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Kodak Z980 ?? [First SLR]
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Hi, Im a newbie :lol:
I’m looking into buying my first SLR camera to start taking photography serious. I came across the Kodak Easyshare Z980 and am on too minds weather to buy it or not. Its seems like a fantastic camera, with a 24X zoom, 12MP, HD Movie mode and much more ( http://store.kodak.com/store/ekconsus/en_US/pd/Z980_Digital_Camera/productID.145104000″ onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false; )
Iv heard that the noise is clearly visible with large images and the camera dosnt have detachable len’s. Im also a beginner and it states that the camera is for advanced photographys, yet it seems easy to use and takes almost great images, from other peoples opinions im not sure weather to buy it or not. Whats your opinion on this camera ? What camera would you recommend for a beginner ?Thanks In Advance
(The Newbie) Conor :mrgreen:Hi Conor,
Welcome along. I have no idea how good or bad this camera is but it takes photographs so that’s a start. But it isn’t an SLR…it’s a bridge camera. A bridge camera is somewhere between a compact camera and a SLR. The advantages to a bridge camera is that you don’t have to worry about taking off the lens and allowing dust on your sensor or indeed the choice and expense of SLR lenses which can break you. The disadvantages are the opposite to what I’ve just said…no choice in lenses such as prime lenses (non zoom).
Take your time and see what you think you want to do with photography. This camera, as with most bridge cameras do a good job of taking a photograph. It really depends where you want to bring your photography to. Just because you see photographers at football matches with lenses the size of artillery canons doesn’t mean you have to have one. There are people here (myself included) that use plastic cameras with plastic lenses costing c. E25.
If you like the camera and specs as for what you want it for then burst away and start taking photographs. That’s the important thing.Alan
irishwonkafan wrote:
Hi Conor,
Welcome along. I have no idea how good or bad this camera is but it takes photographs so that’s a start. But it isn’t an SLR…it’s a bridge camera. A bridge camera is somewhere between a compact camera and a SLR. The advantages to a bridge camera is that you don’t have to worry about taking off the lens and allowing dust on your sensor or indeed the choice and expense of SLR lenses which can break you. The disadvantages are the opposite to what I’ve just said…no choice in lenses such as prime lenses (non zoom).
Take your time and see what you think you want to do with photography. This camera, as with most bridge cameras do a good job of taking a photograph. It really depends where you want to bring your photography to. Just because you see photographers at football matches with lenses the size of artillery canons doesn’t mean you have to have one. There are people here (myself included) that use plastic cameras with plastic lenses costing c. E25.
If you like the camera and specs as for what you want it for then burst away and start taking photographs. That’s the important thing.Alan
Thanks Alan, I now understand the difference. I’m really interested in photography and wish to go a long way in the hobby, so maybe the Kodak Z980 isnt exactly for me. What SLR camera would you recommend? Iv heard the nikon cameras are good, but most of them go over my budget of about E400.
What about buying secondhand ? Have a look in the used equipment thread. There is a nikon d40 there with two lenses. Not sure if it is sold or not. Its worth having a look at..
Connor I bought a fuji finepix s8000 bridge camera as it had 18x zoom and all the sales pitch your one seems to offer, I love it and It has taken some really good pictures that I am very proud of. However I have found I am becoming increasingly frustrated by its limitations. I have found every time I get a good pic I then want to do more and find due to the settings I can’t.
I wish I had bought an SLR from the get go and didn’t because my confidence in learning how to use and get decent pictures with one put me off. I still always take a pic using the auto feature just in case the others don’t turn out :)
An SLR opens up a whole new world in my opinion but from what I have read, the bridge is perfect for carrying around on a day to day basis and still producing good pics. I am so looking forward to getting my first one but scared as hell too lolhere is my flickr page to give you an idea of what you can get with a bridge.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tigeroullie/” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;connie wrote:
Connor I bought a fuji finepix s8000 bridge camera as it had 18x zoom and all the sales pitch your one seems to offer, I love it and It has taken some really good pictures that I am very proud of. However I have found I am becoming increasingly frustrated by its limitations. I have found every time I get a good pic I then want to do more and find due to the settings I can’t.
I wish I had bought an SLR from the get go and didn’t because my confidence in learning how to use and get decent pictures with one put me off. I still always take a pic using the auto feature just in case the others don’t turn out :)
An SLR opens up a whole new world in my opinion but from what I have read, the bridge is perfect for carrying around on a day to day basis and still producing good pics. I am so looking forward to getting my first one but scared as hell too lolhere is my flickr page to give you an idea of what you can get with a bridge.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tigeroullie/” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;I really want to go further in the hobby but I know nothing about lens etc..
Would i be better getting a bridge camera and updating or buy an SLR even though I have no clue about lens ?
Can you give me a brief summary of Lens, diffrent types of lens, what there used for etc..Hi Connor,
I share your concern about what to start with. I should have read this forum a long time ago when I bought the FZ30 from Panasonic (which is a bridge camera)for its features and I completely ignored my gut feeling to get an dSLR. It would’ve been cheaper too, because the long gone now Jessops shop off Grafton St ripped me off. I still can’t forget this, even now…It was before the launch of the FZ50 and the price dropped by 25% after a month. I enjoyed using it, that’s for sure, but as soon as you will start to like it, you will discover you want and need more. Like I did. Now I have a dSLR and I’m trying to pick up where i left it. I am using the bridge camera as a backup if I’m not bothered about carrying a heavy backpack. SO I suggest you research the web, read reviews, and nevertheless take in account your budget and what you want to photograph.
Good luck,
DanThis is where you and I are in the same boat. I am a beginner and have no clue about that. I was initially put off by the complexity of an SLR and all the lenses flashes etc etc The people here will give you help with that side of it though, there is also a wealth of information on the web too. I am pretty sure that one or 2 lenses will be all you need to get off the ground so to speak.
I guess what I was trying to say is I have found the bridge camera to be great but NOT enough for what I want to do. For example the enclosed picture was taken using the auto and macro option. From what I have seen in other macro shots with an SLR it would reveal far more in depth detail. ( providing you know how to use it of course lol) the dark brown on the spider is actually far more detailed than what my bridge camera shows.
Thanks,
Iv done a little bit more research and found the nikon D3000, Looks like a great SLR but does it have HD movie mode ?
Its just under my budget which is great, they have it on amazon Uk for £350.10cdc wrote:
Thanks,
Iv done a little bit more research and found the nikon D3000, Looks like a great SLR but does it have HD movie mode ?
Its just under my budget which is great, they have it on amazon Uk for £350.If you have this feature in mind, try to compare it against other entry-level cameras. I find the “compare side-by-side” on dpreview very useful.
Cheers
I have the Panasonic DMC-FZ7 that I deliberately bought on top of my two DSLR’s , my 35mm SLRs and my Bronica and Mamiya , at the time to uitilise the long end of the 12X Leica zoom lens in a small package that I could handily carry with or without my SLRs , finding it fitted in a large anorak pocket without its massive scalloped lenshood ( that fits in the other pocket , my SLR’s always being worn UNDER the anorak so they can’t be ” handbag – snatched ” off me in a busy city street :-)
Despite their atom – sized censors, I would not denigrate a bridge camera , only a three months ago I got 100 Euro for publication of four Confirmation photos to small size , taken on that Panasonic , in ” The Irish Catholic ” weekly newspaper ( I’m a Druid , hehehe ) . Which reminds me , I must get my sister to send them the Invoice as they’ve requested. But as the Editor & staff are all Catholics ( I think ) my money is safe :-) . That Panasonic cost me 100 Euro secondhand on ebay . PAID FOR ! ( Another good place now and then is ” Preloved ” ) .
Press photographers ( I was one for 12 years one time on The Munster Express “, Waterford) do not in my experience actually need those big artillery lenses at all . If I was an Editor, I’d have my Photogs going around with Bridge Cameras, hehehe .
You’ll normally find it hard to get a powerful sneak shot with all that artillery, you will with a Bridge !!!
Talking of Press Photographers, don’t they all look the proper Digi Kids going around with flash units eternally parked on top of their DSLRs , just as many new wedding photographers here in Ireland ( certainly here in Kilkenny ) do !
As a Pro you have to at times use flash off camera, as photography is all about controlling light .
So you grow another arm through your years as a Pro , sheeeesh :-)
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