Digital SLR for my son, GCSE Photography, help please..
Discussion
Hi folks,
My son is year 10, doing his photography GCSE this year and next.
He needs a digital SLR camera as borrowing one from school is problematic. I think the school cameras are Nikon D something...
Looking to spend about £300, preferably with lens, could someone point me to the best option.
Many thanks
Mike.
My son is year 10, doing his photography GCSE this year and next.
He needs a digital SLR camera as borrowing one from school is problematic. I think the school cameras are Nikon D something...
Looking to spend about £300, preferably with lens, could someone point me to the best option.
Many thanks
Mike.
Mike, I hope this isn't against the rules but if it would help I have a Nikon D200 that I was about to sell. It's one of Nikon's pro models from a few years ago but is still a superb camera (as I'm sure Simpo will confirm! ) and being a pro body, it will not frustrate him when he gets to grips with it like some of the smaller DSLR's can . Mine is low shutter count (I think 20k but could confirm later) with the only blemish being that the flash pop up button is missing, though the flash can still be made to pop up, you just need to poke a paperclip down where the button would normally be. Though quite why anybody would use on board flash on a D200, I have no idea 
If you want it, £190 including insured delivery, and it's yours.
If you want it, £190 including insured delivery, and it's yours.
Gad-Westy said:
Mike, I hope this isn't against the rules but if it would help I have a Nikon D200 that I was about to sell. It's one of Nikon's pro models from a few years ago but is still a superb camera (as I'm sure Simpo will confirm! ) and being a pro body, it will not frustrate him when he gets to grips with it like some of the smaller DSLR's can . Mine is low shutter count (I think 20k but could confirm later) with the only blemish being that the flash pop up button is missing, though the flash can still be made to pop up, you just need to poke a paperclip down where the button would normally be. Though quite why anybody would use on board flash on a D200, I have no idea
If you want it, £190 including insured delivery, and it's yours.
PM on it's way Gad. If you want it, £190 including insured delivery, and it's yours.
Gad-Westy said:
silverback mike said:
PM on it's way Gad.
Not received anything so just in case, I'll pm you now. If you don't receive anything, let me know and we'll find some other means to establish contact. Shaw Tarse said:
Gad-Westy said:
silverback mike said:
PM on it's way Gad.
Not received anything so just in case, I'll pm you now. If you don't receive anything, let me know and we'll find some other means to establish contact. Graham, if you whizz me an email to silverbackmike70@googlemail.com
Sounds ideal, just wondering if it has a lens and bag?
Thanks for this chum
Mike.
Simpo Two said:
How about a second-hand Nikon D-something?
3100, 5100 etc. Kit lens or 35mm for starters ..........
IMO Simpo's suggested cameras would be much better than a pro model for a 10 year old, purely on weight.3100, 5100 etc. Kit lens or 35mm for starters ..........
The D200 must weigh about double that of one of the more modern amateur aimed models;
I'm not sure he would like carrying it about or even holding it up to his eye for any length of time.
Elderly said:
IMO Simpo's suggested cameras would be much better than a pro model for a 10 year old, purely on weight.
The D200 must weigh about double that of one of the more modern amateur aimed models;
I'm not sure he would like carrying it about or even holding it up to his eye for any length of time.
Year 10, so he's probably around 14/15 years old. The D200 must weigh about double that of one of the more modern amateur aimed models;
I'm not sure he would like carrying it about or even holding it up to his eye for any length of time.
There are 'almost new' D5100's on eBay for £300 with 3000 clicks on them and suchlike. Same class leading sensor as the D7000, and other useful stuff like massive battery life, live view, HD video etc.
There isn't a bigger bargain in crop sensor cameras right now than one of those IMHO
There isn't a bigger bargain in crop sensor cameras right now than one of those IMHO
To be fair the D200 is not a 'pro' model (like D3 etc), but it's better built than the Dxx/Dxxxx ranges and has a more practical arrangement of controls. Useful things like ISO have buttons and there are no stupid scene modes.
I can carry one about all day with 70-200 f2.8 + flashgun, so I'm sure a teenager could manage one with a kit lens.
As long as you don't want to do ISO6400 stuff the D200 is a good choice.
I can carry one about all day with 70-200 f2.8 + flashgun, so I'm sure a teenager could manage one with a kit lens.
As long as you don't want to do ISO6400 stuff the D200 is a good choice.
Simpo Two said:
To be fair the D200 is not a 'pro' model (like D3 etc), but it's better built than the Dxx/Dxxxx ranges and has a more practical arrangement of controls. Useful things like ISO have buttons and there are no stupid scene modes.
In my defence I was quoting Nikon rather than my own loose definition of 'pro' but it is fair to say that a D1/2/3/4 i certainly another notch up again in build quality. The D200 does sit in the same league as the D300 and D700 though which is no bad league to be in 
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