What camera

[KBayn]

Hi all

I have only a very amateur knowledge of photography but I am retired and now unfortunately on my own. I need something to fill my days and have determined that I will take up photography as my hobby and hence the reason for joining this forum.

I currently use my S7 mobile to take my photos but want to purchase an SLR camera. The choice is mind-boggling and would very much appreciate advice as to a good choice of camera.

My budget is around £200 to £400 and would probably err towards a good second-hand deal.

Best regards Ken.

 

[Jeff15]

The choice is indeed mind-boggling, take a look at utube and google. Good luck with your choice.....

 

[TWX]

The long answer? It depends on what you want to take pictures of. It depends on what kind of payload you want to put up with. It depends on for whom you're taking pictures. It depends on your budget.

Saying that you're going to get into photography is like saying that you're going to take up cars as a hobby. That's so wide and varied that it's nearly meaningless. I know guys that buy brand new high end sports cars and pay shops to work on them. I know guys that buy ratty old VWs for daily-driving. I know guys that buy cars from the fifties and spend a bunch of time, energy, and money on bodywork and paint. I know guys that buy worn American Iron from the seventies to throw big stroker-engines into. They're all cars, but they're by no means anything really related.

Now, If I were in your shoes, I'd buy a used premium point-and-shoot, or a used mirrorless camera, both capable of fully-automatic and full-manual, and start playing. Do it on the cheap, figure out what is fun, what one likes to take pictures of, then move into buying more stuff after figuring that out. After all, if you don't like it at all after you try it, then you haven't blown a lot of money on a brand new camera and a bag full of lenses only to now lose 30-50% on resale.

 

[Derrel]

I would definitely buy used equipment, because at your budget level you will not get much more than a beginning level DSLR.

If you buy a camera from about three generations back,200 to 400 Pounds Sterling will buy you a nice formerly Pro-level camera that used to cost 2500 to 3500.

 

[Designer]

The choice is mind-boggling ..

Indeed!

At this stage, it will be good to remember that you're buying more than just one camera-lens combo. You're also deciding on a system, which at some point will include more lenses which will mount onto your camera.

Other attachments, such as speedlights, are more universal, although the mating in the hotshoe needs to be correct.

Start looking at lens reviews as if you're already shopping for your next big purchase, even though it won't be immediately. You might decide on the first bit of kit, and have the next two lenses in mind when you decide on which system to invest in.

If you find a deal you're interested in, post a link on here so we can see what it is.

 

[AQS]

A quick googling will show where you can find used kit, just be careful of the total number of shutter actuations (manufacturers like Nikon quote lower-end DSLRs as able to do +/- 100'ooo shutter actions, with that number going up for the higher-end models, granted, that's a lot of photos, but still).

DSLRs will likely be less expensive than mirrorless, and is not a bad place to start in my opinion.

If you find one you think you like, search on Youtube for a review, there are many many reviewers who will give their opinion. Some kind, some less so.

When I got re-started in photography, I went with a new but inexpensive entry-level Nikon D3300 with the 18-55mm kit lense to see if the hobby would stick again. While not a top-performer, it's a perfectly useable camera.

So, if you like Nikon:

For your budget, you could get a used entry-level D3300 for +/- £150 with the kit 18-55mm lense. You can add extra lenses later (also from the used market) if you decide you like the hobby, or upgrade and keep the D3300 as a backup. It will make perfectly acceptable photos and video (but it does have drawbacks in terms of number of focus points and video length compared to their mid/higher-end models).

The higher end models such as a D7200 will be toward the upper-end of your budget.

Going too far back in time, like a Nikon D90, will give you less performance compared to the D3300 (12mp compared to 24mp, fewer frames per second). But it's still a great camera (just be careful of the lenses, in my experience some of the newer lenses do not work on the older D90 bodies).

There are other manufacturers that make great cameras too!

 

[zombiesniper]

Welcome to TPF!
Great advice already provided.

I wouldn't worry too much about shutter actuations. If you poll all of the members here, outside of manufacturers defects I doubt you would find more than 1% shutter failures. All of my cameras are over the listed shutter count.

 

[NGH]

Agree on much of the above. If you can it is worth going into a shop to try how some of them feel in your hands. Technical specs are all very good but for the most part you you will likely be looking at similar cameras and really I would say if it feels comfortable in your hands and you think you will enjoy taking pictures with it then that is your camera.

 

[Tropicalmemories]

Also look for deals on older models that are on clearance in the camera shops and on line.

My introduction to the Fuji system was a new X-M1 kit with two zoom lenses for $200. Buying new gave me the comfort of a guarantee and an instruction manual.

It was an ex-display model, but it is still going strong after 3 years of hard use, and despite buying a Fuji X-T2 last year, the little X-M1 is still my most used body.

I've seen good deals on the older model Fuji X series and the older Sony A 5100 models mail order that are well within your budget.

 

[Soocom1]

To be honest, I would definitely look into the mirrorless systems and some other aspects in that direction.
here is why:
The mirrorless are smaller and typically lighter. Plus they shoot very well.

 

[Sharpshooterr]

Hi all

I have only a very amateur knowledge of photography but I am retired and now unfortunately on my own. I need something to fill my days and have determined that I will take up photography as my hobby and hence the reason for joining this forum.

I currently use my S7 mobile to take my photos but want to purchase an SLR camera. The choice is mind-boggling and would very much appreciate advice as to a good choice of camera.

My budget is around £200 to £400 and would probably err towards a good second-hand deal.

Best regards Ken.

Ken, welcome to photography!!
Yes, I'm new here too.
Look at a good Canon 5Dmkll. Unless you're gonna shoot sports it's a very good camera. Hang a 50mm 1.8 from it for less than a hundred dollars more or the 1.4 if it fits your budget.
The problem I have with the mirror-less cameras at this point is that they are still pretty new and because of that the used cameras have not hit rock-bottom prices yet and the lenses are even newer and more expensive still. Unless you're frail or otherwise limited, don't be afraid of a bigger DSLR! Good luck
5Dll $400 dollars
50 1.4 $225 dollars
Yongnuo flash, $75 dollars
SS