Digital Photography Community

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I want to start digital photography, but don't know how/where to start.. and I need advice!?

here are my questions:
1. Good digital camera to start with but comes with a LOW PRICE (A good brand and Megapixel size, I'm thinking about 10MP is good enough)
2. Do you know any books or articles in the internet that can help? (Online community will be great!)
3. Tips from pros and just starting as well are very welcome!
4. Aside from a camera, tripod and a photo editing software, what else do you need?

I just recently got seriously into photography. After three years of owning a cheap point-and-shoot, I purchased a more serious camera back in May. I have never taken a photo class, but I plan on it. I have had some art courses, and the rules of composition apply to both. I'm currently a college sophmore and am majoring in either Design or Art. Everything I know I have learned from reading and experience.

1) I would suggest either the Nikon D40 kit or the Canon Digital Rebel XTi kit, unless your wanting a point-and-shoot, than I would suggest either a Canon or Sony. The first two cameras will give you much more control over your pictures than the other two, since they are more enthusiast level cameras. I might add that the D40 and Digital Rebels can function as point-and-shoots in their AUTO setting. Once your comfortable with the camera and your own skill you can begin to use settings that give you more control over the camera.

However if you have never used a camera before then try and start off with a good point-and-shoot and then move on to a more serious camera once you become acquainted with settings, composition, etc. (I owned a cheap Kodak camera, 3.1 megapixels, for around two years and then moved up to the Nikon D40)
- The D40 will go for around $600, but believe me, the pictures are worth the price, it has 6.1 megapixels. the kit includes everything you need to start except a memory card
- The Canon Rebel XTi and XT are great as well but cost more due to their 8 megapixel and 10 megapixel counts. The XT kit goes for $700 and the XTi for $800

2) Check out these websites for help
- www.kenrockwell.com
Rockwell is a professional photographer and has reviews on pretty much any camera product on the market, as well as technical advice.
- wolfcamera.com
- www.nikonusa.com
- www.nikondigitalusa.com
- www.usa.canon.com/consumer
- www.andrewhefter.com
Hefter is a senior in high school near where I live but has images that look as if a professional of 20 years has taken them. He was a main inspiration for me to get into photography.
As far as books go, check any bookstore like Barnes and Noble and they will have tons of books devoted to digital photography

3) My first bit of advice, and I have learned this in my practice, is that megapixels don't really matter. They are merely expressed in all the ads by companies who want you to believe that higher megapixels yields high quality images. 10 megapixels is a too much, unless you're cropping your photos down to nothing or making prints 30 inches wide, I would suggest 6 or 8 megapixels, or even a little less. Lenses are the real tool to getting high quality images. Also, to quote Ken Rockwell, "The artist makes the art, not the equipment." Expensive equipment just makes it easier to get the shot you want. That's my advice for starting out

4) Memory card is the only other thing I'd think you'd need, other than what you've listed

My email is sivart010@yahoo.com if you need anything else

Hope all this has helped. Remember, find what works best and is comfortable for you, not what is the most expensive, and have fun and be creative!

Eric Fries, Discovering Community Summer Institute 2009 Digital Photography Group


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