HI, I've recently brought a Panasonic Lumix FZ5. I'm not going to be taking up photograpgy seriously but just wanted to know from you experienced lot if this cam was a good buy for a beginner. And also are there some unwritten rules that I should be looking at when taking pics... Lighting, size, angel, what's "boring" and not... Tx to any replies!

Welcome to the forum PeeWee05 I've heard some good things about the Panasonic digicams. Good optical zoom...anti-shake are 2 features that pop in my mind. The FZ5 seems like it would be a good beginner camera. Since you are just starting out, you should get the feel for your new camera! Read the manual and learn all the basics. Then just go out and take pics...that's the cool thing about digital, Experimenting is the key! I wouldn't worry about rules right now! With time you will know what looks right and as you gain more experience will gain insight into composition,lighting and whatnot! Most importantly have FUN and if you have questions...just ask! L8r! Joe

Tx, I brought it because if I want to become more serious at it I can buy lenses to add on... It's got 12 optical zoom and 4 digital (tot 48 x zoom). I've enjoying it so far. The anti shake only really works on low zoom options, still need a tripod. But it'c cool, I'll see what works. :D

I agree with Joe about the experimentation advice. I've found I learn alot more by "doing" first, and then when back home reviewing the pics I work out what went right, and what went wrong. So go out, take loads of pics and when you find you need some advice, post the pic in the forum here and ask. I can guarantee these guys here will be more than helpful :) Finally, you ask... "And also are there some unwritten rules that I should be looking at when taking pics... Lighting, size, angel, what's "boring" and not..." Rules? Yes there are some "rules" of composition and what not, but they are not "strict" rules, and there are many excellent pictures out there that break them. I'd buy a book or two on basic photography techniques to get some ideas and inspiration, and maybe subscribe to a photography magazine of some sort ( something Ive been meaning to do for some time). The biggest thing you need to develop is an eye for good composition - always be thinking about it when taking pictures, experiment, and soon you'll begin to instictive know whats working, and whats not :)

Tx Wivel. What is composition (sorry need to get with the terms) ?

Attached Link: http://photoinf.com/General/KODAK/guidelines_for_better_photographic_composition.html

Tx so much, I've had a look at you gallery, you've really got a great eye! Excellent pics! Do you use a digital or film cam? And what software do you use?

Thank you. Its a digital SLR (canon 20d), and I use Photoshop CS for the tweaks :)

welcome Vera... you've already gotten some excellent advice... you might want to look into Photoshop Elements or PaintShopPro... a couple of fairly inexpensive editing programs to use with your photography & computer graphics enjoy your stay! :]

Welcome to the forum and have fun dear!! U'll get hoocked before u know it! ;P

Cyn is right on getting workable software that won't wear you out to start. PSP is a good one and I use it a lot, along with Photoshop. Still, for the money, PSP is a good program and not too hard to use. Like taking pictures, it just takes getting into it and using it. You can pick up a copy of PSP8 for fairly cheap on Amazon and similar sites. The newer version is PSP9 and I don't have that one. If a few dollars more is a problem, the version 8 does just fine. My wife uses Photoshop Elements at her work and she started great on a pc but knowing nothing about photo work..now she does it great for her department at work. Really glad to have you aboard! One piece of advice, take a look at "galleries" and choose "photogrtaphy"..run through the submissions. You will definitely see some impressive images and some you don't care for . Some will be badly composed, some out of focus, some trying too hard and not doing the job. Others will make your socks jump off at the wonderful quality and personal impression of the picture well done. This give some easy idea what looks good and works and what does not. Get out, take lots of pics and visit here often. The advice given by the other posters is good stuff. Blessing in your photography. Don't be surprised if it carries you further than imagined. This is fun stuff. TomDart.

hi, you can get a Photoshop 6 Version on Ebay for less than 30 $. if you like it, you can do an upgrade. i use photoshop 7 . my fav plug in is Mystical Tint,Tone and Colour ( www.autofx.com ). wish you fun with your Cam. i think the Leica Lens is great and will create a very good photography. best regards gerhard

You do have to watch those ebay purchases though. Many times they can be illegal or not supported by adobe. We had this discussion before and will try to search the thread out.

PS the pics unedited. I've got Microsofts PhotoDraw and Arc's PhotoImpression... Are these two programs any good or too basic?

HI Peewee just a quick thing, dont get too hung up on the software. And while your'e out and about taking your shots try to develop an eye, for angle, scale, colour you may find that this will help in your composition. Look at other photographers works, depending on what you are trying to shoot, whether landscape etc etc, this may give you some ideas about getting the image you want.

Tx, I've gotta wonder if you can get too invovled in looking at angles and wind up trying too hard...

When teaching jewelry making years ago, my goal was to have students get the basics down pat. That was and is the building point. Agreed, don't get too caught up in software! And, know the basics, first starting with your camera! I have a relatively new camera and make mistakes with it from not paying attention to little details. I would try to keep the manual handy and learn everything you can about how the camera reacts in different modes, etc. If you then get a wonderfully exposed shot or a blown out ruined one, you will have an idea "why" and be able to back up and do it better the next time. As I see it, learning how exposture works and learning to nicely frame the image in the view are two good places to start. I am still learning my newer camera and trying to get a better grip on the solid basics of good photography. Best wishes.

Tx Tom... Frame the pic? What is that refering to?

PeeWee, what I mean is how the shot looks in the viewfinder or lcd screen. It took me a while to get better at this and still it goes on! The idea is to compose(put together) a good shot in the first place. You might want to leave a little room(and many viewfinders or lcd screens do that) for cropping the image and tweeking the area of the picture you want to show.

I learned this on 'rosity, well, did it already to some extent but folks here mentioned the basic idea of seeing a nice composition in the finder before taking the picture and I practice that now, hopefully getting better with each shot. That is the idea.

If what you start with is well composed and looks good in the viewfinder, you have the entire digital file there and don't have to enlarge it too much to get a good image from all the extra stuff in the original photo. This helps develope an eye for seeing balance and pleasing arrangement of things in the picture you take. With me, there is some natural ability but much of it is practice and keeping composition in mind before the shutter is pushed. Others know much more about this than I do..but I do know it is a good basic to keep in mind. Think like you are shooting film and each frame is done once it is shot, no delete available. Then the film is develped and you pay for that! Good framing in the first place prevents many disappointments. Just get out there, have fun and try it, taking time to get the picture the best you see before snapping the shutter. : )

Message edited on: 07/06/2005 18:28

The thinking of film instead of digital is a great idea! I'll do that thanks. You guys have been very helpful, I've getting more and more eager to take good shots...

One other thing that I try to do is pick a subject. Keep working with that theme and learn the different ways that each shot turns out and why. When I was just getting back into it I was taking a photo of this and that and everything,and could not get a grip on the settings. For instance I did ducks ducks and more ducks. Then boats.Landscapes too even. You will get good at one thing and perfect it. That is then when to go try something new. Works for me.

Remember, because we're talkin' digital, you can shoot to you hearts content (or at least til the memory card is filled!) (LOL) Find SOMETHING that catches YOUR eye and practice taking pix with it! EXPLORE the subject and at the same time, your camera settings. See how changing the modes affect the same shoot! Don't worry about making mistakes, we ALL learn from them! You flower image is a good start! There ALOT of potential with this subject! When takin pix...start asking yourself "What if?" What if...I took a pic of it closer?(so it fills the view) What if...I was looking up at the flower from the ground? What if...I took the same pic when the sun was out? (How might this impact the image?) These are just examples! As you get more comfortable with the camera, you'll find yourself doing this automatically...on instinct! L8r! Joe

Never thought of that... I'll explore the flower as the first subject then! Tx guys