Newbie needing advice :-)

[paper_doll]

Hi everyone!

I am new to the site, and fairly new to photography - I am so pleased I found this forum! It seems like you all have good knowledge and advice on here!

Basically, I am off travelling for 7 months next year and am wanting to ask for a camera for Christmas to take with me. I am also thinking of doing a photography degree when I return and wanted to use my travels to take photos and hopefully use them to build up my portfolio.

I am off to lots of places including India and New Zealand so am after a camera that will bring out the vibrant colours of India and the amazing landscapes of NZ.

After hours and hours of researching different cameras on the internet, I have decided to not go down the DSLR route as I don't want the bulk of carrying lots of kit around with me... I will eventually buy one if I do a degree, but will cross that bridge when I come to it. So, all that said, I have narrowed it down to either Canon G11 or Panasonic LX3. Both cameras have their advantages and disadvantages and I can't seem to decide which one is for me!

G11 - I like the fact that it has a flip-out LCD, and plus, well, it's a Canon!!

LX3 - I like the idea of the pinhole and film grain art filters, but not too sure about the small optical zoom.

I am aware that photos can be Photoshopped, but being a beginner to that too I am not too sure I would be able to cope learning about photography and Photoshop at the same time!! :bonk:

If anyone has any advice I would be most grateful, or if there are other cameras out there anyone can recommend too I am openminded.

Thank you!!!

 

[RicherSea]

I would absolutley avoid using any of the in-camera filters like grain or pin-hole. If you take an image like that you can never get the original back. Same goes for black and white - take the photo in colour and make it B&W later. I appreciate what you're saying about learning photoshop, but it really isn't hard, and there are easier (and cheaper) programmes to start with. Remember any effect like that the camera can apply by you just pushing a button can probably be applied by photoshop by just clicking the right button too! Some camera manufacturers actually give you software that will replicate all the in-camera effect exactly yhe same way the camera does them if that's what you want.

What you want to avoid is coming back from a really important trip and then thinking " i wish i had that photo like..."

edit: go into a camera shop and use the 2 cameras, trying to work out how far away the thing you are going to shoot are going to be. See which lens suits shooting things at that distance.

 

[Woodsie]

As RicherSea said I would always take your photos as 'normal' images and post process them in an image editing program.
At least then you can adjust the amount of effect that is present.

As for camera choice, I haven't personally used either but I have a G9 and I love it. It cost me £300 when I bought it so wasn't cheap but it takes great images and is great for trips where you need to pack light.