Are "Beginners" Cameras Really Best for a Beginner?
Nov 21, 2017 15:37:57 #
wjones8637 wrote:
First I want to acknowledge that this is from a Ni... (show quote)
Agree! I think there is no beginner camera. There are high end and low end and they are good for both advanced, pro, as well as beginner. Which one you should buy depending whether you can afford it. Your level of interest (level of interest and not skill) and whether it would do the job.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!
Nov 21, 2017 15:46:08 #
wjones8637 wrote:
Agree! My Canon T3i dslr had a single wheel that controlled both shutter and aperture. So in manual exposure mode, it took two hands (one to hold down the equivalent of an alt key) to change the second parameter ... I just found it harder to adjust speed and opening on my first dslr's than my film camera.
Nov 21, 2017 21:47:31 #
Nov 22, 2017 06:25:03 #
Jeffcs
Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina
wjones8637 wrote:
First I want to acknowledge that this is from a Ni... (show quote)
Have a great thanksgiving as well
After reading your post, I never gave it any thought to "beginner" camera and difficulty in changing SS independently of apture as cameras of the era were all completely manual in that the user had to set ISO, SS, Apture & focus to get a good shot
Well reminiscing of the good old days
Nov 22, 2017 06:44:12 #
My first Nikon was an Aperture Priority ONLY model that I "recycled" to my wife within the first month. For myself, I then bought a manual only FM, no automation at all. I quickly learned the craft and from that point on bought cameras that had both manual exposure and "automatic" exposure, gradually learning the proper use of all the other "Bells and Whistles" cameras accumulated. IMHO beginner cameras are for people who want to stay beginners no matter how many years of experience they build-up.
Nov 22, 2017 07:05:29 #
Always start with the most advanced camera and best quality lenses that you can afford. This will insure that you learn how to use the features thus growing into the camera and advancing your photography knowledge. Cameras are like furniture...they will be around for a long time and you will never get back value selling it used. If you buy the best, 10 years from now it will still be a great back up camera.
Nov 22, 2017 07:28:29 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
wjones8637 wrote:
First I want to acknowledge that this is from a Ni... (show quote)
A good beginners camera is a proven name brand camera that has been on the market a long time but is still very usable. I look to ebay or refurbished ones. Like, a Nikon D7000, a Sony A77, or similar Canon. These camera's will service the beginner very nicely until the newbie wants to continue, grow, or leave.
Nov 22, 2017 07:39:36 #
The answer to your question depends on if you want to learn photography. As your case points out the d3000 and d5000 series cameras make it hard to make exposure adjustments, so you tend to use some form of automation. Beginner cameras need to be easy to learn with. What are now offered as beginner cameras have too many options and are unnecessarily complicated.
Nov 22, 2017 07:40:21 #
I agree. The best camera for a beginner that wants to advance is a camera that has readily accessible controls for standard shooting. That is so the beginner can easily learn to adjust basic controls. If you have to go through menus to change basic functions, then it is a more difficult learning experience.
That means two control dials, mode dial, and quick access to ISO, white balance, and auto/manual focus. I would also add access to bracketing.
If the camera has a single control dial, it is not designed for manual control. It will work just fine for auto modes, but that will not help the beginner to truly advance.
That means two control dials, mode dial, and quick access to ISO, white balance, and auto/manual focus. I would also add access to bracketing.
If the camera has a single control dial, it is not designed for manual control. It will work just fine for auto modes, but that will not help the beginner to truly advance.
Nov 22, 2017 07:43:32 #
When I felt Ihad learned enough with my SX50 to step up to full DSLR I spent months researching the different bodies and how they were suited to my shooting subjects, first there was the brand to go with, thanks to Arts Cameras in Milwaukee I was able to hold them in my hands to see which felt better in the end I chose the 7D mkII (some here suggested that was to complicated for a 1st )
Knowing that it would be a big learning curve but also that I wouldn't be wishing I had got the lesser body .Still on the up part of the curve a 2 years later but getting better ,went full manuel last January so I have been consentrating on the technical side of things and my work has started to pay off. My only regret is buying cheeper glass to start .
Knowing that it would be a big learning curve but also that I wouldn't be wishing I had got the lesser body .Still on the up part of the curve a 2 years later but getting better ,went full manuel last January so I have been consentrating on the technical side of things and my work has started to pay off. My only regret is buying cheeper glass to start .
Nov 22, 2017 07:45:54 #
tradio wrote:
"Starter cameras" are good for the manufacturers as it adds another step that will result in them selling another camera.
Most of those same people would have bought another camera anyway.
Nov 22, 2017 07:48:22 #
NormanTheGr8 wrote:
When I felt Ihad learned enough with my SX50 to st... (show quote)
Exactly...buy the best camera and glass that you can afford. Lenses are more important in the long run.
Nov 22, 2017 07:49:15 #
wjones8637 wrote:
First I want to acknowledge that this is from a Ni... (show quote)
If the following equation is true
Beginner=Entry Level=Inexpensive=Fewer Buttons/More need to access menus to change settings - then Beginner cameras only accomplish one thing - an entry point. In my opinion they are more cumbersome to use, not conducive to going past fully automatic settings, etc. But the $500-$600 price point for a camera body and two lenses that cover from 18mm to 300mm is hard to resist.
I am often asked this question - and my response is always the same. How will you use your camera? If the person asking intends to "get into photography" then I suggest a good used higher end camera. If they just want to get something that produces better image quality than a cellphone or point and shoot - then I usually suggest entry level DSLR. It is easier to grow and improve with a camera that can work simply (P mode on a DSLR) yet offer full manual control accessible with buttons and dials for quick adjustments on the fly.
Thanks for the catch, Linda.
Nov 22, 2017 08:16:02 #
davyboy
Loc: Anoka Mn.
CHG_CANON wrote:
Changing the aperture and shutter speed u indepen... (show quote)
Very very well said!!!!👍
Nov 22, 2017 08:36:46 #
"beginners camera" is a sales phrase like "new and "improved" or "do it all". there are simple and complicated cameras, it's up to the beginner to decide at what level to jump in.
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