Hi.
I am looking to take up a bit of amateur glamour photography as a hobby. What budget camera would be best to get me started, nothing too expensive as I will build up equipment over time?
Many thanks.
Which camera.
Re: Which camera.
Canon 550d is a great choice for starting out but you don't say what you budget is? As this is where it matters as a lens will cost a lot if want something good.
You can buy the 550d with the kit lens for around 490 pounds from jessops, but if you are doing "glamour photography as a hobby" you need to factor in the price of a flash unit again canon 430exII cost around 200 pounds plus you'll need 4 rechargeable batteries with charger about 15 pound, memory card, etc
So here is the list, to think about.
Canon 550d with kit lens- 490
Canon speedlite 430exII 200
batteries with charger 15
16GB Class 10 Card 20
Bag 25
Tripod 50(plus)
About 800 uk pounds for that lot
One other thing you need to purchase is some software, Adobe Photoshop Elements is a great choice and fairly easy to use.
Any questions ask away.
You can buy the 550d with the kit lens for around 490 pounds from jessops, but if you are doing "glamour photography as a hobby" you need to factor in the price of a flash unit again canon 430exII cost around 200 pounds plus you'll need 4 rechargeable batteries with charger about 15 pound, memory card, etc
So here is the list, to think about.
Canon 550d with kit lens- 490
Canon speedlite 430exII 200
batteries with charger 15
16GB Class 10 Card 20
Bag 25
Tripod 50(plus)
About 800 uk pounds for that lot
One other thing you need to purchase is some software, Adobe Photoshop Elements is a great choice and fairly easy to use.
Any questions ask away.
Re: Which camera.
Agree with PS Elements software suggested by lob on, as for the other kit you'll need, that will depend upon the type of pictures you intend to take.
If you're talking about 'glamour' in the true sense and don't want to hire a studio, I'd save the cost of the dedicated flashgun and get a secondhand studio flash unit, a stand and either a brolly or a softbox. On camera flash fired directly at the model is very harsh and once you start bouncing it off other surfaces to soften it, you lose a lot of range. Generally speaking, studio heads are more powerful than flashguns and are mains-powered so you don't have to carry loads of spare AAs.
If you're shooting with flash, the tripod becomes less of a must-have, unless you intend to appear in the photos or participate in some manner that requires a third-person view of proceedings. If that's the case, get a remote control for the camera too.
In terms of the lens you need, something like an 18-70 range would suit best. As for the camera to choose, there are very few bad ones out there, but don't be conned into thinking more megapixels = better. Go to a shop and look at similarly priced models from Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Sony. Which feels best in your hand? Which has controls that seem logical and easy to use?
When you've decided, don't buy on the spot. Go home, research the price on the internet and then go back to the shop to see what they'll throw in as a sweetener to get your business.
Good luck.
If you're talking about 'glamour' in the true sense and don't want to hire a studio, I'd save the cost of the dedicated flashgun and get a secondhand studio flash unit, a stand and either a brolly or a softbox. On camera flash fired directly at the model is very harsh and once you start bouncing it off other surfaces to soften it, you lose a lot of range. Generally speaking, studio heads are more powerful than flashguns and are mains-powered so you don't have to carry loads of spare AAs.
If you're shooting with flash, the tripod becomes less of a must-have, unless you intend to appear in the photos or participate in some manner that requires a third-person view of proceedings. If that's the case, get a remote control for the camera too.
In terms of the lens you need, something like an 18-70 range would suit best. As for the camera to choose, there are very few bad ones out there, but don't be conned into thinking more megapixels = better. Go to a shop and look at similarly priced models from Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Sony. Which feels best in your hand? Which has controls that seem logical and easy to use?
When you've decided, don't buy on the spot. Go home, research the price on the internet and then go back to the shop to see what they'll throw in as a sweetener to get your business.
Good luck.
Snappy...
...the snap-happy chappy
...the snap-happy chappy
Re: Which camera.
Thanks for all the replies.
Being a typical noob I just thought buy a half decent camera, point and shoot.
I won't be hiring a studio, just photographing at home.
I'll put another thread on here to see if there are any photographers near to Southampton that I could learn from.
Many thanks.
Being a typical noob I just thought buy a half decent camera, point and shoot.
I won't be hiring a studio, just photographing at home.
I'll put another thread on here to see if there are any photographers near to Southampton that I could learn from.
Many thanks.
Re: Which camera.
I would agree with Snappy and say go for a studio flash kit rather than an "on camera" flash gun for shooting glamour.
A simple/basic kit can be picked up reasonably cheap. For example, the Interfit EX150 (2 heads, stands, softbox, shoot through brolly) at just under ?200.00 at Jessops . Probably even cheaper on eBay?
Your photos will thank you for it.
If you go this route, you could start off by tethering the camera to the lights via the supplied "sync lead" but eventually you will find a "radio trigger" much less restrictive. A reasonable one can be picked up for around the ?20.00 mark on eBay.
As for camera, go for a well known brand (Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc) but if budget allows make sure you choose a "Digital Single Lens Reflex" (DSLR) as these will defintely work with studio flash lights (whether your own or hired studio if you do use one). Some point and shoot cameras (Compacts???) will work with studio lights, some "may" and some won't.
DSLR's can also be "expanded" over time with changeable lenses etc so that, as you photography expands, so can your camera.
Go for it, good luck and most of all, have fun !thumbsup!
Myson
!oldie!
A simple/basic kit can be picked up reasonably cheap. For example, the Interfit EX150 (2 heads, stands, softbox, shoot through brolly) at just under ?200.00 at Jessops . Probably even cheaper on eBay?
Your photos will thank you for it.
If you go this route, you could start off by tethering the camera to the lights via the supplied "sync lead" but eventually you will find a "radio trigger" much less restrictive. A reasonable one can be picked up for around the ?20.00 mark on eBay.
As for camera, go for a well known brand (Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc) but if budget allows make sure you choose a "Digital Single Lens Reflex" (DSLR) as these will defintely work with studio flash lights (whether your own or hired studio if you do use one). Some point and shoot cameras (Compacts???) will work with studio lights, some "may" and some won't.
DSLR's can also be "expanded" over time with changeable lenses etc so that, as you photography expands, so can your camera.
Go for it, good luck and most of all, have fun !thumbsup!
Myson
!oldie!