Thread: What camera for 16 year old dreaming to be a photographer

^I think RAW is very advanced for a beginner, Bob.

I'd suggest the Canon G10 because you can use it as a point and shoot, yet it also has basic manual settings.

It is not quite a DSLR, but it can take great pics. You can get the hang of the manual settings before going to a full fledged DSLR.

I am going to back Miss T on this one.

The G10 is a few years old. The G16 is the current model but the G15 offers a better price point.

Canon's G series offers lots of external manual controls like a DSLR but without the bulk or expense. It does not have interchangeable lenses but it has plenty to play with and a larger sensor than a compact. And if she gets bored of it you have still got yourself a very capable compact.

^Cool, I didn't know the G16 was out now.
I need to get a new camera soon. I was looking at the Canon Rebel T3 or a newer version in the rebel series.

T3? is that like a 550D or something? You are years out of date MT. The current model is the 700D. I do not know what that translates to in US of A T? terminology.

Why does Canon do this daft thing where they have 3 separate names for each model depending on where it is being sold. In Japan it is the Kiss X or something. What a bunch of marketing clowns. They must be on drugs. Don't they know it is a global marketplace these days and they are just confusing punters.

Having said that you raise the interesting option of the 100D which is the first attempt by any manufacturer to make a truly compact genuine DSLR.

Yes and the G15/16 shoots RAW.... in fact it was the exact camera I was thinking of.

As for saying it's too advanced, I think that's ridiculous.

It is far easier to get a better effect on your pictures having shot them in RAW, jpg's need far more work to get correct.

It takes no extra effort but it gives the option if one is serious about being a photographer. And they don't have to use it from day one if they don't want to, but the option is there.

The G16 is 16000 THB, great camera, I'm going to get one for playing around.... after I get my 1Dx of course.....

It's like Thai, people saying the script is far too complex to learn and just concentrate on learning to speak. Learning the script from day one makes learning to speak far easier in the long run.

I think the other thing with RAW is to use it effectively you have to take better pictures in the box to be able to manipulate them properly.

What better way to learn.

Yes, but Misty's proof is her picture threads.

If I was to go over my picture threads from 5-8 years ago, I would change a lot of the shots, in fact I have been revisiting some of what I consider to be my best shots and re-processing them.

Why?

Because I have learned to use RAW better and now I know how to achieve what I want, I realise that I didn't process them as well as I could have first time round. Marmite has said on several occassions that he finds my landscapes flat and he was right, but I wasn't sure how to improve them.

We are not talking photoshop here, we are talking manipulating RAW.

It's the same thing anyone who shoots jpg does when they set up the settings on their camera, sharpness, saturation, contrast, it's just in RAW you don't ruin the quality of the picture when you manipulate something afterwards like you do with jpg.

Originally Posted by Looper

The current model is the 700D. I do not know what that translates to in US of A T?

It is the Canon Rebel T5i..same difference. That's the one.

The G10 also shoots in raw format.

Originally Posted by Bobcock

it's just in RAW you don't ruin the quality of the picture when you manipulate something afterwards like you do with jpg.

It is a good point..I don't use it often enough. I also don't use photoshop, so that may be why. I'm hoping to get a crash course in photoshop from a good friend soon enough.

^Fair enough, they are quite similar I believe.
A friend burned a copy of lightroom for me and I haven't used it yet.

Depends how you view it. Photoshop is a whole step further than what a Photographer of any worth needs.

That said it's fun for certain things involved in presentation.

^I use a free editing software. I personally feel that many photographers go overboard with photoshop and the images look very fake. I mean they look good, but not natural imo.

True, many do.

I avoid Photoshop to avoid the temptation......

The RAW facility appears in the LF1 along with a viewfinder, which for me makes for a nice bit of kit to slip in my pocket.

I looked at an LF1 when I needed to replace the S100 I lost in Korea. Looked useful but the S120 had just come out so they were discounting the S110 at a crazy $239 so I went back to Canon again. You cannot beat the pocketability of this enthusiast ultra-compact class of camera. I love a camera that is so small and slim you just take it everywhere.

Originally Posted by forreachingme

A cheaper Canon as Looper suggest could be a first choice as well.

The G15 is discounted at $360 now since the G16 came out at $510 (Ebay Aus prices)

Originally Posted by forreachingme

Canon seem to be ahead in the choice, the 500D or the smaller 100D.

If you go for an SLR the Nikon D3200 is a screaming bargain at $470 with kit lens. That is about $170 less than the Canon equivalent. Don't know why the Nikon is so much cheaper.

If she is wanting an SLR, my only advice would be....secondhand.

Originally Posted by cortinaman

Developing requires commitment, equipment and a darkroom. Probably not the right thing for a 16 year.

I did it at that age and wholeheartedly agree.

Originally Posted by cortinaman

Why not just talk with her and ask what she thinks? If she has strong opinions give her a budget and let her decide.

Quite possible this is a good idea. The father should know if he can do that.