Very nice Andy. What camera did you use?

Quote from SamH :

Very nice Andy. What camera did you use?

It's my little Cybershot W90. Wish I still had my Nikon I do still have my two tiny Minox camera's that I love but developing the film costs a wallop these days for Black and White, which I prefer.

Here's my infra red attempts.

Quote from StableX :

It's my little Cybershot W90. Wish I still had my Nikon I do still have my two tiny Minox camera's that I love but developing the film costs a wallop these days for Black and White, which I prefer.

Pocket cameras, like the Cybershots, with macro capability are brilliant. It's a characteristic of the layout of the sensor that results in such amazing depth of field, close up, with high-speed exposures. DSLRs really can't compete on that level because their advantages in other respects get in the way of their macro capabilities. I think specialised pocket-sized macro cameras are the future in that field of photography

Quote from mcintyrej :

Here's my infra red attempts.

Worthy! And you thought you'd bought a lemon, with that filter!

Quote from SamH :

Pocket cameras, like the Cybershots, with macro capability are brilliant. It's a characteristic of the layout of the sensor that results in such amazing depth of field, close up, with high-speed exposures. DSLRs really can't compete on that level because their advantages in other respects get in the way of their macro capabilities. I think specialised pocket-sized macro cameras are the future in that field of photography

These are the Minox's I have

http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Minox_35_ML

Cracking little camera with a little manual zoom but it does a load of stuff and fantastic lens. I have one with colour and one with black and white film in.

Quote from jibber :

I'd go for a Canon or Nikon, you can't go wrong with those. And DWB would probably suggest a Pentax.

It has been said a few times already, but most important, if you get the chance... take the camera in your hands and click through the menu, shoot some pictures... basically, see if you like how the camera feels in your hands, then decide.

Was looking at those 2 makes, but couldn’t find any cheap in the locals while the A300 is coming from a work mate. Obvious a test run will be conducted before handing over the cash (most likely at the top of Fryish overlooking the Cromarty Firth while he tries out his new camera)

Quote from SamH :

Yep, the A300 is a good camera by all accounts. The 18-70 is a good lens to start out with, as it gives wide angle through portrait focal lengths. You'll probably want to extend to a telephoto zoom later, so don't expect it to be your LAST spend on photography kit.

Yeah, I imagine it could get pricey very quicker (much like other hobbies) but would be looking at a camera that would last a few years without needing to upgrade the model. I imagine that there’s little point in getting anything over 10 mega pixels and if the lens could act as an all purpose for a while until I find my niche style/ favored subjects then that would be great also.

Quote from SamH :

Very nice photo, btw The S5700 isn't that old.. it's only a couple of years. I have an S5600 which I'm very fond of. It's a very versatile camera

I'm at work and can't look at his Exif. Did you see the camera model in the Exif? Is it the Fuji S5700?

Wein, if it's the Fuji S5700 you have, it's the same camera I have. If you need any pointers such as never go above ISO400 and try not to go above ISO200, let me know. I've been using the Fuji for about a year and a half since I started learning all the ISO, shutter, aperture stuff.

I set my exposure to -2/3 on exposure compensation or just on my settings reading the meter display when in manual. I find it does better when exposing at -2/3.

Manual focus is a joke.

It's quite a nice camera for very little money. I've far outgrown it, but I learned a lot using it in the manual modes. I have quite a few images spread out throughout this thread taken with the S5700. I need to do some more, I've been mostly snapshooting the kids and the dog lately. Thursday afternoon/evenings are practice at the local dirt bike track. Now that the kids are out of school, I hope to make it to the track to play with the camera soon. Also, the RC airshow is coming up in a few weeks. I'll have some shots from there coming.

Any questions specific to the Fuji S5700, just shout out. I'll give whatever I can give about it.

Quote from mrodgers :

I'm at work and can't look at his Exif. Did you see the camera model in the Exif? Is it the Fuji S5700?

Yessir, the EXIF says Fuji S5700

Quote from SamH :

Very nice photo, btw The S5700 isn't that old.. it's only a couple of years. I have an S5600 which I'm very fond of. It's a very versatile camera

Thanks. It's actually an S7000, which is I believe is a few years older, but yeah, doesn't really matter. Still takes a fine picture (according to my standards anyway.) What I was mostly after was a camera with all the basic settings to learn on before I blow my savings on a good 'un.

right i think it's time to get my "point and shoot" artwork criticized, so here goes!

so, worryingly i can't find some of my best stuff, but luckily i did a slideshow of it ages ago, although its not the best quality, you can see where i'm coming from - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qah6kS9eLAc

also these, in Norfolk, Egypt and Norfolk, respectively.

Quote from wien :

Thanks. It's actually an S7000, which is I believe is a few years older

Ohhhhh my goof! I read the S as a 5! Sorry!

Nice shots, Oli! I'm partial to a good sunset, myself! In the slideshow, my fave is the very last image! I think it's because of the depth of field giving a slightly blurry background which brings emphasis to the flower in the foreground.

Quote from mrodgers :

...

Thanks. As I said above it's an S7000 so I'm not sure if your tips would translate, but the manual focus certainly does. Tried it a few times but never managed to set it the way I wanted. It's especially hard when all you've got for reference is the teeny tiny screen. The auto-focus works well enough though, so I'm not sure I care.

But still, any tips and comments you may have are very much appreciated. I'll be sure to ask if I'm stumped with anything.

by the way - just out of interest more than anything else - how much would a low end SLR camera cost? obviously i'm not thinking of getting one as i'm already going to get a digital camera for my birthday but just wondering

Quote from jibber :

I'd go for a Canon or Nikon, you can't go wrong with those. And DWB would probably suggest a Pentax.

No wai!

But yeah, Pentax is undoubtedly the best budget choice due to the extensive range of backward-compatible (and excellent) glass that can be had dirt cheap on the used market. If you're planning on investing megabuxxx on new AF lenses, Canon or Nikon would be a better choice.

Quote from oli17 :

by the way - just out of interest more than anything else - how much would a low end SLR camera cost? obviously i'm not thinking of getting one as i'm already going to get a digital camera for my birthday but just wondering

Used or new?

both just want to get an idea of the price range really for future reference (when i'm earning my own money)

Got myself a Pentax K-M, will show off some pictures later when i get to my own computer and can re-size the images . Only a kit lens (18-55) so don't expect anything great, still learning. It's my 1st SLR.

Quote from Taavi(EST) :

Got myself a Pentax K-M, will show off some pictures later when i get to my own computer and can re-size the images . Only a kit lens (18-55) so don't expect anything great, still learning. It's my 1st SLR.

Make sure you shoot with RAW or play with the JPEG settings. The default JPEG settings out of the box are pretty bad.

and check out www.pentaxforums.com/forums ;]

Quote from DeadWolfBones :

No wai!

But yeah, Pentax is undoubtedly the best budget choice due to the extensive range of backward-compatible (and excellent) glass that can be had dirt cheap on the used market. If you're planning on investing megabuxxx on new AF lenses, Canon or Nikon would be a better choice.

The Pentax k-m is definitely the cheapest in the low-end to buy. Personally it was a tough call between that and D60. But the Pentax using AA-batteries and the bad CA in jpg shooting lead me to buy the Nikon. The whatever Canon offers for around same price was just too much for me and felt overpriced compared to the D60.

Looking back it would have been wiser to not buy the kit (although the 18-55 VR is really nice) and take a body with the 18-135.

Anyway, it's really much down to personal choice and what you like, and what you intend to shoot. Which of course is hard to know before you have your first camera I guess.

edit. heh, my responses take time

Quote from oli17 :

both just want to get an idea of the price range really for future reference (when i'm earning my own money)

Well, I don't really know prices in GBP or Euros, unfortunately, but in the US...

Used last-or-older-generation entry-level: $150-350
Used last-or-older-generation mid-level: $350-600
New entry-level: $350-600
New mid-level: $650-1100

Quote from oli17 :

both just want to get an idea of the price range really for future reference (when i'm earning my own money)

My A200 (which is an entry level dslr) with the 18-70 kit lense, a 4GB Kingston CF card and a 55mm Cokin UV filter came to a total of 370€

Not sure all of those were made with the kit lense, but here's some of what you can expect to get from it







Now seriously, dog on a stump: awesome!

Quote from oli17 :

by the way - just out of interest more than anything else - how much would a low end SLR camera cost? obviously i'm not thinking of getting one as i'm already going to get a digital camera for my birthday but just wondering

New, the Nikon D40 is the cheapest of readily available that I know of, at least over here. I'm not up on the Sony, Olympus, or DWB's gushing love of Pentax though . Don't know what would be easily obtainable on those.

Nikon D40 with kit lens is available just about everywhere you look around here for $450 US.

If someone held a gun to my head and said, "where would I find a Sony or Pentax dSLR or I will shoot you," I'd have to tell him to shoot me because I would have no idea where to buy anything other than Canon or Nikon other than scouring the net, of which you can't hold in your hands beforehand which is the most important part of choosing IMO.

Quote from mcintyrej :

I took a picture of a bright green screen, then set that as the white balance - was that right? Or did I need to do it brown. Or didn't I need to do it at all?

I always use a patch of grass or a Leaf to set my WB. I would recommend to shoot in Raw, so you can adjust the Wihite Balance and Exposure in Post Procession.

Quote from Blackout :

The Pentax k-m is definitely the cheapest in the low-end to buy. Personally it was a tough call between that and D60. But the Pentax using AA-batteries and the bad CA in jpg shooting lead me to buy the Nikon.

The AA batteries are really a plus to me (and I don't think I'm alone in this opinion) because it means you're never far from backup if something happens to your main set. If you're on vacation and you misplace/break your proprietary LiIon battery you're basically screwed. If you have a camera that takes AAs you're never far from Lithiums, rechargeable NiMHs, or (god forbid) alkalines. Just get a set of Sanyo Eneloops and you're good to go.

Of course, AAs do add weight to a camera, which makes the K-m/K2000 kind of heavy for its petite size. Personally I like a heavier camera (better balance w/ heavy glass), so that ain't no thang for me.

As for the bad CA... I assume you mean with the kit (18-55mm DA L)? I've never shot with that lens myself, but I think it's optically identical to my 18-55mm DA II, which I've never particularly had issues with.

Quote from mrodgers :

If someone held a gun to my head and said, "where would I find a Sony or Pentax dSLR or I will shoot you," I'd have to tell him to shoot me because I would have no idea where to buy anything other than Canon or Nikon other than scouring the net, of which you can't hold in your hands beforehand which is the most important part of choosing IMO.

Yeah, this is true, although Sony is starting to get some presence in brick & mortar stores. Pentax can be a bitch to find anywhere besides the internet. You basically have to find a really good local camera shop or a camera megastore, not a big box electronics retailer. Not surprising given they only have like 5-10% of the market. Same for Olympus.