Camera/photography (help)for a newbie

After reading a few posts in this section I'm now intrigued by the art of photography.I have noticed some members post some great photos in their posts.I have a bit of spare cash floating around at the moment so I was wondering without going OTT what camera for entry level would be recommended for a complete newbie to cameras and photography remembering I've only been used to the point and shoot things thanks for any advice offered cheers John

I have a point and shoot and also a Digital SLR camera (the detachable lens one).

However most of my pics on here are taken with my phone camera.

For me and in my honest opinion, its all about light, where /what your model is sitting on and the background.

For those final presentation shots, try to make the background as light as possible, as this will reflect light and pick out more detail on your model.

Take loads of pics...one or two of them will be what you are after.

If you do take pics on your phone, try and use an app to do some editing.

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I have a point and shoot and also a Digital SLR camera (the detachable lens one).However most of my pics on here are taken with my phone camera.

For me and in my honest opinion, its all about light, where /what your model is sitting on and the background.

For those final presentation shots, try to make the background as light as possible, as this will reflect light and pick out more detail on your model.

Take loads of pics...one or two of them will be what you are after.

If you do take pics on your phone, try and use an app to do some editing.

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Agree. My iPhone 5S is currently my weapon of choice, sometimes resorting to my trusty LUMIX LX3 - most modern point and shoot cameras have many manual settings, but the manual focus on all but a few is useless, as there is no viewfinder these days, and its tricky to get in focus using just the little screen. But, I do recommend exploring the programme features, such as Aperture priority, which (with a little tripod) will allow you to get more control of depth of field. The great thing is that theres no cost to experimenting any more, so just keep playing and make a note of what works.

If you do want to buy a new point and shoot, just make sure you switch off the Auto ISO setting, which seems to be on by default, set it to 200 and use a wee tripod, or bean bag or something like that. two light sources (can be simple lamps) and your pics will radically improve!

John, other than the camera, two things are vital to getting a crisp picture : a tripod & good lighting. Camera shake & not enough light will blur the image considerably.

Don't be taken in by the amount of pixels in modern digital cameras. The maximum ANY screen can display is 2.1 MP. I use a 5MP point & shoot camera that works fine for what I need.

The other main point to consider is the macro specs - the closer that the camera can focus, the better.

Agree with Patrick if it is for showing on screen you are completely controlled by the type of display card installed on the computer used and the screen resolution of the monitor.

If you want to print your photos that is a different kettle of fish.

I wanted a camera which could produce pictures of about 10*8" which looked good. Plus auto white light manual focus plus auto etc.. I got an Olympus 410E. quite expensive then about £400 7 years ago. It does produce very nice pictures. However these can now be obtained second hand for about £100 and are a bargain. Not suggesting John you buy an Olympus but just to illustrate that there are some real bargains available Canon Nikon etc.. Some hardly used.

Another bit of advice do not use the flash as you will get hard detail and horrible shadows. I use my model anglepoise lamps and flash them onto a light surface ie bounce the light.

As John has said no film just click away to your hearts content. So easy just to erase unwanted stuff.

Laurie

My iPad is great and you can get some great apps to enhance your photos for pennies but that all depends if I'm included in the great photos you've seen :D

There is a vast choice out there and pricewise there can be little difference between a compact digital camera and low-mid range DSLRs.

I think the first step is to decide what you want to use it for, what you are prepared to carry and what your budget is and start from that.

My wife wanted something light quick and easy to use but takes better photos than a phone, so she bought one of the canon Ixus cameras (~200g) that slips in her handbag. I take my photography a bit more seriously and have a good DLSR, that weighs in around a kilogramme, and is about 20x the size.

As Patrick said the MP value is not the be all and end all, the optical quality of the lens is also important and the size of the individual pixels.

At the end of the day for computer display 5MP is fine unless you want to zoom in, but to print 10x8 you really need 7-8 MP. For this website for under construction photos I tend to use my phone as the images can be uploaded straight.

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My iPad is great and you can get some great apps to enhance your photos for pennies but that all depends if I'm included in the great photos you've seen :D

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Obviously Alan that goes without saying you should know that! I will give the photo apps a try I think if I can remember my password

Thanks everyone for your replies you have been most helpful cheers John

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Obviously Alan that goes without saying you should know that! I will give the photo apps a try I think if I can remember my password

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Oh you do me too much praise mate but thanks

The ones I use are megaphoto and Aviary

If you get a camera I would go for a DSLR John. With this type you are actually looking through the lense and what you frame and the settings seen are what you get in the photo when taken.

The little pocket one I had was a wretched nuisance when taking photos close to ie about 2 feet or less as the framing you saw in the viewfinder (separate from the lens) was further up the object than picture taken. if that makes sense.

Laurie

all depends on what you can afford.....i used to have a compact olympus which was a brill camera, cost me a bundle at the time and took great pics but when it went kaput i had to resort to an old fuji bridge camera.......and found even tho it was old and limited it still took great pics.....but it was old, used the old xD cards which never really caught on, had tiny screen extra, so when i was ready for another camera i bought another fuji bridge camera about 18 months ago........it had just been replaced in the range by a new one so i picked it up half price on Argos website....it does everything i need and more besides.......still havnt learnt a lot of it lol.....as long as i put it on auto or i know how to use macro it does everything i want and i dont think i will find it needs replacing for quite a few years

best advice i can give is when you decide on a few cameras to choose from look them up on google for owners reviews so you can find out if they are any good, then you will not be wasting money on a lemon