Info on good cameras please?

[Emma]

I'm 15 and I'm thinking of going into photography but first I need to get a good camera because right now I only have a small digital carry around nikon (12 megapixels).
I'd like to get a good Canon but I can only afford up to max 500 dollars. Also could someone explain the importance of megapixels? because I know that they affect the quality of the pictures but is that all? I have seen Canons in my price range with 18 megapixels, is that a good amount? What should I be looking for in a camera? My uncle who is a photographer also told me that the lenses are one of the most important part. He said that the Pro L lens Canon series is really good but how much do they cost and which ones should I get? Could someone please give me some advice on which Canon models I should be looking at which are not too expensive and are for beginners?

Thanks

[Hondo]

Megapixels has almost nothing to do with image quality. If you are planning on displaying your photos on the internet, anything over 5 megapixels is fine. If you plan on printing photos up to 16 x 24 inches, anything over 10 megapixels is fine. Your current camera has enough pixels to print a large poster and look great. More pixels will not give you better image quality.

You also do not need a DSLR camera (Canon or otherwise) until you learn the basics of composition and lighting. Good photos are not the result of a certain camera or lens. Good photos are the result of a photographer understanding how to create a powerful composition, and how to use light to make the photo look the way they want. As a beginner, I GUARANTEE that your photos will look exactly the same whether you use your point and shoot camera or a really expensive DSLR camera with a really expensive lens. 90% of a great photo is in your skill, not the equipment. This means that if you practice good technique, you can produce wonderful photos with the camera you already have.

In short, until you can take great photos with the camera you have, your skills will not be good enough to take advantage of more expensive equipment.

[NobleScarlet]

Yeah, right megapixels really don't matter.
Years ago, 1MP was the standard and 3MP was "overkill". Few years later, 3MP became the standard and 5MP was too much. Then 5MP became the standard and 8MP became "insane". 8MP then became the standard and 12MP became "outrageous". Trust me, ignore the trolls who badmouth Kit Lens, MP, Auto Mode and Program Mode.

If you want to get serious or be an enthusiast or hobbyist with photography. get yourself a DSLR. First thing to know is how to use the camera. Whether you choose Canon or Nikon, there are third-party lens manufacturers that create lenses for both so don't be afraid of the brand. I am a Nikon user myself, but it doesn't matter. What's important is the PHOTOGRAPH! If you want a Nikon, get yourself a D3200 (24MP), or a D5200 (same, 24MP) if you can afford it. Don't be afraid of the kit lens. You can do a lot of things with a kit lens. If you want a Canon, go ahead. But before choosing, go to the camera store and take your time looking at what DSLRs are available. Choose the one your are most comfortable with and practice, practice, practice! Read magazines on photography and even as your uncle to teach you. Get on Facebook and find photography groups in your area and converse with the people there. You may make friends who share the same hobby and you can go take photos together. Look at other pros' works. Try to copy them, but also take shots of what you like.

As for MP, high MP counts doesn't mean more noise. check out the Nikon D800 and photos taken with it. Also a higher MP count will allow you to crop more of your photos, and for high ISO shots, you can downsample them to further reduce noise.

Always remember: Photography is less about the equipment, and more of the photo.

You can have a Canon 5D Mark III or a Nikon D800 both with the best lenses and not be able to use them properly and thus get a below-average photo, but you can also have a Canon 650D or Nikon D5200 with the kit lens and still take amazing photographs. It greatly depends on the one behind the camera.

Here is my Flickr photostream:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldelegance/
Photos after or below the "faucet" were taken with a cameraphone. A 41MP Nokia 808. Newer photos were taken on a D3200 with a kit lens.

[B K]

Megapixels are not important AT ALL!! - got it?? All modern DSLR cameras have more than enough megapixels, so you can score that right off your list of requirements.

Your uncle is right, lenses are more important than camera bodies. Even more important however is the skill of the photographer. Buying a good camera does not guarantee good photographs. Of course that skill can be learnt. But if you are expecting instant success, you are going to be disappointed.

For a beginner, what you are looking for is an entry level DSLR - the kind that comes with a kit lens. That's all you need to get started as a hobbyist.

You can forget buying any Canon L series lenses on your budget. They will cost way more than the camera.

There are more camera manufacturers than Canon or Nikon. All DSLRs are good. The brand is irrelevant.