As others have said we don't have any restrictions on what camera you need to take part. In fact we have quite a few members who sign up to take part before they've even had a chance to purchase their first camera.
The forums are here for people of all levels and backgrounds and are simply a place to share and interact with others of a like mind about the subject of photography. Heck we've even a thread in the mods section where we are debating if we should add a section to cater specifically to the use of/discussion of phone cameras - so we are certainly aiming to make the site as open to all as we can.
That said the majority will have DSLRs or similar kinds of camera, so, as said, some of the tech advice will be geared toward those kinds of cameras. A simple mention of the tools you use on threads where you want critique/advice can help people know what it is you're using and tailor advice they give to that. Or if you just want to share and don't want critique then we've our "Just for Fun" gallery which is there purely to show the photos you've taken without getting any critical evaluation back.
Due to pressure of business, I had to more or less stop taking photos and become a very inactive snapshotter, taking a minimum of snaps of the family and pets. I received a digital snap shot camera for my 60th, and rekindled an interest,albeit with limited scope and still minimal time to spare. I have a little understanding of digital photography although a reasonably sound understanding of film photography with which at one stage I held an RPS Distinction.
I have now "upgraded", or should I say my wife "upgraded" me to a camera that would give me more scope and remain within our budget. I have a Fuji Finepix and enjoying it. However, I am unsure just how close to film photography digital photography is.
I set the camera to take large images, and fine images, I do post processing in Corel Photo Paint 12, where I crop to the image I want. If I am posting to a forum or using the image on the web, I re-sample to a lower resolution. I have Photoshop seven but don't understand some important parts in it. My camera appears not to work in "Raw", whatever that is, but produces Jpegs.
Without being too obstructive, may I please clear up a very important point. My budget is nil, and although if I won the lottery I would have the best I could find, I have to live with what I have. If the only suggestion is to buy this, that or the other, that only costs xxx, the suggestion is pointless as it cannot be done. no ifs, no buts, no budget!
That's the main reason for asking about membership requirements. I don't have a big name SLR, and I don't have the where with all to get one. I do enjoy photography and am looking forward to being a useful contributor...eventually!
