New to photography, help with buying - The Photo Forum

hyg71886 · 05-26-2008, 01:52 PM

Hi everyone, my name is Yahuan and I am starting to get into photography. I am purchasing a new camera, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K to start of and this kit from amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-...=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

I wanted to no if that accessory kit was good as well as the camera.

Alfred D. · 05-26-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by hyg71886

Hi everyone, my name is Yahuan and I am starting to get into photography. I am purchasing a new camera, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K to start of and this kit from amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-...=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

I wanted to no if that accessory kit was good as well as the camera.

Hi Yahuan,

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K is an excellent camera in its class. Get it! I'm betting that kit, though, is a waste of your money: add-on lenses ruin image quality, and coloured filters are useless with a digital camera (it tries to compensate for the filter all the time). And because they put those 2 items in the kit I don't trust their choice of tripod either. Probably flimsy swingers made of 'cardboard'...

IMHO you had better spend your money on a sturdy tripod. With 18x zoom you really need a tripod! No way the camera's anti-shake system can compensate for that much camera shake.
Take care buying a good tripod, because it will probably stay with you all your life! I still use a tripod I got 40 years ago. Because it is/was a good, sturdy one.

Have fun!

hyg71886 · 05-26-2008, 02:17 PM

Thanks, do you think I would need a telephoto lens or a wide lens giving this cameras speaks? Also where is a good play to buy a tripod and whats a good kind?

hyg71886 · 05-26-2008, 02:20 PM

how about this tripod

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830997069

Alfred D. · 05-26-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by hyg71886

Thanks, do you think I would need a telephoto lens or a wide lens giving this cameras speaks? Also where is a good play to buy a tripod and whats a good kind?

No, you don't need extra lenses. The FZ-18 has a zoom range from 28mm (= medium wide, good for indoors) to 504mm (= long tele, enough for wildlife). Besides, any add-on lens (because you cannot swap lenses on the FZ-18) will terribly degrade your image quality.

Don't buy a tripod from a picture on the web or in a catalog! Go to a store. With your camera (so get that first!). Have them demonstrate the tripod(s) for you, set them up, stick your camera on top and give it a shove, then see for yourself how long the whole set swings before it stops. Get the tripod that is the stiffest = swings the least.

Alfred D. · 05-26-2008, 02:35 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by hyg71886

how about this tripod

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830997069

That is a MONOpod, not a tripod.
Monopods are a lot less stable than tripods, so you'll get a lot more camera shake. But they are easier to carry around of course.
A good TRIpod is more important, and more effective. So get a good TRIpod first.

hyg71886 · 05-26-2008, 02:55 PM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830997254

Alfred D. · 05-26-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by hyg71886

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830997254

Nice picture.
Cut it out and hang it on the wall over your bed.
But DON'T BUY IT OFF THE WEB!

hyg71886 · 05-26-2008, 03:32 PM

why do you say that? And I dont really have a choice, every major city is 4hrs from here lol. Penn State proud lol

Alfred D. · 05-26-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by hyg71886

why do you say that?

Because:

Quote:

Don't buy a tripod from a picture on the web or in a catalog! Go to a store. With your camera (so get that first!). Have them demonstrate the tripod(s) for you, set them up, stick your camera on top and give it a shove, then see for yourself how long the whole set swings before it stops. Get the tripod that is the stiffest = swings the least.

Quote: Originally Posted by hyg71886

And I dont really have a choice, every major city is 4hrs from here lol. Penn State proud lol

You always have a choice! You could wait till you can get to a store. Never get a tripod from an ad. You don't know what you're spending your money on. Always test a tripod hands-on before you buy.

hyg71886 · 05-26-2008, 03:42 PM

oooo roger, well walmart might have some in there, and what about best buy and circuit city?

Alfred D. · 05-26-2008, 03:50 PM

I don't know what they have on offer. Go, have a look. Maybe they have websites you can search to see if they have any at all before you go.

hyg71886 · 05-26-2008, 04:27 PM

Also, where are some good guides for beginners i couldn't find any on this site.

Mav · 05-26-2008, 09:25 PM

The Tutorial Thread!

05-26-2008, 01:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
hyg71886 No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 49 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	New to photography, help with buying Hi everyone, my name is Yahuan and I am starting to get into photography. I am purchasing a new camera, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K to start of and this kit from amazon http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-...=cm_cr_pr_pb_t I wanted to no if that accessory kit was good as well as the camera.

05-26-2008, 02:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Alfred D. Banned Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 381	Quote: Originally Posted by hyg71886 Hi everyone, my name is Yahuan and I am starting to get into photography. I am purchasing a new camera, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K to start of and this kit from amazon http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-...=cm_cr_pr_pb_t I wanted to no if that accessory kit was good as well as the camera. Hi Yahuan, The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18K is an excellent camera in its class. Get it! I'm betting that kit, though, is a waste of your money: add-on lenses ruin image quality, and coloured filters are useless with a digital camera (it tries to compensate for the filter all the time). And because they put those 2 items in the kit I don't trust their choice of tripod either. Probably flimsy swingers made of 'cardboard'... IMHO you had better spend your money on a sturdy tripod. With 18x zoom you really need a tripod! No way the camera's anti-shake system can compensate for that much camera shake. Take care buying a good tripod, because it will probably stay with you all your life! I still use a tripod I got 40 years ago. Because it is/was a good, sturdy one. Have fun! Last edited by Alfred D.; 05-26-2008 at 02:15 PM.

05-26-2008, 02:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
Alfred D. Banned Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 381	Quote: Originally Posted by hyg71886 Thanks, do you think I would need a telephoto lens or a wide lens giving this cameras speaks? Also where is a good play to buy a tripod and whats a good kind? No, you don't need extra lenses. The FZ-18 has a zoom range from 28mm (= medium wide, good for indoors) to 504mm (= long tele, enough for wildlife). Besides, any add-on lens (because you cannot swap lenses on the FZ-18) will terribly degrade your image quality. Don't buy a tripod from a picture on the web or in a catalog! Go to a store. With your camera (so get that first!). Have them demonstrate the tripod(s) for you, set them up, stick your camera on top and give it a shove, then see for yourself how long the whole set swings before it stops. Get the tripod that is the stiffest = swings the least. Last edited by Alfred D.; 05-26-2008 at 02:36 PM.

05-26-2008, 09:25 PM	#14 (permalink)
Mav TPF Junkie! Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,456 My Photos Are OK to Edit	The Tutorial Thread! __________________ *Mav* Nikon DSLRs & Lenses

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05-26-2008, 02:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
hyg71886 No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 49 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Thanks, do you think I would need a telephoto lens or a wide lens giving this cameras speaks? Also where is a good play to buy a tripod and whats a good kind?

05-26-2008, 02:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
hyg71886 No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 49 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	how about this tripod http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830997069

05-26-2008, 02:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Alfred D. Banned Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 381	Quote: Originally Posted by hyg71886 how about this tripod http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830997069 That is a MONOpod, not a tripod. Monopods are a lot less stable than tripods, so you'll get a lot more camera shake. But they are easier to carry around of course. A good TRIpod is more important, and more effective. So get a good TRIpod first.

05-26-2008, 02:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
hyg71886 No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 49 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830997254

05-26-2008, 02:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
Alfred D. Banned Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 381	Quote: Originally Posted by hyg71886 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16830997254 Nice picture. Cut it out and hang it on the wall over your bed. But DON'T BUY IT OFF THE WEB!

05-26-2008, 03:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
hyg71886 No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 49 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	why do you say that? And I dont really have a choice, every major city is 4hrs from here lol. Penn State proud lol

05-26-2008, 03:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
Alfred D. Banned Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 381	Quote: Originally Posted by hyg71886 why do you say that? Because: Quote: Don't buy a tripod from a picture on the web or in a catalog! Go to a store. With your camera (so get that first!). Have them demonstrate the tripod(s) for you, set them up, stick your camera on top and give it a shove, then see for yourself how long the whole set swings before it stops. Get the tripod that is the stiffest = swings the least. Quote: Originally Posted by hyg71886 And I dont really have a choice, every major city is 4hrs from here lol. Penn State proud lol You always have a choice! You could wait till you can get to a store. Never get a tripod from an ad. You don't know what you're spending your money on. Always test a tripod hands-on before you buy.

05-26-2008, 03:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
hyg71886 No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 49 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	oooo roger, well walmart might have some in there, and what about best buy and circuit city?

	Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

05-26-2008, 03:50 PM	#12 (permalink)
Alfred D. Banned Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 381	I don't know what they have on offer. Go, have a look. Maybe they have websites you can search to see if they have any at all before you go.

05-26-2008, 04:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
hyg71886 No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 49 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit	Also, where are some good guides for beginners i couldn't find any on this site.

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