I'm a total newbie- I've owned like 4 point-and-shoot cameras (one after another) in my lifetime, and had used the auto mode for most part. I've always loved potography, but only from afar because it just seems too intimidating; and my head can never wrap itself around all the facts I need to know and digest in order to proceed. But now I've decided, what the heck, lets just give it a shot and see what happens.
I currently only own a Canon Powershot ELPH300 and I'm looking into getting myself an entry-level DLSR that I will hopefully master and will be able to 'upgrade' by purchasing the right lens for my needs.
Okay, problem is.... I HAVE completed reading ALL the sticky threads above, a few more random newbie threads, in addition to a few borrowed photography-for-beginner books and I still dont quite digest all the facts and info, and cant quite remember half the jargon used.:embrass: I dont know if this is normal or am I just particularly untalented or what, but can someone please tell me, how do I pick a DSLR camera if I dont know exactly what specifications I need (these criteria is based on my personal experience with DSLR cams, which I have none?), am unfamiliar with all the information I've tried to read and digest (cant remember them because currently they are still a bunch of letters and numbers to me)?? :dunno:
I cant be plonking down big bucks on a random DSLR just to try it out and figure out my needs from there, right? The more I try to read, the more demoralising it is because I dont even understand the terms used on some of these newbie threads. Hence I am hoping that some kind souls would help me out a little and point me in the right direction. There are SO MANY brands and types in the market, and I really dont know where to start.
What I know for SURE is, I believe that I'll be shooting mostly people(mostly kids) indoor and outdoors, in lighting conditions of all sorts, and hopefully many candid in-action shots, instead of posed ones.
I also have some questions that I hope I can get help with:
- Is the Canon EOS range a good place to start? (I just happen to like canon better because I love my canon point-n-shoot cams so much more.)
- Does it make sense, or work, to try and understand photography BEFORE I purchase my DSLR, or do most people 'get' photogrpahy and develop their skills only after owning a DSLR?
- How long on the average does it take for most complete newbies to progress from the stage of not knowing what an aperture is (which I am STILL trying to understand), to fully understanding and being able to maximise the manual capabilities of their first DSLR?
Are we talking days, months, or years?
I would love to hear what you guys think, and sorry if the above sounds really dumb, but please help out if you can. :embrass:
I currently only own a Canon Powershot ELPH300 and I'm looking into getting myself an entry-level DLSR that I will hopefully master and will be able to 'upgrade' by purchasing the right lens for my needs.
Okay, problem is.... I HAVE completed reading ALL the sticky threads above, a few more random newbie threads, in addition to a few borrowed photography-for-beginner books and I still dont quite digest all the facts and info, and cant quite remember half the jargon used.:embrass: I dont know if this is normal or am I just particularly untalented or what, but can someone please tell me, how do I pick a DSLR camera if I dont know exactly what specifications I need (these criteria is based on my personal experience with DSLR cams, which I have none?), am unfamiliar with all the information I've tried to read and digest (cant remember them because currently they are still a bunch of letters and numbers to me)?? :dunno:
I cant be plonking down big bucks on a random DSLR just to try it out and figure out my needs from there, right? The more I try to read, the more demoralising it is because I dont even understand the terms used on some of these newbie threads. Hence I am hoping that some kind souls would help me out a little and point me in the right direction. There are SO MANY brands and types in the market, and I really dont know where to start.
What I know for SURE is, I believe that I'll be shooting mostly people(mostly kids) indoor and outdoors, in lighting conditions of all sorts, and hopefully many candid in-action shots, instead of posed ones.
I also have some questions that I hope I can get help with:
- Is the Canon EOS range a good place to start? (I just happen to like canon better because I love my canon point-n-shoot cams so much more.)
- Does it make sense, or work, to try and understand photography BEFORE I purchase my DSLR, or do most people 'get' photogrpahy and develop their skills only after owning a DSLR?
- How long on the average does it take for most complete newbies to progress from the stage of not knowing what an aperture is (which I am STILL trying to understand), to fully understanding and being able to maximise the manual capabilities of their first DSLR?
Are we talking days, months, or years?
I would love to hear what you guys think, and sorry if the above sounds really dumb, but please help out if you can. :embrass: