I am a beginner that has always loved photography but never had the resources to take it any further than just a regular point and shoot digital. I have had a sony p72 digital for a few years now and I just bought a sony
P200, 7.2 MP. However, I still have about 2 weeks until the return time is up on my new camera and am seriously considering taking it back and getting a much better camera, not a point and shoot. I dont know much about them but I am willing to take the time and I still have my older p72 digital so I don't have to worry about missing pics while I am learning the new camera. I could learn first then buy but I don't think I could learn much without a camera to practice on.

What should I buy? I know the best camera is different for eveyone but since I am a beginner I would like something that is somewhat simple to use but yet can be complicated when the time is right. I don't care about what the recording media is, just as long as it is digital. Should I find a cheaper 35mm slr to learn on or just go straight digital? I have to learn photoshop elements yet too so I will be busy but that is how I like to be. I want to take some photo classes but haven't been too successful in finding anything:( Help me out here, I need it.

I don't mind spending money for a good camera but I don't want to pay insanely high prices either. Should I get a camera with the lens included or should I just buy the body and get a different lense? I know that probably depends on what camera I decide on.
What are some good book recommendations to help me learn?

I will leave it at that, sorry so long.

Thanks

Should I find a cheaper 35mm slr to learn on or just go straight digital?
You can get a very good film slr at low price nowadays but it would cost you a lot to practice (developping the films). I think a digital slr would be the best for you. You can use the kit lens in automatic mode at the beginning and later you can get a better lens and use manual settings :)

Thanks for the quick reply, that is what I was worried about with processing costs with film. What do you think of the fuji s5100 for a beginner camera? I can get on one ebay for around $200. Good deal or no? Thanks

You can read some reviews of it at
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilms5100/
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/fuji_s5100.html
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S5100/S51A.HTM

I think it is a good digicam for learning and at that price it is a good deal in my opinion. I see it does not have an image stabilization system so it is better to use a tripod when you are at full zoom.
There is a manual shooting mode that can help you to learn :)
It is good it is using AA batteries as they are cheap to replace and can be found anywhere.

I guess now I need to ask if it will be better than my sony P200? I paid a little more for the P200 but it is a newer camera too. There are some manual options but it is moslty a P&S camera. SHould I keep my P200 and buy this then later buy a higher end camera or should i just go for high end now and skip the S5100? I am so confused on what I am doing b/c I don't know too much yet:(

I would go for a digital slr and skip the S5100 but it is much more expensive because of the lenses... That said, usually you can keep lenses for many years and you would just have to change the camera body if you need to upgrade later.

You need to be a photo fanatic if you want to get a slr because very often your photos might not look as good as the ones taken with your P200. Used with the correct settings, they will be wonderful :)

I read the review of your very well rated camera at http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscp200/ and it looks you have only the manual exposure setting (not the manual aperture setting) so with the S5100 you would still learn more about photography than with the P200.

I want to take some photo classes but haven't been too successful in finding anything

As you are going to take photo classes,the best camera is a D-SLR in my opinion.There you would learn all about lenses,DOF,aperture and you will need a SLR camera for practice :)
For example a photo taken at f8 with a D-SLR and a tele lens is completely different than a photo taken at f8 with a compact camera

I haven't found any available photo classes yet but I did talk to the secretary of the place where I got my senior photos taken and she said the owner may help me out. He has been known to do intership type things with people. The cool thing is he is an all digital studio, the only one anywhere around here. I am hoping he will call and tell me he will teach me everything. In the meantime I am still searching. I am going to call the library on Monday to see if they know of any classes. I am not sure where else to call to find out about classes:confused:

I am really leaning towards getting the rebel xt but I think I am going to go ahead and wait a few months until I can read over the books that I ordered and learn everything I can before jumping in the deep end. Thanks for your help.

**douma, I just love your pics, especially the ones of Avra, you have a beautiful boxer. Someday I hope I can be as good as you are.

I am really leaning towards getting the rebel xt but I think I am going to go ahead and wait a few months until I can read over the books that I ordered and learn everything I can before jumping in the deep end.

Maybe it's just me and it doesn't apply to all cases,but i can't learn reading the books if i don't have the camera on my hands :) i have to practice,if not,i couldn't digested what i read.
I began to learn about photograph with a SLR and applied what i read on magazines and books and photoshop reading many articles on the internet.


**douma, I just love your pics, especially the ones of Avra, you have a beautiful boxer. Someday I hope I can be as good as you are.

Thank you for your kind words :)

Maybe it's just me and it doesn't apply to all cases,but i can't learn reading the books if i don't have the camera on my hands :) i have to practice,if not,i couldn't digested what i read.
I began to learn about photograph with a SLR and applied what i read on magazines and books and photoshop reading many articles on the internet.




Thank you for your kind words :)

I am worried about not having something to learn with but I am also afraid that I will buy the camera and not be able to learn how to use it or not have the time to do anything with it. I really want to learn how to use it but I am afraid of what could happen if I don't:(

On a side note: is there any way to get insurance on an expensive camera? Wasn't sure if there was any thing through like your home insurance or some other stand alone thing? It would be rough dropping a $1000 camera into water, accidents unfortunately happen and I seem to be accident prone:rolleyes:

On a side note: is there any way to get insurance on an expensive camera? Wasn't sure if there was any thing through like your home insurance or some other stand alone thing? It would be rough dropping a $1000 camera into water, accidents unfortunately happen and I seem to be accident prone

Yes you can,along with your home insurance or alone the camera.Ask the salesman there where you will get the camera :)

Well I decided to take a chance on myself and bought a Canon Rebel XT 18-55 kit. I paid $725 - $100 rebate for a total of $625. As far as i can see, that is a pretty good deal. The only downside is that it has an expected ship date of June 1st:( I hope they can get it out before then but I doubt it. I got it from dell and a lot of people are ordering them due to them being on sale. I ordered a digital slr book and I am patiently waiting for the UPS man to bring it today:) I guess I have plenty of time to read it before the camera comes. Please tell me I didn't make a mistake ordering the camera:confused:

Now what is a good cheap bag I can get for it? :rolleyes:

I think you made a good choice and the price is good too. Here is a link about camera bags etc
http://www.photoboard.eu/board/showthread.php?t=148

Well i guess I was wrong, the estimated ship date was June1st but there was an email confirmation saying that is was shipped yesterday. I tracked the package and it looks like it will be here tomorrow:D. I am scared, I just got a book yesterday that I was reading to try to learn how to use it properly and i didn't even get through the first chapeter:eek: I thought I had plenty of time to read. I should be ecstatic but I am truly scared:confused:

Don't be scared, I have a rebel XT and two other or three I think have the Canon DSLRS too. I still don't know how to use everything on it. I also have a book but I think the best way to learn is to have the camera and experiment with it. We are all going to be here to help you out. There are a lot of people on the board with good advice.

Very well said Colleen!Don't be scared,you made the best choice :)

Congratulations for getting the Rebel XT (350D in Europe). It is a camera very easy to use. I am using it with the Sigma 18-200 (very good does it all lens), the Canon 50mm (very sharp and cheap) and the Sigma 105 Macro (great as a macro but also as a simple 105mm prime lens).