Bridge Camera for 16 year old ?

[Steve Campbell]

My 16 year old has taken an interest in photography as part of his GCSE in art. He's currently been using my old Nikon D40x (with 300mm lens) but I'm thinking of getting him a camera for Xmas. He's particular been interested in wildlife (see photo below taken from my back garden)…..both larger scale like below but he also has been doing some macro photography over the summer and he bought himself some lens ring things (can you tell I'm not a photography expert :-)) to do close ups.

I don't have a huge amount to spend but the super zooms of the bridge cameras would be useful for him. The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ82 is just about in my price range. He's extremely happy with using the D40x so I imagine the possibilities with a camera like this (super zoom, video etc) will give him excellent results.

Thoughts on what to consider in the same price range or is the Panasonic just the ticket ?

[DibblyDobbler]

Steve Campbell said:

My 16 year old has taken an interest in photography as part of his GCSE in art. He's currently been using my old Nikon D40x (with 300mm lens) but I'm thinking of getting him a camera for Xmas. He's particular been interested in wildlife (see photo below taken from my back garden)…..both larger scale like below but he also has been doing some macro photography over the summer and he bought himself some lens ring things (can you tell I'm not a photography expert :-)) to do close ups.

I don't have a huge amount to spend but the super zooms of the bridge cameras would be useful for him. The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ82 is just about in my price range. He's extremely happy with using the D40x so I imagine the possibilities with a camera like this (super zoom, video etc) will give him excellent results.

Thoughts on what to consider in the same price range or is the Panasonic just the ticket ?

Steve - the FZ82 is a decent bridge camera but I would be aware that although the long zoom seems initially appealing it does have a small sensor so your lad may find the image quality lacking next to the D40 and 300mm. How about you get him an upgraded body which will still work with the 300mm? I don't know the Nikon range well but there will be plenty (new or second hand) which would be a big upgrade on a D40 and still work with the 300mm.

Just my 2p worth

[Simpo Two]

Unless he only uses the D40 on automatic mode I'd say you're actually going backwards. He's very happy with the D40, so I'd get him a proper macro lens (eg 105mm f2.8 from Nikon, Sigma or Tamron. Or a decent flashgun, or a tripod so he can experiment with long exposures.

[Bill]

I have one and agree with what's been said. It's great for holiday snaps but it's definitely a point and shoot on steroids rather than a "proper" camera for the masses. IYSWIM?

[driver67]

You could get a d7200 second hand very reasonably.

The lens at the moment seems sharp enough with some processing.

Ideally a Sigma 150-600 C matched with above would be ideal !

[Steve Campbell]

Thanks all. Lots to consider then ! Sounds like a new bridge isn't the way to go. If I could get a good used D7200 in the right price bracket (£300 or less) it might be worthwhile. I'm not a photographer so any tips on where to look/find a good D7200 2nd hand and what to look out for ?

Does anyone know if the current lenses for D40x would fit a D7200 ? The zoom lense we have is Nikon DX AF.SNIKKOR 55-300 F4.5-5.6 GED

[eltawater]

Used values on a d7200 are around 450 to 500 so I'm afraid you're very unlikely to find a good example under 300.

The lens will work fine but it's not the best in the world to start with, a 70-300 VR would be better for telephoto work. Maybe stretch your budget upwards to a d7100 which can found cheaper than a d7200 or buy something like the 70-300 VR and 35mm AFS to give him some options.

To be honest even the consumer level d3500, kit package currently £329 on amazon brand new is going to be huge leap forward over the d40x if you fancy giving him a brand new item.

Edited by eltawater on Monday 11th November 11:24

[Steve Campbell]

Was just browsing John Lewis over lunch and looked at the D3500 @ £329
https://www.johnlewis.com/nikon-d3500-digital-slr-...

It's a bit more than I wanted to spend but so long as existing lenses would work it's a new start / piece of kit and I'm sure would be way better than the D40x which is now 12 years old technology. Maybe this is the way to think / go.........

[eltawater]

Don't forget that Black Friday is just around the corner so it might be worth holding on to see what deals are available.

[Simpo Two]

I don't see the point in spending £3-400 to replace a camera body with a camera body unless there is some failing in the D40 body that's hindering your son's photography. You said he's 'extremely happy' with it so that seems to be the last thing you need to change. Remember in DSLR-land the body (in simple terms) just records images; it's what you stick on it that makes most of the difference. Better/different lenses would be an obvious area.

[Steve Campbell]

Just looking for ideas to encourage the interest really. I did have a browse at lenses but to my untrained eye it would be a bit more than £300 to get a much better telephoto lens than he's already using.

The D40x is a 10MP camera and 12 years old, that D3500 is 24MP and takes video aswell....and he can use the same lenses he's already using..... I'm guessing the D3500 is the "modern" or new D40x ie an entry level DSLR.

All thoughts and options gratefully considered (that are sensible for a 16year old fledgling interest and not > ~£300).

Thanks

[eltawater]

Simpo Two said:

I don't see the point in spending £3-400 to replace a camera body with a camera body unless there is some failing in the D40 body that's hindering your son's photography. You said he's 'extremely happy' with it so that seems to be the last thing you need to change. Remember in DSLR-land the body (in simple terms) just records images; it's what you stick on it that makes most of the difference. Better/different lenses would be an obvious area.

I'd disagree with that on the basis that his son has shown an interest in wildlife photography, particularly moving birds judging by the example. A modern camera body, even a base level d3500, is going to wipe the floor with the d40x when it comes down to frame rate, autofocus and crop flexibility (10mp vs 24mp). You can put great glass on that but it's not going to matter if the body has failed to capture the shot.

Starting again with a modern body will at least give him a great launchpad to add better lenses in the future.

Edited by eltawater on Monday 11th November 18:40

[Simpo Two]

Steve Campbell said:

Just looking for ideas to encourage the interest really. I did have a browse at lenses but to my untrained eye it would be a bit more than £300 to get a much better telephoto lens than he's already using.

The D40x is a 10MP camera and 12 years old, that D3500 is 24MP and takes video aswell....and he can use the same lenses he's already using..... I'm guessing the D3500 is the "modern" or new D40x ie an entry level DSLR.

All thoughts and options gratefully considered (that are sensible for a 16year old fledgling interest and not > ~£300).

Thanks

Well, a newer body will also offer a bigger higher-res screen and far better low-light performance - it's just a question of which direction he wants to go in. But he'll still have a slow average-quality lens.

How about asking him what he wants?

I may be unsporting and precis your question as 'His dad fancies a new camera'

[DibblyDobbler]

Steve - suggest you get onto MBP who are a reputable second hand dealer. You'll get a used 70-300 + a decent body to mount it on, then you can trade in current kit and get a bit off the price. I reckon you are at the races with a £300 budget

[Steve Campbell]

Simpo Two said:

How about asking him what he wants?
I may be unsporting and precis your question as 'His dad fancies a new camera'

:-) No doubt I'll get to use the old one more !
I will ask him in general terms what he wants for Xmas, but I'd rather still keep it a bit secret for that Xmas morning fun.
Other options in the mix are Brooklands Mercedes driving experience if camera doesn't make it to the final cut (if it does, he's getting bugger all else if I splash ~£300 on a camera !)
Wildlife has been a focus for him over the summer. Here's another example on a smaller scale ! He bought himself some extension tubes so he could get a bit closer to his subjects but still use the 300mm lens and he's also been experimenting with photoshop.

[Simpo Two]

Macro is a fascinating and specialist world all of its own. So you want your son to struggle on with a cheap 300mm telephoto with spectacles gaffer-taped to the end when you could just buy him a pukka macro f2.8 lens*??

• also great for portraits

[Steve Campbell]

If the lens is £600 he can struggle on 😀

[Simpo Two]

Steve Campbell said:

If the lens is £600 he can struggle on ??

Shazam

40mm Nikon £259: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-AF-S-Micro-NIKKOR-4...

90mm Tamron £359: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamron-AF-90mm-2-8-SP/dp/...

105mm Sigma £359: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sigma-105mm-Macro-Nikon-C...

Note that in macro-land the focal length (the bit in mm) is not so much about being 'telephoto' but about working distance. A 105mm lens allows you to work further from the subject for the same magnification. This can be useful for critters.

The Nikon one could double as a very good 'standard' lens too, as I'm not sure he has anything in the standard or wide-angle areas.