tejas_ruthie

Just joined this here forum/website. I have been admiring the photographs - very professional work. I enjoyed the photos immensely. Please continue to post. Might add a section in the newsletter "Quick Tips for Better Photos" - clearly there are experts amongst us.

As an aside, (this isn't why I came here... i came for the coyote question, and found a cool website, nice surprise) I need a new camera. I have a Pentax I bought about 10 yrs ago, APS. Has worked well until the last year. Pictures are now fuzzy; coloring seems too dark. Only spent about $250 on it. I am not a professional. Just need something to capture the moment (remote control a must to capture me n hubby in middle of nowhere). So, are the days of having a 35mm and a digital camera out (and shoppers are just getting a fancy digital camera that does both now)? If so I need to prepare myself for the sticker shock.

Guess I've lived under a rock for awhile, we stay real busy,
Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions and KUDOS TO THE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ruthie

rockhill

The choice is yours really. There are some nice digital out there at a fairly resaonable price point. Then of course there are some nice SL types as well. A suggestion would be get a decent little digital that will provide good photos. You can then get a copy of PhotoShop and turn them into wonderful photos by correcting most of your mistakes.

happybooker1

I'm a amateur photographer but love to take pictures. I DID have a 35mm, pretty nice quality, but it's been far surpassed by the digitals now!! This is what I like about digital cameras (and the three I've owned are in the $200-$300 range, but they also take videos).

What I like: you see the pictures instantly, so you know if you need to retake it or not; film 'price' is not a problem -- you can take 25 shots of that 'perfect' sunset to get just the right one; you can delete the over-exposed/under-exposed/imperfect pictures instantly; you can save them on CD/your computer; you can choose whether to print out your pics or just keep them on CD's.

Bonus: if you get a digital with video capabilities you can get pretty decent videos too. Without buying a separate videocam.

What I learned: it's easier and nearly the same price to send you digital pics to Walmart/Walgreens/Sams Club, etc. for them to print out as do it yourself. The color always seems to come out better & at $.14/pic it's really a bargain.

I LIKE digital! And you can find good ones in nearly every price range.

Shannon

Welcome to Wild Texas! You've already received terrific advice that will stand you in good stead.

For detailed, useful reviews of ALL price ranges of digital cameras, from relatively inexpensive point and shoot cameras to professional grade cameras, I always recommend visiting DPReview.com. Don't be put off by the "fancy" looking 35mm digital cameras on the home page -- you can browse all price ranges of cameras from all the manufacturers just by checking the site -- for example, digital cameras by Canon (which Justin and I swear by and highly recommend.) There are detailed reviews as well as photo comparisons and specification sheets (if you are looking for a particular feature, such as the ability to take short videos or use a certain type of memory card.)

In addition to our pro cameras, which cost an arm and a leg, Justin and I both have a couple point and shoot cameras -- two by Canon and one by Fuji. They take terrific photos for their cost and size, and I always remind people of this one simple fact --> The BEST camera is the one you have WITH you at a given moment. The most high tech, expensive, pro quality camera won't do you a bit of good if you don't have it with you when that perfect photo appears.... it's going to be whatever you have on hand that saves the day and captures that memory!

Don't get caught up on megapixels. These days even the relatively inexpensive digital cameras offer impressive resolution, making prints up to 8"x10" a reality without any hassle.

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- Shannon Moore
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tejas_ruthie

Thanks to all for the helpful insight. Love the website - it is just what I needed.

Ruthie

dingemansm

I know this message has been dead for a while, but figure folks may still be reading the thread...

If you are interested in getting very serious, get a digital SLR and a lens or two... If you do not want to spend much time learning, you're better off with a point and shoot - some very good ones are being made that will even let you have full manual control if you do want to learn more later.

... I started with a 2mp p&s, then a 35mm SLR, loved the versatility of lens changing and all, then went to digital SLR... It's all a matter of what you want to do with it!

-Matthew

lphilpot

Might as well add a bit of life to this old thread...

I'm apparently (at least partially) responsible for all the cloudy/rainy weather lately... There's an old rule of thumb in amateur astronomy that every new telescope purchase brings clouds, and apparently the same rule applies to cameras as well. I just last week received my new Canon 350D and Sigma 17/70 lens, and have had to stay indoors and read the manual instead of using it!

Fortunately we've not had flooding where I am (Louisiana), but we've had lots of clouds and rain. Maybe if we ever get some clear air on a long weekend, I'll have time to drive somewhere "photographable".

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Len Philpot
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kg5udale

But, Len, that's the beauty of a camera. You don't have to be outside to enjoy using it. Use it inside. I don't know about your place, but I can always find some wildlife (my cat, an invading/lost wasp, even the odd gecko) in my house. If not that, do macro/close-up shots of furniture, clothing, carpeting, flooring, walls, etc...You can get some nice pictures of raindrops on windows using your lens aperture to variably de-focus the background... Rain's not a bad thing with a new camera...it give you the chance to play with it and do things (get experience) you might not do very much of outside.

Have fun!

dale

ploddinTod

Use it to document all of your possessions. We have the teeth of another hurricane season chomping down on us again.

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PloddinTod

lphilpot

Been there, done that. In fact, that's about all I've been doing for a while, but the weather has improved slightly so I've been able to get out a bit.

Oh, it definitely gave me an opportunity to read up on it!

Thanks.

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Len Philpot
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Michele_Verona

Very nice forum, I'm an italian reader and your english is simple and easily understanded from me :-)

See you. Cheers,
Michele