Is this camera worth it?

[john2443]

My 14 yr old has a point and shoot digital and wants something better for Christmas, I've not started looking yet, but happened to see this, and wondered what the opinion is - are these much better than a compact or are they pretty well the same thing packaged differently?

Another way to look at it, is it worth spending anything on something at this level or is the only worthwhile step up to go for an SLR, bearing in mind that I'm not intending to spend £500 on her Christmas present!

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/1...

Thanks

[flat-planedCrank]

Quite an often discussed topic

The old adage 'the best camera is the one you have with you' applies - if you value the strong selling points of a point & shoot - like the ease you can put it in your pocket, lightness, etc - then jumping to an DSLR might not be the best move.

If you want better image quality & flexibility and all the size, weight, extra gear that it can entail then I'd certainly look at a DSLR over a 'bridge' camera.


For me, bridge cameras have spanned (thank you ) a strange area: they aren't small enough to be easily portable, yet don't offer the benefits of larger equipment. Feels like all of the disadvantages to me.



If you want to look at DSLRs, many people buy them used. I know a number of people on here have used http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/

Here is their stock of Nikon DSLRs £0-200, and Canon DSLRs £0-200. (You'll need a lens as well )



Of course there is loads of used equipment on ebay too.




Hope this helps.

[The_Jackal]

A bridge camera for her will probably be fine but get one with the M, A, S, P modes so she can start to learn about how they affect her photos.

[IanMorewood]

Was £109 with a ten pound cash back card a week or two ago so not a great bargain but a good little camera with a compact form and enough options to keep most happy.

[CommanderJameson]

From fpC's link, I'd say 2nd-hand 1000D and a 50mm prime. All children come with factory-fitted Nike Zoom.

£200 done, proper camera.

Nikonauts will probably be able to recommend something similar.

ETA: My experience of bridge cameras is that they combine the disadvantages, not the advantages, of compacts and DSLRs.

Edited by CommanderJameson on Tuesday 22 October 06:47

[mojitomax]

as above, get a used DSLR, if your 14 year old is serious and this isn't a passing fad, then she can buy new lenses/accessories that will last and still be usable on a newer body. And it will give her an incentive to save up for new equipment

if you have a DSLR, then get her an old a body from the same manufacturer so all the lenses are interchangable with yours.

[MysteryLemon]

I do not understand the market for bridge cameras.

They offer every disadvantage of both compact cameras and DSLRs but offer no advantage over either.

If he's serious about wanting get into Photography then get him a DSLR. You would be daft not to. A bridge camera wont benefit him in any way over a compact. A second hand DSLR, something like a Nikon D80 or D5000, even something older like a D50 or D70 would be perfect for a youngster to learn on. You'll get better pictures from an cheap, second hand DSLR than you will from even the most modern bridge camera.

[marctwo]

As above. The only good thing about bridge cameras is that they have a large zoom range. But most people don't understand enough about focal lengths to use it properly anyway and would learn more about photography with a fixed focal length. Avoid.

[GetCarter]

I hate bridge cameras. Go one way, or another.

[Janesy B]

Bridges only exist to satisfy the 'OMG IT HAS 10000X ZOOM' brigade. Even then superzoom compacts exist now, so you don't even need to bother with a bridge if you want a blurry picture of a bird a mile away taken at f/8.

Edited by Janesy B on Tuesday 22 October 13:33

[anonymous-user]

I've got nothing to add apart from agreeing with the whole "I hate bridge cameras" thing.

They fail to produce photos as good as a dedicated DSLR, but won't fit in a pocket...

What's the point? Get one or the other.

I have a full blown DSLR for when I don't mind carrying a camera and demand better images, and I have a Sony RX100 for when I don't want to carry a camera and just want something to slip in my jeans/jacket pocket yet still get good photos.

[Vipers]

You can get some very good used DSLR's from Jessops and Amazon.

[MarkyP72]

I have had a Fuji HS10 bridge camera & agree with the other posts. I went on to pick up 2nd hand Nikon D3000 (DSLR). Later versions are D3100 & now the D3200.
I am currently looking to buy a Canon S110 compact for when a 'big' camera is too big!!
Have read good things about the Sony RX100 aswell.
Good luck