Photography.

[Earl]

So I want to get involved. It looks interesting, and pictures are pretty.

I have a Ixus 750? I think.. Digital camera. Obviously this isn't very good for photography.

I want an SLR. Question is do I blow £450+ on say a canon 400D which I have no idea what the features are like, or do I go for a film one to get me started?

I dont want to waste money incase I dont like it, but I don't want to waste money incase I do like it and want a better model.

 

[Chilly]

See if you can borrow one from a friend of a parent or something for a month while you get to grips with everything. Developing film is expensive, there is virtually no need to use film these days, the digital SLRs are up to par in most situations.

 

[Trem]

There is a lot to be said for picking your snaps up after dropping them in Boots and flicking through them, they do have those machines now though that take your digi memory card and develop them for you. We have a digital and film camera and we rarely use the digi one, unless its for nudey pics. Having said that I did once take a pic of Samms boobs and she actually took the film in and picked it up.

 

[Chilly]

Wrong forum trem, this is freddyshouse not willingwives.com.

 

[nath]

It might be worth looking in to a "prosumer" camera rather than an SLR unless you're 100% certain you're going to take this up as a major hobby. There are a lot of really decent cameras that aren't SLR's but are a lot better than holiday snappers - and often a bit cheaper than the SLRs. I went for a Panasonic FZ30 and it's very decent. One of the benefits is that it comes with a pretty damn good all-purpose lens.

www.dpreview.com has some fantastic and very in depth reviews - check it out, any camera you're considering buying is very likely to be on there.

 

[mank!]

I've got an Olympus OM10 and it's pretty good considering a friend gave it to me for nowt, I think they're fairly cheap on Ebay et al.

I'd post some pics but I don't have a decent scanner

 

[Tom]

Before you do any of that, you want to buy yourself a 'photography for dummies' book that teaches you the basic guide to composition and light.

If you buy an SLR now, it will no doubt be a very nice camera, but it'll still have a novice behind the viewfinder - and will never take good pictures.

Keep your current camera. Buy a book. Read it, then experiment. If you can compose some nice shots, then think about buying something nicer.

 

[Sparx]

i happen to be a photographer and do alot of club shots aswell as models etc

I have the 400d very nice camera, i suggest getting that with a 580ex flashgun too. The kit lens will be fine at first

Then subscribe to digital photo magazine that will teach you everything you will ever need to know

The camera does have full auto setting aswell as everything in between. I'm actually looking to upgrade to the MK111 but that wont be for awhile as i am saving up for a car

 

[Sparx]

after you get to grips with it you then have to joys of constantly upgrading lenses

fish eye for example gives you this

photoshop will also become your best mate for upping those colours

 

[Damini]

I've just started dabbling in photography, not in any technical way but in a "oooh, pretty" way. I posted one of my pictures on myspace, asking what people think, and hoping for vague blurred, not blurred, pretty, ugly responses, and this is what I got:

"some nice angular factors to it and some light & dark areas that would give it a couple of polarities arguing or blanking each other out"

What does that even mean?

 

[Sparx]

post here lets have a look

 

[Damini]

http://xs.to/xs.php?f=reddoorsmallest.jpg&h=xs114&d=07175

I've got larger copies if that one is a bit shrunken.

 

[Sparx]

Quite an interesting shot actually.

The curves need to be readjusted in photoshop to make the colours stand out a bit. Framing wise its perfect i think.

Atm i am a huge fan of over saturation/contrast something like this (alas its not done in PS as i dont have it in this comp so its not quite how i wanted it, its only dont in getpaint)

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/7637/reddoorsmallest1xt6.jpg

 

[Tom]

The chair and rug could use a bit more highlighting, but otherwise its a very nice photograph

 

[Damini]

Would this highlighting all be done afterwards then? Not something you would change when you took the picture? And what did that guy mean about arguing polarities? It sounds like something the Ghostbusters would say :/

 

[Sparx]

yeah use photoshop to do the touching up, easiest way. Oh and if you can shoot in RAW rather than the standard jpeg. But thats moving into another lesson

 

[leggy]

Arguing polarities sounds like:

"Ooh nice picture. I don't know much about photography so I'll say something about pissed off electrical currents instead."

 

[Chilly]

I am sitting on one of those chairs

 

[Damini]

Heh - that'w what I thought, Leggy. Arguing what nows? Just smile and nod, Lou, smile and nod. Then run to FH and demand answers.

Sparx - If I can't do something in MSPaint, I can't do it at all. I guess my photos will remain au natural.

Earl: A girl I know online takes amazing photos, and this is the camera she uses: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kodak-Z650-digital-camera-optical/dp/B000E65X0W

I'm sure the experts will tell you the technical bumpf over whether it is good or not, but from a rookie perspective - pretty and crisp photos.

 

[Sparx]

Sparx - If I can't do something in MSPaint, I can't do it at all. I guess my photos will remain au natural.

www.getpaint.net Its free and it has some features that PS has, can mess around with curves layers etc

its much better than paint

 

[Tom]

I still use film, an EOS300 and a Holga

I find that using film forces you to take more time to think about what you're shooting.

 

[Sparx]

i still have 3 film slrs but i prefer digital now cause i do alot of clubbing photography so i need to see the image right away

 

[Gumbo]

I've recently got a 400d and played with it at a couple of days motor racing at snetterton. Good fun, and not bad 'snaps' but I have loads to learn to take proper photographs I think.

Anyone like to recommend a good book to establish the basics?

Here's my Flickr link.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/7613776@N04/

 

[Earl]

I've recently got a 400d and played with it at a couple of days motor racing at snetterton. Good fun, and not bad 'snaps' but I have loads to learn to take proper photographs I think.

Anyone like to recommend a good book to establish the basics?

Here's my Flickr link.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/7613776@N04/

They look really good for snapshots! How far away were you sat? I mean my ixus 750 is good for snapshots but only close up. The 3x opitcal zoom dosn't go to far

 

[Raven]

personally i prefer non "fiddled" with photos. I got bundles of photography kit from my Granddad when he passed away so i have been thinking about getting into it, now summer is here i should be able to get some really nice pictures. is there a way of getting film photos onto a disk? really don't want to have to pay out for a digital camera just yet but would rather store them on my PC.

 

[mank!]

yes most places will put prints onto a cd for you, i think asda do it for a couple of quid

 

[Gumbo]

They look really good for snapshots! How far away were you sat? I mean my ixus 750 is good for snapshots but only close up. The 3x opitcal zoom dosn't go to far

Probably about 100 yards from the cars most of the time. I have a 70-300mm Tamron lens that I bought as part of a deal with the Camera.

 

[Earl]

...and that means absolutly nothing to me. I think I should go buy the photography for dummies before splashing out £400+

 

[Gumbo]

Anyone like to recommend a good book to establish the basics?

Ok, anyone able to condemn any books that are shite, before I start ordering random ones from Amazon.

 

[Ch3tan]

There is a good lonely planet photography guide, gives you the basics quite nicely.

Also, before you spend your cash on a book, google for some online guides.