First camera for a beginner teenager

Benihana said:
I completely agree with everything you said, and I would love to go mirrorless, but it really pushes the budget up beyond what I am able to afford. Also, my daughter, even though a young teen, loves older stuff, particularly 60 and 70s styles, and she loves the feel and aesthetic of DSLRs.
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Fuji mirrorless then ;)

Of the kit lenses you mention, I would go for the 18-55.
 
Plain Nev said:
Sad, but true. I'm not sure I would recommend anyone start with film. Film is an indulgence you can practice later.
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It's fine for old farts who started out on film because that's all there was to use to get nostalgic about learning on film. The truth is that I learned more, faster, when I returned to photography after a long break and got a decent digital DSLR. Because I could never afford to shoot lots and lots on film. I wish digital had been around in 1976. :LOL:
 
Ed Sutton said:
Put them off for life more like! :LOL:
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My son, now 48, started out with a nondescript 120 folder about 35 years ago and caught the bug, especially when he watched me developing and printing until he was able to do the basics himself.
He went on to use an Olympus OM10 then by stages went over to digital, but was so disillusioned by the lack of input after pressing the shutter, went back to 35mm and now to 120 in the shape of a Rollie TLR.
 
Rodinal said:
My son, now 48, started out with a nondescript 120 folder about 35 years ago and caught the bug, especially when he watched me developing and printing until he was able to do the basics himself.
He went on to use an Olympus OM10 then by stages went over to digital, but was so disillusioned by the lack of input after pressing the shutter, went back to 35mm and now to 120 in the shape of a Rollie TLR.
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That was then, this is now. If he'd never used film it might have been different.

Although I admit I don't understand the 'lack of input after pressing the shutter' bit. For me framing the shot and pressing the button is what photography is all about.
 
Rodinal said:
A pro level camera that will have been thrashed to the end of it life. The extra weight of a 'pro level' camera above and beyond that of a D700 will go towards going for something lighter. The weight disadvantage of a D700 has already been mentioned!
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There are some lower shutter actuation models. The weight difference is not that much once you get used to it. I would rather take a bit of weight than those small and dingy viewfinders of the DX models.
 
Ed Sutton said:
For me framing the shot and pressing the button is what photography is all about.
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In its fullest sense, photography is a larger composite than that. Even when the light is ambient & thus a given, it can still be assessed which may affect the viewpoint or even the spurning of the shot. then what about the variable emotional import of adjusted tones, for instance, or the use of defocussed areas as an element in the construction of the picture space? There's just a lot that you didn't mention there ... ;-)
 
droj said:
In its fullest sense, photography is a larger composite than that.
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Photography with a capital P is a whole other subject...
droj said:
There's just a lot that you didn't mention there ... ;-)
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Obvs. ;)

(Can Admin please add a new smiley? I'm lost without it here!
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Ed Sutton said:
It's fine for old farts who started out on film because that's all there was to use to get nostalgic about learning on film. The truth is that I learned more, faster, when I returned to photography after a long break and got a decent digital DSLR. Because I could never afford to shoot lots and lots on film. I wish digital had been around in 1976. :LOL:
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That's true. Prior to digital I only had a manual camera and therefore only learned the basics, which is not in itself a bad thing of course. I have learnt a great deal more since I took up with digital though, with vastly more flexibility.
 
ashishtamhane said:
There are some lower shutter actuation models. The weight difference is not that much once you get used to it. I would rather take a bit of weight than those small and dingy viewfinders of the DX models.
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I assume you are a fit, health fully grown male. Well the advice for a camera is a young teenage female with little knowledge is what was asked for, So a Pro camera will in all probability be too heavy and too complicated for a person of that description. Do you want to kill off any enthusiasm for photography before she actually starts
For what it is worth I have had full frame cameras and DX models and never found the viewfinder frame on either dingy - dingy means or used to mean dark and the one suggested by her father sounds a good choice for a someone just starting out, and in all probability more suitable for somene who doesn't know the ins and out of a complex camera.
Walk before running seems to be my response to yours.
 
Rodinal said:
I assume you are a fit, health fully grown male. Well the advice for a camera is a young teenage female with little knowledge is what was asked for, So a Pro camera will in all probability be too heavy and too complicated for a person of that description. Do you want to kill off any enthusiasm for photography before she actually starts
For what it is worth I have had full frame cameras and DX models and never found the viewfinder frame on either dingy - dingy means or used to mean dark and the one suggested by her father sounds a good choice for a someone just starting out, and in all probability more suitable for somene who doesn't know the ins and out of a complex camera.
Walk before running seems to be my response to yours.
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Thank you for putting yourself in her shoes. I think many, me included, started to think what is best for us, forgetting what it is like to be that age and size. I agree also, simple equals fun at the early stages, complicated could end up with her losing confidence.
 
Benihana said:
Thank you for putting yourself in her shoes. I think many, me included, started to think what is best for us, forgetting what it is like to be that age and size. I agree also, simple equals fun at the early stages, complicated could end up with her losing confidence.
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No problem glad to assist. Many camera users appear to loose the concept what it was like when they first started out. I am fortunate to be able to pick and choose what I like to use, but for all the bells and whistles the camera system that gave me the most satisfaction to use was the old Pentax SV/S1a/ and the Spotmatics. No frills, just solid engineering and good optics.
 
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