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Any budding David Baileys on here? Where's Bob?

I'm thinking of buying . It's a bit big and ugly but gives you a hell of a lot for your money. I only want to use it recreationally - gigs, gurning mates and the odd eBay listing. Not to capture individual raindrops as the fall off a vole's ear a mile away. Am I making a mistake?

Guilty as charged on the David Bailey wannabe front. I bought a camera in San Fran earlier this year that set me back £700; I’ve also go a tripod, light meter and all sorts of gubbins. While I do like to do some “professional” looking stuff, the truth is that I don’t use a heck of a lot of the functionality and its all so expensive and cumbersome that I can’t risk taking it to gigs, festivals etc.

In answer to your question, that camera looks more than adequate for your needs. People naturally go for as many pixels as possible. The truth is that you can’t really tell the difference to anything over 5mp with the naked eye, and so your pictures just end up taking up more disc space they need.

Matt

That comment about the megapixels is just the sort of advice I need - I know sweet fa about cameras, I just know that the current brick, that I can't find, is inadequate. I also know that when I used it at gigs I often found the zoom didn't get close enough to do much of use - this x10 looks more promising. But then, like I said, I'm clueless about this stuff.

aperture F/3.5-3.7 will only be of us at well-lit gigs, unless you're going be using flash. but then that's a whole new kettle of fish. seems to be a good price for the features. i think this is the one one of my flatmates has.

BJ, that should be a very good camera for your needs, but as noted, if you're going to really get into gig photography in a serious manner, you will end up wanting more. Much more.

I just ordered an upgrade from my Canon Digital Rebel XT, the new Digi Rebel XTi, but I do it as work, so I can write it off my taxes

Also, RE: megapixels, it's true to a point that it doesn't matter over 5-6MP. It only really matters if you plan on making prints larger than 8x10 or if you're hoping to do anything intensive digitally a la Photoshop. A 10MP is more than enough for what I see you working on; that is, taking gig shots for reviews and online use. The low light situation with gigs is a trick. If you're looking for some nice work, check out Kirstin Marvic's work over at where you can find some really nice gig work. She's gotten it down to its artform, playing with the low light.

It's nearly impossible to shoot gigs, from experience, without going manual on settings, because flash is the bane of existence for any venue smaller than a theater (not only do most artists hate it while playing, but you end up with completely unbalanced lit shot), and it's utterly useless for anything bigger than a theater; conclusion: flash sucks.

In any case, this should suit your needs, so go for it and have fun.

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Bob M. Montgomery Images
Fine Art and Commision Photography

You might also want to invest in some decent (but not fully-pro - too expensive) photo-editing software; I've got Photoshop Elements 4.0 (cost about £70) and it's very useful for resizing, cropping and generally touching up pics that are too dark (etc) to put on a web page.

You can also do gif animation and various other cute tricks.

I'm not saying that's the one you should get, but something like that would undoubtedly come in handy.

flash is unfortunately a necessity for venues like the buffalo bar. it doesn't totally suck - andrew kendell, james looker and sonia melot, for example, all use it regularly. but yeah, i try to avoid it when possible.

Bobdante - you Kirsten Mavric's agent or summink?
(I know her from another forum and she is very good)

I'll ignore Bobodante's hatred of flash (if you know how to use it then it can be indespensable and a "must" at lots of the crappy venues we frequent on here) but agree it isn't going to be much cop with that camera. Personally, if you're going to use it in the pub, for the odd gig and general use i'd go for a fuji finepix f30 or f31d - reviews here or here
Isn't so clunky as the one you chose, and you'd be more likely to take it out with you more if it's small. Works brill in low light too. Just a thought.

...and captain Howdy is right - just a tiny bit of editing will make your photos so much better. Picasa would be fine for someone of your limited intelligence. Photoshop elements would be better though.

Meh, I know how to use a flash, but I avoid it like the plague expect in studio situations (that's where I like to use flash/lighting). I've shot a few gigs, and seem to always be able to shoot without it. Granted, the 5-6 I've done had at least some lighting rig going, even the local bar. Also, I'm an avowed artsy-fartsy photog, so I prefer the atmospheric, occasionally blurry light painting style gig shots.

As for Kirsten, she's just an old friend and the first gig photog that came to mind

I'll second the good Capt., as well. Elements is a good, basic program with plenty of muscle to do the editing things you're likely to need, available for both Mac and PC.

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Bob M. Montgomery Images
Fine Art and Commision Photography

Ok... Following advice from various parties I've now order a camera and it's .

That's a bit of a bargain, Bovey. My digital camera does me for what it's used for - just taking pics of my hands an' the like.

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Jarvis Cocker or David Bowie or AVB or Johnny Borrell, she isn't picky

Cavey Cocker, Cup Cake Queen, Saint Thomas.

looks okay to me Bovey - you'll especially like the image stabilisation what with your shaky, addled, alcohol-fuelled body.

Great choice, Bovey. Those PowerShots are great little shooters, and as noted, the shakey help will be priceless for your grizzled old claws

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Bob M. Montgomery Images
Fine Art and Commision Photography