Want to start understanding camera's..

[_Tom]

I'm really starting to take an interest into photography but to be honest i dont know the first thing...Is there any good sites to go on?

Also, i've been given a Fujifilm S7000. Not sure if its any good but even that i dont understand in the slightest. Is it best to start off with a new camera? Anyone know if the one i have would be ok to start me off?

thanks..

 

[BenWall]

I'm not sure about the camera you have, never heard of it. A good way of learning is to buy a dslr and read the instructions.

 

[_Tom]

Cool. This - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilms7000/

 

[BenWall]

Cool. This - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilms7000/

Seems pretty good to start with and get use to the basics. As long as you have manual mode, where you decide what aperture and shutter speed to have.

Only downside to your camera is the fixed lens, but like I said should be okay to learn with.

If your looking for a DSLR then the Nikon D40 is the best for the money, not just saying that because I have one either

 

[Ian]

If you look at the top of the Photography section Ukaskew and a few other members have written some guides worth reading. I would say get to grips with the basics with your camera but then upgrade.

I have a Fuji S5700 and it's helping me to begin understanding things, but I will probably pick up a Nikon D40 or something similar for Christmas.

 

[Ian]

Lol Ben, think we've sold it to him?

 

[Andi-B]

If you've never used a camera before, best start with the one you have instead of shelling out £240+ just to figure out it isn't for you..

Play with the camera you have and get used to the settings it has and see what sort of effects/pictures you can get. Just because it's not a DSLR, doesn't mean the pictures won't be good, I've had non-DLSR camera's for years and had excellent results from them.

Not specific on your camera though so I'd suggest you look at the manual, if you have it, if not download it here:
manual: http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/media/dContent/429/productFilesManualsFile.pdf
Quick start guide: http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/media/dContent/mediaCentre/Manuals/s7000-qs.pdf
(taken from here - http://www.fujifilm.co.uk/consumer/digital/digital-cameras/legacy-cameras/finepix-s7000-zoom/support )

Play with it, you can't really break it tbh. (unless you drop it from a great height of course lol)

 

[Oil C Park]

S7000 is a bridge camera. It has apeture/shutter priority, so there's plenty of scope for learning the basics. Fixed lens usually means very quick focusing, but of course the 'superzooms' wont give you much wide-angle.

I started with one of these Fujifilm cameras and I've taken some amazing pictures with it. DSLR can do much more, but you'll get quite far with one of these.

 

[cK]

Get yourself a D40 Tom. I purchased mine around 1 week ago and just learning basics and it's taking some stunning pics imo. Here's a couple of my latest of the little nipper. I haven't even taken any outdoor pic's as of yet.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2848602661_8311c78652.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/2848602111_7b8cb56d1b.jpg

 

[Jungle_Jim]

the Michael langford book of photography is excellent from beginners to advanced theory. you can preview most of the pages here

http://books.google.com/books?id=mj...ig=ACfU3U28he27XWfifJN7uj_3OEeXOBFUdQ#PPR6,M1

 

[_Tom]

Cool i didnt have the manual but do now. Thanks very much for that Andi.. I'll have a play with mine over the wkend but to be honest i think i'll look into D40's..