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Author Topic: What to look for?  (Read 3968 times)

  • Offline Bacon

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What to look for?
on: June 07, 2010, 17:07:07 PM
Total novice might be looking for his first camera, will be taking pics at car shows etc, have no clue what to look for in a camera

Help appreciated
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  • Offline zpyder

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Re:What to look for?
Reply #1 on: June 07, 2010, 18:04:25 PM
To know what to look for, first you need to know what you want?

Point and shoot ease of use, SLR, or something inbetween?
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Re:What to look for?
Reply #2 on: June 07, 2010, 18:28:31 PM
Im sure Kunal would say that you need Canon 1D Mark IV - http://www.tekforum.co.uk/posts/list/16940.page ;)

But like Zpyer says, what do you want? My personal preference are Panasonic Lumix TZ for point and shoot and Canon SLR thats what I would suggest to my friends, but not adverse to other brands.

Also a budget would be useful? :)
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Re:What to look for?
Reply #3 on: June 07, 2010, 19:38:03 PM
Have a look at Rockwells common sense about camera recommendations and see if that helps.
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What to look for?
Reply #4 on: June 07, 2010, 20:08:04 PM
I was in your position a while ago, I wanted a DSLR to give me a bit more freedom and better low light and response speeds than a compact.
I ended up getting a second hand Nikon D70, which apart from the small LCD will do everything a beginner needs for not a lot of money.

When you see whats possible with the lowest end and cheapest of DSLRs you quickly realise its the user not the camera that makes the shot.
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Formerly sexytw
Re:What to look for?
Reply #5 on: June 07, 2010, 20:25:55 PM
Agree with sexytw, but does sometimes depend on what you are shooting to an extent, if you are just taking straight photos you are fairly safe, but if you are taking action shots a faster shutter speed and faster memory write is very useful (Used to have a 300D and that was slooow) But also if you are venturing in to SLRs be aware that its not just go out and buy one camera and one lens, be prepared to get you camera with a stock 18-55mm, then buying a zoom on top of that, then maybe a prime or a wide angle, fast memory cards,  then you need a bag, then you want a tripod, maybe some filters, off camera flash.. .and by that point you have spent quite a lot of money :)... Then you want to get a new body :)

But there are some good deals out there, and if you are looking at SLRs Nikon or Canon seem to be the choice in most cases, dont go Sony, not because its rubbish, but there seem to be more 3rd party lenses available i.e. Tamron etc, and you can get good lenses at a better price.
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  • Offline Bacon

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Re:What to look for?
Reply #6 on: June 07, 2010, 23:19:52 PM
I think i should put a pause on this thread until im back at work cus this is going to get expensive fast :p

I found a list earlier of cameras for sale on Argos clearance, just considered getting something basic to start me off, here is the link to the cameras.

As i said i dont even own a basic one, i would love to do action shots but i cant afford that atm is my guess.
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  • Offline Bacon

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Re:What to look for?
Reply #7 on: June 07, 2010, 23:20:57 PM
Quote from: Ceathreamhnan
Have a look at Rockwells common sense about camera recommendations and see if that helps.


Thanks
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Re:What to look for?
Reply #8 on: June 07, 2010, 23:35:10 PM
Whats your current budget and are you looking at an SLR or a compact? As by that link you are looking for a compact?
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  • Offline Bacon

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Re:What to look for?
Reply #9 on: June 07, 2010, 23:57:18 PM
Quote from: XEntity
Whats your current budget and are you looking at an SLR or a compact? As by that link you are looking for a compact?


Compact and low ish budget around £60 i guess, i know its not a lot, but im really poor these days
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  • Offline shofty

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Re:What to look for?
Reply #10 on: June 08, 2010, 09:10:42 AM
Quote from: XEntity
Agree with sexytw, but does sometimes depend on what you are shooting to an extent, if you are just taking straight photos you are fairly safe, but if you are taking action shots a faster shutter speed and faster memory write is very useful (Used to have a 300D and that was slooow) But also if you are venturing in to SLRs be aware that its not just go out and buy one camera and one lens, be prepared to get you camera with a stock 18-55mm, then buying a zoom on top of that, then maybe a prime or a wide angle, fast memory cards,  then you need a bag, then you want a tripod, maybe some filters, off camera flash.. .and by that point you have spent quite a lot of money :)... Then you want to get a new body :)

But there are some good deals out there, and if you are looking at SLRs Nikon or Canon seem to be the choice in most cases, dont go Sony, not because its rubbish, but there seem to be more 3rd party lenses available i.e. Tamron etc, and you can get good lenses at a better price.


tripod is a tenner from tescos and the kit lens does most people for long time.

cheap dslr to get your feet in the game. then work out if you prefer the responsiveness of a dslr. you probly will. then from there, do you want to spend more on it? prob not, but if you do, its often better to flog yours on and start with a bigger better specd body and kit lens and then add to it as you go.
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  • Offline Serious

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Re:What to look for?
Reply #11 on: June 08, 2010, 11:18:34 AM
Quote from: Bacon
Quote from: XEntity
Whats your current budget and are you looking at an SLR or a compact? As by that link you are looking for a compact?


Compact and low ish budget around £60 i guess, i know its not a lot, but im really poor these days


I would say something smallish, so you can carry it easily in your pocket then. Car shows are either very well lit or out in the open so light is unlikely to be an issue.

You might be able to buy something with an X3 optical zoom for around that price. That will produce adequate pics for most situations. It wont be that much use at airshows, racetracks or wildlife photography though.

Probably worth having a look in the local PC world at a NIKON Coolpix L22.
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Re:What to look for?
Reply #12 on: June 08, 2010, 12:52:57 PM
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0038W0IOK/ref=nosim/?tag=hotukdeals-21

Something like this maybe?
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Formerly sexytw

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Re:What to look for?
Reply #13 on: June 08, 2010, 15:07:02 PM
Semi decided to go for Canon A480 or maybe slightly better spec/model for now, but i would love a DSLR so maybe ill wait.
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Re:What to look for?
Reply #14 on: June 08, 2010, 19:34:00 PM
Quote from: Bacon
Semi decided to go for Canon A480 or maybe slightly better spec/model for now, but i would love a DSLR so maybe ill wait.


They are quite good the little Canons I used to have one, I then upgraded that to the Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd, which is a very good bridge Camera. Might be worth a look, not sure what the latest models are now, might be worth a look if you dont want to go straight to SLR (The lenses are not changeable, but has good zoom and macro) although more than your budget, much less than an SLR?
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