Digital photography

Astro yoghurt. Froz punches.

Hi Guys, looking for a camera recommendation for my brother this Christmas. Budget is around £200. Looking for something that will let him learn as he's a beginner but also take great pictures. Also considering if it should be a tough model if that doesn't blow the budget. All suggestions welcome

if your budget is around 200 i'd go second hand with either a nice film camera and get him a book about the basics of photography and a bunch of film...

or go with an oldish digital camera like a nikon d5000 (theres one on a photography buy and sell forum on facebook that i could link you to for £150 atm) the d5000 was my first dslr and it was amazing i loved using it!

but he will learn a lot more from a film camera, some film and a book/the internet.

and for well under £200 you could get a really nice film SLR!

I couldn't agree less. Digital will allow him to experiment at no expense, get immediate feedback by seeing the pics he has just taken, share them easily with other people who might have an opinion, shoot at all times of the day, indoors and out, just by adjusting the ISO.
Film is time consuming and expensive. It's the best thing ever invented for putting people off photography.

I bought your friend's D7000 today, by the way, so though I think your advice is pure madness, thanks for the tip.

yeah Will has a point (or 2 or 3) there is a more instant feedback with digital, but it can go either way, film could put you off i suppose (personally not the case) but it can also slow people down and make them think about their exposures & framing more.

but i did also recommend the D5000, and as a first DSLR i really cannot recommend it enough! i still think i preferred shooting with it to my canon 7D.

also yes Will, thankyou very much my housemate said that you were a pleasure to deal with, some woman had been messing him about for the last week so he was very glad that someone bought it face to face and was friendly! i will be sending some rep your way!

Second hand Nikon D40.

^ this. With the kit zoom and the 35mm 1.8 for shooting in low light. The Canon equivalent would be a 450d, I think. Brilliant camera that.

What Ed says. The D40 is what the Pentax K1000 was.

How much did you pay for the D7000 body Will? Thinking of selling mine

ill give you 50 dorrah

Treating myself and my girlfriend to our first DSLR for Christmas. Can anyone recommend a beginners SLR book? Something easy to follow and aimed at novices would be ideal. Is it worth getting something aimed at my specific camera or will I get more out of a general guide?

The wide variety and options out there is confusing me.

..are you well versed with non-digital SLR cameras?

..are you well versed with non-digital SLR cameras?

If I think you're heading where I think you are, that's a good bad idea.

If I thought you would think I don't even.

TIME's best portraits of 2013

Did borrow this fisheye from a friend. It's really good:

TIME's best portraits of 2013

..also "best photo journalism" here; a few have already been in this thread, and there's some more strong images:

http://lightbox.time.com/2013/12/12/times-best-photojournalism-of-2013/?iid=lb-gal-moreon#1

Entering thread.... a few of my efforts:

nice!

Excellent swan.

It's pissing down outside.... A little summer anyone?

5 Attachments

Excellent swan.

Yah, love the swan, and the sea too.

Allensea, great stuff! what's the trick with getting the high key effect like you have on the london bridge photo? Just pile on the contrast/exposure and wb in post? Quite a tricky one to do right...

Anyway, here's the barbican showing-off last week.