Newbie Help

[ChRonLVLYSL]

Hi the name's ChRon and as you can see I'm new to TPF. I'm looking for some guidance in where to go in the field of Photography. I thoroughly enjoy taking abstract photos in iPhone apps like Hipstamatic and Instagram and I'm also a skilled video editor, so I was looking to broaden my horizons and get started in Photography. I am in college and plan on looking into some Photography classes, but I wanted to get a head start soon. Not sure if I plan on making it a career or do it for money, maybe if I get more skilled, but for now I want to dive in to the world of Photography. I was looking at cameras, particularly the Ricoh KR-5, but I just wanted to get some input from others as to if you think it would be better to get a film camera or a P&S. I already have an iPhone and am looking to get the 4S, so do you think that a film camera would be a good move? or a digital P&S? I appreciate all and any input. Also, I'm a pretty fast learner, so I'm not sure if that would make much of a difference or not in this field.

 

[Kaytlin]

If you want to get into photography, I dont know why you would invest in a P&S...they are not very good and I know this from experiance as I have one. My advice to you as it seems you dont know much about photography is to read! What I did when starting out is googled it, then read almost everything that came up :lmao:. I literally just came home from school and read, even if I already knew what it was telling me. If you really do want to get into photography, try looking at some DSLR's and finding one thats best for you. If you cant afford it, then yes I guess a point and shoot would work, but its not ideal.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

cHron, do you have a Flickr or other online portfolio of your images?

 

[clanthar]

The two categories of cameras; DSLR and P&S isn't helpful. There are lots of non-SLR cameras that are excellent. To just class them all as P&S and dismiss them is a mistake. I have a DSLR. I also have a camera that would classify as a P&S. I use my P&S far more than my DSLR because it's small and light and fits in my pocket -- where I go it goes. It takes excellent photos. That camera is a Samsung EX1 (TL500) and can be purchased for a little under $400.00. For general photography in a comparison against entry level DSLRs with their kit lenses I would choose my Samsung EX1 as the preferred camera.

No I can't change to other lenses later but then the 4X Schneider (1.8 -- that's right 1.8!) zoom on my EX1 is better than the kit lenses on the entry level DSLRs out there.

No I can't get noise free images at ISO 6400 but I said general photography.

No I can't sync to an off camera flash -- wait! yes I can.

Can I shoot 6 fps for sports action? Nope, I said general photography.

What about manual control? Yep, my EX1 provides P, S, A and full M operation.

What about shooting RAW? Yep, my EX1 saves RAW files (the only way I shoot) and they process out to excellent photos.

What about fit and finish? My EX1 is an all metal camera with beautiful fit and finish.

You can't see what you're photographing if you don't have an SLR? Yes an optical viewfinder is nice, but the AMOLED on my EX1 is big, gorgeous and more highly rated than the iPhone display -- and it swings and swivels. I've never been hampered by it and in fact because it swings and swivels I've been able to use it to see a shot that no SLR could handle.

So for hundreds of dollars more you could get a plastic DSLR with a cr*p kit lens or spend still hundreds more to get it with decent glass like the lens on my EX1. I'll take my P&S.

Joe

 

[ChRonLVLYSL]

cHron, do you have a Flickr or other online portfolio of your images?

I actually do have a Flickr, although there are only 4 images there so far.

Flickr: ChRonLVLYSL's Photostream


and thanks for the input Joe and Kaitlyn. Not sure if I want to invest in a DSLR just yet, but they seem ideal for modern photography. Since I have an iPhone, what I may do is use that for digital images and invest in an SLR for film photography and see where that takes me. I've heard film is expensive and getting photos developed is expensive as well. I also read that you can learn to develop your own photos in black and white. Any thoughts?

 

[clanthar]

Film is expensive. If you develop your own photos you reduce the cost, but not buy much. How will share those film photos electronically? Put one on Flickr? You'll have to either pay to have them scanned or buy a scanner that will cost you more than a P&S digital camera.

Your film costs will quickly exceed the cost of a good P&S camera -- film is a dead end.

Joe

 

[ChRonLVLYSL]

Film is expensive. If you develop your own photos you reduce the cost, but not buy much. How will share those film photos electronically? Put one on Flickr? You'll have to either pay to have them scanned or buy a scanner that will cost you more than a P&S digital camera.

Your film costs will quickly exceed the cost of a good P&S camera -- film is a dead end.

Joe

I see what you mean. So then maybe i'll save the money I was going to put towards a film camera and just put it towards a good DSLR.

 

[snowbear0924]

If you are in college and will be taking photography classes, you may want to find out what the professor/course requires. There are a few places that still start students off with film, then move to digital in higher level courses.

 

[CCericola]

I agree with Snowbear. A lot of the beginning classes in college require that you have a film SLR and a 50mm lens or a lens that can be set at 50mm. Film is a blast. You usually start with just black and white. It is easy to develop the film by yourself. And the darkroom is where the fun really starts. It's addicting. Scanners are so cheap now that it is not even a concern if you want to put your photos on the internet.

 

[Derrel]

Film is expensive. If you develop your own photos you reduce the cost, but not buy much. How will share those film photos electronically? Put one on Flickr? You'll have to either pay to have them scanned or buy a scanner that will cost you more than a P&S digital camera.

Your film costs will quickly exceed the cost of a good P&S camera -- film is a dead end.

Joe

Diz-ACTLY. For people in your position OP, film is a dead,dead,dead end. A Ricoh KR-5? I like my iPhone 4 better. I'd rather have a little Canon or Nikon $399 camera than almost any old 35mm SLR.

 

[Ron Evers]

If you are in college and will be taking photography classes, you may want to find out what the professor/course requires. There are a few places that still start students off with film, then move to digital in higher level courses.

Unfortunately schools are behind the plow not between it & the horse/tractor.

Methinks you are a candidate for a "bridge" camera.

 

[jonathon94]

If you want to get into photography, I dont know why you would invest in a P&S...they are not very good and I know this from experiance as I have one. My advice to you as it seems you dont know much about photography is to read! What I did when starting out is googled it, then read almost everything that came up :lmao:. I literally just came home from school and read, even if I already knew what it was telling me. If you really do want to get into photography, try looking at some DSLR's and finding one thats best for you. If you cant afford it, then yes I guess a point and shoot would work, but its not ideal.

I completly agree! Where DSLR Users can take a picture with ease we Point and SHoot users have to go through many menus and basically cheat our way into a decent picture. I literally had to hack my camera (CHDK) just to get more control over it in terms of controling the aperature, shutter speed, and to have better control over the ISO.

If you can get a DSLR I highly reccomend it. If you can't, get one with at least 10MP (to get a decent picture) and try to find one with as many manual controls as you can find. It may cost you up to the $200 range but if you can't afford a DSLR trust me it will be worth it.