Photography Under £250 camera recommendations...

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Hello AFN,
I'm on my first autoflower journal and loving it & this great community of growers. Because I can see myself doing more journals in the future, I'd like some advice on cameras please (under 250 quid & available in the U.K.), so that I am no longer using my phone for pictures. Macro would be required if it is possible at this price level.

Many thanks, my AFN friends. Looking forward to your thoughts...

 

[DABaracuss]

If you want crispy pics like me I started with a dam phone cam years ago then went to a digital cam then got a DSLR best place to get a good deal is a pawnshop or online used is fine then you get more for less. I spent around 200$ and got 3 lenses and bag and extra stuff like 5 years ago . Just bring your phone with you and compare the online price to the pawn shop price and haggle him/her down to the dirt LOL

 

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Excellent advice @DABaracuss - I didn't think about getting a second-hand camera but it makes a lot of sense. Thanks!

 

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Anyone looking for used camera equipment in the UK (they have a US operation too) - I found a website that deals in second hand professional gear:

https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/

I had no idea that you can pick up DSLR bodies for under £100 and lenses also under £100. Anyway, it's a great website (I've already wasted a couple of hours on it!) and all the equipment is very honestly described. Again, great advice @DABaracuss - rep coming your way my friend!

 

[Harry_Kovert]

https://www.jessops.com/p/canon/eos-4000d-digital-slr-with-ef-s-18-55mm-iii-dc-lens-143401

If you can stretch your budget an inch or 2.

 

[Faction]

https://www.jessops.com/p/canon/eos-4000d-digital-slr-with-ef-s-18-55mm-iii-dc-lens-143401

If you can stretch your budget an inch or 2.

That's a real good deal - nice one @Harry_Kovert. Didn't think new DSLRs were available at this kind of price level. Sweet.

 

[DABaracuss]

Just thinking you may want one a bit newer that does HD video that's the only thing i wish my camera had . dont worry about all the specs ect mega pixels things ect. most of them will do wonders for what we use it for.

 

[CannaDaTaBiz]

Canon 400d is the oldest still good enough dslr for this sort of use, nikon also had something equally good from same era. 400d lacks live view, which might be handy. Some just a bit newer ones have it, but they dont have as good screen as new dslrs. For macro shots a good manual focus is a good thing, this isnt something you get from entry level dslr stock lenses, but you do from cheap older manual film slr lenses, which you cannfit to a dslr with cheap adapters. You can also get a macro lens from any lens by using an extension tube, which you can get cheap if they dont have electronics to control auto focus etc, which you dont need with old manual lenses.

around 80-135mm with or without extension tubes is nice for close ups and macros and dont get a zoom lens, unless it goes wide angle and you want it for that use. Stock lens Zoom lenses are good to have as they often come with the camera or are dirt cheap, especially some made for older models and can widen your options from fixed focal length lenses nicely, even if they would give bad wuality pics. Fixed focal length lenses are way better price-performance and especially old manual focus film camera stock zoom lenses are, older canon and nikon dslr are ok, but nothing compared to good lenses. Google what lenses are good and what you can fnind on used markets.

 

[Uman]

Excellent advice @DABaracuss - I didn't think about getting a second-hand camera but it makes a lot of sense. Thanks!

HI a little advice, beware if you're getting a dslr, make sure to check the shoot's it already taken, a dslr it's like a car, ounce the motor as done 20k shoot, it can easily break, I brought mine in second hand, and they are good.
Beware of stinky fungos on lens and camera to, check that before buying.

You will provably get a good dsrl and cheap, got a d200 10 years ago for 100€ and a f4 almost free in a photography store xD
Also a nikon d60 for 300€.
Plus that I already got 5 lens.
4 of them with the camera
And a 100€ fisheye in second hand.

Good luck