Recommend me a Camera

[Groober]

Hi Gents,

This is my first visit to this forum and I would be very grateful for a bit of advice. My other half has taken quite an interest in photography and has taken some lovely pics using nothing more than her coolpix mini camera and an iPhone.

She would like to get something a little more pro. We have had a look online but don't really know what we're looking for? Budget is around £300 but could spend a tad more if needed.

Thanks in advance!

[andyc11]

Was in a similar position a while back and went for a Sony DSC-HX300 bridge camera. I shoot a lot of motorsports and am really pleased with it. Do I wish I'd have put a bit more to and gone for a basic DSLR though? Probably. If she's genuinely keen on it, I'd invest in a DSLR, but it's easy to let the budget get out of control ('well for an extra £50 we could get this...oh we've just spent £700'). So if you want to stick to that £300, the Sony is a great choice and you'll have cash left for some accessories (tripod and a memory card).

[andyc11]

Was in a similar position a while back and went for a Sony DSC-HX300 bridge camera. I shoot a lot of motorsports and am really pleased with it. Do I wish I'd have put a bit more to and gone for a basic DSLR though? Probably. If she's genuinely keen on it, I'd invest in a DSLR, but it's easy to let the budget get out of control ('well for an extra £50 we could get this...oh we've just spent £700'). So if you want to stick to that £300, the Sony is a great choice and you'll have cash left for some accessories (tripod and a memory card).

[djsmith74]

For £300, I'd recommend something like the Canon EOS M as you can pick up some great deals. It 'looks' like a camera (as opposed to a point & shoot), and you have the flexibility of interchanging the lens (which adds the 'experience'), gets some excellent reviews on-line, and takes a cracking photo. Argos are doing it for just under £200...

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2...

So you've got some cash left over for another lens, either another zoom or a pancake prime. There's a dedicated EOSM thread on here with some sample photos:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[budfox]

D3200