What kit is suitable for a school student

4tea2

4tea2

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It's that time of year when parts of your family that rarely speak to you suddenly call and ask for advice....

"I'm thinking of buying a camera.... what do you recommend?....."
"You know all about photography...... what's a great camera for my wife?...."

You know the way it goes.

Well this year, it is a request to judge the suitability of secondhand cameras being sold on FB for a teenager starting photography/media studies. Obviously, all the usual concerns and questions apply.

However I have no experience of the current education system or school photography/media studies courses. So, is there anyone out there with experience/knowledge that can help me? What would be a suitable cheap camera/kit?

I'd really keen to assist so that this student finds something that gets them involved in photography. Any advice will be much appreciated.

(BTW: I've added an entry to the Wanted forum in case anyone has anything suitable sitting in the cupboard)
 
Id try and get into on what the course requires else any dlsr from the last 15 years will be fine specially aps-c nikon d90 or other brand equivalents
 
My son's school use old Nikons they don't really have enough to go round, but he uses his G80 without any issues.
Some days he just uses his phone :)

Best to ask the school and see if they have any preferences, or want to keep them all using the same.


Edit:
Just asked my daughter, and her school used Canon and Nikon.
When she started university, she bought Canon, as the media loan centre at the university had more Canon gear available than anything else.
She graduated in 2019, although she now works for the university, she hasn't looked at the loan centre for a couple of years
 
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Our local college uses Nikon D3100/D3200s - either can be picked up very cheaply now and they're good little cameras.

However, as Steve said, 'Best to ask the school . . . ' to be sure.
 
Sangoma said:
My son's school use old Nikons they don't really have enough to go round, but he uses his G80 without any issues.
Some days he just uses his phone :)

Best to ask the school and see if they have any preferences, or want to keep them all using the same.


Edit:
Just asked my daughter, and her school used Canon and Nikon.
When she started university, she bought Canon, as the media loan centre at the university had more Canon gear available than anything else.
She graduated in 2019, although she now works for the university, she hasn't looked at the loan centre for a couple of years
Click to expand...
Thanks. Real real experiecnce is exactly what I was looking for. I don't have any school age people to ask.

And my initial response was the same as your point...... ask the school.
 
Sky said:
Our local college uses Nikon D3100/D3200s - either can be picked up very cheaply now and they're good little cameras.

However, as Steve said, 'Best to ask the school . . . ' to be sure.
Click to expand...
Perfect. D3100/D3200s were the type that I was thinking about. Puts a basic kit into an affordable price bracket while still prviding all the controls and functions required.
 
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Just sent this to a friend who wants to take pictures of her family.

Olympus
The camera with lens we looked at was this one: https://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Used/Olympus-E-M10-II-+-14-42mm-|-1017921_393725.html
Review here: https://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/olympus-e-m10-ii/olympus-e-m10-ii-conclusion.htm

This is a later version, and has the pancake zoom for £350 https://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Used/Oly...lver---*7,400-Shutter-Actuations*_393577.html If that were not too much, it’s probably the one I would recommend out of these two – these have good mechanical anti-shake measures and a flash built in too.
Review here: https://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/olympus-e-m10-iii/olympus-e-m10-iii-conclusion.htm


Sony
There’s also something like this Sony A58, which is what I took a few of the pictures you see in my office with – bear in mind this is an 11 year old design, but it is a ‘budget’ option.
https://mifsuds.com/product/used-sony-alpha-a58-dslr-camera-18-55mm-lens-kit-3k-acts-st40559/ It’s a little heavier and bigger than the Olympus, but lenses will be cheaper and I also have some lenses I could lend you.


Nikon
At slightly the other end of the size spectrum there’s something like the Nikon D700. This is a 15 year old pro/enthusiast DSLR design that will be large and heavy, but has a good reputation for image quality, robustness and longevity. It will also take all of Nikons F mount lenses going back to the 1950s. I have a couple of lenses I could lend you.

Used Nikon D700 Body| London Camera Exchange -Newcastle

Used Nikon D700 Body | London Camera Exchange - Newcastle | To buy or for more information visit Newcastle or call 0191 213 0060
www.lcegroup.co.uk

Lenses for this are also cheap, and I’d probably recommend trying one of the following as a basic zoom:
https://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Used/Nikon-28-80mm-f/3.5-5.6-G_389000.html This is cheaper, plastic fantastic.
https://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Used/Nikon-28-100mm-f3.5-5.6-G-Nikkor_391911.html This is cheaper, plastic fantastic.
https://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Used/Sig...acro-Nikon-AF-fit-Zoom-(inc-Hood)_388851.html This is a longer zoom, slightly heavier & bulkier.
https://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Used/Nikon-AF-28-70mm-f/3.5-4.5D-|-1017900_393878.html This is small & lighter, good image quality

There are also telephoto zooms available for not much money designed to work with this camera.

Used Nikon AF 70-300mm f4-5.6G *Boxed*| London Camera Exchange -Chichester

Used Nikon AF 70-300mm f4-5.6G *Boxed* | London Camera Exchange - Chichester | To buy or for more information visit Chichester or call 01243 531536
www.lcegroup.co.uk
 
I just sold a D300 & kit lens for £150, very good value for money. Lots of external buttons, rugged and a very good camera to learn with,
 
cambsno said:
I just sold a D300 & kit lens for £150, very good value for money. Lots of external buttons, rugged and a very good camera to learn with,
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I know :( It would have been perfect. I would have made an offer, if only my brother had asked earlier.
 
Whilst almost any older dSLR or newer mirrorless can be used, the School may well have a library of lenses which the students can borrow, so makes some sense to use a compatible camera. Makes the teachers life easier if everyone is using roughly the same equipment.
 
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