One for the photographers

[spark]

Looking for a good camera for my 14year old he is doing his gcse art at the inst in Coleraine, his budget is 120 quid max new or second hand....??? :)

[G-kenny]

Looking for a good camera for my 14year old he is doing his gcse art at the inst in Coleraine, his budget is 120 quid max new or second hand....??? :)

It All depends what you are wanting, You could easily pick up a decent Point and shoot camera for that money. Something like the Kodak Series get very good reviews along with the Canon IXUS
If you are after a Digital SLR camera then this may be harder to find for that money. You will need to go second hand for that route so check out the following for second hand stuff for have a search on google as i know there are hundreds of shops that sell second hand DSLR camera's

www.photographyireland.co.uk
www.talkphotography.co.uk

[Conor]

Digital or film?

If digital you will want a compact that has full manual controls, tripod mount, timer options, RAW mode, Bulb mode, custom white balance ect. Something like this?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fuji-FinePix-E900-Digital-Camera-9MP-4-Digi-NEW-SEALED_W0QQitemZ110301588579QQcmdZViewItem?hash=it em110301588579&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1437|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18

[spark]

this had cought his eye

http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/store/dix_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0178082813.122579968 6@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdhadefikjkjelcflgceggdhhmdgmj.0&category_oid=-32295&page=Product&sku=957401&fm=undefined&sm=undefined&tm=undefined


but I was not sure how good it would be....not really sure what all he will be doing over the next 3 years but he was looking something easy to use with good zoom and picture quality

[jimjam]

not really sure what all he will be doing over the next 3 years but he was looking something easy to use with good zoom and picture quality


In my day (creaks) we had fully manual slrs. Olympus OM10's, Pentax k1000's and the like. Using a fully manual film camera and developing your own film and doing your own prints gives you a much greater understanding of the processes at work in photography. They are still applicable to digital.

Probably not really relevant unless he has access to a darkroom, but if he does then it might be worth considering as even an old slr will give far more control and much better pictures than a point and shoot.

[spark]

Think they had the option of doing the darkroom bit or digital art....that he has choose,it would be good if he could get something that would have ease of use at the start but that would have functions that would grow with him...?

[AndyL]

Spark, I have an old Mamiya film SLR with a couple of lenses he can have a lend of, I have no idea if it still works but I'll dig it out and have a look. It was a useful bit of kit in its day.

Otherwise, a 2nd hand DSLR would be my recommendation rather than a point and shoot, but you'd be pressed to get one for that money.

For a good compact, browse some of the photography magazines (what digital photograpy I think has a section of reviewed cameras) and go from there.

[keyserni]

this had cought his eye

http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/store/dix_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0178082813.122579968 6@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdhadefikjkjelcflgceggdhhmdgmj.0&category_oid=-32295&page=Product&sku=957401&fm=undefined&sm=undefined&tm=undefined


but I was not sure how good it would be....not really sure what all he will be doing over the next 3 years but he was looking something easy to use with good zoom and picture quality


That camera isn't that good. Decent zoom but that's about it. Most people buy it thinking they are getting a dslr because it's big and looks like one but in reality it's a sub par point and click without many manual options.

Like the advice from above at that sort of money I would go with a mid range Canon IXUS and if possible spend a little extra and get a high end IXUS.

[trailfox]

OK I can say from very recent experience that a dSLR isn't needed at all at GCSE level. For my art coursework I used a 5 megapixel Canon ixus500 (they dont make them any more) and it gave me some very good pictures.
If he's working in digital get him a mid range Canon compact. They have a very user friendly interface and can produce good quality images if he does his part right. Its really the photographer that creates a good image, the camera only records what he sees.
In other words he wont look for what he doesn't have (yet). If he's only starting into photography then you'll not worry about spending a lot of money on a dSLR if he decides he doesn't like it.

[jimjam]

OK I can say from very recent experience that a dSLR isn't needed at all at GCSE level. For my art coursework I used a 5 megapixel Canon ixus500 (they dont make them any more) and it gave me some very good pictures.
If he's working in digital get him a mid range Canon compact. They have a very user friendly interface and can produce good quality images if he does his part right. Its really the photographer that creates a good image, the camera only records what he sees.
In other words he wont look for what he doesn't have (yet). If he's only starting into photography then you'll not worry about spending a lot of money on a dSLR if he decides he doesn't like it.

The flip side of that is that a a pentax or richoh slr costs, what £40? I'll take one of those over an ixus any day.

[ST Colin]

jimjam speakith the truth.

He should learn some proper photography skilllzzz for extra points. Or whatever it is kids get in schools now.

[trailfox]

The flip side of that is that a a pentax or richoh slr costs, what £40? I'll take one of those over an ixus any day.
£40 for a dSLR? :eek:
link to examlpe?

[mprules]

He means an SLR not a dSLR

[trailfox]

yea, I thought that :-)

[Dee205]

If it's SLR you're looking for I have a Pentax P30 and a Pentax ME Super here with loads of bits and pieces including lenses and filters. Old skool manual photography. Rarely used since we got our Canon 350D.

Stevie has my mobile number if you're interested.


Damien

[spark]

Thank's everyone, after much searching and debating (arguing)...! he decided he wanted a Fuji FinePix S8000fd Digital Camera.