Photography geeks - Can anyone recommend me a camera

The Disciple

The Disciple

Well-known member
I’m basically a novice but I’d like to do a bit of wildlife photography. Mostly close up/short range stuff - I don’t need something with a lens that can photograph a Robin half a mile away - not yet anyway 😁 just a decent beginners camera that can take some nice photos. Price range up to £700 or so - cheers
 
You are on a very slippery slope!

You need to look at interchangeable lens cameras. The traditional solution is the DSLR. So Nikon and Canon are the names to look for a decent second hand camera will get you up and running. Alternatively look at the Sony range of mirrorless cameras.
 
Muttley said:
You are on a very slippery slope!

You need to look at interchangeable lens cameras. The traditional solution is the DSLR. So Nikon and Canon are the names to look for a decent second hand camera will get you up and running. Alternatively look at the Sony range of mirrorless cameras.
Click to expand...
What’s the difference between mirrorless and DSLR ?
 
Something like a Canon 550D, second hand from ebay or one of the big re-sellers would be suitable. Probably less than £200 for the body and a couple of lenses. If you pair it with a good quality 2nd hand lens, like a Canon L series 24-105 zoom (about 5 to £600), you'll have a good set up for every occasion pretty much, as that will give you a focal length range of approx 35 to 160mm (this is because the camera has a cropped lens).
I still use this set up in a professional context, and it has earned me thousands over the years.
 
borolad259 said:
Something like a Canon 550D, second hand from ebay or one of the big re-sellers would be suitable. Probably less than £200 for the body and a couple of lenses. If you pair it with a good quality 2nd hand lens, like a Canon L series 24-105 zoom (about 5 to £600), you'll have a good set up for every occasion pretty much, as that will give you a focal length range of approx 35 to 160mm (this is because the camera has a cropped lens).
I still use this set up in a professional context, and it has earned me thousands over the years.
Click to expand...
I thought people mainly used GoPro on Only Fans?
 
Use ebay or MPB is a good site with a range of cameras.
Sony A6000 with a decent lens isn't a bad shout, there are plenty decent older cameras that will do what you want.
I bought a Sony RX100 mk3 as my starter camera to learn photography a few yrs back, still learning and looking to go mirrorless for my next step up.
Good luck with your camera choice and have fun learning.
 
Also have a look at Lumix (panasonic), they are good quality for beginners usually at a lower price than some of the other big brands. Something like the DC-G series is worth looking at. I think G90 is the latest but others would be in the price range (G80).
 
All subject to what you prefer. I’d go to a local store and physically handle one. You might prefer one brand over the other. Currys are currently doing the Canon EOS 2000D with a 18-55mm kit lens and a 300mm shoirt zoom for £499.
I’d be more tempted to look for used deals on MPB, WEX, or go to York Camera mart and have a look around and get the feel.
There’s some good deals on FB Marketplace.
If buying second hand, you need to look at shutter count (the lower the better) and make sure there’s no fungus inside the lenses.
 
Be wary that if you buy a camera like the above mentioned 550d, it's an aps-c sensor so that means you either have to buy EF-S lenses, specifically made for it; or any traditional lens you have to multiply by 1.6 to get what it will look like on apps-c so the above mentioned 24-105L, which is quite versatile on a full frame camera, becomes 38.4-168mm equivalent view which is great for framing things far away but less great for wide angle.

I'd personally get a cheaper used full frame camera than a crop one but it's down to preference

Jazzy cameras are great and I used to have a really expensive set of canon and Nikon dslr, but money is better spent on lenses once you've got an ok body.
 
I have a Panasonic Lumix which is great for very basic photography.
I also have a mirrorless Olympus OMD EM10 which is tiny and really excellent until I get the biggest zoom lens on it and then the quality suffers quite a bit in comparison to a Canon or Nikon.

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Local fb marketplace has a Nikon D3500 camera bundle for £300. It’s in Spennymoor but looks like a very good buy!
The next level up is the Nikon D5300 and there’s one in Boro for £300 also. Looks as new.
 
Some good advice already on here, particularly about going to have a look and play with a few different models to see what you like in your hand. I started with a Nikon D3200. Something like that is ideal for a beginner, they often have learning modes on them to help you develop. It is a slippery slope, mind. You can get the old GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) and end up spending a lot of money, especially when you've got low impulse control like me... :D
 
Me personally If I had that type of money to spend I would get something along the lines of a Canon 5D MK3 2nd hand with a low shutter count for around £300 then get two good quality used lenses.
I got a Canon 50D with my birthday money in September and I love it I paid about £100 with two lenses and a shutter count of around 22000.
Obviously it's quite an old camera but is perfect for me to learn on.
 
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