What else do I need?...

Author
Discussion

...

Original Poster:

8,892 posts

193 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
I've just dipped my toe into the world of photography and purchased a nice bridge camera.
Apart from a bag to carry it and a suitable memory card, are there any other essentials I need?

pidsy

8,157 posts

163 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
Tripod.

...

Original Poster:

8,892 posts

193 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
Okay thanks.

Can you recommend me a memory card, camera bag & tripod please?

DibblyDobbler

11,311 posts

203 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
You'll get better recommendations if we knew what camera you'd bought smile

pidsy

8,157 posts

163 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
What DD said -

What are you wanting to take pictures of? What's your budget for all the bits you want/need?
Are you planning on editing?

I've found that with photography, it really is one of those hobbys where you do actually get what you pay for.

...

Original Poster:

8,892 posts

193 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
Sorry guys completely forgot - it's a Panasonic LUMIX FZ72. Gets great reviews so bought a second hand one that's only been used twice.

I'll mostly be taking pictures of landscape & nature (birds of prey).
I'm going on holiday in a few weeks so plan to take it with me.

DibblyDobbler

11,311 posts

203 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
Bag - really depends how much you want to carry (eg filters etc) but if travelling light try a Lowepro Toploader - eg https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lowepro-Top-Loader-Zoom-C...

Memory Card - Sandisk are good - eg https://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-Extreme-SDHC-Memo...

Tripod is tricky - you can spend a heck of a lot but I might be tempted to hold fire on that until you see if you are going to get into photography. If you've half decent light and can keep the shutter speed up it's not a necessity for a beginner (my 2p worth - other may disagree!).

Other thing to ponder is maybe a copy of Photoshop Elements or Lightroom to do some editing - done properly this will help you get the best out of your pics.

Good Luck smile


Gandahar

9,600 posts

134 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
DibblyDobbler said:
Bag - really depends how much you want to carry (eg filters etc) but if travelling light try a Lowepro Toploader - eg https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lowepro-Top-Loader-Zoom-C...

Memory Card - Sandisk are good - eg https://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-Extreme-SDHC-Memo...

Tripod is tricky - you can spend a heck of a lot but I might be tempted to hold fire on that until you see if you are going to get into photography. If you've half decent light and can keep the shutter speed up it's not a necessity for a beginner (my 2p worth - other may disagree!).

Other thing to ponder is maybe a copy of Photoshop Elements or Lightroom to do some editing - done properly this will help you get the best out of your pics.

Good Luck smile
Good summation.

For the tripod it would be useful for shooting at high mag that this could do, but then again that would be a stationary bird like a shag sitting on a stump out of the water. Not something you can get mid action like a faster moving bird.

I'd forgo that for the moment whilst you get to grips with it and then see where it is actually needed.



Simpo Two

86,727 posts

271 months

Saturday 26th August 2017
quotequote all
Battery: yes,

Memory card: maybe, depending on capacity and how many photos you plan to take.

Tripod: encumbrance, but birds at max zoom in normal light might need one (if the bird doesn't move!)

Lenses: nope, can't change those.

Photoshop: yes.

Decent flashgun: for indoor work, yes.

CP filter: for landscapes, yes.


In reality you'll find out what you need by finding out what your current kit won't let you do.

covboy

2,589 posts

180 months

Sunday 27th August 2017
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
In reality you'll find out what you need by finding out what your current kit won't let you do.
This ^

I think you will soon find the limitations of a bridge camera (especially trying to get "action" shots of birds)

Thats when you will probably be back here askin Whats the best DSLR and lens combination for this biggrin

Good luck

...

Original Poster:

8,892 posts

193 months

Sunday 27th August 2017
quotequote all
covboy said:
Simpo Two said:
In reality you'll find out what you need by finding out what your current kit won't let you do.
This ^

I think you will soon find the limitations of a bridge camera (especially trying to get "action" shots of birds)

Thats when you will probably be back here askin Whats the best DSLR and lens combination for this biggrin

Good luck
I've already been scouring past threads looking for intermediate level full frame Canons lick

SCEtoAUX

4,119 posts

87 months

Sunday 27th August 2017
quotequote all
You could do worse than learn about the "holy trinity" of ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture and buy a book about the basics of photography.

Foxeh

1,114 posts

138 months

Sunday 27th August 2017
quotequote all
I have a Lumix FZ45 and the bag I use is this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lowepro-Shoulder-Digital-...

I wanted it to be as small as possible for mobility and for it to be put away in a day sack while walking and rallying. It's ok, has a small internal pouch for extra memory cards, also has a rain cover.

I don't have a stand/tripod - but may invest in a Gorilla pod before Wales Rally GB.

I'm not the greatest photographer in the world, and for every ten bad shots I get one good one! biggrin















Quality of those looks worse after uploading! Image processing thumbsnap's end, perhaps? Hmmm...

...

Original Poster:

8,892 posts

193 months

Monday 28th August 2017
quotequote all
Awesome pics. If mine turn out half as good as that I'll be very pleased!

DIW35

4,157 posts

206 months

Monday 28th August 2017
quotequote all
... said:
Awesome pics. If mine turn out half as good as that I'll be very pleased!
And I was thinking they were samples of the bad ones. Oh dear.

Weslake-Monza

461 posts

189 months

Monday 28th August 2017
quotequote all
Get a Monopod rather than a tripod.

noell35

3,172 posts

154 months

Wednesday 30th August 2017
quotequote all
DIW35 said:
... said:
Awesome pics. If mine turn out half as good as that I'll be very pleased!
And I was thinking they were samples of the bad ones. Oh dear.
Bit harsh

Foxeh

1,114 posts

138 months

Thursday 31st August 2017
quotequote all
noell35 said:
DIW35 said:
... said:
Awesome pics. If mine turn out half as good as that I'll be very pleased!
And I was thinking they were samples of the bad ones. Oh dear.
Bit harsh
Perhaps, but then this is Pistonheads and responses like that are to be expected.

noell35

3,172 posts

154 months

Thursday 31st August 2017
quotequote all
Foxeh said:
Perhaps, but then this is Pistonheads and responses like that are to be expected.
Not usually in photography threads thank goodness.