to be honest, If you want to get into REAL photography I suggest you stick with film for now, or atleast to start with. You can pick up old fully manual cameras (perfect for learning the rules of photography on) for less than £30 on ebay.
I work in a photograpghic lab in east london (not a chemist, a proper lab) where we also run a shop and studio etc. We still use film in the studio as my boss prefers it that was for now although he will be changing to digital in the future just to make it easier because joe-public expect to see everything before they get it now
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As far as cameras go, new isnt always the best. Older top of the range cameras can be got extremly cheap now adays. Something like a Canon EOS 650/750/500 are always good buys and were top notch in there day. The only cameras that superseeded them were ones that focused faster and had more built in programs that you never use anwyay, plus they got lighter and smaller. But the older ones have everything you need
My suggestion. Get a cheap old fully manual SLR camera and rent out a book on photography (or follow some excellent tutorials on the net) and learn the basics .What everything does etc, apature, shutter speed, depth of field, light reading, film speeds, different types of films, using a flash properly, different types of filters etc. It will all relate to taking photos using a digital camera in the end. trust me! Something like a Praktica MTL or a pentax K1000 etc. are great cameras to learn on (I have both
).. make sure it comes with lens. preferably something like a 50mm lens. dont get anything over this unless its adjustable like a zoom lens etc. For taking pictures of cars a 50mm is perfect athough you can have alot of fun with wide angle lenses**.
Once youve got that learnt and can take decent photos, THEN get a digital camera
. If you get a Digital SLR and dont know the rules of photography, you wont get decent results unless you use the automatic settings, in which case, your hardly using the camera. Plus, automatic settings dont always get it right for what you want to take a picture of. For example, if you want to take a photo of a car on a track coming past at 8000mph. you will want a shutter speed of atleast 1000th/sec. The automatic setting on the camera will run a light reading and will prob adjust to something like 250th with a 5.6 apature for example on a dull day. not good as the car will just appear as a blur
Digital photography is just like slide film, it has no tollerence which is why with cheaper cameras you see horrible bleached out highlights and dead shadows. the more expencive ones are much better but if the camera gets it wrong ital look horrible.
anyway, im just jibbering on.
as for digital SLRs, the fuji finepix 9500 is superb. I nearly bought one myself but opted for a new film SLR instead
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but anyway, as ive said, if you want to get into proper photography, get a manual SLR, learn the basic rules of photography. THEN you can make the decision of whether to go digital or just get a new film SLR.
Sadly, digital is the way forward but tbh, i dont expect film to die. Fuji are stll bringing out and making new films. Kodak HAVE pulled out but they are going bankrupt anyway so who cares. they shouldnt have been to far up there own arses to realise whats going on.
I will still use film as long as its still avaliable because I prefer it. The argument with digital that you get to see it before so you know youve taken a good photo is stupid. If you learnt to take a picure properly and not cut peoples heads off then you wouldnt need to see it first
People are too impatient now adays! I blame hiphop and mobile phones
PM me if you need any help
http://www.photo.net/learn/making-photographs/
have a read through there, gives you some idea what its all about
although you really need a camera infront of yo to play with.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7607707207&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEUS:IT&rd=1
Its yours for the start price if you want it
**. Wide angle piccies (babz will kill me
)