GCSE - Suitable camera

gad-westy

gad-westy

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I see there have been other topics on this in the past but the prevalence of mirrorless in 2026 maybe changes the answer these days.

My daughter will be starting GCSE photography next year and is generally showing more interest in photography and moving beyond phone snaps. I'm more than happy to buy her a more capable camera but I'm also wary of not wanting to conflict too much with what she will learn with at school. I have spoken to her school a bit about this but really didn't get a a clear answer at all. FWIW though, she will be using Canon DSLR cameras within school. I would assume APSC.

I'm pretty flexible on what she has at home and I suppose the easy answer would be to buy a Canon DSLR with a lens or two. Plenty of affordable options around these days. But I'm hesitant because I have a shelf full of Fuji X lenses and a load of micro 4/3 stuff here that she could be using instead if got her a mirrorless body to suit. I feel she would perhaps get to experiment more if I got her a camera in either of those mounts even if she still had a lens or two of her own. But then I wonder if too much choice of lenses isn't ideal for a beginner and is throwing mirrorless into the mix an additiioanl complication? and.... I go round in circles so I thought it might be about time to ask the experts....

BTW, sadly her school don't do any film photography but I do have a few 35mm and 6x6 cameras here so if she shows an interest in that, we are covered.
 
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I was in the same position with my step daughter, I bought her an 1100D with kit lens, and had old nifty fifty and flash she could use. It allowed her to borrow kit from the school,

She carried on with the 1100D for a few years, we swapped the lens out for a faster F2.8 version. She eventually bought a Canon R6 and currently shoots gigs and festivals (paid work). She has always been comfortable with the handling of Canon's
 
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For what it's worth we have a number of colleges running photography courses here in the city, I regularly see students out with thier cameras and I have yet to see a modern mirrorless camera in use. Maybe learn the basics on whatever fits well within the school curriculum and adjust to personal preferences later?
 
As the school are using Canon, then I agree as already suggested, use Canon at home. Any help getting to grips with the controls, menu system and terminology as well as being able to use school kit, sounds right to me. Same on software, using whatever the school use probably helps.
 
For people just getting into this especially youngsters isn't mirrorless the way forward? Even with entry level kit at least they'd be learning with kit which is current and has at least some of the advantages of mirrorless and would be able to start to get familiar with the tech.

I can't really see any reason to go for a conventional DSLR these days unless for price or to use the older technology while it's still around and in reasonable condition but other that those reasons I can't see any reason to go for a DSLR for someone learning and setting out and they're almost certain to come into contact with mirrorless later on so why not start with it?
 
woof woof said:
For people just getting into this especially youngsters isn't mirrorless the way forward? Even with entry level kit at least they'd be learning with kit which is current and has at least some of the advantages of mirrorless and would be able to start to get familiar with the tech.

I can't really see any reason to go for a conventional DSLR these days unless for price or to use the older technology while it's still around and in reasonable condition but other that those reasons I can't see any reason to go for a DSLR for someone learning and setting out and they're almost certain to come into contact with mirrorless later on so why not start with it?
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This doesn't work when all the schools/colleges cameras are DSLR, it is much better from a learning POV to be able to use the same kit that they are taught on. The ability to have compatibility with school kit is also very relevant.

A Canon 1100D with kit lens and a nifty fifty can be had for about £150 these days, at that price you don't have to worry about the child being out at night (with friends) etc, etc.

If they take to photography then yes, then consider an upgrade to Mirrorless
 
woof woof said:
For people just getting into this especially youngsters isn't mirrorless the way forward? Even with entry level kit at least they'd be learning with kit which is current and has at least some of the advantages of mirrorless and would be able to start to get familiar with the tech.

I can't really see any reason to go for a conventional DSLR these days unless for price or to use the older technology while it's still around and in reasonable condition but other that those reasons I can't see any reason to go for a DSLR for someone learning and setting out and they're almost certain to come into contact with mirrorless later on so why not start with it?
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Starting out, at whatever stage of your life or education, the basics of photography (exposure and composition) can be learned on any camera. 15 or so years ago I used to see a fair few students wandering around my local town with cameras. Inevitably they would have a Pentax K1000, probably taken from the college's store room. Arguably better as a learning experience to do it without the crutches available with the latest tech.
 
Ed Sutton said:
Starting out, at whatever stage of your life or education, the basics of photography (exposure and composition) can be learned on any camera. 15 or so years ago I used to see a fair few students wandering around my local town with cameras. Inevitably they would have a Pentax K1000, probably taken from the college's store room. Arguably better as a learning experience to do it without the crutches available with the latest tech.
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I know you can learn the basics on a carboard box with a hole in it. I get it. But why should a younger person get used to a DSLR when in the future they'll probably end up going mirrorless and have to at least to some degree learn again.
 
Mr Perceptive said:
This doesn't work when all the schools/colleges cameras are DSLR, it is much better from a learning POV to be able to use the same kit that they are taught on. The ability to have compatibility with school kit is also very relevant.

A Canon 1100D with kit lens and a nifty fifty can be had for about £150 these days, at that price you don't have to worry about the child being out at night (with friends) etc, etc.
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I don't agree.

I just don't see the point in starting out with kit which is going obsolete just for the possible convenience of using the norm at college and even the costs are questionable. Yup, you can get a pretty much obsolete Canon DSLR for £150 but you can also get a used mirrorless camera and a lens for under £150 and perhaps even under £100 (MFT) which could at least give you a grounding on mirrorless and which will likely give you better IQ than a Canon APS-C DSLR.

Each to their own but I wonder how much of this is adults letting the rose tinteds influence what they recommend to people just starting out.

Anyway. I've made the point and the OP is free to decide.
 
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woof woof said:
I don't agree.

I just don't see the point in starting out with kit which is going obsolete just for the possible convenience of using the norm at college and even the costs are questionable.
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Going for something that matches what the college/school uses gets everybody working off the same page as regards to controls and general look / feel / advice. Lecturers are not faced with having to give advice to a student on operational stuff such as how to get their EVF to in a dark studio via some obscure manufacturer specific menu option.

My observation of students I see is that by the time they move on and into to second year they will typically have their own kit. Many will use their own cameras. But the lecturers are not taking responsibility for teaching/drilling them how to use their cameras once they get to that stage.

So I think on balance, that for kicking off, spending £150 on a camera that fits with the course and possibly offers access to college accessories/lenses is not unreasonable and makes some sense - especially if the school or college is able to provide compatible lenses and accessories .
 
woof woof said:
For people just getting into this especially youngsters isn't mirrorless the way forward? Even with entry level kit at least they'd be learning with kit which is current and has at least some of the advantages of mirrorless and would be able to start to get familiar with the tech.

I can't really see any reason to go for a conventional DSLR these days unless for price or to use the older technology while it's still around and in reasonable condition but other that those reasons I can't see any reason to go for a DSLR for someone learning and setting out and they're almost certain to come into contact with mirrorless later on so why not start with it?
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Surely for Canon the controls aren't massively different from an old to a modern camera? Obviously Rxx will focus quicker and have greater ISO ranges
 
woof woof said:
I know you can learn the basics on a carboard box with a hole in it. I get it. But why should a younger person get used to a DSLR when in the future they'll probably end up going mirrorless and have to at least to some degree learn again.
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If advising a would be photographer who isn't going to be doing a GCSE then sure, suggest a mirrorless system to them over an 'obsolete' DSLR. But, as explained by others, in a group teaching situation it's better if everyone is using the same kit - especially if the tutor is familiar with it. Pity the poor tutor having to learn a different menu system for one student!
 
As someone who has had a son recently that has been in the same situation I'd go with a Fuji X mount camera so that she can have the benefit of using your lenses.

My son finiahed his GCSE photography last year and is now doing A level photography. We got him a Canon 60d and a couple of lenses for Christmas after he started. However after a while he ended up using my second camera (Sony A7c II) so that he could have the benefit of using my wider range of lenses. We've not got him a Sony A7ii of his own - so again he can use my lenses.

A few other points to note:
- if like our school, they won't have that many cameras in school so often people use their mobile in school anyway.
- likely that most of the rest of the class won't get their own camera. Only my son in his class got his own camera.
- they don't really teach them that much about the camera themselves. Therefore I personally don't think it matters if students do get their own camera that is a different brand or mirrorless vs the school using DSLR. They will teach things such as the exposure triangle, composition etc, and the course will likely be heavily focuses on editing photos.
- I'd actually probably say access to Photoshop/Lightroom at home is more beneficial than having a camera. Most students won't have either and will just use their mobile phone for most photos during the course and then just edit when at school.
 
TBH, I reckon pretty much any "real" camera will be better than a phone to learn "proper" photography - as long as it has aperture/shutter priority and fully auto or manual settings, the basics can be taught. I'd make sure she's familiar with how to access each mode and which wheels to twiddle/buttons to press to alter respective settings so the tutor/teacher doesn't have to figure it out for her!

I'd say that a reasonable body with a standard zoom and a 50mm (FF equivalent) prime should get her started, then, if she needs something else, she can borrow it from a willing parent!
 
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