Pro photographers! Need advice

[ldanphanl]

I want to start taking some prolike-pictures and make it a hobby for myself. First things first. What slr camera would you recommend a noobie and would digital be the only way to go?. And if you got some used equipment. shoot me a pm if possible.

---Dan

edit: aww crap double post....

[WANNAGETAKNOWYA]

double post

[tofuspeedstar]

I'm upgrading to the Nikon D50 soon, but everyone has mixed reviews about it, but I like it.

most common would be the Rebel XT (what my school uses, and it's a good camera).

[ldanphanl]

any recommended shops? or ebay the thing

[mr toolio]

hah.. its cute how people want to START taking pro-like photos.. it doesnt just come to folks.. practice practice practice.. no offense though.. good luck1

rebel XT is the way to go.. ebay it..

adam

[duc]

yes sir. i have an XT and am loving it. i'm thinking about upgrading and getting a few lenses pretty soon here.

[Todd Spoth]

im with adam. its like saying HEY I WANT A NEW HOBBY, I WANT TO START PLAYING PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL.

if you want it to be your hobby then you want to take amatuer photos.

there are amatuers and enthusiasts that take great photos every day, but the people who make photography their main source of income, well we do more than make great images...you have to know the business side. as with a lot of different industries thats really what sets you apart.

[SHANGHAi]

It's more of an acquired skill than something like picking up a "pro" camera can allow you to do. Getting a dslr would help you get certain effects you want over just having a point and shoot, but if you don't learn to master your craft, the pictures most likely will turn out the same if not worse.

[vitekboi]

get a d70s

[vitekboi]

lol there goes nero with his "im so cooler than everybody else" mentality

[NursingStudent2]

He didn't say he was going to be pro. He just wanted pro-like. I think you guys know what he means. He's doing it as a hobby. I myself, love to take pictures. I suck and nowhere near pro. I don't even have a digi slr. But just cause you guys do it for a living doesn't mean you have to talk down to him like that. As long as he's having fun doing it, isn't that all that matters?
Of course it takes practice as with everything, but its a hobby so who cares if they don't look pro.

[captobvious]

lol there goes nero with his "im so cooler than everybody else" mentality
and how is this, i think his point is completely valid and is in no way saying "i'm better then anyone". he's just explaining what the difference is

[azinwood]

and how is this, i think his point is completely valid and is in no way saying "i'm better then anyone". he's just explaining what the difference is
exactly. i dont know how you decide to be a pro-like photographer one day.

[Slim ThuG]

just go buy the most expensive camera they make and then you are a pro

[zerinVR6]

Everyone knows, the camera makes the photographer...right? Wrong...if you can't take good photos with a Point and Shoot, you aren't going to be any better with an SLR. Learn on a cheap camera, then upgrade. You either have the eye for it or you don't.

[ldanphanl]

Everyone knows, the camera makes the photographer...right? Wrong...if you can't take good photos with a Point and Shoot, you aren't going to be any better with an SLR. Learn on a cheap camera, then upgrade. You either have the eye for it or you don't.


Point and shoot cameras usually have the automated features that kick in and usually have no real effect to the picture. Maybe its just me. I don't know. I prolly need to restate what i meant than since almost everyone wants to vere me away from making photography a "hobby" . When i said pro-like, I really just meant the ability to work with new device that i'm not familliar with and if not start taking photos that have nice effects that some of h-i's members are taking. As I said I am a beginner at all this and do plan on learning.


---Dan

[raemi]

a REAL professional photographer gave me some advice when i asked him about getting into photography. he told me that i shouldnt waste my money on a camera until i can take a GOOD picture using a disposable camera....tai

[mr toolio]

best thing for you dude.. invest in a sony 717 or 828... those SLR-like and have full manual capabilities. those are EXCELLENT cameras and the quality is top notch! good luck though!

adam

[swyyyguy]

the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II is pretty good for beginners.

[vitekboi]

also learn how to use photoshop. theres plenty of online tutorials

[Slim ThuG]

the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II is pretty good for beginners.
+1

[p27rpy]

i have a nikon d50 that i have been very satisfied with so far. i use a canon digital rebel XT at my job, and honestly, i just dont like it as much as the nikon. i have only a few comparison shots i can show you if you want.

but photoshop does help out alot, and that would be something i would recommend learning as well. its true though, you either have an eye for photography or you dont, and its something that must be slowly learned (as im definitely still doing), not just acquired through an expensive camera.

PM me and ill send you some sample shots from the D50.

[nuWest]

if you know what ur doing with a point and shoot and understand how to take a good picture. than its all in the equipment after that :p i think that made sense :o

[Todd Spoth]

It's more of an acquired skill than something like picking up a "pro" camera can allow you to do. Getting a dslr would help you get certain effects you want over just having a point and shoot, but if you don't learn to master your craft, the pictures most likely will turn out the same if not worse.

this is a double-edged sword too. sure its about mastering a craft and/or skill, but to take pro-like photos or pro photos you either have an eye or you dont. (like zerin mentioned) its also about thinking outside the box and constantly seeing things that the masses arent. this really has nothing to do with his question, but there are hundreds of people everyday getting slr and "pro-like" cameras, but i am confident in my ability to stand apart, not to be discouraged.

as for being a hobby, i suggest taking some camera classes and finding out how to use the camera you have or the one you get to its extent. when i was teaching at wolf, there were people all day long that just wanted the latest and greatest when the camera they had was more than sufficient. in my classes i taught them to maximize what they had and to see photos differently regardless of what camera you have.

do what ofay did, go buy a cheap russian/chinese novelty/toy/cult cam and go to town, then when you go to something leet and auto and new you will appreciate it more.

[OdyOwnage]

Mr.Toolio > other camera guys

[Todd Spoth]

Mr.Toolio > other camera guys

wrd. adam is sexy.

[mr toolio]

hahaha todd..

thanks for the kind words james, but i think todd has a bit of an edge on me though.. he knows his shit!

adam

[ldanphanl]

another question. i have bad eyes, and i dont wear glasses. Just too lazy to get them check. Will this effect the use of the camera being nearsighted?

[Slim ThuG]

why not get them checked instead of having shitty eye sight

[ldanphanl]

why not get them checked instead of having shitty eye sight

i really dont know?:stare:

[chreeno]

i really dont know?:stare:

wrd. you gotta see what you're shooting

[JayDiem]

lol there goes nero with his "im so cooler than everybody else" mentality
maybe if you learned to read you would see it was actaully advice.


Point and shoot cameras usually have the automated features that kick in and usually have no real effect to the picture. Maybe its just me. I don't know. I prolly need to restate what i meant than since almost everyone wants to vere me away from making photography a "hobby" . When i said pro-like, I really just meant the ability to work with new device that i'm not familliar with and if not start taking photos that have nice effects that some of h-i's members are taking. As I said I am a beginner at all this and do plan on learning.


---Dan

you are not making any sense.

It seems to me that you are saying you want a camera that gives you full control, plenty of "point and shoot" style cameras have full manual modes, aperture priority and shutter priority which is the same as the DSLR. Do yourself a favor and get on any site that has to do with photography and just read. Get a better idea of what you want and then come back and make a more educated question.


And no your bad eyesight will not affect the camera.

[Johnny Thunders]

I would tell you to stick to the $500 range in your camera.

My first camera was a Canon Powershot S50. It was a 5.0mp fully automatic AND manual camera without exchangable lenses. It was the perfect starting camera because the megapixels allowed for the pictures to look clean, yet the different setting allowed for me to learn the different aspects of photography such as aperature, shutter speed, depth of field, ISO, ect.

You're going to want to take your digital camera around and take pictures of your friends too at first, and you'll be disappointed if you buy a large, heavy camera at first and will become discouraged from the photographic process. A good, lightweight 4.0+ megapixel camera that allows you to change from automatic to manual is the best camera for ameatures.

However, the real quality of your pictures will depend on the artistic eye you were born with. Photography IS a skill that can be learned, but unless you're a born natural you will only get so far creatively] with the hobby. Even if you aren't the best photographer, you'll enjoy the hobby for the rest of your life.

Don't get discouraged if your photos aren't turning out like Todd's the first time you shoot. He's been shooting for years and has an extensive amount of knowledge about cameras and the equiptment needed to make a good picture great.

My first "good" photo.. taken with the Canon S50:

http://newton-i.usefilm.com/images/1/2/6/0/1260/322800-large.jpg


What 2 years of shooting experience and knowledge will get you with a Canon Digital Rebel:

http://newton-i.usefilm.com/images/4/2/8/1/4281/1096164-large.jpg


They don't look much different as far as "natural talent" goes, right?

In the first picture, I had no idea what a leading line was, composition, or even aperature. I just felt the natural balance of the objects.

The last picture was all placed on purpose. I knew exactly how I was framing the picture in respect to the "photography rules".



Anyways, buy a nice, versatile camera. You can learn photography much more easily when you have only a few buttons to work with.

[Todd Spoth]

http://newton-i.usefilm.com/images/1/2/6/0/1260/322800-large.jpg


i always liked that one.

[Slim ThuG]

i always liked that one.
i 2nd that

my question is what camera did you take that with, a P&S or slr, since the SLR would make an obivious sound during a boring class, haha

[vitekboi]

if you're on a budget, look for a canon d30 and a 50mm 1.8 lens.

[JayDiem]

if you're on a budget, look for a canon d30 and a 50mm 1.8 lens.
you could get better dslr used for cheaper.



Really all he needs now is a small point and shoot like adri said, that will give him the full manual he wants and be able to take it everywhere.

[ldanphanl]

you could get better dslr used for cheaper.



Really all he needs now is a small point and shoot like adri said, that will give him the full manual he wants and be able to take it everywhere.


werd i just bought a canon powershot, i what do you know, it does do some of the effects "after hours of fustrating fiddling" that i was looking for such as the fade and the backdrop fuzzing and such. just alittle complicated to figure out..

Im guessing to have those night shots with a still pic and lights and motion around the pics , i would need a tripod?

[Todd Spoth]

i 2nd that

my question is what camera did you take that with, a P&S or slr, since the SLR would make an obivious sound during a boring class, haha

its says right above that homie, sd550, great lil cam.

[Johnny Thunders]

i always liked that one.

Thanks... me too :hs:

It holds sentimental value for me I guess :o