Quote:
Originally Posted by l_taylor
hi guys,
i know a lot of you are really good at photography and i was wondering if you can help me out here. my girlfriend wants to get into photography and i was wondering what is a good camera she could get? can you please list the price too? i know this isn't the cars pic thread but it's her b'day soon and this is what she wants and i've left it till the last minute, as usual  , so any help would be appreciated. thank you in advance  |
1. Does she want point and shoot or DSLR (interchangeable lenses). If she really wants to "get into" photography, you're probably looking at a DSLR.
2. What is your budget? A camera is a very personal decision. Between Canon and Nikon, they are basically equals. One is no better than the other, you just need to decide which one better suits your needs - the nikon is better than the canon at some things, the canon is better than the nikon at some things.
I would suggest a gift card to a Ritz or Wolf Camera. The pricing is fair, and they include useful beginner courses in digital photography with the camera purchase. You'll also get a bunch of free enlargements. Stuff worth close to $1000, and I used all of mine except the class.
The reason I wouldn't buy her the camera outright is she needs to hold it and decide which one she likes better. I use a high end DSLR, but one big reason I prefer it is the size (I have large hands) and the interface. A friend of my wife is an excellent photographer, but prefers a smaller, lighter mid grade camera becuase she has small hands and can't effectively handle one like mine.
Any argument about one brand takes better pictures than another is a half truth. Different technology can take a better picture (full frame sensor vs. crop sensor), but you really have to enlarge a picture quite a bit to see it. Both Canon and Nikon offer full frame sensors, but they are more expensive, and really not necessary for a noob or even experienced amature.
For a noob, especially a girl (assuming she has smaller hands) I would look at the D40x or XTi for a budget, or the D60 or XSi (I think that's the new Canon) if you want to spend a little more. The one to buy is the one that feels more comfortable, and is easier to adjust. They both have the same important features: shutter release, the ability to use manual focus (although both are autofocus cameras), white balance adjustment, ISO adjustment, aperature and shutter speed adjustment, and a hotshoe for a flash. Every other feature is just gravy that gets in the way of learning how to shoot.