Photography newbie questions! What to buy?

tommysaver

Hi all,

I currently have a samsung S5 / soon to be S7 Edge, and I love taking pictures... I must have about 80GB of pure photos over the years saved down.

I've decided now is the time to get me something a bit more 'edgy' to help me take better photos / more detailed. Nothing better than a nice hi-res photo on the laptop. I want to use it to learn how to change / adjust settings too.

I like taking photos of cars / bikes but also landscapes, scenery and buildings.

I genuinely have no idea where to start or what is what in the photography world. Would people recommend getting a DSLR?

I'd spend up to around £300 on one, to see if I like it / actually use it haha.

Here's a few I've seen at first glance - very different styles.

1. Nikon

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nikon-D330...b0a3a59c56779e

2. Canon 1300D

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CANON-EOS-1300D-DSLR-Camera-with-18-55-mm-f-3-5-f-5-6-Zoom-Lens-Black-/111987876043?_trkparms=%26rpp_cid%3D575ede20e4b0986bb5a91962%26rpp_icid%3D579a07ade4b000dfc3e0ffdd

3. Fujufilm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FUJIFILM-S9900W-Bridge-Camera-16-2MP-Full-HD-1080p-50x-Optical-Zoom-Black-New-/121985456432?_trkparms=%26rpp_cid%3D575ede20e4b0986bb5a91962%26rpp_icid%3D579a07ade4b000dfc3e0ffdd


Or any other suggestions would be so awesome. Even links / videos I should watch?

Cheers all,

Tom

Cisco001

first link don't work.
Fujifilm is not DSLR

read this
https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/2016-round-up-interchangeable-lens-cameras-under-500

Heedtheadvice

I can not give any advice regarding a specific camera for your use but perhaps some general thoughts having used a variety over the years?

Your main aims really can require different lenses especially if you want action shots of cars/birds. For those telephoto lenses can be very useful for distance work but landscape work really benefits from wide angles (though both lens type are useful for photo types in some instances).

Mobile phones and even Compact digitals really do not make the grade to cover all circumstances but are very handy to carry around and recent ones have some great sensors and provide remarkably good images plus you can just take out of your pocket and shoot!

DSLRs allow, with good lenses, excellent results at both ends of the lens spectrum; telephotos with narrow angles and reasonably good aperture to get in max light or give reduced depth of focus for creativity and with hand focussing and zooming a fast response to frame action shots. (Not sure if the cheaper end of the market with auto functions can match manual control but perhaps you will get other posts that can clarify?)
Wide angles can give far better reduction of aberrations that start to give the fish eye look which make landscapes and buildings look odd when a natural look is required. Sensors can give excellent colorimetry as well as low noise in low light.
In between are bridge cameras that are a good compromise, but nevertheless still a compromise. I currently use one as it is compact and versatile with many auto and manual settings.....but often I wish for the better functionality of an SLR. That is even though it has a big zoom lens (physically small) of good quality with a wider than normal range and over 20 times narrow zoom, stabilisation etc. I find, even though it was in it's heyday one of the best, it is not quick enough in operation for some action shots focussing, zooming etc, for landscapes not wide enough and stitching shots, remarkable though it can be, is never as good plus the led viewfinder suffers in bright sunshine, the optical one not big enough, can only use (a very good but limited)built in flash etc. etc. A great all rounder (a bit dated now too) and I have taken some great shots and videos (imho), no extra lenses required and an easy/light to carry.

However when moving up from a phone I would suspect a modern bridge might be a good step and do much of what you might desire within your price range?

Johnmcl7

Heedtheadvice wrote: »

However when moving up from a phone I would suspect a modern bridge might be a good step and do much of what you might desire within your price range?

The problem with most modern bridge cameras is that they don't offer any better image quality than high end mobiles phones as they use a similarly tiny 1/2.3in sensor to be able to get the ridiculous zooms. The only decent modern bridge cameras are the Panasonic FZ1000 and the Sony RX10 series which use far larger 1in sensors although still smaller than DSLRs and they're pricey.

John

agrinnall

When you say "cars and bikes" do you mean moving, such as at race, or stationary? For the former you need a decent telephoto lens unless you want the subject to be a tiny blurry dot and would be best with a DSLR, but it's not going to come cheap.

tommysaver

Thanks so much guys.

Agrinnall - No, not moving; yet! Would love too in the future though.

arathorn

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

The only decent modern bridge cameras are the Panasonic FZ1000 and the Sony RX10 series which use far larger 1in sensors although still smaller than DSLRs and they're pricey.
John

Johnmcl7 you may want to read this. http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/one-inch-sensor.htm

Haydee_Milera

I would recommend Canon DLSRs. Quite pricey than Nikon but it's better.

[Deleted User]

You might be better off with large sensor compacts

e.g...
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
Canon PowerShot G5 X

I've got a Panasonic LX7, which has a bigger sensor than normal compact cameras, a great lens and is fast as hell. It's not going to win photography awards for its output, but it's a brilliant 'family' camera. The low-light output is amazing. Zoom sucks though.

Figure out exactly what you want to take photos of first. If you go down the dSLR route you need to remember that lenses are more important than the body.

Honey_Badger

arathorn wrote: »

Johnmcl7 you may want to read this. http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/one-inch-sensor.htm

Perhaps more relevant, the review of the Sony RX10iii from the same author (Ken Rockwell) http://www.kenrockwell.com/sony/rx10-iii.htm

photodgm

Most of us on here will only have tried a small number of cameras. Perhaps this link will help.
http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/buying-advice/buying_guides/choosing-a-camera-type-advice-to-help-you-buy-a-camera-2-12271

For reviews on specific cameras I like this site.
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/

If possible get to a shop and handle a camera you are interested in.