A little advice for a newbie

[PvtPyle]

Have long been interested in photography, but only in so far as spending hours trawling flickr and various photography websites and fora looking at other people's work. Time to take the plunge and get involved myself.

Having read around as much as possible, I think I have settled on the Fujifilm FinePix S9600 as a good bridge camera for me to learn the ropes with. It seems to get brilliant write ups everywhere. Can anyone suggest a reason why this might not be a good way for me to go?

There's a review here: Link to TrustedReviews (http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2007/01/31/Fujifilm-FinePix-S9600/p1)

TIA :)

Edit: Oh, and I posted on The SPS too just for sake of getting more advice so sorry for DP :D

[Belmit]

In my opinion you've picked a superb camera. ;)

http://www.boat-drinks.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8608

[PvtPyle]

Oops, sorry I shoulda searched first :o

Thanks though dude. Think I will go for it.

[PvtPyle]

Purchased :D

[leowyatt]

We have one and recommended it to Mr Belmit :D

[Belmit]

If you get yours before me I'll be hella disgruntled. There won't be a gruntle on me.

[PvtPyle]

Highly unlikely. Mumsy is buying, and she took the uber rubbish free delivery that takes ages to arrive :(

[Belmit]

Me too! It sucks. :( On a couple of occasions I've had some random turn up at the door in a battered old Volvo estate to deliver. Getting it delivered at work this time so should be OK.

[PvtPyle]

DISPATCHED!?!?!??!!1!11one!one!!11one!!

\0/

[PvtPyle]

Mine is down for delivery on Aug 1st Belmit. Home Delivery Network though, they are awful and I am worried now :(

[Belmit]

I've just taken my first shots with mine! Also HDN delivered. Installing software so I can take a look at them now...

[Belmit]

Wow, really impressed. A few have glare off white objects due to the sun but this is something I can tweak. A few of the best:

New university building/SU:
http://www.belmit.co.uk/boatdrinks/pics/2008_0730Uni0006.JPG

View over the university building:
http://www.belmit.co.uk/boatdrinks/pics/2008_0730Uni0004.JPG

Max zoom on a tree from the same location as above:
http://www.belmit.co.uk/boatdrinks/pics/2008_0730Uni0005.JPG

[Mondo]

Hmmmm, Belmit, they don't really have any point of focus, that van is distracting in one and the building isn't that interesting.

Try asking yourself this question before pressing that shutter (if you are shooting film you will do this a lot more as it's expensive):-

"Does this shot tell a story?"

If the answer is a may be then its worth taking it, if its a no, then more often than not it'll be a wasted shot. Of course some subject that question doesn't apply, but i find that if the answer is yes, the photo is better for it.

[Belmit]

Oh I wasn't really going for anything interesting, just wanted to test it out quickly. Had about five minutes to get out the office and take a few pics - only took seven! I just wanted to see what the detail was like, how far the zoom would go etc. They'll all be deleted. I shall bear all that in mind though!

[Mondo]

Ah, then yeah, the details are fine, no problems there at all :)

[PvtPyle]

One of my first shots :) Scaled down by Photobucket. Time to start learning what this new-fangled camera can do! :D

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n7/PrivatePyle_1984/2008_01020008.jpg

[Chuckles]

One of my first shots :) Scaled down by Photobucket. Time to start learning what this new-fangled camera can do! :D

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n7/PrivatePyle_1984/2008_01020008.jpg

For shots like that dude, shoot in aperture priority (May be called Av mode) and put the aperture as wide as it will go (lowest number). That'll give you narrower depth of field which is what you want for those pics :)

[PvtPyle]

For shots like that dude, shoot in aperture priority (May be called Av mode) and put the aperture as wide as it will go (lowest number). That'll give you narrower depth of field which is what you want for those pics :)

:thumbsup: Thanks mate. I wanted the focus to be on the bee and the flower it had landed on, all the other stuff is just distraction. Still, it's fun learning all this stuff for the first time. Before this camera I didn't even have a point and shoot.

[Chuckles]

The focus will still be on the bee though and it'll be nice and clear. Changing the aperture will mean that the other stuff will be blured out and will stop the rest being busy/distracting :thumbsup: