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I wanna go pro! a typical question (tailor-made though)!

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ARGMAN

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Aiight,

to be begin with, I never had a camera, only the one in my phone, but I see a great potential in myself when the right resources are available for me.

I am from Bahrain (a tiny island in middle east, very hot, humid and dusty, bummer), we don't have much nature to capture, so basically it will be mostly about portraits or professional jobs such as weddings (which are indoor here, rarely outdoor).

so what do you recommend for such an amateur?

I have read much about photography, and I tend now to buy a nikon, but not sure which one is the right one to start with?!

D3100? D5100? other ones? other brands?
 
Get a basic DSLR, like a used D90 or D7000 with a kit 18-105 VR and maybe later a 50mm f1.8.

Before you even consider going pro you'll need to master that kit and the technique needed to create an image. And you'll also need to develop an understanding and experience of flash and complex lighting setups if you intend to do portraits.

So you're looking at years before you can do that professionally.
 
Buy a camera, any camera, with the basic controls of aperture, shutter speed and focus. Keep it cheap -- second hand is good!

Buy a couple of decent books on how to do photography.

Go away with the camera and the books and take photographs, lots and lots of photographs.

Look as critically as you can at your results. Try posting on suitable forums for constructive criticism.

If, after a few months, you still think you'll make a photographer come back and ask us what you need to know.
 
If you want a Nikon, start by considering the Nikon D3X, Nikon D4, and Nikon D800. Then you need lenses, starting with the Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 and Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8. Add to that a flash, such as the Nikon SB-910, and a tripod. This kit would be an example of the right resources.

Then you would need to start developing relevant skills by practising the necessary techniques with your chosen camera kit, and do this until you have mastered the skills that you will need to do the photography that you expect to do. This can take months or years, depending on your existing skill level and learning ability.
 
ARGMAN said:
ARGMAN wrote:

Aiight,

to be begin with, I never had a camera, only the one in my phone, but I see a great potential in myself when the right resources are available for me.

I am from Bahrain (a tiny island in middle east, very hot, humid and dusty, bummer), we don't have much nature to capture, so basically it will be mostly about portraits or professional jobs such as weddings (which are indoor here, rarely outdoor).

so what do you recommend for such an amateur?

I have read much about photography, and I tend now to buy a nikon, but not sure which one is the right one to start with?!

D3100? D5100? other ones? other brands?
Click to expand...
This has to be a troll or a joke. No camera, no experience, no job plan, no knowledge at all about photography, no idea of what he is doing, etc. Has read some but has not taken pictures. Thinks he wants to buy a Nikon (perhaps because he has actually heard of this brand) but has no idea what model to buy.

This makes our weekend amateur-professionals seem like Ansel Adams.
 
I'm sort of jealous that you'll also have access to the F1 season opener to photograph. The FIA is stingy about handing out press photographer passes, though. Sometimes you can manage to find somebody setting up small magazines with the sole intent of selling them.
 
Have you by any chance got a plan B?

There are a lot of people (your prospective customers) who must be equally convinced of you great photography skills before they will hand you their money, so perhaps a plan B could come in handy.
 
ARGMAN said:
ARGMAN wrote:

Aiight,

to be begin with, I never had a camera, only the one in my phone, but I see a great potential in myself when the right resources are available for me.

I am from Bahrain (a tiny island in middle east, very hot, humid and dusty, bummer), we don't have much nature to capture, so basically it will be mostly about portraits or professional jobs such as weddings (which are indoor here, rarely outdoor).

so what do you recommend for such an amateur?

I have read much about photography, and I tend now to buy a nikon, but not sure which one is the right one to start with?!

D3100? D5100? other ones? other brands?
Click to expand...
Get an education in photography. That means classes, either at school or online (such as Kelbytraining.com). Read...a lot. Put that education to use. If there is a another professional photographer on the island, or on the nearby mainland; Get hired as an assistant or intern. They should provide you with cameras when the time comes. If not, I wouldn't waste my time with an entry level camera. I would go for a D7100, from Nikon or a EOS 7D from Canon. I would get the kit lens for either camera to start out with. I would also get a flash. I think its important for you and your future customers that you understand what professional photography is. The best way you can do that is to start working for another professional. He may be good (hopefully) and will give an education, you wont get from classes or a book.

Good Luck
 
ARGMAN said:
ARGMAN wrote:

Aiight,

to be begin with, I never had a camera, only the one in my phone, but I see a great potential in myself when the right resources are available for me.

I am from Bahrain (a tiny island in middle east, very hot, humid and dusty, bummer), we don't have much nature to capture, so basically it will be mostly about portraits or professional jobs such as weddings (which are indoor here, rarely outdoor).

so what do you recommend for such an amateur?
Click to expand...
you've never owned a camera and want to "go pro" ? !

wow
 
[No message]
 
ARGMAN said:
ARGMAN wrote:

Aiight,

to be begin with, I never had a camera, only the one in my phone, but I see a great potential in myself when the right resources are available for me.

I am from Bahrain (a tiny island in middle east, very hot, humid and dusty, bummer), we don't have much nature to capture, so basically it will be mostly about portraits or professional jobs such as weddings (which are indoor here, rarely outdoor).

so what do you recommend for such an amateur?

I have read much about photography, and I tend now to buy a nikon, but not sure which one is the right one to start with?!

D3100? D5100? other ones? other brands?
Click to expand...
Adding to the previous posts about learning stuff first (not just theoretically - exposure etc, but at the practical muscle-memory level with a specific camera), I would add a few minor points concerning equipment only:

1) In the dusty and humid conditions, you would need a weather/dust proof camera

2) For event shooting, you often would not have enough time to change lenses, dust will get into lens and on the sensor if you will, and any camera can break down. So it is better to have 2 cameras with you, with essential lenses already mounted on them.

A reasonably cheap kit satisfying both requirements would be:

1) In Nikon mount:

D7100+17-55/2.8 and D600+70-200/2.8 (70-200 not necessarily from Nikon, Sigma or Tamron are cheaper) - very similar controls would ease

2) In Canon mount

60D+EF-S 17-55/2.8 and 5D3 with 70-200/2.8 or 85/1.8 (maybe even 6D would work). Although for better interoperability it is better to have either EF 17-38/2.8 (the EF-S 17-55 will not work on 5D3 in case 60D malfunctions).

3) In Pentax mount - pretty cheap and light solution

Two k-30 - one with 16-50/2.8 and another with 50-135/2.8 (or 85/1.4 or 77/1.8) - although the lenses are not WR, I don't know how are they hold against some dust.

4) In Sony mount

A77+16-50/2.8 and A99+70-200/2.8 (or some 3rd party 85/1.4-1.8, Sony Zeiss 85/1.4 is too expensive)

5) In m43 mount (generally much lighter than any weather-sealed alternatives):

5.1) Lighter and more stylish (and a little cheaper) solution

OM-D E-M5 + Panasonic 12-35/2.8 and black OM-D E-M5+battery grip+Panasonic 35-100/2.8

or even a little cheaper and lighter

black OM-D E-M5+battery grip + Panasonic 12-35/2.8 and silver OM-D E-M5+silver 75/1.8

5.2) More serious-looking, but somewhat bigger and heavier

Panasonic DMC-GH3+battery grip+12-35/2.8 + GH3+35-100/2.8.

* do not mix and match Oly and Pana cameras as you might have a hard time switching, remembering where right controls are etc., batteries don't fit between brands - but feel free to mix and match lenses

6) In 4/3 mount

two Olympus E-5 - one with 14-35/2.0, another with 35-100/2.0. Although E-5 are 3 y/o, a new camera for the system is expected in September. Then instead of 14-35/2.0 I would go with 12-60/2.8-4 as the new sensor is so much better, and you can never go too wide for large people gatherings.

And don't forget batteries. It is good when both cameras can take the same exact batteries.
 
First of all,

I would like to thank all the amazing people who tried to help in all the possible ways, I'll take your valuable advices seriously

Second,

According to my budget, and my wandering around the market, the two possible candidates for my debut camera is either Nikon 3100D or Canon 1100D

The first is 25% more expensive, but a 3 years comprehensive warranty comes with it
The second is cheaper with 1 year limited warranty.

i did a little comparison in http://www.neocamera.com/ and for their quality measures the nikon wins, however I see some pros for the canon one such as the bigger range of "Exposure Compensation" (+-5 vs +-2), longer battery life and lighter weight (although Nikon 3100D is already light enough)

anyway, I would like to know your opinion about it because the Nikon offer ends soon.

P.S. to those who swooped at me, I did not say i will be a pro INSTANTLY, I know my position but I know my ambition. So if you don't have anything useful to say, you have little birds on your nests to feed ... vanish!
 
You do NOT get to dictate who can answer you or what kind of answers you get. It's a public forum and you're the one who posted asking for advice. You don't have to like the answers you get.

Given the question you asked, you got exactly the kind of answers you could expect. People can only go by what you posted.
 
Seriously, these are both excellent DSLRs, really great cameras the both of them - to start on a photo hobby which is what you should be thinking about to begin with. Either of them will take beautiful shot of the wife and kids, vacation trips etc.

Neither of these will keep future/potential "clients" from rolling on the floor dying of laughter or crying of dissappointment when they find out they've hired someone with an absolute beginner's camera.

Have you given any thought to what "pro"- lenses you'll be using and please do NOT say "the one that comes with the camera" or you'll kill us all.
 
newmikey said:
newmikey wrote:

Seriously, these are both excellent DSLRs, really great cameras the both of them - to start on a photo hobby which is what you should be thinking about to begin with. Either of them will take beautiful shot of the wife and kids, vacation trips etc.

Neither of these will keep future/potential "clients" from rolling on the floor dying of laughter or crying of dissappointment when they find out they've hired someone with an absolute beginner's camera.

Have you given any thought to what "pro"- lenses you'll be using and please do NOT say "the one that comes with the camera" or you'll kill us all.
Click to expand...
 
ARGMAN said:
of course no!! but I'll go through that after buying the body, the budget currently covers only the body, and maybe the case and cleaning kit for protection. but I read about both Nikon and Canon lenses that they are really good
Click to expand...
How are you going to take pictures with no lens? Did you mean the body and the kit lens? You're not going to learn anything by looking at the body of your new camera, taking it out, cleaning it, and putting it back in the protective case.

If your budget covers "only the body" then you need to wait until you've saved up more money than that, or else look into used options, a different camera to start with, etc. There is no point in buying a body and no lens.

eP
 
newmikey said:
newmikey wrote:

Seriously, these are both excellent DSLRs, really great cameras the both of them - to start on a photo hobby which is what you should be thinking about to begin with. Either of them will take beautiful shot of the wife and kids, vacation trips etc.

Neither of these will keep future/potential "clients" from rolling on the floor dying of laughter or crying of dissappointment when they find out they've hired someone with an absolute beginner's camera.

Have you given any thought to what "pro"- lenses you'll be using and please do NOT say "the one that comes with the camera" or you'll kill us all.
Click to expand...
Well, consider the budget, and you might have an idea about the clients too. The guy is in Bahrain, maybe his clients are poor foreign workers from the oil fields? Not every client is the same, and their expectations are not the same either.

If the only alternative is a point and shoot or a phone camera, then 1100D or D3100 with the kit 18-55 for the wide end and a cheap 50 f/1.8 for the portraits will do comparatively well. After all, the cheap 1100D does not do any worse in terms of noise or dynamic range than $1500 7D or brand spanking new 700D, although resolution is a little less (but then again, if you are not printing very big and using the best lenses, there will be no visible differences either).

(ARGMAN, please budget this cheap 50/1.8 lens (maybe used), it is better to go with the cheaper of the two cameras if it allows you to purchase this lens).

People who know these things would better help the guy with the choice of a cheap off camera flash or other lighting setup.
 
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