Photography experts?

_RaT_ · Apr 12, 2005

Canon / Nikon battles are just as intense as Blue/Orange/Green battles. 

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
So silly but so true. I take it you have been to DPReview. It's crazy. There are things that work very well on each brand and by no means does that not include the plethora of other brands out there besides Nikon and Canon. I would say JD vs Kubota, synthetic vs dino oil or hydro vs gears does not even come close to the insane discussion over at DPReview and folks loyalty to their camera brands. I have yet to participate in those discussions.

RobertN · Apr 12, 2005

Gatorboy made a good point; my first camera was a Pentax K1000. It was full manual. It was a sturdy camera that served me well for years. It could do anything the others could do... Funny you mention she is 13; I got mine when I got in to 8th grade, for use in a junior high photo class. I took a lot of good pictures with that camera.

In fact, I am glad I used that camera first. I got a good understanding of all the camera functions; most of that auto stuff aint too hard to do manually. In fact, I often shoot my Nikon F100, a semi-pro camera with the bells and whistles, auto focus ect, in manual mode...

I will offer this bit of advice. Get good glass. You can have a fancy camera body, with mediocre lens, and only get a mediocre image. You can have a mediocre camera body, with a good lense, and get great images. This is true with cameras, binoculars, spotting scopes, rifle scopes, you name it. You just can't beat good glass.

Marine1 · Apr 13, 2005

mathey,
I have used the Pentax K1000 and it was an o.k. camera. Very basic in it's nature. I have also used the Canon AE-1. Excellent camera with Auto capabilities and would accept filters very well. Very easy to use and I very rarely used the auto. The two cameras mentioned however are quite old and are probably hard to find in good enough condition to be useful for very long. I have upgraded to a Nikon N90s with an SB28 Nikon Flash. Best camera setup I have ever owned. This camera is almost professional grade by Nikon standards but I couldn't tell the difference. The camera is a bit complicated to use but with some practice and time it is not a problem. Two features I like is the integrated auto winder and the film advance mode. You can take a single frame shot, you can take slow continuous shooting, or you can take fast continuous shooting for action sequence shooting. There are many other features that are just to many to mention. Extra lenses are available for this model also.
I like to use Adorama on the web or if you have a Wolf Camera in your area they are a good source also. Wolf probably has a web site I'm sure, but I just go to the Brick and Mortar store.
My cousin and Father in law are Pros, and they also favor the Nikon line. They were very impressed with my camera as well. That made me feel very good about it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Good luck and good hunting.

California · Apr 13, 2005

If she is taking a photography class she should listen to the instructor. I wouldn't be surprised if instructors still recommend Pentax K1000 as a starter film camera - they are that good.

I just looked on Ebay and saw dozens of them sold in the $60 to $80 range. You could resell one of those at minimal loss when she learns that digital is better. One tip - the f1.7 lens is noticeably sharper than the 1.4, and the f2 is sharper than either.

On Ebay the Canon Rebel K2 kits start under $275 so there is nothing wrong with getting her exactly what she wants if that cost is not unreasonable for you.

I'll bet she soon starts requesting that her print orders include a CD returned with each set so she can share her photos by email. At that point you may as well have bought a digital camera.

Has she considered how easy it is to carry a smaller digital camera? She would be more likely to get the perfect picture simply because she is more likely to have the camera with her.

Attached - image from a 3 megapixel Canon A75, reduced to 100k as required for posting here. How come these camera threads never include sample pictures? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Richard · Apr 13, 2005

Having glossed over most of the comments and risking repeating something already said... I'd get her a shutter or aperature priority camera (my preference is aperature) and not a fully automatic camera. Base logic being, it will force her to understand the base mechanics of how it works (depth of field/aperature/shutterspeed) and then she can move into the more automatic cameras.

Good luck!

MessickFarmEqu · Apr 13, 2005

I have a Canon ELAN2e that I'd sell if your interested. I made the switch to DSLR about a 18 months ago and I have not touched my film camera since. I have a 28-200 lens to go with it. Shoot me a PM if you are interested.

Hakim · Apr 13, 2005

I agree with those who advise purchase of a digital camera. If you cannot afford a digital camera, you DEFINITELY cannot afford the "hobby" of film and print photography. I have been a professional photographer since I was admitted as the youngest member of Professional Photographers of America at age 16. I have owned Leica's, Nikons', and Hasselblad's (you do not want to know what they cost...)

Let me suggest you look into a Olympus C-4000 Digital Camera. You can buy them right now on E-Bay for under $200. They are a 4 megapixel camera, with zoom lens. It is just about ideal for a beginner. She will take fabulous pictures, and you will have little cost after purchase besides "photo paper" which is now available quite reasonably priced.

When she is ready to "graduate" then look at the Nikon's. They are just very hard to beat. Yes, it will cost around $1,500 for whatever is the then-current model.

By the way, we here at TBN used a Olympus Camedia for several years (and just replaced it a few months ago with a Nikon). We took thousands of product shots, portraits and many other shots, all of which met and exceeded the standards of professional photography.

Today is the world of digital photography, and that is that. Other than as a quaint pastime, there is no purpose for your daughter to take courses in "wet" photography. Instead, use the money to get a "student" version of Photoshop (if you don't want to spring for Photoshop, then get Paintshop Pro, which has most of the same features.).

Within 12 months of using the digital camera, and becoming expert at the features of Photoshop, your daughter will have real world skills that will not only be enjoyable, but earn top dollar in today's employee marketplace.

Go to Ebay and search for “Olympus C-4000 Digital camera.” Right now there are about 20 of these for sale, some direct from Olympus with full warranty. I don’t see how you can go wrong with this unit.

The best site for reviews of every digital camera, very well done site is Digital Photography Review

Hope this helps.

dmccarty · Apr 13, 2005

_Rat_,

( Well Dan we could have a few discussions about that but I really do not want to go there. Let's just say our experiences differ. )

LOL! I know what you are saying Nikon vs Cannon its a bigger war than the tractor color wars and usually a heck of a lot less friendly. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I knew when I wrote that line I would be stirring the pot. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan

Gatorboy · Apr 13, 2005

FYI: Canon does not contain three (3) N's.

_RaT_ · Apr 13, 2005

Well Dan since I have a Nikon as well as a Canon, a Olympus, a Minolta and maybe something else laying around, I have to be careful what I bash, well, with the the possible exception of my photographs lately. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I have gone pretty much digital.

Hakim, while I have Photoshop 7 and Photoshop Elements to do the digital work, I find Elements is more then enough to satisfy my needs. It cost's about $50 maybe a little more now that it includes Album as well.