 BetterPhoto Member |
Beginner: Do I start with SLR or Digital? I want to start learning and taking pictures. I have read through a substantial amount of information on this website. I would love to be able to take beautiful pictures someday. When I compare the digital pictures to film pictures, I think that digital looks better. My question is, Where do I start? Do I need to learn SLR first before I progress into advanced digital? I would like to buy a camera and I'm still not sure what type to go with(Digital or SLR) and once I know the type,what model I should start with for someone who wants to progress in the talent?
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
I think you just saw a better picture that happened to be from a digital. But first, Slr can be digital or film, so you only need to worry about what you get in reference to what you want to end up doing. You may want to build houses, but if you want to do more than build birdhouses, you need more than a hammer. But it's not the hammer that builds a sloppy birdhouse. Think more of what you plan on doing with the photos, whether you want/need to email/upload with scanning negatives. Do you just like being able to make prints without needing to drop off film. It's really about learning to take pictures. Neither one will inherently make anybody better at doing it. And I don't think as some people say that digital will accelerate your learning. Buy something that you can build on with lenses, flashes, type of pictures you want to do.
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Diane Dupuis |
Go digital!! The instant feedback and chance to take the shot over again while you are still there are priceless! Depending on what your budget is, and what you plan to take pictures of (it is best if you know ahead of time that you want to take macro shots, or action sports shots, etc..) - check out the many review sites online (including BP). Just do a google search for digital camera reviews. Good luck - its a tough decision!
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Shauna Linde |
I really like my Film camera- I have a Nikon N80. I haven't worked a lot with digital cameras but obviously you do get the instant gratification with digital- seeing what you just took and knowing right away how it turned out. Rather than taking rolls of film to make sure you got the right shot. I like working with film for a number of reasons. I develop and print my own b&w film and LOVE the overall process that involves. I like seeing the image "come alive" when I have the paper in the developing tray-- that is my satisfaction. I also was taught using a film camera and from a teacher who was pretty firm that digital cameras were "cheating". Although we all know that's not the truth....I was biased a bit. I have felt that more work is put into film photography than digital. Now before I get a SLEW of replies saying "that's not true!!", I want to say- yes, it's probably NOT the truth. You learn a TON using Photoshop and programs like it on how to manipulate just the same as someone doing it the old fashioned way. And I am delving into the world of Photoshop to learn all about it. If you don't mind waiting for your prints to come back from a camera shop, or if you want to learn the process of developing (And have somewhere to do it), then you would probably really enjoy a film camera. If you would rather see your work right away and don't have (or want) the opportunity to work in a darkroom, then digital would be the better choice. It's really just personal preference. Do some research on both types. Look into how chemical developing of film is done- see if it interests you...that might help you decide. :)
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
"seeing what you just took and knowing right away how it turned out. Rather than taking rolls of film to make sure you got the right shot." That's where people take the wrong approach to it for me. If it's using roll count to get the shot right, you'll still be using shot on top a shot to get it right if it's digital.
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Jacques G-L |
Charles, every one is right; have you been in a photo exposition recently? Get the camera info of each pic, surprise...most are analog"film". Of corse if it's exclusively for the net, dont loose your time with films. To get a good digital result including printing, is too much money for me. I'm happy of your interest in taking pics thats fantastic, go digital, but if you really want to learn light secrets, compensation, sensibility and emotions your better with dark room. Anyway all digital professionnal photographer have been analog before. Whay, the recent age of the digital; maybe. Here is a jungle.
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