What camera should I buy for college?
I want to apply to an art school for Photography but my only camera is a cheesy $90 digital camera that holds 25 pictures. I am looking for a GOOD camera for a relative beginner that I can make a portfolio with and use in school that is hopefully hopefully hopefully not too expensive. What should I buy and why? Also, can anyone help me a little bit with the portfolio process? I have no idea what to do. Thank you 
a specific model. should i buy an slr? a dslr?
a portfolio is part of the application to any art school.
You REALLY need to KNOW FIRST what type of camera the school will require. In most cases it will be a film SLR. Film will teach you proper exposure and compostion. It is not a "wonder" of digital, as stated in another answer, to go out and take lots of photos then pick out the best one. That is lazy, unskiled shooting. With film, you PAY for each frame shot and you always have the negative as a tangible record of what you did right or wrong. You can’t just delete the "bad shots" and forget about them and go on with lazy, poor photographic style. Learn to use film, and you can always transition to digital. Start with digital and it is far too easy to fall into bad habits. Thus, in most cases the schools require you begin with film.
B-H Photo in New York has plenty of used film SLRs, as does KEH used photography equipment. Depending on where you live, you may also find something very good off Craig’s list in your area.
steve
on November 9th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
go for any sony cybershot series digital cameras or if u can afford some costly cameras, i’d recommend u Nikon
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on November 9th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I would find a photography store (not Circuit City or Best Buy) and talk to the oldest clerk there, and see what he reccomends..
I would also check the requirements for the classes you will take, and see what they require…
My recommendation would be an 8 megapixel dslr like the canon rebel, a 50mm lense, a telephoto lense, and a wide -angle lense.
if you are lucky the old guy at the photo shop, will have used lenses to sell…buy yor camera body new….
your portfolio is a pretty simple process, it’s a folder of the best pictures you have taken…..
the wonder of digital is you can take as many pictures as you have time, and pick out the best….start shooting..
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SLR is single lens reflex …the viewfinder shows you what will be in the picture a dslr is the same thing only digital
You will need a camera with interchangable lenses, to get any respect in the photo-classes…..
canon,nikon, pentax,olympus, others , all make good cameras…canons are easy to find used lenses for…a 300mm telephoto new is 300-500.00…100.00 used
on November 9th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
I doubt an art college will let you use a P&S digital camera for your classes.
Plan on at least a good used 35 mm SLR (Nikon or Canon) with standard zoom lens (you can find them for under $150 on craigslist) … some schools require you to buy a view camera depending upon the level of instruction being provided there.
So, save your money until you can talk to someone in the art department so you don’t waste your money on something you will not use in your course work.
It is in school, you will learn to build a portfolio … after all, that is why you are going to I would think. Attending school already knowing everything would be a waste of money too.
It is throughout your education, you will be building your portfolio … not before.
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proFotog
photoInstructor
on November 9th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
You REALLY need to KNOW FIRST what type of camera the school will require. In most cases it will be a film SLR. Film will teach you proper exposure and compostion. It is not a "wonder" of digital, as stated in another answer, to go out and take lots of photos then pick out the best one. That is lazy, unskiled shooting. With film, you PAY for each frame shot and you always have the negative as a tangible record of what you did right or wrong. You can’t just delete the "bad shots" and forget about them and go on with lazy, poor photographic style. Learn to use film, and you can always transition to digital. Start with digital and it is far too easy to fall into bad habits. Thus, in most cases the schools require you begin with film.
B-H Photo in New York has plenty of used film SLRs, as does KEH used photography equipment. Depending on where you live, you may also find something very good off Craig’s list in your area.
steve
References :
on November 9th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
check with the schools you want to apply at and see what cameras they recommend for their use, thats what i did
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on November 9th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Samsung is ok! Which is easy to use and the price is not expensive! You can buy it online
http://www.toboc.com/forum3/default.aspx?g=posts&m=905
http://www.toboc.com/forum3/default.aspx?g=posts&m=906
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on November 9th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
If you are really on a very tight budget, check out the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8K which is reviewed at:
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2007_reviews/fz8.html#specs
It’s an all-in-one 7.2 megapixel DSLR camera which includes (i) built-in image stabilization; (ii) HDTV quality video [Quicktime] (iii) a 12x zoom [36 - 432mm (35mm equiv.)] "Leica" lense for nature photography; (iv) up to 1.9 inch macro option; (v) up to 3200 ASA; (vi) takes up to 380 pictures per 120 min. battery charge and sells new for $270 at amazon.com.
Good luck!
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I now own this superb Leica camera!