Beginner A good cheap camera to learn with

JLGoode

JLGoode

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Jamie
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Hi all. I was always a point and shoot type person for 3-5 years taking photos / videos of friends / their children while horse riding / jumping. In the next month or so i shall be starting a joint degree in Photography and Creative writing with OCA. Basically want to learn more of the technical side of how to use, work with a camera to get the best possible shots, scenes, subject matter, and locations etc. My current camera is my trusty, and rather old Samsung ST200f [i got it from CEX for £40] i liked it as it had a nice little zoom, 16m and wifi so i could send the photos straight to my tablet for facebook [friends kids were very inpatient] Unfortunately i havent got a huge pot of money, around £100. I know its not all about the megapixels but the lens / aperture etc. Been looking on Argos, Ebay but havent really found anything that jumps out to me. So hoping a few of you would throw some suggestions.

Looking for something that is easy to use but has room to learn with [manual controls etc]
A decent sized zoom / micro mode
In my price range

Thanks in advance, Jamie
 
I would go for a old entry level dslr like the Canon 350d or nikon d40. Should be able to pick one up for around £100 with the kit lens. If you want something smaller maybe a samsung nx10.

If you want micro mode and large zooms this is bridge and compact camera features.
 
You can pick up a second hand entry level SLR for not much more than £100 with a kit lens. My first DSLR was a Canon EOS 400D (which I highly recommend) which I used for three or four years. Absolutely brilliant camera which I still cant bring myself to get rid of!
 
Ok thanks for your replies. Seems to be be one stand out camera make you 3 have mentioned which is Canon and around the 350d / 400d model. Ill have a look around. Another random Q, why is it hard to find a camera with a battery pack? [instead of have 4+ AA rechargables]
 
As far as I know the Canon's referred to above use battery packs. Check out MPB for one of the models mentioned. £100 should get you started.
 
JLGoode said:
Hi all. I was always a point and shoot type person for 3-5 years taking photos / videos of friends / their children while horse riding / jumping. In the next month or so i shall be starting a joint degree in Photography and Creative writing with OCA. Basically want to learn more of the technical side of how to use, work with a camera to get the best possible shots, scenes, subject matter, and locations etc. My current camera is my trusty, and rather old Samsung ST200f [i got it from CEX for £40] i liked it as it had a nice little zoom, 16m and wifi so i could send the photos straight to my tablet for facebook [friends kids were very inpatient] Unfortunately i havent got a huge pot of money, around £100. I know its not all about the megapixels but the lens / aperture etc. Been looking on Argos, Ebay but havent really found anything that jumps out to me. So hoping a few of you would throw some suggestions.

Looking for something that is easy to use but has room to learn with [manual controls etc]
A decent sized zoom / micro mode
In my price range

Thanks in advance, Jamie
Click to expand...

Looking at what you do now are you sure that an old DSLR is what you want?

An old DSLR and kit lens might well be a bargain but it isn't going to shoot video and it isn't going to give you wifi or allow you to send images straight to a tablet or facebook.

Maybe a newer compact or even a Compact System Camera would be a better option than an older Canon DSLR. Bargain compact cameras and Compact System Cameras can be found but as I'm not interested in wifi or tablets or face book I don't know which models will do these things and which don't but if the thought of something other than a DSLR interests you it might be worth doing some (more) research and this time concentrating on compacts and/or compact system cameras.

Or maybe someone here could suggest something other than an old DSLR which wont do anything other than take still pictures?

Just a thought.
 
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Re: Transfer to tablet - if your tablet supports USB OTG, then with a USB OTG cable you can either connect the camera (via it's USB cable) or a card reader to the tablet, and get images across that way.
 
Oh no, i only mentioned the wifi on my little digital camera as it was easy while i was at the horse yard to take the photos / videos and send them to my tablet / facebook etc. Im not too bothered about getting a camera with wifi etc built in, just something i can get that will help me learn while im studying, take good quality photos [possibly video] but then also have more advanced features for when i progress through the course.

I did pop to PCworld / Curries but 2 sales assistants basically said for the £100 mark i can get a decent point and click, maybe basic Bridge type camera. Ive spoken to a lecturer online and they said i could use my ST200f for the mean time, as all cameras are useful in their own way. Ill keep looking out for something. Thank you again for all your comments too
 
To get an SLR for around £100 you'll need to buy a used one. MPB has already been recommended (I've used them myself and thought they were great), but there are a number of places that sell used equipment online (Mifsuds, Wex Photographic, London Camera Exchange, Clifton Cameras, Park Cameras etc)
 
My first two DSLRs were bought used, after a few years of me using digital bridge cameras. The first was a Pentax K110D, bought ultra cheap from a mate for £50. The second was a Sony A200, from a cash converter for £120. Both absolutely fine cameras to learn on. Since then, I've drifted onto using mainly b/w home developed film and much older cameras.

The point is, pretty much ANY Pentax, Nikon, Sony, or Canon DSLR is a fine tool to learn with.
 
Right, firstly i shall thank you all for your advice, guidance, and help. After looking around and much confusion, in the end i happened to come across an older couple selling a GE X5 bridge camera for £25, had a quick onlin e and seemed pretty good especially better than what i have at the minute. What that means is i can now save the rest of the money and hopefully after christmas / next summer when im more proficient with camera techniques, using a camera i can get a actual DLSR/SLR.

Again, thank you so much to you all
 
I would go to your tutors and ask what type of camera they suggest. You then have an idea which category to look in.
 
I did ask at the beginning when deciding what degree / joint degree to take, they gave me a detailed list of things id need etc. It compact systems, bridge, SLRs, DLSRS, the more i progress through the units the more ill need a camera that im in tune with and is good for the purpose
 
I would recommend the 40D as it will be a lot less hassle. It's a little more, but worth it. The 40D is the first model to have had the sensor cleaner included.
 
I would go and try a one of each group see how they feel do you like the menu system are the buttons right for you. If you decide on a DSLR then remember that you are buying into a system so make sure that system suits your needs.
 
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