My Friend's Dilemma re Buying a New Camera

rusticalex

rusticalex

Suspended / Banned
Messages
195
Name
Alex
Edit My Images
No
Around the poker table tonight, one of the chaps told me that he and his family are considering buying a DSLR. His 11 year old daughter is getting keen on photography, and he and his wife have just started a City & Guilds Level 1 photography course, so as a family they are embracing photography! At the moment they have an outdated and limited compact (his description!). So, they want a decent camera, and are a bit lost on which direction to go in.

So, there is the usual debate about which make and model to buy, according to budget, of course. However, my concern is more about just how many cameras they need - in other words, will one camera be enough? Personally, I don't think it will, especially if they all get more into it. If they start with one DSLR, surely they will get frustrated with sharing it around. I don't think they are in the market for buying a second one, so my thought is that they should get their daughter a cheaper, but still decent bridge camera, and buy themselves a DSLR.

What do people think about this dilemma? Do you share your camera with your wife/husband/children? Any thoughts appreciated!

Thanks
Alex
 
They can pick up a very good low end DSLR for the daughter, say a 450d with kit lens for low money and invest substantially more in a higher end DSLR from the same mfr say a 7d with a 15-85. Then as they get more into it they can get lenses that they can all share :thumbs:

Same principle to the likes of Nikon and other Mfr’s obviously.

Mark.
 
Hi Alex

As you say, they need to decide on make, model, budget etc etc.

With regards to how many to buy, if they are not in the market for buying 2 bodies at the moment, decide which manufactorer route they wish to go down, buy 1 body and see how they go - if it is a real pain both of them sharing, then a 2nd body is going to be on the cards.

Are they wanting to buy new or have they considered 2nd hand ?

With regards to daughter - I would wait and see once they have a new camera if the interest is still there - she could possibly share the 2nd body with parents or a 2nd hand lower spec body could be sourced. Personnaly if they are going to buy her her own, I'd buy her a DSLR as she will be able to borrow lens - saving some money aswell.

I went through a similar thing with my daughter, she was showing an interest and was wanting to have a go, I decided to upgrade my body and let her use my old one, she has continued with the interest over the couple of years (and getting some great shots) so a month or so ago, we treated her to a new body :thumbs:

It's a difficult call really, if they could afford, the best option is 1 body each - same manufactorer so lenses will be able to be shared. 2nd best option would be 2 bodies, both parents able to use them on the course and they can be shared between the 3 of them when out as a family.

Hope this is of some help...
 
Think I would go for a basic DSLR, a couple of lenses, and share for now. They can always buy another body from the same manufacturer, and share lenses, if everyone is still interested in 6 - 12 months

I'm biased about bridge cameras. They're not cheap, and they're really neither one thing nor the other. DSLRs and compacts make more sense for me.
 
I agree with above, but I would ask myself could I chare a camera with my wife doing the same course, I very much doubt it so I would be tempted to get the daughter a cheap second hand dslr and themselves a couple of decent 2nd hand 50D or 40D.

That way they can all share lens but they can also all do their own thing.

spike
 
Daughter is only 11 though. Think I'd get her a good compact or second hand 4/3rds and let the parents have the more expensive stuff. Then when she's a bit older she can have their cast offs.
 
Don't share cameras, but made sense when my daughter wanted a camera to get the same make as myself so we could share lenses
 
I'm not exactly sharing but the mrs uses my 550d while i'm on the 7d if were both out together. Basically they're both mine as she's got a compact, but it was a good excuse to get my 7d. She wont use the 7d cos she says its too big. I've got a decent selection of lenses that we can use but she wont use my 100-400 either cos its too heavy.
 
Thanks guys and girls...a sound array of advice as always. I will pass on the thoughts to my mate, and will encourage him to not rush into anything. Last night he mentioned a Nikon D7000, so his budget is reasonably good (wish I could afford one!!), but until I mentioned it, he hadn't taken into account the vast amount he might want to spend on all the extra bits after buying the initial kit! I know he wants to buy brand new, and I'm guessing his budget might be something just a bit short of £1000. The message seems clear though, and it reflects how I feel, that sharing a camera between two people, never mind three, doesn't work for the majority, but that sharing lenses works well enough. Maybe they could go for a couple of D3100 bodies (or equivalent), and get a couple of lenses, then they're away.
 
rusticalex said:
Thanks guys and girls...a sound array of advice as always. I will pass on the thoughts to my mate, and will encourage him to not rush into anything. Last night he mentioned a Nikon D7000, so his budget is reasonably good (wish I could afford one!!), but until I mentioned it, he hadn't taken into account the vast amount he might want to spend on all the extra bits after buying the initial kit! I know he wants to buy brand new, and I'm guessing his budget might be something just a bit short of £1000. The message seems clear though, and it reflects how I feel, that sharing a camera between two people, never mind three, doesn't work for the majority, but that sharing lenses works well enough. Maybe they could go for a couple of D3100 bodies (or equivalent), and get a couple of lenses, then they're away.
Click to expand...

personally i think a bridge camera would be awesome for the daughter to get to grips with certain features and to get used to a camera larger than compacts, or of course they could get a 2nd hand 4/3's kit (my E-400 for example lol), as for the parents, the D7000 is what im buying so i say they get that :D

quick edit, for roughly £1000.....canon 1100D twin lens kit 18-55/75-300 and a 1100D with just 18-55, bags and cards.......sorted
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top