DSLR Cameras

[Polarbear]

I quite fancy trying my hand at photography with a reasonably decent camera rather than my Canon point and shoot (which is OK for what it is). Wifie has an Olympus bridge camera but she uses it regularly so I can't nick it.

She had a DSLR camera many years back but didn't like lumping lenses around so got a succession of bridge cameras. I'm not too bothered as I expect to do most of it from my boat or in summer, from the bike.

So are there any David Baileys on the forum that have recommendations and advice on camera and gear to get started. Will probably go for second hand gear to start off with.

Or could get wifie to buy me one for Christmas instead of socks and slipper.
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[doggone]

I would advise you to get a high end compact type which can also do good 4K video and get to grips with it in full manual.
The Sony RX100 series are a photography favourite but coming from Canon maybe the G7X series.

It's not all about photoshop but a key element to get to grips with is using RAW and a certain amount of processing in Lightroom or some similar software.

True SLR (rather than Mirrorless) with a mirror flapping about are big heavy clunky things which will soon seem like too much trouble to carry.
If you get more into it you want mirrorless now but even then a capable, pocketable second camera is invaluable especially if out with the bike

[linuxyeti]

A good combination would be a Nikon D5600 and a Tamron 16-400mm lens. You get most of the benefits of a bridge camera, coupled with the benefits of a DSLR. I've had some pretty decent images using this combination.

Unless you want to spend appreciably more and go for a full frame DSLR, and go for something like a Nikon D850.

If you want to get a bridge camera, then, look no further than the Nikon P1000, again, I have 1 of these, and it's a pretty decent piece of kit
____________________
Beware what photos you upload, or link to on here, especially if you have family members on them

[JackButler]

I love photography & it's probably the only artform I was ever any good at.

I gave it all up when I found myself seriously considering spending £5k on a fast zoom lens.
____________________
I clean my guns with the tears of the snivelling, left wing scum.

[chickenstrip]

I like to think I'm quite good at the artistic side, but I just can't get interested in the technical complexity.

I have a DSLR sat in a cupboard that hasn't been used since new.
Oh, you never know, I might get to grips with it one day
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Polarbear]

[chickenstrip]

I think you've just really got to want to do it, get dedicated, and get out and experiment. For me, I think I could get into it if I did a couple of courses - perhaps a basic get-to-grips-with-camera one, then maybe a dedicated landscape photography (my main interest) course, but either never had the time or the money.

Since I only take snaps for my own pleasure and I'm not looking to make a living from it, I guess I also thought it wasn't worth putting all the effort into, when I'm quite pleased with what I manage to get on my little compact. I'll just upgrade that once in a while as they improve - assuming I can afford to do even that

Actually, I'm still kicking myself for not taking my camera with me on a riverside walk one afternoon a week or two back. Rare misty conditions in the park, could have got some great effects, sunbeams through misty trees

All I really wanted to do was try to capture effects that gave a kind of watercolour painting type atmosphere, and my compact can do a reasonable job of that, e.g.:

https://i.postimg.cc/x12qnvGc/DSCN1600.jpg

Just pointed on full auto and snapped, no faffing. Nature did all the work (photo storage site has lost a lot of the clarity and detail, much sharper viewing the original on my screen - dappled sunlight effect on foreground field and sunlight on the farmhouse roofs really makes the shot, but doesn't come across here ).
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[AldridgePrior]

I might be chiming in here with nonsense but the camera in the link below really opened my eyes to what is possible nowadays. I am very rarely impressed to the point where I show others but this has me seriously considering taking up photography as a new interest.

https://youtu.be/LhQlwKX3LQA

[Polarbear]

linuxyeti mentioned the P1000 as well so I looked it up.

Yes, it's bloody impressive but I'm not sure I want to stump up £700 on the off chance it will be a camera I get on with or to spend the money on a dslr body and buy lenses to suit what I need.

Too many choices. I can see me sticking with my little Canon compact.
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[chickenstrip]

The other advantage of a compact is it can be handy in the pocket and doesn't need any setting up for a spur-of-the-moment shot. Ok, so you won't likely win pro competitions with your results, but doesn't sound to me like that's your motivation anyway. For landscape, I find a lot of professional work too...well, I think even a lot of professionals miss something, overdo effects, filtering and 'studio' work and lose the natural look.

A powerful zoom can be useful, but I actually don't find a need for that kind of capability. I snap what grabs my interest, and things at that distance just don't get noticed unless you're really studying a view.
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[linuxyeti]

[chickenstrip]

An example of what even a cheap compact (about £100) can do with zoom; both shots taken from the same viewpoint:

https://i.postimg.cc/4d6jff0N/DSCN0184.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/L8Wcv0fR/DSCN0183.jpg

Again, clarity/sharpness/detail lost through the photo hosting site, but it's plenty good enough for my needs. By the time I'm zoomed enough to see if there are people on the summit, I'm beyond what the shot is about anyway.
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[ThatDippyTwat]

I used to work in camera shops, independants and chains.

Go and try them. Hold them, play with them, try CSC/Mirrorless systems, try DSLR's, try bridge camera's, try compacts. Unless you like how it feels, you won't use it afte rthe initial impetus has worn off.

Once you know what styles of camera system you favour, then we can narrow it down.
____________________
'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[Polarbear]

[ThunderGuts]

I’d steer clear of Jessops. Find a local independent camera shop with staff who care about what they do. Jessops and the like are just front ends to a business and are generally only interested in selling you as much as possible. The one in Manchester is/was horrendous
____________________
TG.

[Sister Sledge]

I strongly advise you to first consider what type of photography you want to do - it will help steer you towards particular manufacturers and types of lens.
Another serious consideration is learning the basics - rule of thirds and so on. Easy peasy stuff but learn them and even the most basic of cameras becomes very capable. Once you learn those basics there are other tricks you can do with lighting and so on.

My own preferred photography is low light stuff and in difficult conditions. Drains, culverts, old mines and so on. Currently I have 12 cameras of varying types. Several DSLRs, lots of bridge ones and a few compacts. For macro work I use an ancient old bridge camera that cost me £4.
It's not always about the kit - it's more how it's used.

Some great advice would be to get a very experienced (and patient) photographer to show you some stuff, show a few tricks and see how you get on. A short lesson like that will leap you forwards on your learning curve.
____________________
CCM 404 DS

[WD Forte]

I've seen great shots taken on phones and boring shite taken on expensive DSLRs
I've also heard many boast about how much their camera cost
when it lives in cupboard most of the time.

Years ago I shelled out plenty on an expensive camera and it didn't improve my skills at all.
After it got nicked I reckon I learnt more and got more creative
working within the limitations of cheaper stuff.

I'd suggest a decent bridge and if you get the bug, shell out then
You'd probably be able to make more informed choice by then as well

OK I'm a pikey wino but still love my old Fuji S9600 as a
general purpose knockabout cam
I've got 'better' and have access to my lads Canon DSLR
but I loves it see?
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[chickenstrip]

I have a Fuji that was even cheaper than my favoured-use Nikon. It's not bad, but I don't like the way it handles greens - way too bright/harsh. The Nikon gives a much more natural look. So even with simple-to-use compacts, you get a range of shot quality.
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Polarbear]

I've borrowed wifies bridge camera and lent her my compact in it's place.

Her camera is an Olympus SP-620UZ, and a 21x optical zoom. 16megapixels which I presume is pretty good?

Anyway, I'll go have a play with it and see what I can do.

21x zoom Is that voyeur quality.
____________________
Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Sister Sledge]

16 mp? Remember - it's not about how big the numbers are. This was taken with a 4 mp camera.

https://live.staticflickr.com/1979/30641436237_7b974f9994_b.jpg26 by Craig David, on Flickr

What type of photos are you wanting to take? Closer stuff? Further away stuff such as birds in trees? Perhaps an allrounder? Obviously done using different lenses (lensi?) when using a DSLR but that can get expensive. A bridge camera with a good range of zoom is an obvious choice. If you head down a bridge camera route then some come with good optics too. I've seen a Zeiss lens on several different bridge cameras. I know that if I bought another bridge camera I would choose a Zeiss lens system.
____________________
CCM 404 DS

[linuxyeti]

[ThunderGuts]

[linuxyeti]

[Confusion]

[Jewlio Rides Again LLB]

I've got a 600D and various lenses I'm thinking of getting rid of.
____________________
Mpd72: I can categorically say i’m Brighter than that, no matter how I come across on here.
HAHAHA HAHAHA Blew Chilly MyCrowSystems