Which camera for my Friends son.

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Stephen Pook
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I've just discovered that my friend's son is doing GCSE photography. He's 15 and sits the exam this year. His course work is all submitted. (I'm his godfather although hardly a religious man).

I'd like to get him a camera to see him through A level photography and stimulate his interest. At the moment he just uses the gear provided at school.

I have a Fuji X-T5 and would like to get him something that he can occassionally use my lenses with if we go out on a photo trip together. Ideally, a mirrorless Fuji. It should have good manual controls without having to search through lots of menus. Budget is an issue as I think giving a very expensive bit of kit to a youngster could be asking for trouble. Looking around in the classifieds, I think I may be able to stretch to a used X-T2 body which has the 24mp sensor and good, accessible manual controls. There are various other models which I don't know a great deal about such as the X-T200 and several others.

Anyone got any good suggestions or know of someoneone looking to move something appropriate on? (I'd be able to give him my old Fuji kit lens (xc 15-45) to get him started).

Thanks.

Steve.

PS. I'm new on here so I'd like to say a belated 'Hi' to everyone. Also, I haven't placed enough posts to have access to the TP classifieds yet.

Cheers.
 
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Rule 1: find out what he thinks he wants.

I was much the same age as he is, when I started photography in the middle of the 1960s. Being an orphan, I got to make my own choices, right or wrong. Once I prised the money out of my guardian, I chose my own camera (a Pentacon FM) and that started me out the correct way.

Let him make his own decisions and he'll find his own way. Try to impose your decisions, no matter how well intentioned, and you may well push him away.
 
Stephen

I faced this dilemna when by Step Daughter did A level photography. In the end I just went out and bought an entry level Canon DSLR with kit lens, as this was compatible with all the school gear (the school kit was Canons) - occassionally she borrowed my Fuji kit for a particular out of school hours shoot, but it made it much easier for her having the same kit as they were taught on. It also meant that she could borrow school lenses, and all the flashes, accessories were compatible.

If the school uses DSLRs then at this stage I would be tempted just to buy a pre-loved DSLR of the same capability or a generation or two newer than what the school uses.

She did well in photography, and now shoots gigs and festivals as a side-hustle (and bought all her own gear :) - Canon Mirrorless) - She never wanted to come out and photograph with me, 'Dad' photographic interests are very different to 'teenager' photographic interests, my most use was being able to answer technical questions!!
 
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AndrewFlannigan said:
Rule 1: find out what he thinks he wants.

I was much the same age as he is, when I started photography in the middle of the 1960s. Being an orphan, I got to make my own choices, right or wrong. Once I prised the money out of my guardian, I chose my own camera (a Pentacon FM) and that started me out the correct way.

Let him make his own decisions and he'll find his own way. Try to impose your decisions, no matter how well intentioned, and you may well push him away.
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I hear what you say and I expect you're absolutely right. I do intend to have a chat with him before making a purchase.
 
Mr Perceptive said:
Stephen

I faced this dilemna when by Step Daughter did A level photography. In the end I just went out and bought an entry level Canon DSLR with kit lens, as this was compatible with all the school gear (the school kit was Canons) - occassionally she borrowed my Fuji kit for a particular out of school hours shoot, but it made it much easier for her having the same kit as they were taught on. It also meant that she could borrow school lenses, and all the flashes, accessories were compatible.

If the school uses DSLRs then at this stage I would be tempted just to buy a pre-loved DSLR of the same capability or a generation or two newer than what the school uses.

She did well in photography, and now shoots gigs and festivals as a side-hustle (and bought all her own gear :) - Canon Mirrorless) - She never wanted to come out and photograph with me, 'Dad' photographic interests are very different to 'teenager' photographic interests, my most use was being able to answer technical questions!!
Click to expand...

Yep, very good advice. He needs to forge his own Photographic destiny as opposed to being steered by a Jurassic! :)
 
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