Hi all! I'm Tin Yao, a newbie to the forums. I took Photography classes in college (Assumption) for my major, but it's been a while. Back then i used my dad's manual SLR. I finally have the time to give more attention to my hobby.

I'm a bit torn whether I stick with a manual SLR or join the bandwagon and get a digital SLR. Some friends say the discipline with a manual is still an advantage. Anyway, would like to get some opinons :-) Well, that and the fact i'm fortunate to take a trip to Hongkong soon and perhaps a digital SLR there would be cheaper maybe?

Oh, and I have a 16 year old daughter (yeeees, i started "early" :Grin: ) and she is very interested in taking photography too. So i've been considering in getting her, her own SLR as well. Syemps mas mahal kay mommy! joke! Need input on something a 16 year old can use that i'm sure will get banged up and hopefully she won't lose :Scared:

Anyway, i'm so glad i found digitalphotographer, it's such a lifesaver. Thanks very much & can't wait to read your posts :-)

i'd say digital. you can experiment more at less cost. :D it's a big advantage for learning photogs to see results immediately and be able to adjust just as soon. :D my 2 cents. :)

I Agree with Jon...

welcome to the forum Tin! i agree with jon and eric...go fot the digital. a big advantage from the film. -cheers

Hi Tin! :) Simply go digital and don't look back! The same discipline is still there anyway, though the workflow maybe a bit different; but it would definitely save you and your daughter alot of frustration and cash in the long run. :) Goodluck.

Digital. Digital. :)

Likewise, I advise you go digital (and if you can still use your dad's film camera, use it also).

Ther terminologies may be different, but it's pretty much the same discipline.

I had the same dilemma before. Was supposed to get film SLR. But got a DSLR instead. It's Digital for me! :)

DIGITAL in DIGITAL AGE. Am not putting down film though, i started at film SLR.

i guess, digital first.

then later on, try to learn a basic approach on photoshop or other graphics applications to play with your digital photos.

digital. but nothing on the high end range. if you can still get a 350D kit get it for her. but it would be nice is she got a brand new one.

I'm an newbie, and I asked myself the same question. I agree with Jon that you can easily see the results. I would find it too expensive to keep on buying film! And with film, it would be too tedious do have the film developed.

right on edu! especially that everybody owns a personal computer now, you don't want the trouble to go to a photo shop just to have your pictures developed -- every day! :D

Wow :-) those posts came in quick! thanks so much for your inputs, i guess the hunt for a dSLR will be underway :-) Another point for getting a dSLR, my daughter won't have to ask for an increase on her allowance to buy film and for developing hehe :-)

- - -

Btw, does anyone know if the cameras ARE cheaper in Hongkong than in Manila? I'll be scouting around Quiapo next week though, just to make sure. And I know there are Canon and Nikon factions :-) But would just like a suggestion which would be a good entry level dSLR that could last us for a while before upgrading. Just realized lenses don't come with the camera's yet right? Is that where the kits come in? Naku this set is my daughters Christmas gift and birthday gift for the next oooh, maybe 2-4 years! Boy, would she love to hear that! :-)

Thanks again everyone! You're all such great help :-)

hey tin! :D both entry level cameras from nikon and canon are great cameras. the cheaper (and older) models would be the 350D for canon (which is quite compact and your dughter might like that) and the D50 for nikon. the newer models (albeit more expensive) are the Canon 400D and Nikon D80. make sure that if you're getting a model that uses CF cards for yourself, get a model that uses the same for your daughter, so that you can exchange cards or use each other's for backup. Most dslrs come with a kit lens. it's good enough to start off with. :D good luck!

dex

i must say that u can use the digital... its a bit unexpensive, the down side on the manual kasi is that you have to spend on the developing process

Digital is the way to go. I agree with Jon. Both Nikon and Canon are indeed excellent systems and don't forget to consider the memory card's format as well.

I'll say something else. Buy the digital so that you can learn to shoot film.

digital, more economical in the long run!

Errr...If you have a lot of money, FILM and digital :p

if you're like me on allowance, digital sounds like the better option.

I wish I started on FILM first... kulang ako sa disiplina. Pitik lang ako ng pitik.

Dear Santa...

Tammy- I've seen some of your images. They're good.

I guess I'm the only one voting for film.

Last year when my daughter was 9 and showed interest in learning photography, she practice exclusively using film (one of my F5... quite heavy for her but she managed). With film she learned manual control and 15 months later, can expose film properly and can sometime recognize if she is off by a stop or two. Composition is another story (she shoots a lot of pink stuff ;) , but she's working on that.

I guess one can learn in either format, but with film it forces one to compose the shot in the camera and learn the manual settting because it is costly to screw up.

Here's one of my favorite images she shot recently (my shoes)...

http://img275.imageshack.us/img275/756/shoesmz6.jpg

Tammy- I've seen some of your images. They're good.

Thanks so much! Though my first SLR was film canon EOS, I preferred to shoot with my generic piece of sh!t HP Photosmart 3MP camera since it was cheaper and I can see my mistakes right away.

But it sucks a lot of my mentors comment on my lack of discipline and encourage me to go back to basics read: FILM.Good thing I found this old Nikon FM2 in my mom's warehouse so Nikonian ako sandali the next few months.

Here's a good blog post that got me bugging the bosses to school me on film.

Of Pictures and Pixels, The Lost Language, Part II

http://lazyjuan.blogspot.com/2006/10/of-pictures-and-pixels-lost-language.html

http://img275.imageshack.us/img275/756/shoesmz6.jpg

Your daughter is picking up well on your skills Nick! :)

Your daughter is picking up well on your skills Nick! :)

Yep, I'm quite the proud daddy. :Grin:

Still, I would definitely discourage her to go into the profession though, if ever.