What is a good begginers camera for photography?
~XoXo~ asked:
I love taking pictures, and I feel I have stepped up from a digital camera, and need something a bit more advanced. I am very interested in photography, only 13 years old, and with parents that are willing to buy me a better camera. I don’t want anything very professional, but something that will give me great pictures. Can anyone tell me what the best suited camera would be? Also, nothing that exceeds about $1000, $1500, etc. Also, any tips from anyone with experience?
I love taking pictures, and I feel I have stepped up from a digital camera, and need something a bit more advanced. I am very interested in photography, only 13 years old, and with parents that are willing to buy me a better camera. I don’t want anything very professional, but something that will give me great pictures. Can anyone tell me what the best suited camera would be? Also, nothing that exceeds about $1000, $1500, etc. Also, any tips from anyone with experience?
The Canon Rebel is incredible. It’s digital, first off, which owns everything. It’s also easy to use but professional quality. I think it’s in the $1000-$1500 range, but it’s totally worth it.
I’ll second the Rebel. Actually, there’s a couple different rebel models. There’s a 35mm SLR (that’s what I have) and they also have a decent looking digital for about $700 (at least, that’s what I’ve seen it for at Target and Best Buy). It’s a solid camera, and has both manual and automatic settings, so you can be as professional as you like (use the automatics now, and grow into the rest). It has a built in light meter and flash (again, no worries if you use the automatic settings). Not sure about the digital (can’t afford it), but judging by Rebels past, it’s a great camera. (if you decide to switch to film, that one’s about $200-$300).
Go old school and get yourself a Cannon A1….They are great!!! They take wonderful pictures and you’ll learn how cameras really work which is part of the art form of taking pictures. Digital cameras are ok for vacations and stuff but if you really want to be creative you need to start shooting film…Any moron can photoshop a picture bit it takes an artist to use film.
Find a good used Nikon (F series) or Canon (EOS series) and a good medium zoom lens (24-85mm f/2.8 is a good start). The reason for those cameras is because the lenses they use will work on all the current digital cameras made by those companies.
Shooting film will help you be more disciplined in your film usage and slow your shooting down enough so you can take control of exposure, composition and eventually development and printing (once you can take some photo classes in school)
Hello,
Welcome to the wonderful world of photography!
You said that you are 13, that is great news! When you get to high school you should immediately enroll in a photojournalism class. You will get to work in the darkroom, which is the best place in the world to learn about and thoroughly understand photography. That is where I got my start with photography, just before digital hit the market. Its so valuable what you will learn developing and printing your own photos.
On the camera note, go to your local mom and pop camera supplier and talk to the people who work there. Then go to another shop and talk to them. Photographers love to talk about cameras! and they will tell you everything you need to know.
My first camera was completely manual, with no electronics, and I learned so much with that little, very inexpensive camera. So when it comes to film cameras, any well working SLR will do, the electronics sometimes get in the way of the basics. But if your parents are willing, to spend that much, then you will get something very nice!
I wish you the best! The trick is to keep shooting, and you’ll learn from your own mistakes.
Are you serious?! A beginner isn’t going to have a camera that’s $1500 (Unless that includes lenses). I’m very experienced, and I use a Nikon D80 & a Canon D30. You need to start off with something like a Kodak DSLR. My friend just started in SLR photography, and it’s perfect for beginners. (You’ll have to look up the models).
Anyway, Goodluck
Before investing in an expensive piece of professional camera equipment, consider the following fact: most professional photographers [those in product, fashion, sports] merely “rent” or “lease” their camera equipment due to the constant upgrading and improvements in camera technology. So rather than spend $1,000, $1,500, etc. ‘now,’ you may be wiser in the long haul - down the road, by selecting the most “affordable” camera system to begin your quest of becoming a seasoned professional.
So, again, let’s set aside for the moment, consideration of those high priced Nikons, Hasselblads, Leica’s, Canons and look at the Pentax K series which provides the best affordable camera with outstanding lense optics.
Currently, you should look at the Pentax K100D 6.1 megapixel DSLR [digital single lense reflex] with image stabilization built into the camera body itself. This is a remarkable solution which allows use of telephoto lenses without dragging along a tripod to support them. Unfortunately, Canon and Nikon have mistaken chosen to incorporate image stabilization within their lenses which is a very costly approach since a typical “image stabilized” Canon or Nikon lense start from $600 and goes upwards in price.
Now getting back to the Pentax K100D. There’s a starter kit consisting of a Pentax 18-55 mm. normal lense and a Pentax 75-200 mm. telephoto; along with the camera body: selling for around $650 at Samy’s Camera [samys.com]. That’s a considerable lower price than $1,000 or $1,500 for a quality camera system.
Hopefully, you will read the above discussion carefully and reach a decision on your future camera purchase.
Good Luck!