What's a good digital camera for a portfolio?
I’m planning to buy a camera so that I can start taking photos to put into my portfolio for university application, and I’m not sure which camera I should get. I have a max budget of about 0, and I was looking into getting a 10 MP camera. Maybe an SLR or a DSLR camera (even though I have no clue what the difference between the two are).
I’m quite interested in buying the Fujifilm S1000fd, but after reading some reviews, I’m having doubts. It’s affordable though, selling for 0 in my area. I’m also liking the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS but it’s a bit over my budget (5).
Can anyone give me some advice on a good camera that takes some high quality pictures for an affordable price?
I would also like to add that the photos that I will be taking are mostly outdoors.
Oh sorry, this isn’t for a photography course. This is for the school of Architecture. I just wanted to put some photos in my portfolio to show my versatility in different art mediums.
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July 26, 2010 by admin under 
Canon SX10 PowershotTags: budget, canon, canon powershot, clue, different art mediums, doubts, dslr camera, high quality, mp, photography course, school of architecture, slr, taking photos, university application, versatility
July 26th, 2010 3:57 pm
I would consider renting or borrowing a camera if your course does not have to do with photography; but you want to showcase professional looking shots.
To do architecture/landscape photography, you will want to use a tripod.
An dSLR is just a digital SLR (digital meaning no film).
SLR means single lens reflex. It is a a type of camera that usually has a viewfinder that you look through and see through the same lens that will be used to take the picture.
SLR cameras are usually very large and have interchangeable lenses.
You might be able to rent a camera for a weekend from your local photography store.
You can see photos that people have taken with various cameras to observe the image quality from the Flickr link I have posted below.
July 26th, 2010 3:57 pm
My guess is your portfolio is going to be used to show your current skills as a photographer …. this should include both your compositional skills as well as your technical …. P&S cameras do all the technical work for you, so images shot with one, may not meet the criteria of your universities portfolio requirements.
Look at all the conditions listed by the university to be sure you don’t waste money buying the wrong camera for the job … usually it is expected that portfolios are produced using some kind of fully adjustable camera, like a 35 mm SLR or DSLR.
Ask the university what camera type you will need for completing your course work. That is where you will want to spend the first $200 of your equipment budget.
I did the same thing before I attended school. I bought a nice new 35 mm SLR and three lenses and found I had to buy a 4×5 view camera and 210 mm lens for the first year of school. That little mistake blew my budget and I lived on tortillas, beans and beer for about three months until I was able to catch up to my actual budget
EDIT
My guess is you will be walking around shooting "idea" shots of architecture.
Okay, shooting architecture is a whole different deal.
You will need to buy a 35 mm SLR and at least a 24 mm lens (I prefer a 20 mm) for shooting both exteriors and especially interiors. When using a DSLR, I use the fine 12-24 mm or 14-24 mm zoom
You can find good used cameras on craigslist and for the best lens selection, stick with either a Nikon or Canon brand.
At present NO P&S camera will give you a wider angle view than the equivalent of a 28 mm lens … not so hot when shooting buildings
July 26th, 2010 3:57 pm
canon sx10 is my choice
save up your pennies
July 26th, 2010 3:57 pm
With that budget you will have to rely on you talent and excellent technical skills to produce a quality portfolio. No camera is going to do a phenominal job at that price range. The saying "it’s the Indian not the arrow". Consider spicing up your technical skills by reading a few books from amherst publishing and applying what you learn. Then if you want to create a great portfolio consider renting a camera and lens that can get the job done. Find your target or concept and shoot with a quality arrow (camera and lens). I recommend http://www.borrowlenses.com
The cameras you are considering are "SLR like" camera’s. They don’t actually have interchangable lenses found in real SLR camera’s. What you are interested in is a tweener camera. It says your serious but not that serious. DSLR and SLR are now used synonomously particulary because most photographers have switched to digital camera’s versus film. There is a difference D(digital)SLR and SLR(Film). Feel free to email me just go to http://www.deanruiz.com
Good luck,
Dean Ruiz
Atlanta Wedding Photographers
July 26th, 2010 3:57 pm
digital camera SLRs store
http://astore.amazon.com/digital-camera-sale-20