New Hobby possibility - Photography HELP!

Rogue_Shadow · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2012 Karma :

Hello O' Mighty BCF

I'm trying to pick up a new hobby to keep myself busy & right now, I'm thinking photography could be a great start.
I already enjoy taking photos either on my phone or a bog standard camera, looking into my laptop hard drive I take ALOT of them.
I'm not intending to upload everything to a website or post them all over social media, the photos are purely for me Thumbs Up

https://funny-pictures-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/LOL-Meanwhile-on-Instagram.jpg
(NO!)

Having more control over my photos before & after shot is appealing, but where to start is a mindfuck!
It looks like a DSLR is the place to start (no)?
But make,model, new vs old and the spec are all over my head until I get down to some serious research Rolling Eyes

Ideally I would like a camera fit for a newbie, but one that's also not going to limit me should I really get involved. Any suggestions would be hugely recommended, even ebay listings if you've seen onE recently.
Another thing is post editing, what programs do you guys use to manipulate and edit your photos?
I've seen some awesome shots in the photography thread, but I can tell some of them have been tweaked to perfection Laughing

TLDR: HELP ME PHOTOGRAPHY YES?

Cheers

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

You really need to tell us a budget.

Oh and FYI as Kickstart told me when I started. It's a more expensive habit than Coke.

I'd recommend Canon because I think the Lens fitment and AF etc is easier to understand. But realistically I don't think there is much between Canon or Nikon.

I'd start with a 20/30/40/50D or 7D (depending on budget).

Aside from being just generally all-round better than the xxxxD or xxxD cameras (AF, shutter speed, lag, battery etc.) it comes with an Additional LCD screen on top which I find invaluable also it is bigger. and being a large guy myself find it fits in my hands better. (read xxxD/xxxxD's are for girls Razz

)

MPB Photographic and Clifton Cameras are good for SH kit. Also if you sign up to Talk Photography the classifieds there are good. Although you have to make X amount of posts before you view them.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

As for editing I use Lightroom, to develop my shots, it's very good.

edit - Also it is better to spend more if you really think you will get into it, near enough everything I bought in my first year I have replaced with something better, which has cost more in the long run.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

lihp · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Sep 2010 Karma :

For an amateur, go with Canon.

Canon have pro glass in normal consumer lens bodies. Meaning you can get very good lenses for decent money.

Where as with Nikon there is no inbetween with either a £150 lens or a £1500 lens.

You have a nice mid ground with Canon
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covent.gardens: lihp is my most favourite member ever

andy_uk · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Aug 2011 Karma :

I have one of these :
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EOS-350D-Digital-Rebel-XT-BUNDLE-Kit-Lens-80mm-Lens-Tripod-Remote-/321195212963

It's pretty versatile. I can just stick it in 'auto' for quick point'n'shoot pics, or go fully manual if I want to do something out of the ordinary.

e.g.
Point'n'shoot : https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3120/2564347875_bac427ddc7.jpg
and
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2574/4179295586_252a06fa4f.jpg

Fully auto : https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7452/9642716285_710ba14226.jpg
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Aprilia Classic 125, GS500E, ER5-A1, ER5-C4, ER6 & an XJ6 project frame...

Rogue_Shadow · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2012 Karma :

The 350D seems to be highly rated Thumbs Up

But it seems the standard Lens kit isn't very capable.

How much should I be looking to spend for a SLR around the 350D's range?

Thanks for the help so far Smile

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Canon v Nikon... if you've got any mates with kit, choose the same make. Means you can borrow stuff and it'll fit. Thumbs Up

andy_uk · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Aug 2011 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Another vote for the difference between Canon and Nikon being tiny. If you chose based on which is better now then it will have changed again in a couple of weeks. The camera bodies are cheap compared to decent lenses

I have Canon stuff, but I would be happy enough with Nikon as well.

As Bendy says, if you already have friends with one system or the other then it makes sense to go for that system.

Another place to try for 2nd hand equipment is Mifsuds:-

https://www.mifsuds.com/

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Rogue_Shadow · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2012 Karma :

I have no friends .... that do photography Laughing

I always used to be wait for a friend to start something with me, but I got fed up waiting .
Which is why I have no friends who surf or ride a motorbike Rolling Eyes

So in that respect Nikon Vs Cannon won't make a difference.

The 350D is more appealing the more I read into it.
Do you really think I'd grab a decent kit for £130?
I'd rather buy everything I need to get going, rather than a staggered start, pausing once I realise I'm missing something.

Could you please share a few more photos Andy? Reading the reviews then seeing the shots you took with the standard lens is amazing Shocked

Thanks again for the help Thumbs Up

gixerladsw · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 14 Aug 2013 Karma :

My camera is a Nikon D50 SLR, the body was only about £250 and it was a warranty repair job. Basically it went wrong in the first week it was sold and the owner got a new one. This one was repaired by Nikon then sold with full warranty as refurbished so I got a new camera for a lot less. It has a Nikon DX 18-55mm lens which is brilliant. Easy to use book and plenty of options on the camera. You do not see the picture you are about to take on the rear screen but that does not bother me, if you just have a large SD card then you just keep snapping. If it sounds of interest, I can dig out the shop I got mine from. It was mail order. I do not know what the cost of the lens would be as it was a present from the old dear.

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Rogue_Shadow · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2012 Karma :

The price is appealing yes, this will be my first serious camera after all.
It's hopefully something I can grow into and enjoy and expand my kit, mainly learn something new
Either way it's the reviews and feedback from owners of the 350D that make it an appealing first buy, it seems a very capable DSLR for the price.
But now you've mentioned "bridge" cameras
So I'm going to retreat to google to find out more Laughing

Rogue_Shadow · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2012 Karma :

Hmmm

Yay nor Nay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EOS-350D-8-0-MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-EF-S-18-55mm-Lens-bundle-/171111113746?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_DigitalCameras_DigitalCameras_JN&hash=item27d7046412

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

_Will_ · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Karma :

Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax.

Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki.

Same principle Laughing

Some advice, go fixed focal length (Prime) e.g. 50mm, as apposed to zoom i.e 24-70mm as it will help you on the way to learning composition and as a bonus usually gets you faster/better quality lenses at a fraction of the cost.

Sensor technology has come on leaps and bounds, but controls and build quality are also important, either go new as possible with entry level or a few generations back enthusiast.

Learn, read watch youtube videos, knowledge is 9/10ths photography.

(well, more like 4 parts knowledge, 4 parts creativity and 2 parts gear)
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

andy_uk · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Aug 2011 Karma :

orac · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Sep 2011 Karma :

how many is alot of them???

as na idea i have taken over 10,000 shot in the past 18 months. when i went to RIAT a few years ago i took nearly 2000 shot in a single day.

one thing which i dont know about on other brands but do with nikon. AF, there are essentially 2 types of AF mount, AF-S and AF. the main difference being if you have an AF-S body you will not have and AF motor in the body meaning it will restrict you to the more expensive and newer AF-S lenses. if you get something that is AF (i use a d50 which is af) you can use both AF and AF-S lenses meaning you can use cheaper and older lenses, older lenses can be had quite cheap second hand.

so when choosing do think about buying lenses in the future. now that my d50 needs replacing i will hve to spend more on a body to start with, but i can still use the AF lenses i have, so i save a few hundred quid not replacing them, something to keep in mind if you plan on upgrading in the future
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"with nothing left to lose, there is everything to gain. It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog"

bladerunner · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Karma :

Tbh....if you can put a bit more cash towards your first camera...look at something like a used 550d as at least you've got a good mega pixel count to play with which WILL improve your image quality ..... I know people will say 8mp is enough but you'll be wanting more very soon as you cant really crop and zoom with 8mp. Also the LCD screen on the back is twice the size and better resolution so you can check your images with a lot more certainty than the tiny screen on the 350d. Stick a good lens on a 550 or later model and you'll be hard pushed to see any improvement than if you'd used full frame pro body in good light. Only my 2p worth but do see what difference there would be in price.
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Rogue_Shadow · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2012 Karma :

Thanks for the photo's Andy & to everyone else for the advice given.
I'd love to get a camera along the line of a 550d, But it's over double the price of what a 350d on ebay are fetching.
I appreciate you get what you pay for in this line of tech. But for someone like myself just starting out, I'd rather keep the budget small, build up my knowledge on entry level and upgrade later on.
So in the meantime I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a 350D.

Any opinions on this on:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EOS-350D-Digital-Rebel-XT-8-0-MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Silver-Kit-w-/130978212700?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_DigitalCameras_DigitalCameras_JN&hash=item1e7ee8eb5c

For £155 delivered Thumbs Up

Thanks everyone Very Happy

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

I really would go for a bridge camera rather than that, the lenses are more or less the worst canon fit lenses you can get.

Not saying your wouldn't get a good shot with them they are probably the cheapest lenses you can buy, also they focal lengths are more or less than same so basically you'll get 2 poor lenses that do the same job.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

Rogue_Shadow · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2012 Karma :

Chris, You seem to really know your stuff Smile

So what would you recommend to rival the 350D?

Price range would be a £170 MAX, I don't want to put alot of money into this until I know I will enjoy / handle it.

I appreciate what your saying about bridge cameras, my only concern is that it's a standalone unit with no possibility to expand or build. That being said the Fuji S9600 keeps popping up in comparison Neutral

Thank You

- edit -

Too late
Hopefully not made a horrible mistake.
Got a Canon EOS 400D, strap, spare battery, kit lens, UV filter and PL Circular filter.
For less than what I was offered for a 350d Shocked

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Rogue_Shadow · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 May 2012 Karma :

You know too much Neutral

Thanks Chris
Owe you one Thumbs Up