Question:
I’m considering buying my first camera, and I know hardly anything about cameras. What I do know is that I truly love taking pictures, and I would like to have a good camera that will produce high quality images. It’d be nice to have a camera that produces magazine-quality images (I’m a writer and including pictures would increase the chances that a publication would purchase my work). I have done a lot of browsing the net, and the Nikon N60 looks wonderful. I hear that Nikon is good, and this one looks like it’s in my price range. The one I have found with a lense is $399. Basically….I’m clueless 
Any advice or direction you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch… — Sean Welski
Response:
The N60 is fine for general photogrpahy but it does lack film speed overide and depth-of-field preview features – these can both be very useful when going beyond the snapshot level. If you want auto-focus take a look at the Canon EOS300 (Rebel 2000???) which is a similar price to the N60 – it has the DOF preview & film speed adjustments. If you don’t need auto-focus consider a Nikon FM2n (or SH FM). You’ll need a little time to ’set-up’ a shot with one of these but they are simple, sensibly featured, reliable, etc (everything you need really). Also consider a Canon Elan or Nikon N80 – these two a the next ’step-up’ in terms of features and spec’ – most of us never really need more than these two cameras offer. For high quality magazine shots you’ll need to consider lenses more than camera body. Lenses will be your biggest expense. As a general rule of thumb you get what you pay for but there are some very good optics at keen prices (any 50mm f/1.8 for example). People often get wrapped up in resolution as the be-all-and-end-all of a lenses optical ability. In reality a lenses contrast, lack of distortion, and control of flare are more important issues unless your magazine shots will be printed full page. You should read a lot, ask a lot of questions, and then read a lot more. Read books that are dedicated to the lenses of the ’system’ (Nikon, Canon, Minolta, etc) you choose. Expect to pay dearly for high quality zooms and long tele’s. Also start checking out film info’ – you may well need to shoot slide film and each type has its own unique qualities and ‘look’. The mag’s could provide you with info’ on which type they prefer. Whatever body and lenses you decide to go for save some money for a good, sturdy tripod – all kinds of situations demand the use of one of these (or at least a monopod) if you’re to do justice to a good lens. Finally ‘magazine quality pic’s’ vary between publications. In the UK the average angling mag’ has no standard whatsoever – any old shot will do. On the other hand National Geographic is a magazine of sorts. More than anything a lot of learning, practice and self-critique (and rejection) may be in order to get your shots on the printed page. Simon.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m considering buying my first camera, and I know hardly anything about cameras. What I do know is that I truly love taking pictures, and I would like to have a good camera that will produce high quality images. It’d be nice to have a camera that produces magazine-quality images (I’m a writer and including pictures would increase the chances that a publication would purchase my work). I have done a lot of browsing the net, and the Nikon N60 looks wonderful. I hear that Nikon is good, and this one looks like it’s in my price range. The one I have found with a lense is $399. Basically….I’m clueless Any advice or direction you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch… — Sean Welski
Response:
Cameras can be complex or they can be simple. In many ways you have to decide what you want to do with a camera first. When you say you are looking to publish pictures with your writings, what kind of writing are you doing. If it’s Do It Yourself articles you willl want black and white images and for most magazines the colour slide is still the standard submission. For either of these you will need a camera that can reset the film speed. The N60 is not capable of this. The Canon Rebel 2000 will, and has Depth of filed preview too. If you are doing nature photography for publication you would want something more advanced than the Rebel. The Canon Elan IIe, or similar models from Nikon Pentax or Minolta. Try them out, ask questions here, give us more to work on, as to your needs, and we’ll get you going. * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
hey xeones, here’s the reply that i wrote to someone with a similiar question a few weeks ago . . i was in the same boat as you about a month ago. after doing the requisite internet research, i walked into the store thinking that i wanted a rebel 2k. when i finally got the thing into my hands, it just felt kinda cheap and the back didn’t seem properly aligned on its hinges. that kind of build quility is an instant turn off to me. in addition, the corners of the viewfinder were hidden by the construction of the eyepiece – i really had to strain to see them – not fun. the nikons just felt at home in my hands – the ergonomics and solidity of the n60 just spoke to me. in addition, the weight seemed to add a margin of security to the camera as well, though that might be an illusion. you ultimately need to do the camera store test drive if you haven’t already. just make sure to go in with an open mind. after doing more research, i discovered that the n80 would in fact be a better camera to start off with for the sole reason that it has DOF preview. photographers far more knowledgable than i told me that DOF preview is a critical learning tool – who am i to argue? i also like the ability to manually set the iso speed, multiple exposures, remote shutter release, etc., but that’s beside the point. it won’t meter with MF lenses (which seems like a marketing move more than anything from what i’ve read), but so what – i don’t have 1000s invested in old lenses already and i’m not about to wade through the gruesome consumerism of eBay to buy any. i have an n80 pre-ordered with CWO and I just bought a 50mm f/1.8. you’d probably be better off learning with a 50, which adds about $100 more to your initial investment of ~$470. everyone says ditch the 28-80 lens, except for the camera salemen – what does that tell you? what i guess i’m trying to say is that the n80 seems like a camera you will really grow with and keep around a lot longer than an n60. i look at it like this – you might save $170 now, but you’ll probably keep an n80 around at least twice as long as an n60 – so the n80 is the more sound investment. at least, that’s how i always justify buying my more expensive toys. sorry for the rambling, but it’s late now . . . brian. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m considering buying my first camera, and I know hardly anything about cameras. What I do know is that I truly love taking pictures, and I would like to have a good camera that will produce high quality images. It’d be nice to have a camera that produces magazine-quality images (I’m a writer and including pictures would increase the chances that a publication would purchase my work). I have done a lot of browsing the net, and the Nikon N60 looks wonderful. I hear that Nikon is good, and this one looks like it’s in my price range. The one I have found with a lense is $399. Basically….I’m clueless Any advice or direction you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch… — Sean Welski
Response:
I got a Canon EOS IX Lite, and I love it, I would STRONGLY reccomend it, great pics! And don’t let anyone tell you APS sucks, I can send you some scanned pics if you want to prove they are sharp, and have very little grain (if ANY!). Good Luck! Mark
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m considering buying my first camera, and I know hardly anything about cameras. What I do know is that I truly love taking pictures, and I would like to have a good camera that will produce high quality images. It’d be nice to have a camera that produces magazine-quality images (I’m a writer and including pictures would increase the chances that a publication would purchase my work). I have done a lot of browsing the net, and the Nikon N60 looks wonderful. I hear that Nikon is good, and this one looks like it’s in my price range. The one I have found with a lense is $399. Basically….I’m clueless Any advice or direction you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch… — Sean Welski
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