New Member seeking equipment advice

[John Barnes]

Hi,
Thank you for allowing me to join the CCC.
I have recently retired and wish to take up photography as a hobby. I have no equipment so the first thing I am seeking advice on is what type of camera and lens do I need and the best place to buy it?
Perhaps someone in the South Selsdon area would make contact to discuss my requirements?
Thanks in advance
John

[Mike Farley]

Hi John

Welcome to Croydon Camera Club's forum.

Without knowing what budget you have in mind nor what you are interested in photographing, it is difficult to give advice. Some years ago, I wrote a guide which is on the club's website and will give you an introduction. In it, I wrote that "mirrorless" cameras with an electronic viewfinder were likely to dominate the market which is what has happened. Apart from Pentax, I doubt that any manufacturer will launch a new DSLR model in future.

http://croydoncameraclub.org.uk/Photogr ... ics_01.htm

Any camera that you buy will be capable of giving good results, so finding one with intuitive controls and which feels comfortable in your hand should be your priority. A zoom lens with a range spanning from moderate wide-angle to moderate telephoto (aka a standard zoom) will suffice for most needs. Given that you are just starting out, I would not spend too much at this stage. This guide gives an idea of what is currently available. You could save some money by buying secondhand from a dealer who can give advice and provide a warranty.

https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/best- ... ess-camera

Feel free to ask any further questions here.

As you might have surmised, while the forum is open for anyone to join, we are a membership club. We hold regular weekly meetings, currently online due to Covid-19, but we intend to return to our usual location at Shirley Methodist Church when circumstances permit. If you would like to attend one or two of our meetings as a guest, let me know and I will send you an invite. The forum has options to send direct messages and e-mails or you can reply to this post.

[Mike Farley]

Apart from Pentax, I doubt that any manufacturer will launch a new DSLR model in future.

On cue:

https://www.dpreview.com/news/145984118 ... nally-here

[John Barnes]

Hi Mike,

Many thanks for contacting me and the the information contained in your message; there's a lot to take in so I'll read up on everything at leisure and once I can visit a camera shop I'll seek the correct equipment! I am interested in landscapes and the grandchildren.

I would certainly like to attend a Members' evening as a guest so I'll contact you at a later date to arrange if I may.

Kind regards
John

[Mike Farley]

...... once I can visit a camera shop I'll seek the correct equipment!

Based on personal experience, the two I would particularly recommend are Cameraworld and Park Cameras which have both been willing to give me the time needed when making purchasing decisions. Each has a store close to each other in the West End and prices will probably be similar, if not identical. Cameraworld occasionally has offers which are better than elsewhere. Park Cameras also has a large place in Burgess Hill if you do not fancy going into London on public transport at present. Unfortunately, there is not much else closer these days.

In the past few months, I have had good service from London Camera Exchange but in an earlier encounter an assistant at the Strand branch once lost a sale when he got fed up answering my questions. He stopped serving me just as I was about to make the purchase and I ended up buying elsewhere. Maybe that was a one-off? The Oxford Street branch of John Lewis has a photography section where you can handle cameras untroubled by anyone trying to serve you, let alone have a good knowledge of what they are selling. There might have been an improvement since my last visit but a specialist dealer is usually a better option.

You might find this website of use. It shows what is available and gives price comparisons or links for a wide range of retail outlets, with Cameraworld being the main omission:

https://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/

I am interested in landscapes and the grandchildren.

If your grandchildren are anything like mine, a camera with good continuous autofocus will be helpful when they are running around.

I would certainly like to attend a Members' evening as a guest so I'll contact you at a later date to arrange if I may.

You will be welcome at any time.