Just getting started - need help

[utlawag]

Hello everyone,

Hopefully someone will be able to help me. My fiance (current school teacher) is thinking about getting into photography (on the side at first and maybe as an occupation in the future).

She takes very good pictures with a point and shoot camera but this Christmas I was thinking about getting her a nice camera. The problem is that I am an absolute ignoramus when it comes to cameras, so I wanted to get some advice on what kind I should be looking into.

(1) I would like to spend around $500. I want to get her a camera that is somewhat basic (she isn't an expert or anything either) but that will also allow for more advanced photography (especially as she learns).

(2) I don't necessarily have to get a digital camera and have been looking at the 35mm Rebel cameras. However, I don't want to buy something that will be obsolete by this time next year. Should I be looking more towards digital?

(3) We live in Austin, Texas. There a numerous beautiful outdoor scenes around here so I think I definitely want something for outdoor use.

(4) Also does anyone have any suggestions on what she should do to get more involved in photography. We have looked into a few classes at UT, but does anyone have an specific advice that would be helpful to a beginner. How did you get started? etc.

Any answers and advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt

[another view]

I'm gonna sound like a Nikon commercial here - I just shoot their stuff though, not a stockholder or anything ;) ! Canon is good too but I'm not familiar with their equipment, someone else can cover that. I'd stick with one of those two brands because of the lenses, accessories and digital bodies available in either.

For that amount, check out the Nikon N80 - it has most of what the other pro film cameras have except the AF speed, film advance speed and tank-like construction. It should serve her well for a long time. That amount will buy you the N80 body and one fairly inexpensive lens - great rebates thru the end of the year, too. Their 28-105 zoom is a great lens for the money but the two together might be a little over your limit. Film SLR's in general don't really go obselete like digital cameras do so I wouldn't be as worried about it.

Nikon School has a great one-day course that's probably more inspirational than anything else but I thought it was well worth it. Rocky Mountain School of Photography has some traveling "festivals" which are a weekend of two-hour long classes that you pick from - the school is in Montana but the festivals are all over the country, 4-5 per year. If they're not near you next year they might be the year after that. After she gains some experience and if she decides to pursue it on a professional level, check out the Texas School of Professional Photography held at Texas A&M for a week in April.

And the best place to learn? Right here!

[Clemmie]

On a $500 budget, you could get her a Minolta Maxxum 7 and one lens.

The Max 7 isn't the most often recommended 'beginner' camera, but it can certainly excel at the job. Full automation makes for an easy 'quick start' - simple as the simplest 'point and shoot' - while having every possible capability available as she advances, without having to buy additional cameras. (You will be buying additional lenses over time, of course.)

She won't ever 'outgrow it' - nor will it be 'obsolete next year'. Well worth the 'leap' if one is serious about doing photography right. It is, in a word, the 'ultimate' film camera. And an excellent value.

[CaSousa]

The Canon equivalent of the Nikon N80 would probably be the Elan 7 (or 7N/NE). Having had both the Rebel 2000, and now the Elan 7NE, i would say that it is a great camera for someone to learn an SLR on. The basic functions are fairly easy to learn, and the camera has a vast amount of advanced functions for when she becomes more familiar with the camera and the art. The shear number of dials and switches can be overwhelming at first, especially if you're not used to it... but this is the case for pretty much all modern SLRs (film and dig).
As you probably know, the lenses are almost more important than what camera body you choose, as optical quality will be the determining factor for sharp pictures. Both Canon and Nikon have a huge range of lenses of varying qualities (and subsequently price range).

Good Luck with your search!

[utlawag]

Thanks for the help guys, it was extremely useful.

I went to Wolf Camera today and the salesperson there seemed to try to talk me out of the Nikon N80 and the Canon Elan and into the Canon Rebel Ti. She said it was newer and a better deal for the $ which would leave me with more $ to spend on accessories. Plus she said my girlfriend as a beginner wouldn't notice any different in the functionality.

I wanted to get your opinions on that.

She also really enoucraged me to go digital because she claimed that now that there are 6.0 megapixel digital cameras, the film cameras are going to be obsolete, however, I think digital may be a little too pricey for me right now.

I don't know who much she actually knew and how much was BS, but I definitely trust your opinions over hers.

Anyway, thanks again for all the advice.

Also, if I get the Rebel Ti, I will be able to spend more money on lenses (about $200). What would be your advice as far as lense go? What is a good lense that a beginner would get a lot of use out of (if they are taking outdoor, scenic shots)?

Thanks

[another view]

A digital SLR will start about $900 for just the body, no lens or memory card(s). I wouldn't be too worried about film cameras going obselete - the price of used pro 35mm bodies has fallen a lot in the last year or so but 35mm film will be around for a long time. Can't make specific Canon recommendations so I'll let someone else step in here...

[drg]

Cameras can be pretty personal items as a pro lives with them all day. Big hand, small hands , type of photography in general can affect the choice tremendously. The major brands in the price range your speaking are fairly competitive except in accessories and their availability.

You can get anything for Nikon and Canons. Every thing else starts getting iffy in the 35mm format, even in large Metro areas. Somebody (often one store or chain) may have exactly what you need, but its in L.A. and your on vacation on Maui.

If this is a learning camera, that's one thing. If your encouraging a budding photographer get them something they can use for years. I have cameras that still get occasional use that are nearly as old as I am. (Let's just say AF seems like a fairly recent innovation).

Every photographer who aspires to improve needs to spend time with one REALLY good lens early on in their training. Good Primes (50mm/1.8 for example) are great to have in the bag.

The lens is the place to put the money. Short of warranty work anymore if a body breaks toss it and buy a new one unless its one of the top of the line D1's, D2's, F5-6, 1v's, Elans
1d's etc. The lens is what gets you started.

Another Accessory you might want to consider is good system flash for whatever you decide is the camera of your choice. I do use pop up flashes for fill and the occasional shot
or to even trip slaves, but that big ugly and fairly costem system flash is ultimately important. After all, this whole thing is about manipulating light, and if you don't have it, you can't do it!

A basic photo class at the Community College, or the like is another place to get fundamentals or if you are members of the University community check the catalog. They may have specific requirements for a camera for the class.

A lot of what people call advanced photography isn't just the camera. The camera makes it easier. Your fiance needs to be able to shoot every day. You might even consider buying her a "gift certificate" of processing/developing/printing from a local commercial processor or a good photo store in house lab.

This biz gets costly sometimes

Good luck
C

[JTurner538]

I recomend the elan 7n. I own a Rebel Ti and it's a great camera but I wish I had a more "sturdy" camera. I gaurantee she won't notice a difference in features between the Ti and Elan any time soon; however, she'll notice a difference in the feel. The Elan is made out of metal while the Ti has a plastic body. I wouldn't worry about jumping to digital just yet. While they are great and the wave of the future, film is just fine for a beginner....especially when you consider the price difference. Also, Wolf is an excellent place to ask questions but, from my experience, you'll get a MUCH BETTER deal from www.bhphotovideo.com! Just my two cents!
Justin