Advice for a Beginner Please!

[du2711]

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Hello Everyone

I'm sorry if this is a much asked question. I would though be grateful for advice. I'm a point and shoot type person to date wanting to learn some simple manual approaches in taking pictures. I'm also wanting to upgrade from a rather large and unispiring Fuji Finepix S9600. Ideally I would like a not too large, but not too small, digital camera to learn the arts of manual photography. I'm confused between the merits of the d-lux 4, d-lux 5, non-Leica competitors such as the Panasonic GF1 or Olympus Pen, and intrigued by the often mentioned magic of the Digilux 2.

I'm also keen for some kind of viewfinder, but most of all I'd like a camera that inspires me to take pictures and to play with manual settings.

 

If you were me at this current time in the digital camera market - what would you buy (under about £700)?

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[earleygallery]

I'd suggest a DSLR, or wait for the new Fuji compact.

[richam]

Leica X1, but you would have to find a used one to fit your budget.

[stuny]

Or, a Digilux 2.

[alongnt84]

The D-lux 4, now I think have a great price for his superb quality. But even the new D-lux 5 is fit to your budget. New around 680 EUR. It is better than the D-lux 4 in the lens, a new zoom 24-90 comparing to 24-60 in D-lux 4, I think this is a good upgrade and worth it.

[AlbertoDeRoma]

Hello Everyone

I'm sorry if this is a much asked question. I would though be grateful for advice. I'm a point and shoot type person to date wanting to learn some simple manual approaches in taking pictures. I'm also wanting to upgrade from a rather large and unispiring Fuji Finepix S9600. Ideally I would like a not too large, but not too small, digital camera to learn the arts of manual photography. I'm confused between the merits of the d-lux 4, d-lux 5, non-Leica competitors such as the Panasonic GF1 or Olympus Pen, and intrigued by the often mentioned magic of the Digilux 2.

I'm also keen for some kind of viewfinder, but most of all I'd like a camera that inspires me to take pictures and to play with manual settings.

 

If you were me at this current time in the digital camera market - what would you buy (under about £700)?

 

If size is not a big issue (no pun intended), I believe that a Digilux 2 would fit the bill for "wanting to learn some simple manual approaches" extremely well.

 

Alberto

[Shootist]

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Panasonic GF1 or the GF2 when that comes out. It won't be long.

That way you have the option to use many different lenses. With a real P&S you are stuck with whatever lens comes in the camera and that includes the X1.

[leica dream]

Why not try to pick up a secondhand VLUX-1. They are super cameras with viewfinder and as much flexibility of manual operation and a super variable leica lens that should flex your expertise, or if you just want a quickie so you don't miss the moment, you can switch to one of the auto modes. As a secondhand it would leave heaps of budget for later if you decide manual is for you and wish to progress further with manual.

I swear by my vlux-1, which I have had from new not having sufficient budget for latest models.

Richard

[ajthornbury]

Buy the one which feels right in your hand, they are all good cameras, if you can try a Digilux 2 then try that for size. You will then, I am sure, fall in love with it.

 

 

Hello Everyone

I'm sorry if this is a much asked question. I would though be grateful for advice. I'm a point and shoot type person to date wanting to learn some simple manual approaches in taking pictures. I'm also wanting to upgrade from a rather large and unispiring Fuji Finepix S9600. Ideally I would like a not too large, but not too small, digital camera to learn the arts of manual photography. I'm confused between the merits of the d-lux 4, d-lux 5, non-Leica competitors such as the Panasonic GF1 or Olympus Pen, and intrigued by the often mentioned magic of the Digilux 2.

I'm also keen for some kind of viewfinder, but most of all I'd like a camera that inspires me to take pictures and to play with manual settings.

 

If you were me at this current time in the digital camera market - what would you buy (under about £700)?

[Bo_Lorentzen]

OP,

 

None of the cameras you mention have any particular bearing on learning "manual photography" they are all auto-everything digital P&S cameras, with one or another glorified feature, great lenses, lockable focus distance etc.. but none of them are manual in any meaning of the word. (at least last I checked)

 

If you really want to get a feel for "manual" at your budget, get a used beater M camera and a 35mm lens and get going. or a Olympus with a fixed lens manual rangefinder camera.

 

.

[Claw]

You better go for a D Lux-4. Thats one of the best for the begginer!

[NZDavid]

I agree with Bo. What do you mean by manual? Simply tweaking the controls? You can do that with most digital cameras which are more akin to computers than traditional cameras. Do you mean setting apertures and shutter speeds to adjust the exposure? Again, you can do this on most cameras via menu controls and selecting AV (for Aperture Variable) or TV (for Time Variable) on the mode dial and then tweaking the settings with another wheel and confirming via the LCD. However, the simplest way to adjust these two variables is by turning just one dial for shutter and another one for aperture and just selecting the appropriate value. Most digital cameras have done away with these controls, the rare exceptions being the Leica X1 and now-discontinued Digilux 2.

 

Setting manual focus is fiddly on compacts or not an option. A DSLR would be easier for manual focusing.

 

Or maybe get a manual film camera and try that to see if you like it.

[earleygallery]

Good point about what one means by 'manual' photography. If you are simply moving dials to match the correct reading of the camera then why bother, why not just use auto.

 

Manual photography is about understanding the lighting conditions, deciding on depth of field (or shutter speed for potential motion blur), whether you want to under/over expose the shot, focus point etc etc.

 

You can do all of the above with a DSLR, not so with some compacts (manual focus particularly, and also some compacts have a limited aperture range), or as suggested buy a fully manual film rangefinder or SLR to hone your skills.