What basic gear do i need to start in photography as a hobby? Any good non-SLR dig. cameras to look for?

Question

I want to get into digital photography as a hobby, mostly taking pictures of nature and small objects to display online (like an ebay picture only much better :).) I would like suggestions for a digital camera that is at least 7 mp. I've seen 10.2 in non-SLR and am willing to pay for it, so any suggestions? I don't have the money to buy an SLR, although I'd like because I want to do this as a hobby and it seams that all my hobbies end up being outrageously expensive. My career is too. Do I need to worry about changing lenses on non-slr cameras? What are the items that will make my hobby enjoyable, besides the camera of course? any not so expensive, but decent photo editing/storing software around or below $100? thanks

Answer 1

Photography is one half technical command of the camera (light/aperture, speed settings, etc) and 1/2 artistic eye for composition.  If you're wanting to do a hobby right, then just save for the digital slr camera, because the others are not going to give you an opportunity to learn how to have technical control over your camera.  

You can save up to any cannon or nikon digital SLR with a standard lens, if you have  a mac, iphoto is great, if not, Nikon brings its own software, so does an all-in-one HP printer, you can touch up the photos and crop them, etc.  

You can save up to a program like Aperture $200  (I'm not sure if its windows--I'm all mac equipment).  But that is really the only way you'll really get good practice and develop your technique in photography.  

check out this website to help you choose a model and price.

Answer 2

With non-SLR cameras, no, you don't really have to worry about changing lenses (although a couple of the higher-end point-and-shoot cameras let you add on wide-angle or tele adapters...though I have no experience with it).  You have to understand that megapixels aren't that important these days and that the SLR cameras that are 6 mp take far better pictures than the P&S cameras that are like 12 mp.  A lot has to do with the size of the sensor, so with one of the small portable cameras, the sensor is really tiny and so if they jam a whole bunch of pixels in there, the pixels are necessarily smaller than another camera with the same size sensor with less pixels...so the image quality is a little less.  If you want to be blowing up your pictures to large poster sizes, then having more pixels is worth it.  Most P&S cameras these days are either 8 or 10 mp, and that's fine - don't make that a determining factor in your decision.  All P&S cameras these days are pretty similar, but if you want to go that route ($100-$300 depending on what you get), I would go for either Canon or Nikon.  I use a Canon SLR (40D) and so I'm biased towards Canon, but you can't go wrong with either.  If you want more control over your pictures and a better camera overall, look into Canon's G9 camera.  It also lets you shoot in RAW mode (which lets you manipulate images MUCH more and stores more data per picture).  An important thing to get, especially if you want to take landscape or product shots is a tripod.  A sturdy tripod for an SLR will cost $200+ because they're heavier and need better things but you would be fine with a cheaper one with a smaller camera.  Also, lighting is huge for product pictures.  You can get an off-camera flash, but those are expensive.  A cheaper option is to use a bright work light (like 500 W or so) and maybe diffuse it through a white sheet or something to eliminate harsh shadows.  Better yet, get two!  I ultimately have to recommend going the SLR option if you have enough money, but unless if you invest a good amount of time into learning about photography, it might be pointless.  You could probably get a good used Canon XTi with a kit lens for like $400, but then that would lead you to wanting to spend more money on better lenses, better lighting, better tripods, etc.  I recommend looking at this forum, there're so many knowledgeable people there and a lots of information.  I learn stuff from it every day.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/inde...

If you want to see whether you should listen to me or not depending on whether I take nice pictures, I have a sample up on my web site which I just started.  Too bad I haven't put up any of my other pictures up yet (I have so many and I've only been shooting for about 2 months).  SLRs are so much fun.  http://www.filipbartnik.com is my site.  Another fun I took:

http://www.filipbartnik.com/images/ikarb...

Know that you won't be able to do any of the cool depth-of-field effects that you see in most "professional" pictures without an SLR because the sensors are too small and the lenses are too short.  You wouldn't even be able to take a picture like the one of my dog.

Get yourself a wireless remote shutter which ever way you go with your camera.  It'll cost under $50 for one of the ebay ones and will lead to so many more creative opportunities, like since I was by myself, I could take something like this:

http://www.filipbartnik.com/images/POTN/...

For editing, you can get away with paying nothing at all.  

GIMP is a good open-source (free) program that was made to be like photoshop and you can do more advanced stuff there (like use layers and filters and whatnot).  I actually made this picture using GIMP:  http://www.filipbartnik.com/images/POTN/...

Of course, Photoshop is the standard.  If you can't get CS3, get CS2 or even CS.  The older ones can be had for pretty cheap.  It'll be way better than using other programs, in my opinion.

Answer 3

I'm loving my Canon Powershot SD950-IS and Photoshop Elements.  The camera is about $350 and the P.E. is under $100.  If you want more user control, although it's via menus and not dials, consider the Canon Powershot A650-IS, which is about $300.

SD950: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/51...

A650: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/51...

Photoshop Elements, $50 after rebate: http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-29230727-Pho...

This is a great deal on the software, which is normally $99.

Here are my own samples taken with the SD950-IS and processed with Photoshop Elements 5.0.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstei...

More from the similar SD900:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstei...

The A650-IS should give similar results, because it has the same sensor and image processor.

Answer 4

Im a Nikon D/SLR shooter d200 and d300 but thats expensive $$$.I bought the CANON G9,its an excellent camera for less money.You can learn on this one what a d/slr will do.Lots of options,less than $400.00.I carry it everywhere I go.

Answer 5

well, when you're not dealing with a SLR style camera, you won't have to buy extra lenses. The camera wasn't designed for that, it's a fixed lens camera, and it can be removed. However, on some really nice point and shoot cameras, you can get filters, and hood for the lens it comes with, and perhaps a tele converter ( just an attachment ), but you won't be physically able to remove the lens like you would traditionally on a SLR camera.

since you're getting a point and shoot camera, and not a digital SLR, there's not much more you need to get, except perhaps a case for the camera, a tripod. I can't think of anything else i mean, you can't get flashes, lenses, remotes etc. the aim of a point and shoot camera, is just that, to point and shoot, and get a respective image. They aren't meant to be to concerned about other accesories. However, on a digital SLR you have much more expenses to account for.

are you sure you don't want a DSLR?

you can get a Nikon D40 For 460$

and that comes with a lens, and you'll get better quality then a point and shoot camera, also, it's not that heavy, it's very lightweight and affordable, you can carry it anywhere. Also, the lenses, remotes, flashes and filters, are all optional, you don't NEED to get them immediately, but you have the possibility of wanting them later down the line as your photography advances. Seriously, you should get a SLR camera. amazon is a really nice place to buy it from.

if you can't wrap your head around getting a SLR, a nice point and shoot camera is the canon S5IS, it's an eigh megapixel, super zoom lens camera, and you can get really close to your subject, it's around three hundred and fifty dollars, which is a really nice price, and you get alot for that price.

feel free to email me with any other photographic questions

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