New To Photography

[newlywed]

I am new to this site so not sure if I am posting in the right area. I am interested in photography but not sure what camera would be good to start with, I would eventually like to do weddings etc when I am good enough.

[CheekyChops]

How much are you looking to spend?

[newlywed]

Not sure I guess it would need to be in the region of a few hundred punds?

[newlywed]

pounds sorry

[vehelpfulguy]

Well there are cameras that do everything for you (shutter speed, apeture, focus, film speed - even on digital - and so on)

There are also cameras that, as well as being automatic, will let you override these settings and set your own film speed, apeture, and shutter speed.

IF you are considering doing photograph for a living it is VERY important you understand film speeds, shutter speeds and apeture.

For example changing the apeture has a big impact on the depth of field. If you are taking a close up of someones face you want a narrow depth of field with the background out of focus.

If you are taking a landscape shot you want a wide depth of field where the forground and background are in focus.

Unluess you have a camera that allows you to set these options you will never learn about the basics of photography.

Eventually you need to buy a Digital SLR with a qood quality lens, and the ability to change lenses, a camera like this:

http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=146642&partne r=froogle

But for now maybe a decent compact digital would be a starting point, but one that allows you to change the settings like I indicated above.

[vehelpfulguy]

This may be a good starting point.

The Panasonic Lumix FZ8 at �185

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/126122

It is a hybrid Digital SLR. Better than a compact camera, but not as expensive as a full Digital SLR.

The lens is not interchangable, but as it has a 12x Optical zoom this hardly matters.

Full user control if you want it, but fully automatic if you want that.

This will be an excellent learning camera until you can afford a full Digital SLR.

Review here:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/fz 8.html

[newlywed]

Thank you vehelpfulguy that was v helpful. I am new to this site but lovin it already. It restores your faith in human nature

[mjwman]

Speaking as a pro photographer I say go for a single lens reflex model right off.

I have always been a Nikon man for 40 years so am a little biased. Canon models are also good but I never really got on with them. I find Nikon's colour, metering accuracy and flash system to be superir to Canon but there will be those that will argue this of course.

My advice is to buy a Nikon D70s camera.

This is a lovely model that will be an excellent tool for real work as well as learning. It is discontinued, which is no problem because there are always some on eBay, usually sold by amateurs upgrading and which have had little real use.

You should be able to pick one up for about �200, which is a bargain for a camers that was �600 a couple of years ago. �300 should net you one with lens and accessories.

Do not be put off by idiots that will say "its only got 6 million pixels and so is no good" because the image quality is great and not that much different to the 10mp sensor images from current cameras.

The D70 handles well and allows easy manual use so as to learn about shutter speeds, apertures and depth odf field etc.

If you MUST buy new the D40 is good but not so user friendly for manual use. It is designed as a point and shoot primarily.

I hope this has been helpful.