Beginner What Camera???

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AHOWORTH

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Good Morning,

I am wanting to get into photography mainly sports. It would be great If I could get some advice.
What camera would be best to start out with ( Happy to go 2nd hand) ?
What are the best site to pick up some good bargains?

Thanks in advance
 
It really depends on your budget, and sports that you want to photograph. Generally I like a 70-200 f2.8 equivalent lens for sport.

A lower budget option would be Canon cropped sensor DSLR, ideally one with 2 control wheels (x0D models and above) with the 55-250mm lens. Increasing the budget gives your more options such as older pro level kit, which is still good, or more modern mirrorless kit.

I like London Camera Exchange for used gear.
 
Depends what sports and at what level.

Lenses will be the most critical, for sports which may get played in winter afternoon gloom I would recommend lenses with an f2.8 aperture, a 70-200 is a fixture for most sports photographers, but often will have a second camera with a longer lens for times when the action is on the opposite side of the field/pitch/court to you.
 
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In terms of cameras, each manufactuer has a tier of cameras ranging from the professional level down to entry level. Anything from the mid-tier upwards would be my guess. The lower cameras are either deliberately inhibited or their funcitions are buried in menus rather than on dials. The mid-level semi-pro tier would be my choosing.

Depending on your budget will depend whether you go mirrorless or a dslr. Mirrorless bodies can usually use older lenses with an adaptor - certainly there is no downside with using a Canon EF lens on a Canon R-series mirrorless body.

Secondhand sources - MPB, Wex and many of the other camera retailers, or with more risk and less protection, cex, ebay, facebook market place, secondhand shops.
 
andrewc said:
define mega expensive...

£ 500#
£ 1000
£ 2500

Sports photography is a genre where good kit makes a bit difference.
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500 for now then upgrade if I get into it, Don't want to spend a load then it sits in a cupboard
 
Craikeybaby said:
A lower budget option would be Canon cropped sensor DSLR, ideally one with 2 control wheels (x0D models and above) with the 55-250mm lens.
Click to expand...
That would be my recommendation with a £500 budget.
 
OK - spending hypothetical £ 500 for a camera to be solely used for pitch based sports photography - rugby / football.

for £ 500 this is what I would buy. I'm a Canon shooter. Other camera brands are available, but I don't know them enough to comment, so I won't.

Lens: Canon 70-200 f/4 L - spending circa £ 250.00
This is a very under-rated lens. It's sharp, fast-focussing and will also accept a x1.4 extender without loosing autofocus. Its well built and you'll probably be able to sell it / trade it in without much, if any loss. Try and find one that has the tripod foot (optional on this model). I think the lens hood was standard, but can't remember.

Camera: the newest Canon xxD or 7D Mark II within budget. Looking to spend around £ 250. If you're lucky it will come with the kit lens.
You will be compromised in lower light conditions - eg late afternoon / early evening matches.

If you can increase budget an extra £ 100-£150, I'd either get a Canon x1.4 extender or spend it on a better camera (newer or lower mileage)

If you could increase budget by £ 250, you could get an 70-200 f/2.8 lens rather than an f/4.
 
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I have the 70-200 f4L lens & it is incredibly sharp, I managed to get a tripod foot off amazon, but I have had the lens for a few years now so I don't know if they are still available.
 
You might be able to get a 1dIII and a 70-200 f4 for around that money.

By modern standards, that camera is low resolution. OTOH, it’s built like a tank, has pro sports level AF and FPS.

Failing that a 7dII and that lens is a good shout, higher res, but you can’t knock tent pegs in with it.
 
Cash generator in Bolton have a canon 450d and 4 lens. For under £300., that could be a good start. I’m not a con on user , but it seems a good deal, I’m not sure what the lens are. It looks like a 70-300 , a 50mm, and a macro lens and one other.
 
Is their any good YouTube channel to learn basics about the photography ?
I use Canon PowerShot SX710 HS for recording wildlife and birds.
This is portable and so far it has served my purposes.
Don't know how to take better pictures at night ?
I am not sure if it is good for night photography.
In general need to know more about shooting distant birds and animals.
 
steve_lyt said:
Cash generator in Bolton have a canon 450d and 4 lens. For under £300., that could be a good start. I’m not a con on user , but it seems a good deal, I’m not sure what the lens are. It looks like a 70-300 , a 50mm, and a macro lens and one other.
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The 450d isn't a canon I'd choose for sports photography, it's not great in low light. I'd go for a 40d or upwards number wise (50d 60d etc) Better in low light and a better frame rate.
The 450s not a bad camera, I just dont rate it for sports.
The newer models like the 750, isd very good in low light (better than the 7d) but still have a low frame rate.
 
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AHOWORTH said:
Good Morning,

I am wanting to get into photography mainly sports. It would be great If I could get some advice.
What camera would be best to start out with ( Happy to go 2nd hand) ?
What are the best site to pick up some good bargains?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

My advice is don't worry about the camera. As a photographer, you should try to improvise rather than aiming for a better camera.

In your case of saying "mainly sports" it is difficult to answer because you did not say what kind of sports as they're all different. Outdoor and indoor sports, fast moving like a runner or steady stationary like a dart player, etc., etc.

No matter what equipment you have, try to improvise.

For example, if you only have a 28-200mm lens and going to a basketball game, don't buy a cheap ticket and take a seat on the main grandstand. From this position, the 200mm is not enough to get close up photos of the players.

Try saving up for courtside seat to get closer to the action for a good close up photo of the players. Or if possible, ask at a local basketball club for permissions to be allowed to take photos from courtside.

That's what I did. I have a 28-200mm limited to f3.5, so instead I opt for courtside seats and use a 50mm fast lens.

Football? Instead of taking a seat at the grandstand, consider doing photography of local grassroot games where you could if possible, take photo from the sidelines or behind the goalposts, assuming if allowed.

If your lens length is short, think of a way to get closer to the game as long as it's with permissions.

Motorsports? If your camera don't have a faster shutter speed, faster auto focusing, or anything like that, to capture a fast moving car on the track, then improvise by taking photos of the cars at the starting line (assuming there is a spectator area near the starting line). A local speed hill climb motor event is a good try.

Build up better experience with a limited camera and kit, by improvising, and worry about upgrading to better cameras and better lens at a later stage, specially if you've decided on which sports event you really want to do more of.

I have a Nikon D200 and a slow 28-200mm, I'm unemployment, not enough savings, so while I struggle to upgrade my kit, so I mainly improvises by finding other ways to do sports photography, until I can save up for better lenses and hopefully a camera.

Get yourself whatever camera you can afford and cope with, and it is better to try to improvise, gain more experience, and at a later date, if you want to upgrade your camera or lenses, you'll know what suits your needs.

I hope your "get into photography, mainly sports" starts well, and goes well, wishing you a good future with your aims.
 
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