Another 2 questions

[Waif]

Sorry to be picking brains so much tonight but.............

Is there any particular book that you would recommend for a novice? One that preferably explains f-stops and apeture settings to someone who still can't get to grips with times tables! :)

Secondly - the difference between SLR and non SLR? My husband has just ordered the camera I have been coveting, for my birthday - a Nikon Coolpix 8800. Since then however I have had people telling me a 'should have gone for an SLR' (non-photographers). What do you think? Do you think a Nikon is worht it? I was a bit reticent as a novice/hobbist photographer to splash out so much on a camera - I know the bodies are roughly similar in price - but lenses etc seem prohibitive. Any Nikon fans?

Thanks again :)

[lostmysnorkel]

Yep - I'm a Nikon fan, although not familiar with your camera at all I'm afraid.

To be honest, 90% ofthe time I will be shooting with a 28-300mm zoom lens fitted to my D-SLR, which means it is a very expensive compact!!!!!!

If I am going out with the sole intention of taking photos, I would probably carry four lenses, the 28-300, an 18-35mm, a fast 50mm and a fast 90mm macro lens (1:1) to cover most situations. If I am going out with family and think I might get some nice shots, I'll probably just go with the 28-300 attached and leave the rest at home.

If your new camera covers a decent wide angle to a decent telephoto length and can switch to Macro Mode easily then it will be great learning tool for you. When your skills and experience have grown to a point where you start to feel constrained by your camera's limitations, then would be the time to look at upgrading to an SLR system.

So to summarise - get your partner to start saving NOW for next year's birthday present - a D-200!

[tonymidd]

Agree, learn on the 8800 and twist someones arm for a D70s or a D50 in a few months time, unless you can get the SLR now and grow into it. I've used both D70 and D200 and I'd not reccomend the D200 for someone just starting. The advantage of getting a dSLR is you can get a good zoom and use the camera as a fixed lens unit untill you can afford to expand your system; with the 8800 you are stuck with the lens it comes with. You can get rather expensive converter lenses for wide angle and telephoto but they are not as good as the real thing.
I don't know the the 28-300mm, I favour zooms which do not try to cover such a wide range.
When I'm out with the family I use either my f3.3 35-70 AF-Nikkor which cost be about £25 on e-bay; this is very sharp, compact lens or a Sigma 15-30EX which cost a heck of a lot more on e-bay and is far from compact but just as sharp. I've also got a f1.8 50mm, £70 off e-bay, a 55mm f2.8 AIs Micro-Nikkor again about £28 on e-bay and a Sigma 70-200 f2.8EX which is a brute of a lens. As you can see using e-bay can be a source of reasonably priced lenses, maynot be the lastest spec but excelent performers just the same.

[lostmysnorkel]

Yep, would agree on the ebay advice.

All my kit has come from there, includingbody, lenses, studio kit AND my underwater rig!

I switced from a 35-70 & 70-300 to the 28-300 because:

a) Less kit to carry
b) Fewer lens changes.
c) It is slightly faster at the wider end
d) It has a macro facility (1:4) with a shorter minimum focus distance than the 70-300
e)I couldn't discern any real loss of sharpness when comparing same shots taken in store and scrutinised at home.
f) I made a £65.00 profit selling the two lenses and buying the one!

Although I will admit, 95% of the decision was made by the quality check. 4% by the macro facility and the rest was really just a bonus.

[tonymidd]

Forgot the book question, go into your local remainders shop, there will be stacks of 'how' books, The same stuff is republished under different titles two or three times a year. Look for a title like 'Digital Photography for Beginners' they should all have the basics covered.

I can see why people go for lenses like the 28-300mm but I'm a conservative type. It's a fact that the top end zooms from OEMs and the likes of Sigma are 2x or 3x; the 8x and 10x are usually in the popular ranges. Horses for courses most of the time I've the 15-30mm on the D200 but then I like getting in close.( Are you listening Bindii? :acute:)

[BarryM]

If there is one book I highly recommend it has to be "understanding exposure" its a great read with good example and detailed desciptions.

So far im up to 28 photography books, gulp.

[Bindii]

Horses for courses most of the time I've the 15-30mm on the D200 but then I like getting in close.( Are you listening Bindii? :acute:)

Lol...of course I am...a smart chicky like me doesn't miss a trick....I'm a little confused though about your getting close comment...I might need you to explain it in further detail to me Tony...perhaps we should go to the a private place to discuss it further....Leave your clothes behind...;)c

On a more serious note...Waif...don't apologise for asking for advice...that is the idea of the forum and you will find that plenty of people here are more than happy to offer their knowledge....all you need do is ask.

As for buying books, i wouldn't bother....i made the mistake of investing in stacks of books a few years ago...most of which have spent more time gathering dust than being read. There is a wealth of free information pages on what you are looking for on the web...just print out what is relevant...and you'll save a fortune.

Oh i have also purchased a few camera items on ebay...and have managed to score a few good bargins. Just make sure that you research what you want and its shop price etc before you bid though.

[tonymidd]

As for buying books, i wouldn't bother....i made the mistake of investing in stacks of books a few years ago...most of which have spent more time gathering dust than being read. There is a wealth of free information pages on what you are looking for on the web...just print out what is relevant...and you'll save a fortune.


Having raised my blood pressure quite a lot :banana::banana: Bindii has also made a very valid point, it's all there on the web.
try wandering about this site, not the easiest to navigate but there is a lot of very good basic info here
http://photography.about.com/od/basics/
and for a more indepth and not so objective comment try
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/index.shtml

The only books I now buy are those full of pictures.

I'll go and have a cold shower :blum2::blum2:

[Bindii]

Having raised my blood pressure quite a lot :banana::banana:

I'll go and have a cold shower :blum2::blum2:

Just your blood pressure....I'm disapointed...and I'll be sure to try harder next time....;)c

[tonymidd]

Just your blood pressure....I'm disapointed...and I'll be sure to try harder next time....;)c
Depends where the pressure is appied:clapping::clapping: another cold shower required!

[Bindii]

:clapping: another cold shower required!

Can I watch? ;)c

[tonymidd]

Can I watch? ;)c

:offtopic: but it would be fun :whistle3::yahoo::):laugh1::rolleyes:

[Bindii]

:offtopic: but it would be fun :whistle3::yahoo::):laugh1::rolleyes:

Point taken...:)

So can I watch...while posting the list of web pages I found for Waif....;)c

http://www.digital-monochrome.com/LEARNING.html

http://www.photographytips.com/page.cfm/664

http://www.nature-photography-central.com/Learning_Black_and_White_Photography.html

[Waif]

Thanks everyone - I have bookmarked all the links and am working my way through them. There's a lot to it! :)

[england1965]

Have Bindii and Tony announced a date yet? :wacko:


Who do you think they'll ask to do the photos? :whistle3:

[Bindii]

Have Bindii and Tony announced a date yet? :wacko:


Who do you think they'll ask to do the photos? :whistle3:

Lol...somehow I don't think that Tony's the marrying kind...


Besides he doesn't match up to my expectations...

I don't ask for much...
I really don't.
Just a...

A clean man. Someone who gets my sick and twisted humor.
A pervert who equals mine..or at least can keep up or at least have an understanding of my pervertness....
Someone who likes to...erm....play and to...to lay in bed and just be sometimes...
Some guy who likes to watch movies....
Someone who doesn't mind debating often....
Someone who doesn't flip out when i decide it's funny to suddenly grab the steering wheel and veer to the left or right depending on my mood. You know for kicks...just because...;)c
Someone who doesn't mind sitting on the lawn and watching people walk by...watching their reactions as they wonder what we are doing.


I don't think that Tony likes movies...:laugh1:

[lostmysnorkel]

Lol...of course I am...a smart chicky like me doesn't miss a trick....I'm a little confused though about your getting close comment...I might need you to explain it in further detail to me Tony...perhaps we should go to the a private place to discuss it further....Leave your clothes behind...;)c




I wouldn't bother with him Bindii, his zoom only extends to 30mm, mine goes to 300mm!!!!!!

:tease: :tease:

[tonymidd]

I wouldn't bother with him Bindii, his zoom only extends to 30mm, mine goes to 300mm!!!!!!

:tease: :tease:

It's quality not quantity mate, and I do like moviesXXXPenguinXXXXXXPenguinXXX

[tonymidd]

Lol...somehow I don't think that Tony's the marrying kind...


Besides he doesn't match up to my expectations...

I don't ask for much...
I really don't.
Just a...

A clean man. Someone who gets my sick and twisted humor.
A pervert who equals mine..or at least can keep up or at least have an understanding of my pervertness....
Someone who likes to...erm....play and to...to lay in bed and just be sometimes...
Some guy who likes to watch movies....
Someone who doesn't mind debating often....
Someone who doesn't flip out when i decide it's funny to suddenly grab the steering wheel and veer to the left or right depending on my mood. You know for kicks...just because...;)c
Someone who doesn't mind sitting on the lawn and watching people walk by...watching their reactions as they wonder what we are doing.


I don't think that Tony likes movies...:laugh1:

Marriage? not any more, been there enjoyed it, wish I still were but I';m not so.......

I do all those things except maybe the steering wheel one:whistle3:

And I do like movies.:acute:

[Lisa Janette]

An SLR {single lens reflex} is a camera with interchangable lenses, ones you can take on and off to suit your needs.i.e zoom,wide angle,etc.
A non SLR is like most high street cameras that you can buy anywhere which has only one lens which you cannot remove.

[Waif]

My new camera will have a focal range of the equivalent of 35 - 350 mm, which currently means a lot more to you lot than to me. :grin:

I spose really, I'm just hoping I made the right choice in camera! This photography gets a lot more complicated the more I learn about it! :)

[Lisa Janette]

come to chat room if you fancy a chat waif . .