Camera Question
 

Ok, So I am going to get a new camera...I really need you to school me on cameras. I have used only point and shoot cameras.
First, I am pretty sure I am going to get a DSLR, but I need to know it will be much more crisp than Point and shoot. But I should say that I have free use of a Leica D-lux 4. So If there is a big difference between that and the DSLR's I will get one but if there is no difference than I will just buy my own Leica.
I am looking at Sony NEX-5, One of the Canon DSLR's, or just stick with a Leica D-lux 4 or 5. Please let me know your opinions. Thanks

Unless you are producing pro prints these days there are
many high end P&S, m4/3's and dslr options. I would stick to something light weight and easy to carry. I have an Olympus EPL-1 and I love it. It takes superb pics with the standard kit lens and I just bought a longer zoom for the kids sports etc. I had a Nikon Slr with many $$ lenses and bought an adapter to keep my 50mm otherwise I am set for a while. There are mny new micro 4/3rds from Sony, Pana. and Olympus worth looking into. Check out dpreview.com for serious religious camera discussions.....

The stuff they are doing with M4/3's are pretty cool. I dumped all of my Cannon DSLR Stuff and went M4/3!

budget?

For most folks starting out with a DSLR, I think it would be pretty damned hard to beat a Canon Rebel and the kit zoom lens. That, with Photoshop and an HP Photosmart printer with the best HP paper, will allow you do do all that most folks will want to do - really crisp 8.5 x 11s, if you want to go that big. Smaller, of course, is much easier, Web-only is a slam-dunk. Key, of course, is developing a bit of technique. These cameras are pretty freakin' smart, but it really helps if the photographer has an idea of how to use them.

No matter what camera you get, if you really want to learn how to take pictures, use the manual settings, if they exist on the camera. This way, you will understand the relationship between shutter speed and F-stops. All you need to learn that is a functioning light meter in your camera.

Once you start to understand that, next you can start to experiment with what shutter speeds work best with the type of photography you are doing. (Ex: taking pics of cars? A higher shutter speed will get you a sharper image, but you don't want to go too high, for then you elminate the 'blur' of the wheels which give the pic a sense of motion).

These days, it is very easy for people to take pictures without any understanding of even basic photography -- but understanding the basics will allow you to take much better pictures. And you can't learn this with a camera that will do everything for you -- you have to be able to 'color outside the lines' at times. :)

If you can find a good 50mm lens for your camera instead of a zoom lens, you will find that the images will be sharper. Yeah, you loose the functionality of a zoom lens, but it will also force you to compose your pictures with more creativity as well!

-Z-man.

PS: I learned photography on a low-end flim SLR with a broken light meter!

The Sony NEX-5 is a point and shoot on roids.(fast-acting systems make the magic happen) ...whereas the Leica and DSLR's are better for those who want quick access to manual control.

aside:
Hey look, reading comprehension fail. (nothing new from webbster)

Didn't Motion just post that he really liked his new Sony NEX-5?

My wife uses an older Canon, EOS20D and I like it but my last three cameras have been Sony, now it's an easy to use DSC HX1, 20x zoom. I use hers once in awhile but changing lenses all the time is more work than I care to do. Most of my pictures are of cars.

The Sony is an excellent choice for a small camera as it uses an APS-C sensor the same size sensor as most DSLR's that are not full frame. The larger sensor will give you a much broader dynamic range that will show more detail overall and especially in highlight and shadow areas where detail is generally lost due to the small sensors not having enough surface area to record them. The Leicas you mention are pretty much the top of the line for P&S cameras, I gave up my SLR and a Leica M8 to go with the Panasonic LX3 and now LX5 as both of them recorded as much detail as I needed for the size prints I'm doing and it is a much easier camera to carry around. The Panasonic is pretty much the same camera as the Leica (Panasonic makes both) at much less money. You can't go wrong with either choice.

Not meaning to hijack the thread. but along similar line of thought. My wife is trying to get good close up shots of her jewelery for a web site. We are considering the new Sony 3/4 type camera.
I do see some very good close up shots here. So I am wondering what is the way to go toward getting these good close up shots, Best cameras to consider along with the Sony? lights? Not looking to get the high digit pro stuff. Suggestions?

Ronster are the Panasonic cameras using the famous leica lenses?

it is hard to give any overall advice w/o knowing your budget, tho Z-man gave you some good generalities to follow

to add to that, a film camera makes good digital photos if you have them scanned at the time the film is developed - you lose the immediacy of a digital camera, but gain

for training in photography, I would avoid a 50 mm lens (35 mm film format) in favor of a mild tele & a moderate wide angle - that will force you to not "cheat" with a zoom lens

one good exercise is to shoot pics of an egg in black & white only for 3 weeks and nothing else

a pocket camera will not give you the low light performance or an SLR, the "ready to hand" knobs and switches, and often the contrast performance BUT a good one can give you nearly everything else and will be in your pocket when the DSLR is not...

you can read existing threads on the Nikon vs. Canon wars...

FWIW, I am a confirmed Nikon DSLR & SLR guy, but I also use a Canon S-95. The Lumix camers are also good.

The Nikon Micro (everyone else calls them macro) lenses & their closeup flash system (replaces their ringlights for most purposes) is outstanding - used to be a macro magazine put out by the same co. that gave out free subscriptions to Industrial Photography magazine - dunno if still exists.

Kodak has or had a great brochure or booklet on macro photography.

If above is too spendy, start a new thread and I can comment on some budget ways to do stuff & I'm sure others know even more. Also state whether subjects will be fixed (car parts on a shelf) or moving - insects, rattlesnakes...

Thank You for the advice. I really know nothing about photography and this is actually for my wife who wants to make it a hobby. Keep the advice coming. Oh yeah I really havent set a budget so feel free to give suggestions, However she doesnt like the idea of lugging a large camera/bag around with us everywhere. This is why the sony is so appealing to her.

check with your local community college to see if they have a beginner photography class.

my dad started taking classes again a few years ago. mainly to get the darkroom time. didnt have the room to build one at home again.
once he got to a certain class level he was able to sign up for just lab time in the darkroom. he still takes a refresure class every now and then to get tips and pointers.

he finally got a DSLR for fathers day. so we will have to see how he takes to digital format.

i went back to film again this summer. wanted to get back to the basics for a while.

ok, give her TWO GIFTS (she'll love it)

1. a pretty, high-end smaller camera that looks like jewelry - IIRC, Leica has just such a new camera out now (And it costs like jewelry too)

2. that class mentioned just above

Rwebb, That will be too much to spend. Ted, that is great advice, however she is currently in her 3rd year of medical school and I think if I mentioned taking a class she would kill me. Maybe I will take the class and teach her the basics.

I'd hate to be a young resident right now...

Anyway, you do have a budget, so... how about the Lumix or the Canon S-95?

I got it b/c it packs a lot of high zoot ability into a fairly small case.

Canon S95

check out the ring - it is not real pretty to look at, but she's been staring at a fair amt. of intestines recently, so...