Tips for the inspired amateur photographer...
As most of my friends will know, I've been diving headlong into this photography business, at some expense (though not too much - my debt hasn't increased at all) and at the expense of a bit of my time and attention.
While I'm an inspired amateur myself, with my first digital SLR, I do have experience with film SLR photography.
So I'd like to offer some advice for anyone interested with the idea of starting out in this consuming hobby.
1. Go with the system you're already invested in.
If you have Nikon Lenses, buy a Nikon body (but not the Nikon D40). If you have Canon lenses, but Canon (but not the 400D or Digital Rebel). If you have Minolta lenses, go Sony, and if you have Pentax lenses (Manual or K-Mount) go Pentax. That should be your first priority.
2. Resist the big boys.
Far too many "know-it-alls" and even pros will insist that you should go Nikon or Canon and ignore everybody else. that's very bad advice.
If you have Nikon Lenses, go Nikon. If you have a lot of money and don't shoot a lot of sports, go Nikon. Nikon has some of the best lenses, the best flash system, and very good camera bodies. But at the entry level, Nikon is weak, especially with the "toy camera" D40 or the new D40X and very weak "kit lenses". To get good performance you'll need to spend quite a bit of cash on good lenses and a good camera body (D80). Don't go in unless you have at least HK $20000 to invest, and are willing to invest even more when the time comes.
If you have Canon lenses, go Canon. If money is no object and you shoot sports a lot, go Canon. If you're paparazzi and sell shots of Becks and Posh to the tabloids and can afford US$6000 for a camera and US$10000 for a lens, go Canon. Or if you are really really really anal about image quality, go Canon.
But if you don't have any lenses, there are only two cameras you should consider: Pentax and Sony. There are three main reasons for this recommendation.
First: great consumer glass. The entry level Pentax and Sony lenses, like the lenses that are included with entry-level DSLRs are far superior to the entry level glass from Nikon and especially Canon, whose "kit lens" is as poor image quality-wise as any other lens in the world. I'm calling an "entry level" lens any lens that costs less than HK$2000 or comes with an entry-level system system.
Second: In-camera image-stabilization. That means you can much more easily shoot low-light handheld images or shots with telephoto lenses, without needing a tripod or worrying about blurry images.
Third: Better consumer bodies (under HK$8000). Sony and Pentax have fantastic feature sets in the A100 and K10D that cannot be matched by entry level Nikon and Canon bodies. More pixels. More controls. Better layout. Faster performance. Better build quality.
So there you have it. If you buy in, don't listen to the "know it alls" and resist Canon and Nikon. Especially avoid the toy cameras mentioned above.
While I'm an inspired amateur myself, with my first digital SLR, I do have experience with film SLR photography.
So I'd like to offer some advice for anyone interested with the idea of starting out in this consuming hobby.
1. Go with the system you're already invested in.
If you have Nikon Lenses, buy a Nikon body (but not the Nikon D40). If you have Canon lenses, but Canon (but not the 400D or Digital Rebel). If you have Minolta lenses, go Sony, and if you have Pentax lenses (Manual or K-Mount) go Pentax. That should be your first priority.
2. Resist the big boys.
Far too many "know-it-alls" and even pros will insist that you should go Nikon or Canon and ignore everybody else. that's very bad advice.
If you have Nikon Lenses, go Nikon. If you have a lot of money and don't shoot a lot of sports, go Nikon. Nikon has some of the best lenses, the best flash system, and very good camera bodies. But at the entry level, Nikon is weak, especially with the "toy camera" D40 or the new D40X and very weak "kit lenses". To get good performance you'll need to spend quite a bit of cash on good lenses and a good camera body (D80). Don't go in unless you have at least HK $20000 to invest, and are willing to invest even more when the time comes.
If you have Canon lenses, go Canon. If money is no object and you shoot sports a lot, go Canon. If you're paparazzi and sell shots of Becks and Posh to the tabloids and can afford US$6000 for a camera and US$10000 for a lens, go Canon. Or if you are really really really anal about image quality, go Canon.
But if you don't have any lenses, there are only two cameras you should consider: Pentax and Sony. There are three main reasons for this recommendation.
First: great consumer glass. The entry level Pentax and Sony lenses, like the lenses that are included with entry-level DSLRs are far superior to the entry level glass from Nikon and especially Canon, whose "kit lens" is as poor image quality-wise as any other lens in the world. I'm calling an "entry level" lens any lens that costs less than HK$2000 or comes with an entry-level system system.
Second: In-camera image-stabilization. That means you can much more easily shoot low-light handheld images or shots with telephoto lenses, without needing a tripod or worrying about blurry images.
Third: Better consumer bodies (under HK$8000). Sony and Pentax have fantastic feature sets in the A100 and K10D that cannot be matched by entry level Nikon and Canon bodies. More pixels. More controls. Better layout. Faster performance. Better build quality.
So there you have it. If you buy in, don't listen to the "know it alls" and resist Canon and Nikon. Especially avoid the toy cameras mentioned above.
Labels: photography
posted by tonton | 8:11 pm
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