£300-500 camera suggestions

AHarvey

AHarvey

AHarvey

Soldato
Joined
6 Mar 2008
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Location
Stoke area
hi all,

I've been asked by a friend to look for a DSLR camera for her boyfriend. I've not kept up to date with cameras for the last 3-4 years and only really bothered with nikon.

Budget is £300-500.

No preference over make.
No previous equipment.
Supposedly has an eye for photography but has never owned a DSLR before.

Mainly shoots dogs and motorbikes but other general use. So fast moving subjects and from varying distances.

Any suggestions on camera body + lens? :)

Thanks :)
 
If buying new, a good starter dslr with kit lens would be the canon 750d (currently £50 cashback from canon).

Although the nikon d5300 is worth a look too.

I am about to buy myself a new camera with a £500 budget and have been doing lots of research. Although after getting rid of all my dslr gear a couple of years ago, I'm going mirrorless this time and buying a sony a6000 instead!
 
thanks I'll look at those.

I've found the Pentax K-50 Digital SLR with 18-55mm and 50-200mm WR DAL Lenses for £489. Good reviews and 2 decent cameras covering most things he'd want. Would you consider that a contender? :)
 
AHarvey said:
thanks I'll look at those.

I've found the Pentax K-50 Digital SLR with 18-55mm and 50-200mm WR DAL Lenses for £489. Good reviews and 2 decent cameras covering most things he'd want. Would you consider that a contender? :)
Click to expand...

Yep,someone I know bought one and is very happy with it. The pentaprism is much better than the pentamirrors(greater magnification and much brighter) usually at the price,and the camera is weatherproof and you can even get an adaptor which enables you to use AAs in the camera in a pinch.

OFC,I would also go into a shop and try all the cameras too,and your friend can see which camera they get on with best.
 
Apologies to the OP for jumping on this band wagon but it save opening a new thread. I'm in a similar position, identical price for an entry level DSLR for my partner's 30th, she wants to get into photography so will probably involve photographing family, friends, holidays, landscapes etc. However she's also in the process of starting a jewellery making business and would need to photograph stock.

As per the comments above I've been pushed towards the Nikon D3300, the Canon 700D or 1200D, and possibly the Pentax k50. I'm told each of these is an exceptional entry level DSLR so is it a case of "can't really go wrong?". Also any help with a starter lens would be appreciated, I am to photography what crayon is to calligraphy I'm afraid.
 
Regarding the product photography, what you will really need is a basic light tent and a couple of lights, cheap LED panels will do.

Lots of product photography videos on Youtube and check out Lencarta, they do lots of videos too. That kind of photography is definitely more about the lighting and prep than the camera, I've even done some using a decent mobile phone.
 
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