Dorsetmike
Member
Just found this thread, still finding my way round the place!!
I started semi-serious photography about 50 years ago with a Voigtlander folding rangefinder camera that took 120 size film, soon moved on to 35mm film though.
My last film camera was a Minolta 7000 which lasted me about 20 years until I got a Minolta 5D DSLR and gave the film camera to a granddaughter who was starting a college photography course.
I've probably got about a dozen lenses I can use that I have bought over the years, mostly only use about 4 of them though.
I shoot quite a variety of things, garden, wildlife, landscapes, some macro, aircraft, Folk dancing, nostalgic things like classic cars and steam railways, sometimes even take people!
Must put some photos in the gallery Done
Most important advice I would give anybody buying a camera is to start by making a short list of cameras that have the specification you want and are within your budget, then go to a dealers and handle as many of the short list as possible. There is no point in buying a large camera if your hands are small and can't easily reach all the controls or vice versa, make sure the controls are easy to use. Ask if the dealer will price match with online prices, but also consider that the dealer will be on the spot if any problems arise and you wont have to pay postage etc so you may be able to get a satisfactory price even if not as low as the online price.
If you have a film SLR camera, it may be possible to use the lenses you already have on a camera of the same make. This could save you money.
There are plenty of photography forums, some of which specialise in specific makes, others more general. Check them out, join, ask questions.
I started semi-serious photography about 50 years ago with a Voigtlander folding rangefinder camera that took 120 size film, soon moved on to 35mm film though.
My last film camera was a Minolta 7000 which lasted me about 20 years until I got a Minolta 5D DSLR and gave the film camera to a granddaughter who was starting a college photography course.
I've probably got about a dozen lenses I can use that I have bought over the years, mostly only use about 4 of them though.
I shoot quite a variety of things, garden, wildlife, landscapes, some macro, aircraft, Folk dancing, nostalgic things like classic cars and steam railways, sometimes even take people!
Must put some photos in the gallery Done
Most important advice I would give anybody buying a camera is to start by making a short list of cameras that have the specification you want and are within your budget, then go to a dealers and handle as many of the short list as possible. There is no point in buying a large camera if your hands are small and can't easily reach all the controls or vice versa, make sure the controls are easy to use. Ask if the dealer will price match with online prices, but also consider that the dealer will be on the spot if any problems arise and you wont have to pay postage etc so you may be able to get a satisfactory price even if not as low as the online price.
If you have a film SLR camera, it may be possible to use the lenses you already have on a camera of the same make. This could save you money.
There are plenty of photography forums, some of which specialise in specific makes, others more general. Check them out, join, ask questions.
Last edited: