Advice/Questions on buying Cameras & Accessories. **Please read OP first**

pixbyjohn

runrabbit wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a tripod for an absolute beginner with a Canon 500D?

Ideally it will be:
- Light
- Reasonably priced (I don't know how much I will use it but I don't foresee it getting very heavy use in the next couple of years)
- Available to buy in a bricks-and-mortar shop in the Dublin area.

Many thanks!

Argos have some reasonable tripods that are not expensive. But they are not heavy duty.

DMG_49

I am buying a Sony Alpha A290 camera, I want to know a few things, that I may need to buy etc.

What size of memory card? On jessops there around £40, whats the difference in them and say ones on ebay?

Would a 4/8Gb SD card be enough?

Does cameras come with a round the neck strap?(In general) It doesn't state.

5uspect

DMG_49 wrote: »

What size of memory card? On jessops there around £40, whats the difference in them and say ones on ebay?

Would a 4/8Gb SD card be enough?

Be careful, there are a lot of fake cards on ebay. Shop4memory and 7dayshop are decent enough sites for buying memory. People tend to recommend buying a couple of cards to be on the safe side.

Different cards have different write speeds and hence different prices. The Sandisk Extreme range are highly regarded for example but are pricey.
I mainly use a 133x 32GB Kingston CF card and it's loads. Video would eat it up but I don't really use that. I have a couple of 4GB Sandisk Extreme IIIs also that are excellent but my 7D fills them fairly quickly.

A pair of 8GB cards should do you just fine. The Sony's RAW files are about 23MB according to Google so that'll give you around 350 photos on a single 8GB card. You will be shooting in RAW.

Does cameras come with a round the neck strap?(In general) It doesn't state.

Typically, yes, but I can't confirm for Sony.

DMG_49

5uspect wrote: »

Be careful, there are a lot of fake cards on ebay. Shop4memory and 7dayshop are decent enough sites for buying memory. People tend to recommend buying a couple of cards to be on the safe side.

Different cards have different write speeds and hence different prices. The Sandisk Extreme range are highly regarded for example but are pricey.
I mainly use a 133x 32GB Kingston CF card and it's loads. Video would eat it up but I don't really use that. I have a couple of 4GB Sandisk Extreme IIIs also that are excellent but my 7D fills them fairly quickly.

A pair of 8GB cards should do you just fine. The Sony's RAW files are about 23MB according to Google so that'll give you around 350 photos on a single 8GB card. You will be shooting in RAW.



Typically, yes, but I can't confirm for Sony.

Thanks for the reply, Could you recommend a memory card reasonable price and somewhere online? I think 8GB would do me fine for a while.

5uspect

Well I use CF cards not SD so I couldn't comment on a particular card.
Stick to the main brands like Sandisk and you'll be grand. Also it's probably a lot cheaper online.

Dionysus

Hi,

I had a Panasonic DMC-FZ7 for a few years but dropped it recently so need to get another digital camera. I got great use out of it, and liked it a lot. However, as I love taking landscape photos, and particularly photos of historical sites like monasteries, castles and the like, it always bothered me that the Lumix didn't allow me to get a widescreen (panoramic?) photo unless I went way back from the target. This time I'm willing to spend more money on a camera that will allow me to take such photos closer. What is the technical name for the "bigger zoom out" thing I'm looking for?

Other than that, I'd like my camera to have the option of different colour photographs - black and white, sepia etc. Pretty standard, I'd imagine. And if it's lightweight, that would be a big bonus as I go hiking a fair bit. Also, is it possible to get a camera which has a good video recording facility or does the latter impede the quality of the former?

Lastly, are megapixels the most important thing to look out for if I want higher picture quality, or is that a myth? What are the most important things I should be looking at in the camera specifications?

Thanks a million.

Thecageyone

Anyone currently looking for a cheap dslr, there's a 400D with kit lens up on adverts for €300

condra

I'm no expert, but if I had a grand.....

Canon 550d, second hand on adverts.ie, about 600 euro. Lightweight camera, high quality images, full video recording, and you have a few quid left over for a good lens, decent flash, tripod, etc.

PS, don't be surprised if you get vague or patronizing replies. Shame on you for asking about equipment! Don't you know the most important thing is the person behind the lens?!

challengemaster

never TAKE photos in b&w/sepia/etc modes, always take the photo in colour and do a conversion after - that way you preserve the original and can do much more with it

I think the 550D is probably the most suitable. In general, I've noticed from googling on t'internet, that once video is mentioned, the only cameras that people tend to recommend are the Canon 7D/60D/550D. The recommendation fluctuates depending on the persons budget.

If video isn't that important to you, then you could probably go cheaper and get a camera that just takes still images.

Adverts is always woth looking on, along with eBay. Nothing wrong with going second hand, and remember that a lot of people sell camera bodies/lenses seperately, so make sure you know what you're getting. No point in buying a camera, assuming you'll get a lens with it, when a lot of the time they come without.

dazftw

Judging by the form factor on the Panasonic.. Look up the Canon G12 and the Nikon P7000 both great little cameras.

cnocbui

Dionysus wrote: »

Hi,

I had a Panasonic DMC-FZ7..

.. What is the technical name for the "bigger zoom out" thing I'm looking for?

...And if it's lightweight, that would be a big bonus as I go hiking a fair bit. Also, is it possible to get a camera which has a good video recording facility or does the latter impede the quality of the former?

Lastly, are megapixels the most important thing to look out for if I want higher picture quality, or is that a myth? What are the most important things I should be looking at in the camera specifications?

Thanks a million.

Zoom out = wide angle which annoyingly is usually defined by the focal length of the lens 24mm being wide and 200mm being telephoto, as examples.

The panasonic you had has a zoom range of '36mm to 432mm' (35mm film camera equivalent) according to Dpreview. Such a huge zoom range involves compromises in the design of the lens which negatively affects image quality. Higher picture quality often starts with better lens quality, and that usually means a much more modest zoom ratio 3-5 times being about the limit for maintaining top image quality.

Canon, Panasonic and now Olympus all offer high-end campact digitals which are intended to deliver better quality images than is possible with the more common consumer models. The ones to look at are the Canon S95, Panasonc LX5 and the Olympus XZ-1. These have modest zooms - about 3.7X - and all deliver high quality images. The Olympus is the pick of the three but the Canon might suit you better as its lens has a slightly wider field of view at 24mm than the other twos 28mm.

The next step up from these would be the Micro 4/3 cameras made by Panasonic and Olympus. These have interchangeable lenses, are very compact, and are sort of in between compacts and full-on full frame DSLRs that weigh a couple kilos. The Panasonic GF2 and Olympus E-PL2 being just a couple of the models available.

Most all of these have video capabilities.

Megapixels is only one metric and does not define image quality. Lens quality, in-camera image processing and noise in dark areas of images shot in low light are usually considered to be important criteria.

dinneenp

Sony DSC-HX9V, taken from here

if you want very compact and big zoom
blurb from above:
The DSC-HX9V packs a 24mm Sony lens with 16x optical zoom, but is still the equivalent of a 24-384mm lens.

Aside from the monstrous reach, the camera also shoot 1080p HD video, focus at DSLR speeds, have 3-inch LCD screens, and include many of the features standard on sony CyberShots now (e.g. 3D Sweep Panorama, GPS, and Dual Recording for shooting video and stills at the same time). The cameras will be available starting in April, with the HX100V priced at $450 and the HX9V at $350.

mooeire

Looking into maby getting this camera and was wondering if its any good... I have no real knowledge of taking photo's but want better qaulity ones than i take from my basic casio camera. Any help would be great, thanks
http://www.littlewoodsireland.ie/fuji-12m-pixel-digital-camera-in-black-s1600/705860083.prd?browseToken=%2fb%2f4739%2fq%2fcameras%2fs%2fmostrelevant%2c1&trail=4739&prdToken=/p/prod6245928-sku10019575

Paterson

Only a newbie to photography and was wondering has anyone any advice on best camera/ lense for taking photos of Building etc.?
thanks in advance for advice

cnocbui

An Olympus Zuiko 24mm f3.5 shift lens is what you want. You can bung any Olympus OM mount camera on the end of it - OM1, OM4-Ti, OM2n etc.

With appropriate adapters, I suspect you might be able to use it on current Canon DSLR bodies and on 4/3 mount cameras from Olympus and Panasonic.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/olympusom1n2/shared/zuiko/htmls/24mmSHIFT.htm

Such a lens, if and when you can find an example, will not come cheap.

a148pro

condra wrote: »

I'm no expert, but if I had a grand.....

Canon 550d, second hand on adverts.ie, about 600 euro. Lightweight camera, high quality images, full video recording, and you have a few quid left over for a good lens, decent flash, tripod, etc.

PS, don't be surprised if you get vague or patronizing replies. Shame on you for asking about equipment! Don't you know the most important thing is the person behind the lens?!

Just on this, I bought this camera on Ebay for about €670 with an 18 - 55 Canon IS lens, about €200 less than anywhere I could get it here. But I'm pretty sure I also saw it in Dublin Airport for about the same price, with a lens! Which is pretty good value if anyone is in the market for it.

5uspect

Paterson wrote: »

Only a newbie to photography and was wondering has anyone any advice on best camera/ lense for taking photos of Building etc.?
thanks in advance for advice

You probably should look at the wider end of things optically. Fisheye and wide angle lenses give interesting perspective and distortion to architecture shots. Tilt-shift lenses are also great for composing rectilinear images free of distortion with sharp focus on oblique planes but they're crazy expensive.

Also invest in a solid tripod. As has been said here a few times put the builk of your cash into the glass. Any half decent entry level body should do you fine until you find your feet.

5uspect

iconoranacorn wrote: »

Hi, so basically I've been piggybacking off the parents Fuji camera. Dunno what make, but its a handheld one.

It's fine and I use it plenty but I want to buy something much better.
I'm willing to pay well for it, but the main thing I want is a great focus function on it.
Im really interested in taking something small and in-distuingishable and making it into a full picture with a great focus.

Im thinking maybe a Nikon. Any ideas, thoughts, opinions?? Thanks

Well most cameras are hand held...
What you describe is called Macro Photography and you probably would need a specialist lens for this. For example the canon EF 100 f/2.8L is a fantastic piece of kit. I'm sure Nikon have an equivalently excellent lens in their range but I'm unfamiliar with it. Sigma do a 105mm lens also for most camera bodies iirc.

A cheaper option is a 50mm f/1.8 lens with extension tubes.

As above any dSLR body should do you fine and for macro I would also recommend a good tripod that can let you get down low. Also an external flash is worth considering.

Or were you looking for something like a compact?

L.Jenkins

I've grown tired of the small hand held cameras and I'm considering getting something a tad bit bigger, before moving onto something alot better. I'm currently looking at a Fujifilm S1600 and I'm wondering if anyone has any issues or grievences with the camera I can take on board before buying it.

My main use for the camera will be alittle bit of amature photography, but nothing to serious.

runrabbit

I'm practicing away with my 500D and 18-55mm basic kit lens and very much enjoying it; however I do feel that in the next few months I will want a little more zoom power and am saving my cash in preparation and keeping an eye out for second hand deals.

My first thought was the Canon 55-250mm F/4-5.6 IS Lens which is relatively low in cost and would be a good add-on to my kit lens. Another alternative would be to save a little longer and instead try to pick up a secondhand 18-200mm F/3.5 5.6 IS Lens which would replace my kit lens (and I could try to get a few quid for it) and which would be handier for travelling etc.

Apart from the differences in cost and handiness (1 versus 2 lenses) is there anything I'm missing? Or are there other options altogether that I should be looking at?

Paterson

5uspect wrote: »

You probably should look at the wider end of things optically. Fisheye and wide angle lenses give interesting perspective and distortion to architecture shots. Tilt-shift lenses are also great for composing rectilinear images free of distortion with sharp focus on oblique planes but they're crazy expensive.

Also invest in a solid tripod. As has been said here a few times put the builk of your cash into the glass. Any half decent entry level body should do you fine until you find your feet.

cnocbui wrote: »

An Olympus Zuiko 24mm f3.5 shift lens is what you want. You can bung any Olympus OM mount camera on the end of it - OM1, OM4-Ti, OM2n etc.

With appropriate adapters, I suspect you might be able to use it on current Canon DSLR bodies and on 4/3 mount cameras from Olympus and Panasonic.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/olympusom1n2/shared/zuiko/htmls/24mmSHIFT.htm

Such a lens, if and when you can find an example, will not come cheap.

Thanks for advice, any opinions on camera on its own for architectural photography?

funnygirl2009

i love taking pics at wedding etc, quite good with camera, so looking to get one of those SLR camera, what make and model is good? what price range.... looking to spend a few hundred but not more than 500euro

cnocbui

If you think you would be getting a DSLR and just one lens for it and using it mostly in daylight or using a flash, you might be better off getting an advanced compact digital like an Olympus XZ-1, Panasonic LX5 or a Canon S95.

If you want an SLR that isn't huge, you could have a look at the Panasonic GH2.

All current DSLRs are pretty good, so which one to choose is problematic so I will just pick two out of a hat and say Canon 1100D or 550D. I think they would be available new at the top end of your budget on amazon.co.uk

This is a good place to research cameras: http://www.dpreview.com/

funnygirl2009

thanks for that info, going to look those up now.

runrabbit

runrabbit wrote: »

I'm practicing away with my 500D and 18-55mm basic kit lens and very much enjoying it; however I do feel that in the next few months I will want a little more zoom power and am saving my cash in preparation and keeping an eye out for second hand deals.

My first thought was the Canon 55-250mm F/4-5.6 IS Lens which is relatively low in cost and would be a good add-on to my kit lens. Another alternative would be to save a little longer and instead try to pick up a secondhand 18-200mm F/3.5 5.6 IS Lens which would replace my kit lens (and I could try to get a few quid for it) and which would be handier for travelling etc.

Apart from the differences in cost and handiness (1 versus 2 lenses) is there anything I'm missing? Or are there other options altogether that I should be looking at?

Any advice anyone? I'm half tempted by a secondhand 22-250mm but am forcing myself not to buy in case I live to regret it in a few months time!

(sorry for the shameless bumping)

dinneenp

runrabbit wrote: »

Any advice anyone? I'm half tempted by a secondhand 22-250mm but am forcing myself not to buy in case I live to regret it in a few months time!

(sorry for the shameless bumping)

I own a pentax and bought a second hand 18-250 lens and am very happy with it. I also have a 17-50mm f2.8 but if I'm going somewhere and don't have bag with me I have the 18-250 on it. I'm sure a pixel pincher could advise you against the lens but I'm happy with mine. Very versatile.

5uspect

Ideally you should avoid big zoom ranges. They're a huge compromise optically.
The sharpest zoom lenses are typically no more than 3x (24-70L, 17-55, 70-200).
A prime lens which cannot zoom, like you eye, will be significantly sharper.
An 18-200 isn't going to be very sharp, sure you don't have to change lens but you won't get great results.

The 55-250 is apparently decent enough for the price. It replaced the 55-200 which I used to own but adds a bit more reach and IS. The 55-200 is worth considering but if I were you I would start saving for the 70-200L which you will eventually buy
(in either f/4, f/4 IS f/2.8 or f/2.8 IS depending on how deep your pockets are).

BTW zoom is not magnification.

A lot of new SLR owners are obsessed with getting telephotos to "zoom in". What do you see yourself doing with it? Have you looked at the 50mm f/1.8? You'll learn so much more from using it.

5uspect

funnygirl2009 wrote: »

i love taking pics at wedding etc, quite good with camera, so looking to get one of those SLR camera, what make and model is good? what price range.... looking to spend a few hundred but not more than 500euro

All those questions have been more or less answered in the previous pages.
€500 will get you an entry level Nikon or Canon SLR with kit lens if you shop around online or look at airport prices.

For weddings you should look for a better lens that will perform well in low light. But that'll cost €€€.

Crann na Beatha

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