Digital Camera

[nlash]

Have you tried using slave flash guns which trigger when the flash on the camera fires?

With a compact this method would be a real hit and miss affair, as there would be no way off controlling the light hitting the camera lens without the use of a flash meter and even then, the camera would require a manual setting to be able to set the aperture correctly.

What you are describing here is similiar to a studio set up, which is impossible without a lightmeter

[Boomy]

Just to clear up what I was saying earlier...

Indeed, makes sense Sir.

I probably didn't get the point across as clearly as i should, i was just trying to say that i was suprised how getting such a camera actually started to make me think a little more about pictures is all.

I do experiment with it on various settings, mostly trial and error but i always know the auto mode is quite a safe way of just grabbing shots.

I was just glad looking back that i didn't go for one of the more run of the mill cameras, however things seem to of moved on since then it seems looking at the specs of these newer units!.

The 350D is what a friend of mine got recently as it happens.The various lenses etc he has also purchased for it make my E-10 look like a simple boots disposable affair!.

I was also quite shocked at the prices once you become quite heavily involved, quite an eye opener.

Regarding the point about changing cameras in 5 years, i see what you mean.I just thought you may have inside knowledge on the next big thing that would make current technology redundant or something!.

[Fat Albert]

nlash

25 years ago my OM-2 was the bees knees, an SLR with through the lens metering even while the shutter was open (e.g. the exposure was correct even if light levels  changed on the subject during the exposure) but still small enough to fit my jacket pocket. Half the size (and weight) of the Nikon, Pentax, etc. competition even pros carried one for 'that' unmissable unplanned shot.

Every camera I've bought or tried since has failed to match it for usability mostly because the compromise between size and function has never been equalled. I am unaware of any digital SLRs that meter while the shutter is open.

For me, the industry has failed the consumer, producing cameras that make it more rather than less difficult to take a good photograph. They must thank God for Photoshop every day.

My advice, never buy a camera without a viewfinder, use the viewfinder to compose the picture, in fact turn off the useless lcd, without it the batteries will last 10 times as long. You get what you pay for (unless its Nikon, Contax or Hassleblad).

TANSTAFFL

[Boomy]

My advice, never buy a camera without a viewfinder, use the viewfinder to compose the picture, in fact turn off the useless lcd, without it the batteries will last 10 times as long. You get what you pay for (unless its Nikon, Contax or Hassleblad).

I must admit i have never used an LCD screen on a camera, apart from the example below that is.It just doesn't feel right to me.

The only time i have used that feature is when i was say taking a pic of the underneath of a car etc.I can fold out the screen so it is facing up at me and just hold the camera by my feet.It just saves having to get down on the floor.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

and just hold the camera by my feet.It just saves having to get down on the floor.

er, you don't go "Ook" a lot and have a taste for bananas by any chance?        

[Boomy]

and just hold the camera by my feet.It just saves having to get down on the floor.

er, you don't go "Ook" a lot and have a taste for bananas by any chance?        

Cheeky Monkey  

[nikpro]

nlash

25 years ago my OM-2 was the bees knees, an SLR with through the lens metering even while the shutter was open (e.g. the exposure was correct even if light levels  changed on the subject during the exposure) but still small enough to fit my jacket pocket. Half the size (and weight) of the Nikon, Pentax, etc. competition even pros carried one for 'that' unmissable unplanned shot.

Every camera I've bought or tried since has failed to match it for usability mostly because the compromise between size and function has never been equalled. I am unaware of any digital SLRs that meter while the shutter is open.

For me, the industry has failed the consumer, producing cameras that make it more rather than less difficult to take a good photograph. They must thank God for Photoshop every day.

My advice, never buy a camera without a viewfinder, use the viewfinder to compose the picture, in fact turn off the useless lcd, without it the batteries will last 10 times as long. You get what you pay for (unless its Nikon, Contax or Hassleblad).

TANSTAFFL

The OM2 was a beautifull camera but things have moved on considerably since then.

The metering on modern cameras is far more advanced than the OM2's could have ever dreamed of and yes most DSLR's meter whilst the shutter is open and also meter the flash whilst shutter is open.

Contrary to what you say most proffesionals did not carry an OM2 in their pocket; the weapon of choice in the eighties was the Nikon F3 and the lens mount between Nikon/canon/Pentax and olypus was and still is completely different so a professional who had a large investment in his glass (lenses) would not have selected a different make of camera from his main system.

If you know what you are doing an OM2 will still produce as good as a result as anything but film has so many dissadvantages compared to digital.

Digital will improve your photography so much quicker as it alows you to see instant results.

Main advantage with film is a far greater exposure latitude but I would never encourage a beginer to buy film.

Boomy's suggestion of buying an older top system camera makes a lot of sense; you can make it as simple as possible to take the picture and you still have room for expansion.

A great camera is also a Canon G3.

Unless you go for a pro DSLR the viewfinder will only give approx 95% coverage so the LCD can be usefull for 'close ups' where parralax error within the viewfinder of a compact is at it's greatest.

I find the cannon Ixus a little 'noisy' in low light; this doesn't mean it's loud but the image suffers from digital noise (speckles of colour in the image).

This post is probably way above your head but you will get a far better camera buying second hand as Boomy suggests.

Why don't you get what you pay for with Nikon,Contax or Hassleblad??

(Boomy - These cameras are definately to gain revenue!! )

PS the camera on the Sony Ericson K750i phone is also pretty good and I have made reasonable prints up to A4 using it - my signature pic was taken with it!

[Kevin Wood]

QUOTE

The metering on modern cameras is far more advanced than the OM2's could have ever dreamed of and yes most DSLR's meter whilst the shutter is open and also meter the flash whilst shutter is open.

This is very true. The logic behind how the metering is interpreted is better too. Witness the fact that most decent cameras these days have no problem generating acceptable results with challenging lighting, even when left in program mode whereas with an OM2 you'd have to be good with the exposure compensation to achieve the same.

QUOTE

Digital will improve your photography so much quicker as it alows you to see instant results.

I have always been a keen but not fanatic photographer. When I used film only (and I still love using film) I knew all the theory and tried to apply it but when you can only see the results long after you've forgotten what you did (no, I'm too lazy to take notes of how I took every shot) you don't learn. The cost of film also tends to discourage experimentation.

Now I've got a digital SLR and it has improved my technique no end because when I'm in a challenging situation I try a load of different things and then have a look through the results and decide what worked and what didn't with everything still fresh in my mind.

What you learn from digital photography in this way you can apply to film as well, on the whole.

Kevin

[Reidy]

Have just recently bought myself a new camera, A Fuji Finepix S9500, First impressions of it are really good and I think with a little time and experimentation will produce cracking images, It was not cheap but I am keen to try and use this camera to its full potential and see what results I can get.

http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/digital....flash=8

[Blatman]

QUOTE

decide what worked and what didn't with everything still fresh in my mind.

And if you forget, there's always the histogram to refer to...

[Martin Keene]

[i like promoting photography as a hobby and will always try and help anyone looking to explore what the camera can do

You offering lessons then?

I need to explore getting better results from panning/ fast moving shots

Practice. And lots of it... Took me a long time to get it right, but I now reckon I can get the shot 95% of the time. Although it is speed dependant, I tried taking some at the Rockingham 500 Indycar race, hopeless, they move too damn fast!

[robthehungrymonkey]

I have to confess, I haven't had a chance to read every post on this thread, but thought I'd just add the benefit of my recent experience. (if it's already been mentioned, i apologise)

Firstly, megapixels sell cameras, but don't just go for the highest resolution you can find (I'm sure nlash  has already mentioned this, and knows a lot more about it than i do). My Dad bought a very early digi camera for work use, this had a good Olympus lens but only 1.3 megapixels (cost about £900 at the time). Which is the same as my phone now has. I took the following pic (clicky) years ago with this camera, and has since been blown up to A4 from the same resolution without it looking anyway bad (i was very very surprised by this!). Could my phone do that?!?! I don't think so.

2ndly, have a look out for a camera that's been out of date for a year or so, and has been replaced by something that is slightly smaller, or has a slightly bigger screen. A couple of people have asked me the same question recently and have gone down this route and found complete bargains.

Just my 2p. Hope it helps.

[Molydood]

yep, some good comments re the megapixel marketing nonsense for sure. well worth looking around for the bargains cameras that have been 'upgraded' so to speak

I am about to get rid of my Canon digital SLR (as I have 'upgraded'), they can be had for not much more than your budget and take much better pictures generally. mail me this week if you are interested in mine and we can talk about a special forum price for ease of sale

failing that, take a look on ebay, there are loads there I expect (canon 300d or nikon d50/70)

Martin

[bofus]

Canon Powershot A540 and a decent set of 2500mAH NiMH batteries......Ebuyer.com had them recently.

Got one, been using it for the last two months...totally superb for the money, size, speed

[nikpro]

Practice. And lots of it... Took me a long time to get it right, but I now reckon I can get the shot 95% of the time. Although it is speed dependant, I tried taking some at the Rockingham 500 Indycar race, hopeless, they move too damn fast!

Biggest problem with consumer digital is the shutter lag required to charge the sensor - makes taking fast moving subjects quite difficult to say the least. Only top end DSLR's (pro bodies) give what I would call an acceptable shutter lag.

blatters - you are correct in reading the histogram but not many people know how to do this properly!