New Photography

[minolta110]

I recently was taught a little about photography in my art class and found it fascinating, so I am going to use it for a school project. The camera we used in class was old but I loved it but unforunatley couldn't use it. So I got my own camera by way of parents. I got a Minolta with 110 zoom. First off I would like to get "critiques" about my camera choice as a beginner. Then, I would like to know how to get those special effects like, blurring, and focusing on one subject with the rest blurry, and what the law of thirds is. I saw a link for it but it didn't work.

<--------That's my camera.

 

[Uselessdreamer1]

ive never used a non slr but i dont think u can do those buddy. i think u need interchangeable lens. but this is comming from someone who has never use one of those cameras.

 

[motcon]

here are some golden mean/thirds links:

http://www.bestbydesign.com/miefaq/Photography_Tips/Golden_Rule/golden_rule.html

http://www.photozone.de/4Technique/compose/third.htm

http://www.photozone.de/4Technique/compose/goldenmean.htm


there are a lot more out there if you would like to further study the theory and really groove with it.

as for the camera; can't help you there.....

** edit: this may help you learn a bit more about the golden rules:
http://www.powerretouche.com/Divine_proportion_introduction.htm

it will help you analyze your photos by overlaying the golden principles as such:

and you can use this one by printing it to a transparency:
http://goldennumber.net/goldgrid.htm

 

[minolta110]

thanks both of you guys...but I just wanted to say i'm only using the camera "temporarily" until I really get into photography, prhaps in college, and can afford it.

 

[Big Mike]

You could most likely get a good, used SLR camera with a lens for the price of your new Minolta. That would be my suggestion.

A good photographer can take a good photo with any camera but it will be very hard to learn much about photography without being able to adjust aperture & shutter speed.

I would suggest that you read up on "basic exposure" and lean about shutter speed, aperture, film ISO & Depth of Field. Once you have a basic understanding you can ask specific questions to get more specific answers.

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[minolta110]

well it was mostly about price my minolta was like 65$ so if you know where to get slr and lens that cheap please tell me.

 

[Gandalf]

well it was mostly about price my minolta was like 65$ so if you know where to get slr and lens that cheap please tell me.

This is fairly close to the model that I use, and look at the price. Plus, with these older cameras you can get lenses for dirt cheap,

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15237&item=3853155225&rd=1

Here's the same camera that I use:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3331&item=3853219638&rd=1

Take a look in this thread for some pictures that I've taken with it.

 

[GerryDavid]

You can look around flea markets and pawn shops. My high school offered a photography class *with to much demand for it so I couldnt get in* and apperantly you could buy the slr's from the previous year students that didnt want to keep it. Perhaps you can do that there. Once you get one youll never want to use a p&s again due to the lack of control. :0)

 

[minolta110]

awwww, man! I really wish I hdn't bought that minolta now! I really wanted an slr but my mom was like, we need affordability first. Now she won't let me return the Minolta for an slr. So I will save up for one by myself...yipee? Oh, well, thenks for the help guys.

 

[MDowdey]

you should also think about resizing your avatar...


md

 

[minolta110]

oops yeah that would be a good idea

 

[railman44]

Your Minolta is fine to start with! Do some reading and try to develop a sense of what and where the good picture is. There is plenty of time to graduate to the SLR and what it can do. We all start somewhere. My .02 pesos...

 

[tr0gd0o0r]

Just to make sure, can you control your aperture or shutter speed with the camera you're using? And as far as blurring one subject with one in focus, the best bet you have is getting close to your subject and zooming in all the way (If you can't control you're aperture then it probably won't work b/c most p&s cameras are at a high aperture #. (the higher the number that greater teh depth of field (the distance b/t the naerest and closest objects that are in focus) so it would be difficult to get that effect, but the zoom and close distance may help.)
Also check out ebay for a camera, if you take a risk on an as-is camera and you're persistant, then you can get a used slr from b/t 20 and 40 dollars. (This normally involves taking some sort of risk like the seller not knowing for sure if the camera works)

But don't get discouraged about using a P&S it is still a camera and you can still take great photos with it. Just get out and work on you're composition and stuff. Good Luck!

 

[minolta110]

well thanks and no I don't know how to change shutter speed etc if i can.

 

[ferny]

Here are the stats for your camera (for all to see).

So you are going to be somewhat limited to what you can do with your camera. There will be lots of shots you want to take but won't be able to. But then every SLR owner gets that feeling when they realise they haven't got the lens they need. So don't feel too hard done by. You will be able to take good photos with that camera. Even though you may have been better off with an old SLR, you still have something there which will be a good learning tool. Make sure you learn about the rules for composition and when you feel you're ready to take the next step and can afford an SLR, don't buy one. Instead read up on the more advanced side of taking photos (aperture, shutter speed etc.) then use that knowledge to help you choose the SLR that you want.