New to photography, help with buying

hyg71886 · May 26, 2008

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...nal-Accessory/dp/B0012NUL3K/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

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

Alfred D. · May 26, 2008

hyg71886 said:
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...nal-Accessory/dp/B0012NUL3K/ref=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 · May 26, 2008

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 · May 26, 2008

how about this tripod

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830997069

Alfred D. · May 26, 2008

hyg71886 said:
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. · May 26, 2008

hyg71886 said:
how about this tripod

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830997069

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 · May 26, 2008

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830997254

Alfred D. · May 26, 2008

hyg71886 said:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830997254

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

hyg71886 · May 26, 2008

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. · May 26, 2008

hyg71886 said:
why do you say that?

Because:

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.

hyg71886 said:
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.