Cameras

[Agrismith]

I have just started to look at cameras and am completely and utterly clueless
I had a compact digital camera years ago but have used my phone for years
Im Iming on holiday to the south of France in a couple of months and as in another thread on here am planning an American roadtrip so thought i better look at a better camera
I want something that is good for capturing family events but seeing as i will be visiting the pyrenees and hopefully monument valley yelowYellow national park and the grand canyon i i want something that can take good pictures with a lot of zoom so i appreciate i need something with more than just digital zoom but beyond that i haven't a clue websites seem to expect you to just know what the lenses mean and will do so i thought i would ask the great knowledge here what to look out for and probably more importantly any recommendations
Budget wise i know i have to spend money to get something worthwhile but it is only going to be capturing memories and my picture taking skills are limited so just want to be able to take clear pictures so don't need something really fancy

 

[Kayos]

Cheap dslr with cheap lenses will disappoint

Cheap dslr with second hand good lenses will be good, if you learn how to take it out of auto

I only know about canon but a second hand 50 or 60d, 650/550d or 7d, get a 50mm f1.8 and something like the 28-135mm lens and you are good to go

If you go canon make sure it isn’t one of the basic EF-s only mount cameras, only a couple of very spendy decent lenses, for the most they are rubbish

 

[rtbcomp]

I have a Nikon Coolpix P610, zoom is brilliant for a camera of that price, plenty of pre-set settings and complete manual control if required. Charges via USB or remove the battery and charge separately. Wi-Fi and app for your smartphone.

Zoom example

 

[winchman]

Firstly practice.
Budget second hand Canon 350d Excellent starter DSLR. £50-150
New 1300d is about £300
You need to get out and practice see what you are doing wrong and work from there.I did my City & Guilds in Photography many years ago, Daughter is much better than me and never did anything as her composition is far better than mine, She used a 350d for several years and then I bought her a 1300d but I still use the 350d.

 

[jenki]

Agree with Winchman practice is the most important I went to New Zealand and bought a camera on the way, mistake! Reluctant to offer advice having had Olympus, Cannon, Nikon, and Fuji
over the years. Consider size vs. portability lugging a camera and lenses up mountains or on tough tracks can be hard work.

 

[Robotstar5]

I have a Nikon Coolpix P610, zoom is brilliant for a camera of that price, plenty of pre-set settings and complete manual control if required. Charges via USB or remove the battery and charge separately. Wi-Fi and app for your smartphone.

Zoom example

View attachment 136872 View attachment 136873

I bought Mrs Robo what is probably the Panasonic version of that, the Lumix FZ72 I was amazed at the results from such a compact camera.

 

[Wozzaaah]

^350D is a very old, fairly basic body now and is not worth anything like £150.
Body only is worth £70 tops in my opinion if it’s particularly good condition.
A 40D can be bought for well under £100, it’s a big step up from the 350D in every way.
MPB have them for sale from £84-£109 with warranty.

 

[daedalusminos]

The first thing is determine portability - those DSLR's take cracking pictures but they're (obviously) not so portable as the compacts. I've got a Cannon 40D and with lens it weighs 1.4Kg

 

[500e]

I have some Olympus OM1\2 lenses will they convert to digital cameras ? know nothing about new equipment

 

[RonA]

I have owned a Nikon D700 DSLR complete with two Nikon zoom telephoto lenses for several years & the results are spectacular. On the negative side, the camera & lenses weigh a ton.
My wife wanted a smaller camera so I bought her a Lumix TZ60 (also with decent telephoto lens) which was on cashback offer at local high st electrical retailer at the time.
The results are almost as good as the Nikon especially when the Lumix is used with a tripod. Big advantage is you can put in your pocket plus it has wi-fi connectivity. We often use it on holiday with a postcard app to send holiday photos to our nearest & dearest.
The advice to get to know your camera is spot on. They have so many features these days, take time to master the main ones before using in anger.
RonA

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Consider getting yourself a monopod, makes a difference to camera stability [your legs become the other two of a 'tripod' ], and handy too for walking.

 

[rtbcomp]

I bought Mrs Robo what is probably the Panasonic version of that, the Lumix FZ72 I was amazed at the results from such a compact camera.

https://www.europe-nikon.com/en_GB/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/coolpix/2016/coolpix-p610



The above image shows the lens fully extended. It's discontinued now, but I'm sure there's an equivalent replacement.

 

[mart]

I appreciate i need something with more than just digital zoom but beyond that i haven't a clue websites seem to expect you to just know what the lenses mean

In my limited knowledge of cams, for the zoom, optical zoom is what takes closer shots. Digital zoom enables you to see the target pic close up.

 

[RonA]

In my limited knowledge of cams, for the zoom, optical zoom is what takes closer shots. Digital zoom enables you to see the target pic close up.

Optical zoom makes the object of your seem closer to you, digital zoom only expands the pixels you’ve taken & produces an enlarged view albeit losing image quality (more fuzzy).
RonA

 

[rtbcomp]

In my example above I was using optical zoom. It can be a pain on some cameras when using optical zoom in movies because the microphone can pick up the sound of the motor adjusting the lens.

 

[mart]

Optical zoom makes the object of your seem closer to you, digital zoom only expands the pixels you’ve taken & produces an enlarged view albeit losing image quality (more fuzzy).
RonA

When using the optical zoom on my digital video cam the footage taken results in being much closer. It is not going to be very sharp, but it is not a very expensive cam.

 

[Bob Rivers]

I have some Olympus OM1\2 lenses will they convert to digital cameras ? know nothing about new equipment

Hi,

I've an Olympus EM10 mk2 and have a converter for the "legacy" lenses, you'll lose the auto functionality but that doesn't worry me.....so much more choice at a lower cost :-)

 

[winchman]

My top tips.
Buy a couple of spare batteries and Ebay often sell chargers the can be used in the car or Via USB.
Carry a spare card, Daughter was in Iceland in the blue lagoon with no spare memory card!
If you are interested in photography or just want to take better snaps.
Learn about depth of field.
For views look at post cards and try to replicate them.
Learn and take the same photo with the camera in Automatic and then try portrait mode landscape etc, its all about understanding whats the best setting for each pic.
Or just stick it on Auto.
Photographers usually fall in to two camps, Canon or Nikon, I am a Canon man but have had two nikons, nothing wrong its all about feel just like a spanner.
Have you no one locally who can give you a go of one?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I recently bought a low shutter count Canon 50D body, battery and charger in excellent condition for £149 and a Canon EFS 18-55mm lens for £55 from The Photographers Bag, they have an shop on eBay.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/The-Photographers-Bag
I'm really pleased with it but it is fairly bulky.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Another possible source, good folk to deal with - I got my Nikon stuff in a deal with them when I disposed of all my medium format gear

http://www.ffordes.com/