Camera?

Hello again everyone Not posted in a bit... anyway an update... I love photography that much that Ive decided to do it full time at college and then I hope to carry it on at uni.. so with all this Im guessing I need a proper camera! Any ideas?

I guess the obvious questions are what will you need for your course and how much are you looking to spend ?

^^what Phil said

Money isnt really a problem I guess Ive listed some of the things we should be doing on the course:

Darkroom Practice
• Photographic Studio Techniques
• Darkroom Applications
• Location Photography
• Specialist Location Photography
• Photography Location Techniques
• Experimental Imagery in Photography
• Lens-based Image Making
• Image Manipulation Computer Applications

So I guess ill be needing something "all round"

We really do need a budget you had in mind, as you could spend thousands or just a few hundred on some kit

If you are just starting out, perhaps look at the entry level cameras such as the Nikon D40 or D60, the Canon 100D, or the Sony A200

ok up to 800?

For that money you can look at the 'enthusiast' cameras depending on what lens.

Canon 40D, Canon 450D, Nikon D300, Nikon D80, Sony a700, Pentax k20D, Samsung GX20.

I guess the list is endless.

The other option is of course to look at slightly lower priced entry level bodies and get a costlier lens.

If i were you I would ask the lecturers what equipment you would need for the course instead of guessing. You could find yourself buying something that isn't necessary or not buying something that is.

Bazza

From that syllabus you'll need a very all round camera that shoots film AND digital!

Bazza is spot on, speak to the lecturer's, but take what they say with a pinch of salt.

Colleges and Uni's are nomally well behind the 'real' world when it comes to technology. So don't expect them to have the best and newest of anything.

You will probably spend a good part of the course running around with an old film body, as you will probably have to process (develop) a large number of you own prints, by doing this you will learn where all these wonderful photoshop terms like Dodge and Burn come from.

I would guess you will need a fully manual film body, something really old (Zenit) that won't need batteries would be a good start. You can buy old lenses for these bodies dirt cheap (i mean 5 quid a throw from ebay) but they will be surprisingly good.

You could also buy a body that can use current leses, so buy a Canon EOS 100 for example (or a 50 or 500) then any lenses you buy you can use on a digital Canon body.

I say Canon because that is what I use, for model numbers and compatible lenses of say Nikkon or Minolta (Sony) someone else would be better to advise.

Basically, don't go made, the courses you do won't require any 'pro' kit. Then you can spend the rest of your money on a nice Digital to use the rest of the time.

Alan.