DSLR Camera For a Beginner?

[theguvernor15]

Afternoon all,

My son who is very shortly turning 15 has expressed an interest in getting a camera for his birthday.

My experience extends to taking poor quality photos with my Iphone camera, so my knowledge is next to useless!
I've done a bit of light research, but again, I may as well be reading Mandarin!
Could anybody offer some advise on what to potentially go for? Budget wise: circa £400 or so.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[threespires]

Canon 200D with 18-200 lens could be had for around your budget.

[Dave Hedgehog]

i used to use DPreview a lot

beginners guide

https://www.dpreview.com/articles/1328199596/buyin...

best cameras under 1k

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/buying-guide-best...

The EOS 2000D with lense for £330 seams to be well reviewed as a starter camera

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CH8S14DM?tag=hawk-fu...

or the 200D for a little bit more

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-200D-Digital-Camera...

you can often get lenses and bodies cheap on ebay as well, such as

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/146902134633

Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Monday 20th October 14:09

[eth2190]

I would go for mirrorless over DSLR. A big bulky DSLR and lens combo becomes a hassle to take anywhere.

Something like a Panasonic GX7 with the right lens is easy to chuck in a coat pocket and carry around more often. It's no use having a beast of a camera if it stays on the desk at home.

[andrewcliffe]

What do you think he's want to photograph?

- a nice small, relatively pocketable camera for photos of trips out / nights out with his mates

- a new hobby that will consume all spare cash for the foreseeable.

- something that can also video?

[Tony1963]

eth2190 said:

I would go for mirrorless over DSLR. A big bulky DSLR and lens combo becomes a hassle to take anywhere.

Something like a Panasonic GX7 with the right lens is easy to chuck in a coat pocket and carry around more often. It's no use having a beast of a camera if it stays on the desk at home.

If putting it in a jacket pocket is a priority, yes. But people rarely want to ‘get into photography’ with the intention of hiding it. That might come later.

[theguvernor15]

andrewcliffe said:

What do you think he's want to photograph?

- a nice small, relatively pocketable camera for photos of trips out / nights out with his mates

- a new hobby that will consume all spare cash for the foreseeable.

- something that can also video?

Thanks all.

Well, he's 14, so currently his responses are mainly 1 word answers.

I did ask him why he wanted a camera, his exact response was 'to take good pictures'. I asked of what & I got the usual teenager shrug of the shoulders.

He has just started GCSE art, so I'm wandering if there's an element of the creative within him which he'd like to capture with a decent camera.

[Tony1963]

theguvernor15 said:

if there's an element of the creative within him which he'd like to capture with a decent camera.

That’s called a selfie

[Simpo Two]

theguvernor15 said:

I did ask him why he wanted a camera, his exact response was 'to take good pictures'. I asked of what & I got the usual teenager shrug of the shoulders.

He has just started GCSE art, so I'm wandering if there's an element of the creative within him which he'd like to capture with a decent camera.

A DSLR doesn't simply take 'good pictures'. It takes some effort and knowledge. If 'good pictures' for no effort is required then frankly he's better off with a phone.

More constructive would be to ask him to show you a photo he's taken and why he's not happy with it. But it's not a question than can be answered in grunts.

[LunarOne]

Lots of people with fancy new expensive mirrorless cameras are now trying to re-buy the simpler DSLRs that they had 10-15 years ago. Personally I still like to use the Nikon D200s I was using nearly 20 years ago. In fact I've bought more of them to make sure I have a supply of spares in the future as it's a peach of a camera. But it's pretty big and heavy considering that it has an APS-C sensor. If I wanted another camera for less money, I'd be going for a Nikon D700 which has a full-frame sensor, Then get a cheapy 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 lens and he'll be away. You might even be able to swing a D700+24-120 f/4 lens which would be a dream setup with which you could take plenty of amazing photos.

[Simpo Two]

LunarOne said:

Personally I still like to use the Nikon D200s I was using nearly 20 years ago. In fact I've bought more of them to make sure I have a supply of spares in the future as it's a peach of a camera.

I'm also a fan of the D200; I shot almost all my weddings with it, and had a backup set to the same parameters for instant switchover if needed. Tried the D700 but didn't get on with the field of view difference and it didn't seem to find focus so well, so it went back.

The main drawback of the D200 is low light. Ironically it wasn't until I retired that I bought a D500, for no real reason other than impulse, and by contrast the D200 seems rather ancient. But for a cheap starter camera - body now only £100 - I'd recommend it.

And that gives the OP £300 for a lens and maybe a flashgun too!

[eth2190]

Fancy new mirrorless cameras? I suggested a camera that came out in 2013 and can be had under £300.
A teenager is going to appreciate features like a touchscreen as they'll be used to using touch to focus on a phone, and wifi so they can transfer photos to their phone for editing and social media.

[Tony1963]

eth2190 said:

Fancy new mirrorless cameras? I suggested a camera that came out in 2013 and can be had under £300.

Good point. Nikon’s mirrorless cameras have been one the market for longer than dSLRs were before them.