some ideas please

Nuzik

Nuzik

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Neil
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My daughter will be taking Photography for her GCSEs and wondered if it would be worth getting her a camera for it.

Im happy to look at the used route its been a while since I've even looked so any suggestions that you think would be good
 
Well, there's no doubt a bit of practical experience would be a benefit. Even something quite basic, like an old DSLR would be good. Plenty on eBay.
 
The best person to ask is the teacher who's running the class.

The school may have a stock of cameras for this but, given the ubiquity of cell phones, that might be what the students are expected to use.
 
My friend’s son is doing photography gcse this year and A level next year. His school use very basic, old DSLR cameras and pupils are not permitted to change lenses. They are also not permitted to borrow them.

He’s my god son (Im not religious), but I’ve missed quite a few of his birthdays and Xmas’ over the years so thought I’d get him something decent to see him through his A levels. I use Fuji and thought it would be good, if we went out together, for him to use my lenses. I bought him a used X-T2 which is a bit extravagant but he loves it and is really into using the manual controls. We’ve been out half a dozen times over the last month or two and he’s producing some really good images. That said, I’m sure there are far more basic cameras that would be plenty good enough.
 
my daughter used 5dm4 for her photography course a few years ago. i'd ask the school for a recommendation.
 
My son is busy with GCSEs at the moment. The school has Nikon which he doesn't like. He used a Canon for a while, then switched to a G80 which he loves, and is always his first choice at home.
The teacher was quite happy with him using what he was comfortable with, as long as he knew how to operate it (quite reasonable, she could not afford time to work through half a dozen different cameras and run the class)

For much of the work, they used phones, though with the new guidelines coming in, I don't know where that idea will go
 
Sangoma said:
For much of the work, they used phones, though with the new guidelines coming in, I don't know where that idea will go
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Out of interest, what are these new guidelines? My daughter wants to do A-level photography in September and she’s more comfortable using my Nikon Z6 than a phone camera so I might just give her that permanently.
 
I'd look to mid range used older model...
Depending on the guide lines, insurance etc... what ever the newer model of a d300 is or perhaps even d800/d850.
Something full frame would be good, but not needed.
lens, probably one zoom lens to start.. or a nifty 50 ?
 
When my daughter did hers they were only allowed to use cameras sparingly and had to use their phones.

Think the reasoning was that they all had access to a phone so it was a level playing field.
 
viewfromthenorth said:
Out of interest, what are these new guidelines? My daughter wants to do A-level photography in September and she’s more comfortable using my Nikon Z6 than a phone camera so I might just give her that permanently.
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My daughter used a Pentax for A level, and a Canon during her degree. Phones weren't an option for A level.
The A level involved quite a lot more camera work than GCSE did, and I saw some excellent work and portfolios from her and her peers, so a camera would probably be an advantage.
She should be comfortable driving it, so that she can concentrate on the photography, not the camera operation.
 
Nuzik said:
My daughter will be taking Photography for her GCSEs and wondered if it would be worth getting her a camera for it.

Im happy to look at the used route its been a while since I've even looked so any suggestions that you think would be good
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Hi Neil, not seen you around on the forums for a while, hope you’re well.

Things have moved on a bit, mirrorless have leapfrogged DSLR and I would recommend getting a mirrorless if you want to ‘future proof’. However, because of the shift you can pick up some really good DSLRs and lenses for ‘relatively’ little money.

I’d query it either way the school though, they might not want you to have a mirrorless due to the preview/WYSIWYG in the viewfinder, they might want students to learn exposure and metering the ‘oldschool’ way ;)

The other thing to consider is size and weight, she might not appreciate lugging FF DSLRs around.
 
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Donnie said:
Canon EOS 5d mark 1 and a 50mm f1.8 and stand back and let her loose.
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I had one and if the budget allows I'd avoid the 5D MK1 as it was a sensor contamination magnet and the max ISO is limiting by more recent standards. Even at 5D MK1 budget levels there are probably better choices.
 
ashishtamhane said:
A used Nikon D700 with the 35mm f/1.8D. Wonderful colors and sharp optics.
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I think Neil used to have one of these so he should know all about it :thinking:
 
snerkler said:
I think Neil used to have one of these so he should know all about it :thinking:
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Haha I did and a d750 then a few sonys and then a fuji or two but not for a few years now.

As much as a dslr would be OK. I think mirrorless has to be the way forward. If they allow phones which they do it would make no sense for them not to allow mirroless cameras.
 
My son finished his GCSE photography last year, and is now doing A-level. I got him a Canon 60d and a couple of lenses for his birthday part way through his first year of GCSE - wanted to check he was liking the course etc before getting it. Then for Christmas this year (i.e. just after starting his 1st year of A-levels), have just got him a Sony A7ii; basically so that he could use my lenses.

Think pretty much the rest of the class just used their phones, plus the DSLRs the school have when in school.

My son ended up getting the top mark in his class and he's also developed a keen interest in photography from it (although art remains his favourite subject) - I do think that's in part due to having his own camera.

So yes I would recommend getting your daughter a camera but would suggest ideally the same mount as you use, as then easier opens up the possibility of using different lenses outside of school.
 
Nuzik said:
Haha I did and a d750 then a few sonys and then a fuji or two but not for a few years now.

As much as a dslr would be OK. I think mirrorless has to be the way forward. If they allow phones which they do it would make no sense for them not to allow mirroless cameras.
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If you want full frame mirrorless then without trying to sound biased I would suggest Sony as it's the most accomplised system, and you have the option of a lot of really really good third party glass which is lighter on the wallet. I would suggest the A7 III or newer, or A7R IV or newer as the grips and colour science before then weren't the best. Canon have caught up with Sony reagarding AF, and a couple of bodies might even be better, but native lenses tend to be expensive and there's fewer options. You do of course have all of the back catalogue of DSLR lenses you can use via an adapter.

For crop sensor arguably the most mature system is Fuji, and of course you get the added bonus of most of them looking cool. If you want blistering performance then the A6700 is hard to beat, plus if you include 3rd party and full frame lenses you've probably got more lens choice than Fuji. Nikon have a couple of really nice APS-C bodies but the DX lens lineup is thin.

I personally would't discount micro 4/3 either, great system and can provide a smaller lighter package. IQ is excellent, the only downside is if you love ultra shallow depth of field m4/3 doesn't excel in this area.

Of course, all of this will depend on budget.
 
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