Quote from: newportnobby on July 13, 2015, 03:52:09 PM
I have a Canon Power Shot SX510HS bridge camera that I'm still learning about

I hear where your coming from there, I've just bought a Lumix FZ200 and spent about 3 hours reading the user manual yesterday!   

Quote from: Mr Sprue on July 13, 2015, 08:21:02 PM
I hear where your coming from there, I've just bought a Lumix FZ200 and spent about 3 hours reading the user manual yesterday!   

I thought you guys NEVER read the manual, showing your feminine side then.   

Quote from: Caz on July 13, 2015, 08:46:41 PM

Quote from: Mr Sprue on July 13, 2015, 08:21:02 PM
I hear where your coming from there, I've just bought a Lumix FZ200 and spent about 3 hours reading the user manual yesterday!   

I thought you guys NEVER read the manual, showing your feminine side then.   

I did say I was learning about the camera but I didn't say I read the manual, Caz.
What self respecting bloke would do that?

They come with manuals? 

Quote from: GroupC on July 13, 2015, 04:07:50 PM
Just about anything can be made to work given skill, imagination and creativity so I don't think there's a right or wrong answer - just use what works for you. If you're buying, get your hands on a few and see what suits you best. It's very subjective. If you're already using a camera, push its envelope and see what it can do. And challenge yourself too, technically and creatively.

If you admire others' work though, I think equipment is largely irrelevant - it's impossible to argue for or against the formats / brands favoured by Don McCullin / Tim Hetherington (RIP) / Simon Norfolk / Robert Capa (RIP) / James Nachtwey (google them if you don't know): all outstanding but all different in their own way/s. Is it important what sort of chisels Henry Moore used or what sort of brushes JMW Turner used?

Look at what they do, not what they do it with - if you admire Henry Moore but wouldn't give houseroom to an Alberto Giacometti, then investigate as much as you like but don't concentrate on the tools of the trade. It's what you do with them that counts... and don't risk becoming someone with all the gear and no idea.

For the record, I've owned and used many formats and brands including Mamiya, Sinar, Fuji, Olympus, Canon, Nikon, Hasselblad and Kodak and they all produce the goods if you know what you're doing. Popular convention states you wouldn't necessarily use a 10x8 studio camera at Silverstone, and you wouldn't necessarily use a 1930's folding camera on a modern press shoot but both can be done, and if you know what you're doing you'll stand out from the crowd.

I'd say you've pretty much summed it up there group C. I love that comment "don't risk becoming someone with all the gear and no idea."

By the way, apart from Turner, who are all those people you mention? I haven't got the foggiest. Blokes from the pub? 

Manual, that's boring just take pics till you find the right settings for you!

Only took me 3 months to get the wanted results    :'(

Ha ha not sure where I stand in the context of all the gear no idea I spent 3 months learning how to use my camera after a 2 month course on how to take good long range pics and well maybe just maybe one day I will have the pic that's perfect for me!

Deserthound may agree but what camera people choose can totally vary on what they are using it for, I have seen some amazing pics from a £100 Fuji argos deal, just as some amazing ones done from the high end cameras (one of which work kindly gifted to me because they don't fix cameras although Canon did for a nice £75 for a £700 camera!) 

Quote from: Caz on July 13, 2015, 08:46:41 PM

Quote from: Mr Sprue on July 13, 2015, 08:21:02 PM
I hear where your coming from there, I've just bought a Lumix FZ200 and spent about 3 hours reading the user manual yesterday!   

I thought you guys NEVER read the manual, showing your feminine side then.   

After experiencing the odd expensive 'male chicken' (changed by forum) up in life by NOT reading what should have been read, then yes call me girl I don't care!

Pentax A20...
However, I think that the secret to a good crisp picture is to use a tripod and ALWAYS try to make use of the delay timer on the camera.  That way there isn't even a chance of the camera moving while pressing the shutter button.

I use the Nikon D60 that my wife bought me as a wedding present 6 years ago. I have a nice new 16-85mm lens for it. Trouble with the lens is the min aperture is f5.6, so it's not great in low light. But for close-up model photos, I use a tripod and at least f8 for depth of field, so the 2 second exposure doesn't matter.

I spent a long time reading the manual AND a couple of jolly useful books on how to use my camera. So, apparently I'm very comfortable with my feminine side.

Nikon D40x DSLR. Macro shots are with a Tamron 90mm F2.8. Most other shots are with the standard 18-55mm lens although I do have a 70-200mm in my kit as well.

The other half has a Nikon D70 that I want to try out some time. Damn thing is heavy though!

I use a Nikon D40, which I find very good although it has been superseded
by quite a few models since I bought it, also have a few Nikon film cameras
like F and F2, easy to use, only three controls, shutter, aperture, focus.

I like older cameras because you can check depth of field easily, don't think
that's possible on most digital cameras apart from viewing the shot on the
the display.

When I'm not being lazy and using the iPhone I use my Sony Alpha 350 (DSLR).  Brilliant camera once you can afford to upgrade to a better lens than the standard one.  I went a little mad and bought a 500mm mirrored lens......which I've used on only two occasions in 5 years!

I also use my Sony High Definition camcorder for my video's, and sometimes for photographs in areas of good light - as it can take them in 12MP.  The model number is HDR-X550E.  It's great for filming in N, and I've also filmed two friends weddings with it as well, who were very happy.

Quote from: Zogbert Splod on July 14, 2015, 01:11:37 AM
Pentax A20...
However, I think that the secret to a good crisp picture is to use a tripod and ALWAYS try to make use of the delay timer on the camera.  That way there isn't even a chance of the camera moving while pressing the shutter button.

Or a cable release.

I usually use me phone for layout pics, simply for the convenience. I do own a Canon DSLR but on my last Tasmanian trip it stayed in the bag! Took all the pics on my phone as I couldn't be bothered lugging it around, plus it shouts "tourist" to the locals.

However I'm planning on writing an article soon, so I'll be using the SLR.

Quote from: acko22 on July 13, 2015, 11:00:29 PM
Manual, that's boring just take pics till you find the right settings for you!

Only took me 3 months to get the wanted results    :'(

Ha ha not sure where I stand in the context of all the gear no idea I spent 3 months learning how to use my camera after a 2 month course on how to take good long range pics and well maybe just maybe one day I will have the pic that's perfect for me!

Deserthound may agree but what camera people choose can totally vary on what they are using it for, I have seen some amazing pics from a £100 Fuji argos deal, just as some amazing ones done from the high end cameras (one of which work kindly gifted to me because they don't fix cameras although Canon did for a nice £75 for a £700 camera!) 

Ah, that's perseverance Acko! Yup, doesn't really matter how you get there, whether it's trial and error, reading the manuals, using the internet, reading magazines, or a combination of all, so long as you learn how your camera works and what it's capable of, and most importantly have fun, then that's all that matters I think.

I'd agree with you re the 100 pound camera, and I think that's what group c was getting at - it's how you use the camera that's important. Also can see there's a desire for different cameras for different needs. I'm tempted by a bridge camera but can quite justify it given what I forked out for my DSLR, which I'm also very happy with.

Dan

Quote from: Bealman on July 14, 2015, 08:09:59 AM

Quote from: Zogbert Splod on July 14, 2015, 01:11:37 AM
Pentax A20...
However, I think that the secret to a good crisp picture is to use a tripod and ALWAYS try to make use of the delay timer on the camera.  That way there isn't even a chance of the camera moving while pressing the shutter button.

Or a cable release.

I usually use me phone for layout pics, simply for the convenience. I do own a Canon DSLR but on my last Tasmanian trip it stayed in the bag! Took all the pics onmr phone as I couldn't be bothered lugging it around, plus it shouts "tourist" to the locals.

However I'm planning on writing an article soon, so I'll be using the SLR.

If you think that shouting "tourist" is bad George, my other half was gifted a selfie stick and took that on our most recent holiday. I was forever looking for caves, crevices and pubs to go run and hide in!