Son's Xmas present - Help Required!

[mattsharps]

Hi Guys,

My Son has decided that he would like a camera for Xmas. As well as taking photos in general, he as also added that he would like to take photos of the birds in our garden. Most shots would be from a distance of 5-6 metres, but up to a length of about 20. Could anyone recommend a camera under £150 which could suit both purposes, and further info?

Thanks,

MattSharps

[HokkaidoStu]

Hi Guys,

Could anyone recommend a camera under £150 which could suit both purposes

Don't think you could get anything in that price range. A decent DSLR with decent lens would probably cost 10 times that amount.

Some of the older 'superzoom' camera models (do a search on this forum for that term) may be available on e-bay secondhand fairly cheaply. That's the only thing I can think of.

[Malcolm Stewart]

You've posted this in the Canon forum, so I suggest you look out for an Eos 10D (£169 used from MPB) and a ? to 300mm lens. (75-300 f4.5-5.6 at £89 from Mifsuds). This is way above your £150 budget, but illustrates where the entry point will be. For ordinary shots some form of normal length lens will be necessary, and a 28-80 zoom (£69 from Mifsuds) will cover the range. (Total ~ £330) Alternatively an EF 50 f1.8 will show just how good this old DSLR really can be! (£50 -£80 depending on whether used or new.)

I started with a 10D and it's well known for being slower than modern bodies & the poor precision of the position of its central AF spot wrt the viewfinder aiming point, but cameras which are better than this cost much more in %age terms. Despite this my shots of exhibition water skiers are sharp and stand comparison with others shot with better gear. For a variety of reasons, I would not recommend any of the Canon xxxD bodies - different interface, and less easy for your son to be in control, which is necessary for bird photos.
The 10D has a 1.6 crop factor which means that the "effective focal length" will be 1.6x the real focal length, making the minimum viewing angle of a 75-300 zoom the equal of a 480mm lens on a full frame camera.

If he does get interested, at the moment I do believe that Canon's range of lenses which are good for birding (e.g. EF 400 f5.6, EF 100-400L, EF 300 f2.8L, EF 500 f4L IS) is more affordable than the competition, and more plentiful on the used market.

[The 10D will not take any EF-s lens.]

[Sandpiper]

Perhaps something like a Panasonic FZ18 would be suitable. A friend of mine finds it ideal for garden bird photography and it is great for close ups of butterflies and flowers, etc.

[HokkaidoStu]

For a variety of reasons, I would not recommend any of the Canon xxxD bodies - different interface, and less easy for your son to be in control, which is necessary for bird photos.


A lot of use seem to manage with these bodies Malcom, me for one.

A second hand 350D plus a cheap third party 70-300 would be fine to start with I would have thought but even this combination would be at least double the budget the OP mentioned.

[JohnZ]

Please excuse me if I misunderstood Malcolm but if Matt does not choose a Canon body how is he going to get a Canon lens to fit without the use of an adaptor ?

[Saphire]

There are also some good priced 300d as well on ebay, I sold mine for £130. I was a bit gutted at selling it but it just wasn't being used anymore.

[postcardcv]

Going for a DSLR (even a secondhand one) will take you well over your budget, personally I'd recommend looking at a bridge camera - the Fuji S8000 is a good alrounded and comes in under budget - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-FinePix-S8000fd-Digital-Camera/dp/B000UUHL2K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1227521430&sr=8-1

[Robert L Jarvis]

You don't give the age of your son. I agree with Postcard, a decent bidge camera would be the best bet. To decide on model have a look on www. dpreview.com.

Robert

[Malcolm Stewart]

Please excuse me if I misunderstood Malcolm but if Matt does not choose a Canon body how is he going to get a Canon lens to fit without the use of an adaptor ?

I assumed that because this was posted in the Canon forum, that a Canon solution was required - and there is a non-maker specific camera forum if a general answer was required.

And, he's very unlikely to get a Canon lens to work on any other body. (The other way round is one I use occasionally - e.g. Contax Y/C fit lens on my Eos 5D.)

[Claymore]

Hi Guys,

My Son has decided that he would like a camera for Xmas. As well as taking photos in general, he as also added that he would like to take photos of the birds in our garden. Most shots would be from a distance of 5-6 metres, but up to a length of about 20. Could anyone recommend a camera under £150 which could suit both purposes, and further info?

Thanks,

MattSharps
Matt,
Personally for your budget i would go for a Fuji Bridge camera, I used to have a Fuji S7000 and won a few photo comps with it, they are great quality and have decent zooms etc. And Live view/video shooting features as standard something which SLRs are only just getting! Argos are having some great bargains at the moment.
Cheers
Brian
Ps although I spent quite a lot recently on my SLR etc, I am thinking of getting another Fuji bridge for days when i cannot be bothered to lug all the gear around LoL

[Tero]

How old is this son? Perhaps a video camera would work. Some of them take fairly decent stills, you have to check. They do not advertise the Megapixels well, but on th low end. It has the zoom lens you need for birds.

[GarryKirsch]

Hi Matt, I don't know the prices in the UK, but I would recommend a Canon S5 IS if they're available, or possibly the SX110.
Garry

[h14nha]

Hi Matt
I have just sold my Panasonic FZ18 bridge camera ( so called as it's a bridge between a basic point and shoot camera and a full DSLR ) for £150 inc bag,filters, spare battery and SD cards.
This camera will give excellent results for the money at those distances.

I have now upgraded to a DSLR, a Canon 450d together with a Canon 100-400mm zoom lens which has cost £1500 for a similar zoom range,which, although will give superior results is a hefty increase in funding.
I don't think your son will be dissapointed with the Panasonic camera if you choose that route although there are other options including the Nikon P80.

If I didn't carry so much gear when I go out ( 82mm scope,digiscoping bracket, Samsung NV3 point and shoot, 8x42 bins,mini DV camcorder, tripod, folding chair, camouflage net ) I would have kept the camera as back up but my rucksack is getting rediculously full and heavy.

PS The guy I sold the camera to is over the moon with it too.
regards
Ian

[Claymore]

Hi Matt
I have just sold my Panasonic FZ18 bridge camera ( so called as it's a bridge between a basic point and shoot camera and a full DSLR ) for £150 inc bag,filters, spare battery and SD cards.
This camera will give excellent results for the money at those distances.

I have now upgraded to a DSLR, a Canon 450d together with a Canon 100-400mm zoom lens which has cost £1500 for a similar zoom range,which, although will give superior results is a hefty increase in funding.
I don't think your son will be dissapointed with the Panasonic camera if you choose that route although there are other options including the Nikon P80.

If I didn't carry so much gear when I go out ( 82mm scope,digiscoping bracket, Samsung NV3 point and shoot, 8x42 bins,mini DV camcorder, tripod, folding chair, camouflage net ) I would have kept the camera as back up but my rucksack is getting rediculously full and heavy.

PS The guy I sold the camera to is over the moon with it too.
regards
Ian
Ian know what you mean regarding carrying all the gear LoL that's why on this years letter to santa i asked for a Mule or Llamma to lighten the load.
Cheers
Brian

[JeffMoh]

I don't know UK prices but you might want to look at the Canon S3 IS, new or used. Its zoom goes to about 350 mm (equivalent) and the quality is pretty good, particularly in decent light.

The attached is a shot I took of a Savannah Sparrow yesterday at about 7 metres.

The photos on my blog show the range and limitations of the camera: www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com.

Jeff

[Cristian Mihai]

Assuming that you want a Canon here are some my suggestion is Canon Power Shot SX10 IS (335$ on amazon).
If you also consider other brands:
- Panasonic FZ18 or 28
- Fuji S8100fd

[lmans66]

I ditto the Cannon S3 IS or SX10 IS.....both are quality and take great shots.... A great step up to something bigger if he chooses later on....