What kind of camera do i need to take professional looking pictures of landscapes and portraits?

The first thing you need to learn is this: "It isn't the camera, its the photographer." A person knowledgeable about light, f-stops, composition, shutter speeds and ISO and skilled in their use can produce excellent pictures with just about any camera.

The second thing you need to learn is: "Get it right in the camera." A poorly exposed and composed picture can't be salvaged with the most sophisticated editing program.

I strongly suggest finding a course first before buying a camera. If the course is a really good one you will find yourself using a 100% manual 35mm film camera. Yes, a film camera. My granddaughter will be taking photography in high school this Fall and the first requirement listed was a manual 35mm film camera. I've been teaching her to use my ancient Minolta SRT-202 so she'll be ahead of the class when it begins.

The best thing using a 35mm film camera will teach you is to slow down. In my opinion digital cameras cause people to develop what I call the "machine gunner mentality" - take 300 pictures and hope a few turn out. That is nothing more than taking snapshots. It isn't photography. "Pictures are not taken, they are made." Ansel Adams.

Honestly now - if you take 300 lousy pictures and have no idea why they're lousy what have you learned? Other than how to take 300 lousy pictures. I encourage developing what I call the "sniper mentality" - one exposure, one good picture. This requires thinking and thinking requires time. Most beginners see a scene, think "Oh, pretty!" and immediately snap the shutter. A snapshot is the result. Instead of just snapping away, slow down and look at the scene. Standing. Kneeling. Sitting down. Lying flat on your belly. Move a few feet right. Move a few feet left. Back up. Get closer. Maybe that flower looks pretty in the sunlight but suppose you get behind it and look at it with the sun shining through the petals?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/drifter45h/3583620746...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/drifter45h/3581810196... Yes, people were staring at me as I laid on my belly in wet grass to take this but I think it was worth the effort.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/drifter45h/2364791076... These hybrid magnolia buds were boring in direct light but when I got behind them I made this picture.

So find a class and get the camera required. If its a DSLR, Sony, Pentax, Olympus, Nikon and Canon all offer excellent choices. Its its a film camera, the Pentax K1000 has been the student camera of choice for decades.

Many great photos are the result of being at the right place at the right time, so often a lot of luck is involved. One of the best landscape photos I have taken was with an old Kodak Instamatic Plastic lensed fixed focus camera I was driving from the Grand Canyon south to Phoenix and got a dramatic Desert Sunset. I have known photographers that would study a location for months before planning a photograph. In particular there was one award winning photo of a glass of wine or something like that with the pyramids in the background. The photographer studied charts to see exactly when the sun would be in the right position, and waited several days for just the right clouds.

My advice is to buy from a camera company. Kodak dropped analog completely and are now digital only. They seem like a good bet to me. I have a couple of Canon cameras that I'm not completely satisfied with. My friend has a Kodak and loves it. The best news is that you don't have to spend lots. Get Adobe Photoshop and take a class. B&H.com has whatever you decide that you need at the best prices. They have a storefront in Manhattan and I think they are the biggest Canon dealor anywhere. You can call them on the phone and speak to someone or order on line. If you check around first then call B&H you'll see that they have the lowest prices by far. Good luck!

If you are really on a budget and want the best quality for the money, check out the P&S Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 [with a Leica lense] which has more features than most pro DSLRs that require auxiliary lenses not even equal to the single initial full-range lense that comes with the FZ28. It is reviewed at:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2008_reviews/panaso...

It just came out on November 4, 2008.

It's an all-in-one 10.1 megapixel digital camera which includes (i) built-in image stabilization; (ii) HD720 quality video [Quicktime] which permits zooming while videoing skateboarding, action sports; (iii) a 18x zoom [27 - 486 mm (35mm equiv.)] "Leica" lense for nature and concert photography; (iv) up to 0.39 inch macro option; (v) up to 6400 ASA; (vi) takes up to 380 pictures per 120 min. battery charge; (vii) has a "burst speed" of 13 fps; and sells new for $430 at amazon.com. in the U.S.

Here's an actual handheld picture of the moon:

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/bf/...

For the best freebie photo editing software, conduct a google.com search for "Adobe PhotoDeluxe" which is the predecessor to Adobe PhotoShop. Again, PhotoDeluxe is a full-featured, user friendly version of PhotoShop.

Good luck!

It all depends on your price range and what type of photography you want to go in - digital or film.

if digital a good begginers DSLR camera is the Sony Alpha A300 with an 18-70mm & 55-200mm zoom which includes an image stabiliser (ability to minimize blur due to camera shake).

It's 10 mega pixels and a 2.7" tilt LCD screen. You can pick one up for under $1000.

You may want to upgrade to more MPs and a flash, but this camera already has a good lense in it.

A good program usually will be included in the kit to install on your computer, but if you want to go further Adobe Photoshop is your bread and butter

You mention landscape, at minimum you will need a FF camera to capture even close to the amount of tonality in a landscape scene.

Canon 5D

D700

Sony A900

Are just a few of the choices.

I personally use a Canon 5D, Mamiya RZ67 and Wista 8x10" to do my landscape work. Mostly the RZ67 so far this summer.

Mr. Clyde Butcher uses an 11x14" for his landscapes.

any brand name dslr is a good starting point, photoshop is the norm for image enhancing

no camera will deliver professional results without a professional operating it - cameras are stupid recording devices that record what people point them at