Buying my first Digital Camera, please help

[Robert_Paulson33]

Hello, I have a few questions. I am a total newbie to taking pictures. I just got accepted to university and want to buy a nice digital camera so I can capture some great memories while I'm there.

My first question is, what would be a good camera to get, that has terrific image quality during social situations. What I want, is a camera that will take excellent pictures of me and my friends hanging out at parties and stuff. I won't be taking pictures of landscapes and I won't be taking hardcore photography stuff.

My current camera is a Canon Powershot A85 with 4.0 megapixels. I got this camera as a birthday present years ago. I want something that is a lot better than this, because all my pictures suck in terms of quality. I was looking at some more recent canons that have 10-11 megapixels. I'm not sure if megapixels is all I should be looking for when determining if a camera would give a good image quality for what I am using it for? As I said, I am a total newbie to this, and would appreciate any help you could offer me.

My second question is a bit 'out there'. I was wondering if it was possible, via photoshop tools or just the type of camera to use, to take pictures that make it look as though the picture came from a still from a movie. I'm not sure if I made perfect sense, but this is a curiosity question I have had, because I know of some acquaintances of mine from social networking sites that have pictures that look exactly like film stills.

Thanks for your help! And I look forward to participating in this forum in the future.

I apologize if I posted this question in the wrong forum. I was looking for a beginner forum but couldn't find one.

[A.M.D.A.]

Hello, I have a few questions. I am a total newbie to taking pictures. I just got accepted to university and want to buy a nice digital camera so I can capture some great memories while I'm there.

My first question is, what would be a good camera to get, that has terrific image quality during social situations. What I want, is a camera that will take excellent pictures of me and my friends hanging out at parties and stuff. I won't be taking pictures of landscapes and I won't be taking hardcore photography stuff.

My current camera is a Canon Powershot A85 with 4.0 megapixels. I got this camera as a birthday present years ago. I want something that is a lot better than this, because all my pictures suck in terms of quality. I was looking at some more recent canons that have 10-11 megapixels. I'm not sure if megapixels is all I should be looking for when determining if a camera would give a good image quality for what I am using it for? As I said, I am a total newbie to this, and would appreciate any help you could offer me.

My second question is a bit 'out there'. I was wondering if it was possible, via photoshop tools or just the type of camera to use, to take pictures that make it look as though the picture came from a still from a movie. I'm not sure if I made perfect sense, but this is a curiosity question I have had, because I know of some acquaintances of mine from social networking sites that have pictures that look exactly like film stills.

Thanks for your help! And I look forward to participating in this forum in the future.

I apologize if I posted this question in the wrong forum. I was looking for a beginner forum but couldn't find one.

First of all, welcome to the site!

From what you described that you will be shooting, most any camera will do. The Canon A85 should be more than enough... if used properly. There are many members on this site who use point-and-shoot cameras, yet produce stunning photographs. In most cases, the photographer plays a much larger role in picture-quality, especially composition and an "eye for things".

What is it that you aren't satisfied with your Canon, and makes you want to upgrade. Think about it. Is it "grainy-looking" photos? Need to make huge prints? Or maybe the camera just doesn't look "pro"?

Camera: Big, small, light, weighing a ton, black, etc.. Would you mind a heavier and bulkier camera if it means better technical-quality photos? Or, are you willing for a smaller and lighter one but with a compromise in image quality.

Lastly, set up a budget. Remember, any information you can give us will help in your decision.

Take a look at the gallery here at PR, and do a search to find photos taken by a particular camera/lens or film, etc..

Also, more megapixels does not necessarily mean better pictures. In fact, with most (if not all) digital P&S cameras, anything over 10MP will start to degrade image quality compared to an identical camera with 6MP. Companies use the line "more megapixels is always better" to try and entice buyers to go for the highest resolution, which can mean bigger profits and money-making to the companies.

As for the last question, is this what you mean?
Attachment 65029

Attachment 65030
This was done mostly in GIMP image editor, a free software program similar to PhotoShop. I used a variety of "tools", "settings" and downloaded a bunch of "external plugins". Not too hard to create such effects once you learn the basics.

My advice overall would be to stick around on this site -- not just the forums, but the gallery, learn section, reviews and even the blogs are full of information. Feel free to ask as many questions too. Critiquing other people's photos in the long run helps oneself by analyzing what makes a photo work and what doesn't.

Good luck, and looking forward to seeing you around.

[Robert_Paulson33]

Thank you so much for your response!

What is it that you aren't satisfied with your Canon, and makes you want to upgrade. Think about it. Is it "grainy-looking" photos? Need to make huge prints? Or maybe the camera just doesn't look "pro"?

When everyone uses my camera for stuff they always remark how the image quality 'sucks' compared to their camera. Maybe I have a bad one? As I said, I'm not very well versed in photography, I just hear it from my friends that try mine out that they all say its not very good.

Camera: Big, small, light, weighing a ton, black, etc.. Would you mind a heavier and bulkier camera if it means better technical-quality photos? Or, are you willing for a smaller and lighter one but with a compromise in image quality.

I wouldn't mind a bulkier camera. Image quality is the prime attribute I am looking for

Lastly, set up a budget. Remember, any information you can give us will help in your decision..

$300-$500

Also, more megapixels does not necessarily mean better pictures. In fact, with most (if not all) digital P&S cameras, anything over 10MP will start to degrade image quality compared to an identical camera with 6MP. Companies use the line "more megapixels is always better" to try and entice buyers to go for the highest resolution, which can mean bigger profits and money-making to the companies.

Could you direct me to an article on this site that talks about what I should look for in image quality? I have been trying to look but no luck.

As for the last question, is this what you mean?

Not quite, I guess I wasn't being very clear.

What I am talking about is, when you compare someone's regular camera picture, to that of a picture from a movie, they look very different. I guess it's difficult to explain, but some people can emulate it, it seems, but I'm not sure how.

Here's an example of what I mean

Here's a picture of Keira Knightley



And here's another from a movie



Despite the obvious differences being the costume, smoke in the background, etc, both images seem to be strikingly different. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but you can always tell if something is a 'movie' picture and one is not. Or perhaps I'm not making any sense and just imagining all of this lol.

[Robert_Paulson33]

I also heard someone recommend a camera called 'dslr'.

I've been trying to look up information on this, but it seems extremely technical compared to just a regular camera, and more expensive. Do you have any thoughts you can add on it?

Thanks

[SmartWombat]

A digital SLR camera is probably overkill.
I will be bigger, heavier to carry, and as a result probably used less often.
Probably a compact digital camera will be OK for you.

>> it seems extremely technical compared to just a regular camera
Interesting comment, to me a SLR is a regular camera.
It's what I started out with 35 years ago.

>> I'm not sure if megapixels is all I should be looking for
I agree about that, I would rather have 8 or 10 good megapixels than 12 or 15 crammed into a small camera.

Today's compact digital cameras have sophisticated software to improve your pictures, also the technology of the sensors has improved each year. So a new camera is likely to give better results - not because it has more megapixels but simply because the hardware and software is better.

Shooting indoors a lot, particularly parties, then I would look for a good lens.
An aperture of f/2.8 or f/2.0 lets in more light, so you get less motion blur.

Because you're likely to be shooting up close, a wide angle lens is a good feature too.
Look for 24mm if you want to get close to your friends and still get them in the shot.
That's a "35mm equivalent" lens, compact cameras are measured in comparison to regular 35mm SLR cameras.

>> all my pictures suck in terms of quality.
Surely not all of them?
Maybe we can help with that, if you post a few images for comments.

>> compare someone's regular camera picture, to that of a picture from a movie, they look very different.
Yes, unless you're on the movie set using the same lighting, the same lens, the same film, and perhaps more importantly today the same computer post-processing.

[Robert_Paulson33]

I've been reading up some possible cameras. I guess I was just a bit confused about a typical point and shoot digital camera and a DSLR camera. Can anyone more familiar with them explain to me what exactly the difference is?

I have also been reading the learn articles on here, extremely helpful!

I was looking at this

Digital Rebel XTi
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...ModelDetailAct

It's in my price range. Perhaps I could get a more expert opinion about it? It seems to be an entry level camera and easy to use from what I read. Is it suitable for what I need?

I appreciate all of your help! Thanks a ton!

[Frog]

That camera is a dslr,(digital single lens reflex)
A single lens reflex camera basically is one which, by means of an internal mirror shows, the photographer the scene through the lens itself, whereas most point and shoots use a viewfinder that is offset. The difference is usually minor for the view seen but critical in certain situations.
A dslr also has interchangeable lenses. You can get wide angle, telephoto, zoom(goes from wide to tele), lenses made specifically for macro work and on and on.
Also the dslr camera will have more flexibility. It will most often have most of the auto settings on a point and shoot but will also have manual settings, color settings, focus settings, etc. When the photographer knows what he/she wants through experience, they will most often use manual settings, adjusting the aperture, shutter speed, and iso to their requirements.
You can do some of this stuff with some point and shoots except that you cannot change lenses with a point and shoot.
You can get a dslr and leave it in auto mode and click happily away. Many people do.
The dslr will be bulkier and you won't be carrying it in your pocket to those 'social events'.
The xti is a good camera but I think you would be happier with a good point and shoot.
Where did you see one with a lens for 3 to 5 hundred? Was a lens included? Make sure you look at the camera dealer feedback forum before you buy online.
I am not saying not to buy it. If you do, perhaps you'll get hooked on photography like so many of us have.

[pafindr]

I found this video that explains some of the differences between a DSLR and a P&S
http://www.videojug.com/interview/ds...igital-cameras

I hope it helps

[Robert_Paulson33]

The more I think about it, the more I feel that a point and shoot would be better. More compact, easier to carry around, etc.

http://estore.usa.canon.com/webapp/w...category=12078

I was looking at the above camera. It's pretty new, so i haven't found any reviews available for it. What I'm worried about is that some posters were saying 'beware of the higher megapixel cameras'. This has 14.7 so that's pretty high. Some were also saying it was 'clunky'.

http://estore.usa.canon.com/webapp/w...category=12078

This ones a bit cheaper. Seems like good reviews. Also cheaper.

[Robert_Paulson33]

Thanks pafindr, that was extremely helpful!

Now I'm rethinking about possibly getting a dslr.

Now, I'm currently looking for information regarding lens quality. Now I totally understand what 'megapixel' actually means.

What determines the quality of a lens? Thats what I'm currently researching.

Thanks

[Anbesol]

Quality of manufacturing, and full organic size of the lens produce higher resolutions. Lens performance is a very elaborate science; diffraction, distortion, vignetting, resolution, contrast, color cast - are just a few of the ways in which the quality of lens can be examined. The aperture being the most rudimentary function and interaction between photographer and camera, I would start your research on lens quality by understanding F-Stops (aperture values) first. If you can understand the difference between f4 and f9, you will have at least a fundamental understanding of optics.

[Dougjgreen]

BTW, the fundamental difference in the Kiera Knightley photos can be expressed in one word: Lighting.

The photo of her in the purple gown was obviously shot with a single on-camera flash - the lighting is fairly harsh, and aimed directly at her. And you can see that her shadow is cast on the gentleman behind her in that photo.

The photo from the movie was obviously carefully lit for effect, with a main diffuse light source from the right side of the frame, with her other side intentionally cast into shadow - although possibly with some very low intensity fill lighting from the other side, it's intentionally much less bright than the main diffuse source of light off to the right of the frame.

[Rocket_Scientist]

Here's my 2 cents... Take a look at the slightly larger Canon P&S Camera, say, the A590 IS (and be sure you get one that DOES have Image Stabilization--it makes an amazing improvement for us amateurs). The A590 IS (and others) also offer a wide variety of settings, such as aperture priority, or even completely manual, that you can experiment with and learn how to produce a wide variety of effects. But if you find that to be too much larnin'... you can always leave it on Automatic.