Forum newbie looking for advice

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Dek

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Hello everyone could any of you offer me some advice please. My 18yr old daughter wants to buy a decent DSLR camera and lens kit. I don't know what to buy or what sort of set up she will need so could anyone offer some advice on what to buy. I am on a budget so don't have £££££'s to spend. Thanks Dek
 
In order for other forum users to advise you on what to look at you need to provide a little more information.
You mentioned you are on a budget but gave no figure. Also what type of photography is she looking to do. Has she used any before and have a preference to a particular brand.
 
Hi Dek, welcome to TP!

Budget is key here, but I would recommend an entry level body, used ones (from LCE for example) are always the better buy for someone not wanting to spend a fortune, but I'd budget at least £300 to get a decent used set up. Canon and Nikon are the most popular and as a result, tend to have more options with regards to lenses and accessories, and there are more used pieces of equipment out there as a result.

What is she interested in taking pictures of?
 
Hi Dek and welcome :)

An idea of budget helps as has been said, but my daughter has a Canon 450D with a few lenses and it suits here very well.

Also what is your daughter wanting to shoot - this can help with specifics re what lenses, other kit etc.

If you can, get her to try out different bodies as what one person likes another wont and also the bodies are different sizes - so she needs to make sure she's happy with the feel of it.
 
Thanks for the replies she takes pictures of country side stuff and buildings, she also visits the Somme and other war related memorials. I was hoping to spend £300-£400
 
If you and your daughter are completly new to DSLR's I'd suggest a Nikon D3100 and the 18-55mm kit lens that comes supplied, these are available new for your budget so you get the full two year warranty and a brand new camera, second hand they still hold some value, personally I would buy new for the warranty and returns being much easier than a second hand camera with no return or very little warranty for the sake of £50 cheaper.
 
+1 for the d3100 and kit lens for just under £300, or if you want to go to just under £400 the d3200 and kit lens.
D3200 is the 3100 replacement has higher megapixels, better dynamic range, higher resolution rear screen and 4 frames per second as apposed to 3.
 
Thanks for the replies she takes pictures of country side stuff and buildings, she also visits the Somme and other war related memorials. I was hoping to spend £300-£400

Hi Dek

£3-400 will buy you a good kit to start off with, don't forget you'll need a memory card, bag and possibly a tripod as well.

Have a look here http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/Canon/Canon-Digital-SLRs it lists all the Canon / Nikon / Sony / Pentax prices etc so gives you an idea of what is about and at what price.

Your daughter really needs to have a feel of different bodies etc to see which she prefers, which menu system is most intuitive to her etc etc...

Personally I'd but the body and kit lens (normally 18-55mm), memory card, bag, tripod (for landscapes etc) and see how she goes from there, then as needs arise further lenses can be sought - a zoom lens (say 55-250mm), or wide angle (say 10-20mm).

Hope this is of some help...
 
Hi Dek

£3-400 will buy you a good kit to start off with, don't forget you'll need a memory card, bag and possibly a tripod as well.

Have a look here http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/Canon/Canon-Digital-SLRs it lists all the Canon / Nikon / Sony / Pentax prices etc so gives you an idea of what is about and at what price.

Your daughter really needs to have a feel of different bodies etc to see which she prefers, which menu system is most intuitive to her etc etc...

Personally I'd but the body and kit lens (normally 18-55mm), memory card, bag, tripod (for landscapes etc) and see how she goes from there, then as needs arise further lenses can be sought - a zoom lens (say 55-250mm), or wide angle (say 10-20mm).

Hope this is of some help...

If you do get a tripod - make sure you get a tripod head as well!
 
I'll go out on a limb & suggest a D70 /D70's or D80..
These can be got for £150ish & gives you enough for another lens / tripod / flash.
 
The problem is Nikon owners will recommend Nikons and Canon owners Canons, even though they are much the same. Any entry level DSLR will be good enough.

You would be better off going somewhere where you can try some out yourself, though I don't think many such places exist anymore :(
 
Thanks guys I will read more into this and get back to you with more questions if that is all right
 
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