MikeCyrus From Israel, joined Jan 2009, 21 posts, RR: 0 Posted (4 years 4 months 1 week 5 days ago) and read 2604 times:
Hello all im new here and i really want to get involved with the community and start uploading pics soon.
What kind of camera as a newbie would be the best to go for?
I really dont have alot of money as im a student so if it means saving iam willing to do this... could u advise me on what camera would be the best too start off with and how much am i looking at.
All help is appreciated and i look forward to getting to know you fellow aviator enthusiasts
Hernan From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 93 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (4 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 2578 times:
I would recomend a full featured conpact, a superzoom like the Canon SX10, less than 300dls. online, good luck!
JakTrax From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 4741 posts, RR: 8 Reply 3, posted (4 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 2528 times:
Mike,
How serious are you about getting into aviation photography? Have you already tried it at any point? Can you see it lasting a long time?
Reason I ask is that if you opt for a decent compact (otherwise know as 'point-and-shoot' or 'P&S' for short) and subsequently really enjoy the hobby, it's quite likely that you'll tire of the camera and its limitations pretty quickly - and pretty soon you'll find yourself wanting a DSLR and regretting your original purchase.
If you can see longevity in your hobby, without doubt go the extra mile and get a DSLR - Sony's entry-level models are currently within your budget, although some decent glass will mean another bit of saving! Still, all worth it in the end; IF you stick with it. Of course the other side of the coin is if you go the full hog and buy a DSLR, only to find in a few months that you really didn't want it, haven't the time to take the learning curve and find aviation photography's not for you.
MikeCyrus From Israel, joined Jan 2009, 21 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (4 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2520 times:
Karl thanks for the long message nice to see members keen to help newbies like my self.
A little about my aviation intrest:
From the time i was 4 i have wanted to be a pilot its all i see my self doing and my intrests havnt changed since then and ill be 18 in march.
I have been with a friend of mine to johannesburg international many time in the past (zak economides) he has a couple of photos on here.... sadly i was using a film camera so yea not much hope there, he was using the canon d300 and wow amazing camera but way out of my budget.
Do i see this as a long hobby diffently, Im proud to say that iam completely in love with aviation and the only thing i can ever see my self doing is becoming a pilot.
Hope that gives ya abit more info about me
Ill be waiting for your reply as to see what you recommend as the best option
JakTrax From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 4741 posts, RR: 8 Reply 6, posted (4 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 2499 times:
Of course you should take the Lumix. Try it out for a few months and if you like it consider getting yourself a DSLR. You will find limitations after a while and the aviation photog's natural choice is of course a DSLR but for free you're in the perfect situation.
If you decide it's not for you then you've lost nothing, and if you love it you should have saved enough whilst you've been using the Lumix to afford a decent DSLR.
MikeCyrus From Israel, joined Jan 2009, 21 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (4 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 2493 times:
Thanks yea he coming buy later tonight to drop it off
Was looking at some of the picture quality really seems like a perfect intro camera, Karl how much am i looking at for a canon D300, do u recommend this camera and is it worth saving for?
I just want an all round point of view as to wether or not you think i should try get the canon d300?
JakTrax From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 4741 posts, RR: 8 Reply 8, posted (4 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 2484 times:
If you really want to get into serious aviation photography you're going to ultimately have to invest in a DSLR - that's just the way it goes and many folks who start with compacts find their limitations irritating after a while and move up to something better.
The Canon EOS 300D (not D300 - that's a mid-range Nikon) was released in 2003 and was an innovation back then. It was the first budget DSLR and was solely responsible for allowing the masses a step into semi-pro digital photography. In fact the DSLR market would probably not have flourished into what it is today had it not been for the 300D.
The 300D is now of course discontinued but it remains a firm favourite amongst many digital shooters and can still hold its own quality-wise today, although it can be a little slow compared with recent models. Price-wise they can be picked up at reasonable cost second-hand - look at Ebay for current prices (if you're lucky a couple of hundred dollars).
Perhaps a better idea is to look at the Canon EOS 350D, which although again discontinued still offers features not too disimilar to current models. Even the 400D may be a possibility. Don't forget though, that the lens you attach to the front of your camera is about the most important bit - quality glass, even on a low-end body, will really shine, whereas chaep plastic rubbish on even the most expensive of cameras will give only mediocre results. Still, not all budget lenses are crap and you can get great results with almost any lens if you use it properly. The best thing about DSLRs is that you can build up your lens collection however quickly or slowly you wish - start with budget stuff and work your way up.
MikeCyrus From Israel, joined Jan 2009, 21 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (4 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 2482 times:
Thanks karl that was just the description i was looking for.
Well im recieving my lumix fz10 tonight so luckily i can go to the airport this weekend and try it out will diffently post some pics for you too see and get your advise on.
When i have enough money about 300-500 dollars i will diffently pm you and ask what the next step is but as a introductory camera i think ill be happy with the lumix fz10.
Looking really forward to gettting started in this.
JakTrax From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 4741 posts, RR: 8 Reply 10, posted (4 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 2479 times:
Yes Mike, the Lumix will be your perfect introduction. What you do thereafter we can advise you on here. If you're starting out as a casual shooter and don't know all the ins-and-outs of photography a compact is great - shoot in the Auto modes at first then move up with experience from there. Once you've learned a bit about the basics of photography you can start to use the more manual modes, and eventually this should lead you to desire a DSLR. Only then can the final (and perhaps most important) part of the learning curve be completed.
Enjoy your new toy, and post some of your shots here so we can give some feedback.
On a final note, to get a good idea of what standards this site requires, have a good look through the database - this will show you basically what you need to be aiming for and trying to replicate shots already in the database should be a good exercise. Any questions about "How did he get that?" or "What do I have to do to make mine look like that?" just shout.
MikeCyrus From Israel, joined Jan 2009, 21 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (4 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 2460 times:
Just got my camera and its amazing im heading to the airport on saturday and sunday cant wait to put it to the test anyways i took a photo of my baby corn snake as you can see quality is really good.
AKE0404AR From United States of America, joined exactly 13 years ago today! , 2534 posts, RR: 50 Reply 14, posted (4 years 4 months 1 week 4 days ago) and read 2435 times:
Mike,
Your enthusiasm is so cool. Absolutely love it. I can relate to it. I have been the same way...well maybe 15 years ago.
Don't get me wrong, I still love aviation and the photography part but priorities in life do change......
As Karl already mentioned a DSLR is the way to go in the long run! Remember buy once and buy the right equipment. Rather wait some time, save up. I started with an analog camera back in the days and I can tell you photography equipment is not cheap, actually it can cost you a fortune!
MikeCyrus From Israel, joined Jan 2009, 21 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (4 years 4 months 1 week 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 2425 times:
Thanks vasco
Appreciate the advise and ye haha im really enthusiastic about it
I will diffently be saving up for a decent dslr camera... at the moment my camera i got this evening seems to be doing really nicly
As i say true test will come on saturday and sunday....Will be at O.R tambo internation (johannesburg international) hopefully for the whole day just taking pictures... I find some times i can go to an airport and spend hours there just drinking coffee and watching the people check in and watching planes take off... there is something about a airport that captures me, im sure u know this feeling vasco
Anyways thanks for advice and lets hope i have some pics accepted on saturday and sunday .
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