I just want nice pictures.

[ddbowdoin]

Although I totally agree with what you said above this, the "basic art of photography" IS technical crap. Photography wouldn't exist without the technical crap...and I'm definitely not just talking about digital cameras.

a lot of chemistry too!

 

[flynnibus]

It boils down to...

• The user defines the upper boundary of what a shot *can* be based on their artistic choices
• equipment increases the *potential* of achieving the optimum within a set shot...
• better equipment *can* (not necessarily *does*) raise the starting point of what 'anyone can do..' within that potential for that shot
• No one has built a camera yet that can get the full potential out of a shot automatically..
• The user's technical ability is what stands between getting the shot from the camera baseline, up to the camera's maximum potential

It's a symbiotic relationship. One can not achieve without the other.

The equipment can not decide what to shoot with what desired effects - but the equipment sets the upper boundary for that chosen shot, and can help people get closer to that upper limit.

Or put simply.. a better camera is never gonna tell you which way to point.

 

[WDI 1998]

"Caught up in gear and technical crap..." Seriously? I am planning to buy a camera.

I thought that people in a photography section might have some helpful advice on that subject.

Wacky me.

If I were you I would drop a few hundred on a good point and shoot and start there. I used to have a Cannon P & S that gave me great color and some flexabiblity on settings but was easy to use. I would still be using it if someone did not bend the prongs in the memory card slot. You can always upgrade to a better camera down the road if you so desire.

 

[celtic20]

2 bits of advice:

1 - Learn how to use your camera. By that i mean learn how to get it to do what you want it to do. You can do that in your own back yard... and by that, i mean you should start there.

2 - Learn how to make a photo. Learn basic framing, composition, etc. Spend $20 on the national geographic field guide to photography. Study it. Try things.

That's what I have done, walking around the yard taking pictures of everything from the garbage cans to the dog. I am learning what works and what doesn't. It has made me think about how I want the picture to look and not just shoot aimlessly. I also look at a lot of pictures online and in magazines and try and recreate them. I know that on my next Disney trip my pictures will be 100 times better.

 

[luv]

Well, my decision was made for me. I got a Canon Rebel and some lenses for Christmas.

I was too scared to do anything with it for about three days. I ordered and started reading books and finally got up a little courage and have started using it. I'm taking pictures of everything - popcorn tins, the cat, the knick-knacks on the bookshelves, the washer and dryer, all kinds of stupid stuff. It's fun.

In the future, I'll ask photography questions on photography forums, which I should have in the first place, I think.

Thanks to all who were helpful.

 

[ddbowdoin]

Well, my decision was made for me. I got a Canon Rebel and some lenses for Christmas.

I was too scared to do anything with it for about three days. I ordered and started reading books and finally got up a little courage and have started using it. I'm taking pictures of everything - popcorn tins, the cat, the knick-knacks on the bookshelves, the washer and dryer, all kinds of stupid stuff. It's fun.

In the future, I'll ask photography questions on photography forums, which I should have in the first place, I think.

Thanks to all who were helpful.

it will take some time to get used to the increase in size, but the image quality will do you very well.