Camera for a beginner? £300-ish budget

Aedus

Aedus

Aedus

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Hey guys, I’m looking to buy my girlfriend a camera for her Birthday, she’s never owned a proper camera before, but I think it’s something that she would be really interested in to have as a little hobby to keep herself amused, as such I’m looking for a good camera for a beginner. I’ve seen a few on various websites but I’m totally lost on what she would want or need as I’m a camera noob myself.
Budget is around £300, can probably go up to £350 if needed, I’ve seen things like:
Canon PowerShot G12 - £350
Panasonic Lumix FZ45 - £330
Sony Cyber-shot HX200V - £316
Canon EOS 1100D - £313
Nikon D3100 -£324

But I’m really lost on what are good quality products, and what would be a good choice to get her I.e. any particular brands to avoid, so all advice is appreciated.

Also any other little “accessories” I should get for her with it? Filters? SD Card? Carry bag? Additional lenses?


Thanks in advanced.
 
I'd definitely go for a 1100D with kit, and a nifty fifty :)

Being someone who has been bought an FZ45, you do quite quickly hit the limits. The 1100D hopefully won't be so limiting.

kd
 
Tbh, I'd hold off the 50mm for now. Get her a book as well instead and allow her to learn a bit more first about the basic kit. Another lens can wait till Christmas.
 
DB_SamX said:
Tbh, I'd hold off the 50mm for now. Get her a book as well instead and allow her to learn a bit more first about the basic kit. Another lens can wait till Christmas.
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Thanks for all the advise so far guys.

Her Birthday is 4 days after Christmas, which means I can't escape getting her double the presents. :(

Tbh I'm going to spend about £500-600 on her in total, which leaves me some room to get a lens and other tid bits to go with it too if needed (Along with random other presents), I just specced around £300 because I don't want to get her a £500 camera when she really would need to learn basics first, a more expensive bit of kit can come later on, depending how into it she gets.

My family also gets her gifts, so I can get them to get a book, an SD card and a case for her, and then I can get the camera and the lens and give me some spare cash to find some other gifts too.

Any suggestions on a smart little book that would be beneficial for her? Also any other lens suggestions or filters or anything at all she could use? I want to get her as much as possible so she can start a new hobby for herself.
 
Aedus said:
That deal looks excellent.

@Atmax from a quick google I got: http://www.google.co.uk/products/ca...a=X&ei=4MltUMrFMOma1AX2qYHgCQ&ved=0CDIQ8gIwAQ

Is this what you mean? If so that should be something I'd easily be able to afford along with the camera.
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Yeh that's the one, the plastic fantastic lol it's amazing prime lens for very cheap. EDIT** I would leave off the filters for now and just learn how to use a dslr with the kit n 50mm, as for books your have to ask around as I learnt from the internet.
 
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Sony NEX-5N plus 18-55mm lens can be had for £350. If you want a something larger then I would go for the Nikon D3100 over the Canon 1100D
 
atmax1 said:
Yeh that's the one, the plastic fantastic lol it's amazing prime lens for very cheap. EDIT** I would leave off the filters for now and just learn how to use a dslr with the kit n 50mm, as for books your have to ask around as I learnt from the internet.
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Awesome, will forget about filters for now then.

Glyndwr said:
Sony NEX-5N plus 18-55mm lens can be had for £350. If you want a something larger then I would go for the Nikon D3100 over the Canon 1100D
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Can I ask the reasoning? Just curious as everyone else seems to think the Canon 1100D is a good choice, what would make you pick the D3100 or the NEX-5N over that?

King Damager said:
Oh, also, Understanding Exposure - Brian Peterson

Good solid book :D

kd
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Will check that out, thanks again.
 
Aedus said:
Can I ask the reasoning? Just curious as everyone else seems to think the Canon 1100D is a good choice, what would make you pick the D3100 or the NEX-5N over that?
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NEX-5N is an awesome piece of kit and out of the 3 will give you the best image quality, best low light performance and best video. Weak point of the NEX is the limited Lens choice and iffy autofocus, although cheap adapters can be bought to use hundreds of old manual lens. Also the lack of Optical viewfinder can be a ball ache at times, but the screen is very good.

The D3100 would be my choice if I wanted to invest in a camera system. It has a better sensor than the 1100D giving better low light performance and better dynamic range. Also it does full HD video, the 1100D does not.
 
^From what you've said, I think I'd rather go for the D3100 or the 1100D tbh.

Anyone else care to shed some light between the 2? Ignoring the obvious deal on the 1100D, if that wasn't there and the prices were the same as I listed in the OP, which would be the better choice of the 2? I've heard a few complaints about the D3100 battery life, is all.


1 other thing, I think the girlfriend would be interested in macro type photography, but from having a quick browse online I can see that the macro lenses are very pricey (Probably a normal price if you're into cameras). Is there a cheap macro lens I could get her? Or is there any alternatives to get her into being able to do some macro photography as well as normal photography? If so I think she would prefer that over most other things.

Sorry about all the nooby questions, I'm still utterly lost by everything to do with cameras, but I just want to make the best choice for her and get her something she'll enjoy.
 
A cheap way into Macro would be to get a nifty fifty (50mm 1.8) and some cheap extension tubes, also a good way to learn manual focus technique.

The NEX-5N shines at Macro photography, pick up an old manual Macro lens such as a Vivitar 90mm f2.5 plus adapter and used with the focus peaking feature of the NEX, you can get some great results.

Macro photography really benefits from having an off camera or dedicated macro flash too, more expense.... ;)
 
That sounds to be a plan, the 50mm (I can use the 1 atmax suggested earlier in the thread) + extension tubes. A nice cheap alternative to get her into it to see if she enjoys it, and if she does, she can buy herself some macro lenses in the future.

I'm really unsure about the Nex-5n, because of the lack of lenses. Of course she will like it more than the others just because it's smaller and more compact, but I can't help but think she may be better to have something which is easier to get different lenses for. I can't really make her pick, because it'll give the game away, so I'm kinda stuck umm'ing and aarrr'ing between different cameras to pick the one she would like most (You know what women are like).
 
I think so too kd. I'm actually torn between the Nikon D3100 and the Canon 1100D, both are excellent cameras from reading the reviews online and both have a great 50mm 1.8 lens I can pick up for a decent price. Is it a case of whichever I can pick up the cheapest, i should get? Or does 1 have the edge over the other for x, y and z (no matter how small the reason, even down to better auto focus or lens selection)? Like if money wasn't a factor at all and the choice was between those 2 on features etc. alone.

Really appreciate the help guys, I'm glad you're patient with me asking all these stupid questions.
 
We have all been there with what camera to get, and all have so much trouble picking a camera lol

I would also pick a DSLR as if she really gets into photography she will have the kit to continue and as for what camera I personally would most likely pick the 1100D as its simple and easy to use as from what I understand Nikon is a bit more complicated (but it may have changed now so don't quote me on this) but both cameras will be about the same also a cheap macro lens is the Tamron 70-300mm f4/5.6 DI LD Macro I don't know if it's any good though but google 1100d vs d3100 there a few sites that test them both.
 
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