What camera for an complete newby?

[D_T_W]

Right, I'm sure this will have been done to death in here, but I've had a quick look and can't spot anything that's relevant enough to help.

Basically, having been down to Leuchars Airshow and admired many of the fairly serious bits of camera equipment on display (as well as the aircraft), one thing I missed was my lack of a decent camera to take some pictures. I've got a small digital camera, but I'm keen to try and improve my ability and start to take some better quality photos.

Can anybody recommend a good camera to start with, but one that can last and have the option of being improved? Now, I'll freely admit I know sod all about cameras, having up until 2 years ago used disposable cameras for just about everything. It's more having seen some of my own photos compared to those taken by other members who were there, they're not even in the same league.

So, I'm basically just looking for a bit of help. I've not really got an idea of budget, just looking for a little inspiration and a point in the right direction. I somehow don't think I'm at the full bifta SLR and huge zoom lense stage yet, but I'd like to have something that I can learn with, that's not too complicated, and will be reliable.

[SamHH]

A 35mm-type digital SLR camera is the most versatile and can create the best-quality photos short of specialist medium- or large-format cameras. They're not difficult to use at all: they have automatic settings for everything.

The downsides are that they're big, heavy and expensive. I'd say £500-600 is a sensible amount to budget for a camera and two basic lenses. You need to decide whether you want to spend that much and to have the size and weight of that sort of camera. If you don't, there are lots of other options, but they won't have the same ability as an SLR camera.

One advisory note though, is that airshow photography is probably one of the areas that most requires big, expensive equipment. You may find yourself disappointed if you're comparing your results to people using >£1,000 lenses, in a way that maybe wouldn't be the case with other types of photography.

[D_T_W]

I did guess a figure of between £600-800 for a decent starter model. Am I right in assuming it's not so much the camera body that's expensive, but more the lenses? Obviously, I'd prefer not to have to change the actual body for a while after purchase, but can understand the need to increase the quality of the lenses the more experiance I get.

So, what should I been looking for in a decent camera and lense? Is buying online an option opposed to buying in a shop? Is second hand a viable alternative, or should I be looking to buy new given I'd like to keep it for a while? And the final question, what lenses should I be looking at?

Thanks

[SamHH]

Both the camera and lenses can be expensive – a top-of-the-range Canon or Nikon body costs £4.5k for example – but yes, I think most people spend more on lenses. Buying online is fine, although you might prefer to try the cameras in the shop. Buying second-hand can be a good way of saving money but obviously carries the same risks of buying anything second hand. At least if you buy from a business rather than a private seller you should find it easier to deal with should you have any problems. I bought my camera and some lenses second-hand and have had only one small problem.

Re. what lenses to get: you can buy the camera in a kit with a normal zoom lens (usually something like an 18-55mm) and you'll probably want a telephoto lens as well (e.g. a 70-300mm). The more you spend, the better the quality and there are all sorts of more specialised lenses and accessories that you'll probably find yourself wanting after a while.

This website is a good guide to prices: http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/

[Nick M]

D_T_W said:

I did guess a figure of between £600-800 for a decent starter model. Am I right in assuming it's not so much the camera body that's expensive, but more the lenses? Obviously, I'd prefer not to have to change the actual body for a while after purchase, but can understand the need to increase the quality of the lenses the more experiance I get.

So, what should I been looking for in a decent camera and lense? Is buying online an option opposed to buying in a shop? Is second hand a viable alternative, or should I be looking to buy new given I'd like to keep it for a while? And the final question, what lenses should I be looking at?

Thanks

As with everything, you can spend as much or as little as you like to get started, but you then need to see how much you re-spend upgrading lenses, etc. in the future.

Someone made the point when talking about something as mundane as tripods - everyone starts off with a cheap, lightweight one, and as their camera gets bigger or they find it's not stable enough, they get a mid-range model, and then they're not happy with that so eventually get a good quality tripod and head unit. But they've spent twice as much as if they'd gone for the good quality set up in the first place.

I guess the difference is that, until you start taking photographs, you might not know what you need, so a decent 'kit' of body and zoom lens would be enough to get you going. Then, when you find yourself constrained by what you've got, you can head down the slippery slope of 'investing' in lenses.

One thing to add - there are plenty of places who will rent lenses and other kit for sensible pennies - it's often a really cost effective way of getting hold of something for a particular need or event, such as a long zoom lens for an air show.

Camera bodies are still evolving but don't get too wrapped up in the whole mega-pixie hype. I was recently comparing some A3 sized prints from my old Nikon D70 and my current D3, and from 6 feet away you wouldn't be able to tell which camera was used for which photograph. That said, the one thing more megapixels would give you is the ability to crop the image more and still be able to get decent sized prints.

[D_T_W]

Thanks for that.

Any suggestions as to good deals around that would be worth a bit of further investigation. I've no idea about digital SLR's or the features they carry, so a bit of guidance would be much appreciated

[GetCarter]

This! > http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-nikon-d5000-pl...

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 16th September 12:14

[stevoknevo]

GetCarter said:

This! > http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-nikon-d5000-pl...

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 16th September 12:14

I had a go of one of those a few weeks ago, and being a complete photography novice, found it surprisingly easy to use. Virtually point and shoot when you want it to be and also with plenty of control when you don't. Thoroughly enjoyed my time using it over a couple of days. My only gripes where the vari angle lcd screen could get in the road sometimes and would do so even more when using a tripod, and the kit lens left me wanting a bit more zoom. Not the lens' fault per se. The one I used, the guy bought it for his GF's 30th birthday and I think he paid close on £800 for it!