Buying a new camera for my wife for taking baby photos and more ($250-$350 budget)

rstevens82 · Jun 27, 2014

Hi all,

I am hoping to spend about $250 to $350 on a new camera for my wife. We have a new baby, and she constantly uses her iphone to take photos of her but I know she wants something better. She actually knows something about photography and took a class in college several years ago (she also had a fancy camera back then but it has long been outdated and she does not use it). She does a pretty darn good job with her iphone and I'm hoping this camera is something she can grow with and is not just a simple point a click camera. She still has an interest in photography and has mentioned taking another class once she gets a new camera.

I know other new mommy's have even asked her to take a few photos of their babies because they like her iphone photos. So to begin, she would be mainly using this camera to take photos of our baby and maybe a few others.

I know nothing about cameras. Just a guy trying to do nice for his wife. I figured I'd ask the forum for advice before doing anything.

Thanks in advance.

JustJazzie · Jun 27, 2014

Welcome to the forum! The experts will chime in soon with some great advice.

wyogirl · Jun 27, 2014

If you are looking for a good entry level dslr, then your budget is too low. Look more into $600 range.

If you are looking for a decent point and shoot then you are closer to budget but it wont be much of an upgrade over the iphone IMO.

robbins.photo · Jun 27, 2014

rstevens82 said:
Hi all,

I am hoping to spend about $250 to $350 on a new camera for my wife. We have a new baby, and she constantly uses her iphone to take photos of her but I know she wants something better. She actually knows something about photography and took a class in college several years ago (she also had a fancy camera back then but it has long been outdated and she does not use it). She does a pretty darn good job with her iphone and I'm hoping this camera is something she can grow with and is not just a simple point a click camera. She still has an interest in photography and has mentioned taking another class once she gets a new camera.

I know other new mommy's have even asked her to take a few photos of their babies because they like her iphone photos. So to begin, she would be mainly using this camera to take photos of our baby and maybe a few others.

I know nothing about cameras. Just a guy trying to do nice for his wife. I figured I'd ask the forum for advice before doing anything.

Thanks in advance.

Well, most infant photos will be done indoors I would imagine so in your budget range your best bet is going to be to look for something that can mount an external flash. I don't think you're going to be able to afford anything in the "newer" DSLR range with a lens capable of taking good lowlight pictures and stay within your budget. I would still recommend a DSLR though, it's going to give you your best image quality and low light abilities, and it will be something you can always expand later as needed.

Now your not going to get something brand new in your price range, but this might be a good option:

Used Canon EOS Rebel XSi SLR Digital Camera Kit (Black) 2756B003

And then add a usable external flash, maybe something along these lines:

Amazon.com : Yongnuo Professional Flash Speedlight Flashlight Yongnuo YN 560 III for Canon Nikon Pentax Olympus Camera / Such as: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark, EOS1D Mark, EOS 5D Mark, EOS 7D, EOS 60D, EOS 600D, EOS 550D, EOS 500D, EOS 1100D : On Camera Shoe M

For an infant in particular you want a flash that you can direct so that it can be bounced off a ceiling or a wall, you really don't want to use the cameras internal flash.

If your willing to go used of course you can probably get better prices off of ebay, but I'd probably recommend sticking with refurbished, that way if you do run into any problems your dealing with a reputable, well established company and you don't need to worry about maybe missing something vitally important in the description that would have convinced you not to buy the camera in the first place.

Dao · Jun 27, 2014

Do you know the brand and model of the old camera she had? I friend of mine who had a old film based camera and turn out that was a Canon EOS film camera with a lens. She bought a EOS digital camera body last year and was able to use the old lens in her new camera.

rstevens82 · Jun 27, 2014

Dao said:
Do you know the brand and model of the old camera she had?

I don't. It's at her parents house. It was a $500 camera (and that was 10 years ago or so). I recall it was pretty big and bulky. I don't think she was that attached to it though.

If you are looking for a decent point and shoot then you are closer to budget but it wont be much of an upgrade over the iphone IMO.

Bah...That's not good. Is this a mistake of a gift then? If needed I guess I could go up to $400, but on a little bit of a budget as we are saving for a house.

jaomul · Jun 27, 2014

I'd look at a second-hand Canon 40d and an EF 50mm f1.8, or even a Canon 30d if the 40 is out of budget. Solid for the money.

Designer · Jun 27, 2014

rstevens82 said:
It was a $500 camera (and that was 10 years ago or so). I recall it was pretty big and bulky. I don't think she was that attached to it though.

Since it probably still works, I'd get the original one back. Save your money.

rstevens82 · Jun 27, 2014

jaomul said:
I'd look at a second-hand Canon 40d and an EF 50mm f1.8, or even a Canon 30d if the 40 is out of budget. Solid for the money.

Is there a good web-site to buy second hand cameras? Or is it just e-bay?

sashbar · Jun 27, 2014

From what you said about your wife experience, level and ambitions, she will be seriously underwhelmed with anything 300 USD can buy. Unless a used market is an option (and I do not like an idea of a used gift to be honest) 600 USD is I am afraid more realistic. If she wants to take some more classes with the news camera she needs a DSLR or a decent mirrorless. If on a tight budget I would look at Nikon D5100 with kit lense, which is not expensive, a bit outdated but still a very, very good camera.

robbins.photo · Jun 27, 2014

rstevens82 said:
jaomul said:

I'd look at a second-hand Canon 40d and an EF 50mm f1.8, or even a Canon 30d if the 40 is out of budget. Solid for the money.

Click to expand...

Is there a good web-site to buy second hand cameras? Or is it just e-bay?

KEH camera, B and H photo or Adorama are usually my goto sites for such things

Sent from my LG-LG730 using Tapatalk

JustJazzie · Jun 27, 2014

sashbar said:
(and I do not like an idea of a used gift to be honest) .

I don't think that's quite fair. I might not give a used gift to someone outside my immediate family, however; I would be DELIGHTED with a used camera from my DH. In the OP's case it's thoughtful, it's useful, and his wife more than anyone else understand their budget and financial goals.

A used dlsr will make great memories while the little one is growing, much better than an iPhone can take. The camera may be used, but them memories made with it most certainly aren't!

OP: I hope you find something in budget and that your wife adores it!

Designer · Jun 27, 2014

She already owns a used camera.

"..pretty big and bulky."

rstevens82 · Jun 27, 2014

Designer said:
She already owns a used camera.

"..pretty big and bulky."

She didn't really like that camera and it may have been 3.5 megapixels...I recall even a few years ago her saying her phone camera was better than the one she had in college.

so I'm hearing $350 is just not enough to spend. I guess what is the best I can get her in the $500 range. It's more than I want to spend but if it really makes a difference I can figure a way to make it work.

thanks for the help.