.

I used bulk-load Ilford sometimes... it was cheap.  Fuji and Kodak both make nicer stuff, in my opinion.

Anyhow, for Reeeka:  I watched ebay a bit today and have seen cameras going for around 30 pounds with one lens.  One is enough to start with!

Zenith specifically advised against using Fuji film;  if I recall correctly the manual says something about it being more prone to jamming in their cameras.  I never did figure out why, as I can't see why Fuji tolerances should be that different from any other standard 35mm film.

Hi.

 I am going to go against the grain here a bit and say that in this day and age the most economically effective way for a newbie to learn through trial and error is to go digital.  While the initial cost will be higher it will pay for itself very soon because film and film processing is very expensive.  Not to mention that if you wanted to do any post processing things get CONSIDERABLY more difficult and expensive.

You don't need a camera with all the bells and whistles to start out.  Buy the best you can afford and practice, practice, practice!. Nothing and I mean nothing beats practicing.  You don't really need to spend money on photography schools or anything of the like although it doesn't hurt.  I haven't taken a single photography class in my life.  I am fully self taught the hard way.  Nothing beats trial and error which is where digital comes in VERY handy.

With that said, I do use film at times.  I did it backwards in the sense that I was fully digital and then tried experimenting with film.  When I do use film it's mostly medium format and infrared 35mm on a Canon SLR I got on ebay for like £50 quid.  There currently 15 rolls of film (my husband's and mine) sitting on a shelve to be developed.  We are waiting to win the lottery so we can send them off to the lab    I don't have a favorite film per se but I do buy mostly Ilford HP5 Plus and sometimes PanF Plus.  I do not get my medium format printed cause that costs a small fortune.  The negatives are large enough that I can see the developed ones and decide if they are worth of a print or not and proceed accordingly.

I currently own about 12 cameras (my husband owns about 15) all the way from cardboard pinholes to 100 year old Kodaks to my main camera, a Canon 20D (in DIRE need of replacement!).  It's a very addictive and expensive hobby but it's the only thing I have ever managed to stick with.

Good luck!

June

PS.  As I typed this post, iTunes started playing "3x5" by John Mayer 

Those were nice pics, Reeeka.  I liked #2 and #5 the best.  #2 I thought brought good interest to the profiles of the couple and I like the potential for the framing in #5.  I may suggest for #2 to crop it a bit so that the couple is slightly off-center, along the second vertical if you follow the rule of thirds (do you know about that??  When I learned that rule, I have to say it was singlehandedly the thing that improved most of my photographs right off the bat, before I learned of exposure and such).  Plus I think that photo, #2, may make a lovely gift to the couple!

Personally, I shoot with a Canon Digital Rebel XTi.  It's my first DSLR and I love it; I found it to be similar in control to my Canon Powershot S50, though I probably could have stepped up to a 30D and done just fine.  You want a good camera body, but I feel the lenses and the camera's operator do more for the quality of the overall image.  On the introductory kit, I spent close to $1000 USD, but upgrading lenses cost me about another $2K USD on top of that.  Not cheap!  I'm currently lusting after some new glass, but out of my current lenses my 50mm f/1.4 has to be my favorite and most versatile and sharpest.  If you want to see some sample images with this camera, check my Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/docindigo76/.  My exif data will tell you which camera I used.  (Also feel free to PM me if you want to talk more about this.)

I would also recommend seeing if a local photo club may offer a class in introductory photography--mine does at no additional cost to club members and with dues only $20 per year you can't really beat that!  And what I love about photography the most as a hobby, even though the up-front costs are high...if you invest wisely, particularly in your lenses, it's a lovely hobby that will last for years and is portable no matter where you go.

Thanks guys!!

I think I might stick with Digital for now as that's what I'm used too and that's what I have. I'd LOVE to have a 35mm one day! I think once a save up a bit of money I'll look into it.

It's so hard getting used to all the "lingo" lol. I belong to a photography forum and I'm still puzzled at all the lingo they use. 

Thanks guys I appreciate it!

MissIndigo, your photos are amazing!

You might want to try some lomography as well. I'm thinking of buying a Holga camera to experiment a little. They're not that expensive (I think you can get a Holga on amazon for about 20-50 bucks depending on if you just buy the camera or also buy the starter kit).

Here's a Holga group on Flickr:
http://flickr.com/groups/86881528@N00/pool/

I only use digital right now, and I have a Panasonic LX2 that I just got (about $400) and LOVE! It has a Leica lens and looks like an old fashioned camera in a way. It takes great shots. Some of the stuff on my flickr page are taken with my old Kodak, but the sunsets and pictures from Oklahoma are with the new.
http://flickr.com/photos/ornerybookworm/

I also inherited an old Yashica rangefinder that I haven't started using yet, but it's a 35MM from the 70's I believe. You can find older cameras on eBay for pretty cheap if you're interested.

Oh! And there are loads of people into expired film photography also. I was thinking about trying it. You never know what kind of results you'll get!
http://flickr.com/groups/expired/pool/

Oh! And there are loads of people into expired film photography also. I was thinking about trying it. You never know what kind of results you'll get!
http://flickr.com/groups/expired/pool/

I currently have expired IR film loaded in my Canon EOS 500 N (Rebel G in the US).  It expired in 2005 and I can't wait to see what the images look like.

June

I currently have expired IR film loaded in my Canon EOS 500 N (Rebel G in the US).  It expired in 2005 and I can't wait to see what the images look like.

June

Oooh! I've been meaning to take a look at your photos, June. I'm going to check them out later tonight when I get home from work. I'll be interested to see what you get from it!

Hey Reeeca,
  Love the photo's that you've posted.  I'm a bit of a photographer myself and I honestly recommend going digital as well.  I used film for years and swore I wouldn't convert, but it's getting too costly to buy film and have it developed anymore.  I have seen quite a lot of film camera's on various market stalls in the UK for anywhere from 20 to 100 pounds.

I currently use a sony h2 digital camera which I love.  It gives the flexibilty of experimenting, or you can use the auto setting if you need a quick capture.  The only thing is it's not too good at night photography.  Other than that I think it's a great starter and I bought it on ebay brand new for 300 dollars.

I have used a Nikon coolpix camera as well and I found it to be very user friendly.  Again it provides the option of being creative but also gives you an auto function for pointing and shooting.  I just got my sister one of those for Christmas for 150 dollars so I'm sure you can get one off of ebay for less.

I've heard and read that the Canon EOS rebel camera's are quite nice.  I'm looking at getting one myself but they are a bit spendier.

I agree with June that practicing is the best thing you can do.  I learned pretty much everything on my own through practice.  I did end up doing a degree in it afterward and I found it to be a waste of money.  I feel the best way is just to get out and take loads of photo's and experiment on different settings and see the effect. 

Flickr website is a great place to go to as well.  I've seen lots of groups dedicated to starting out and giving assignments.  It's a great place to upload photo's and get others to offer advice and help you grow.