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My wife is looking for a point and shoot for when we're out and about where her phone/iPad won't do.
Mostly to get better distance photos, for wildlife etc.
Not expecting anything spectacular, but figured second hand for a point and shoot type may offer the best bang for buck?
Budget under £100 hopefully, but don't know if I'll get anything worthwhile?
Happy for any advice 🙂
london camera exchange or MPB photographic. Or your local photo shop (if it still exists).
You'd be surprised - it'll be something older but I'd go for a decent SLR with lens from 10-15 years ago - it'll still **** all over any current smartphone for pictures.
for example: £80 for a Nikon D40 & 18-55mm kit lens. https://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Used/Nikon-D40-+-18-55mm_289366.html
Don't go thinking only 6.1mp is rubbish, unless you want to blow the pictures up to 4ft wide art to stick on the wall, it'll be more than enough.
Random shot from flickr taken on a D40
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However, if she wants to take wildlike photos, that's going to need a long lens. Unless it's big stuff, that you can get close to.
I have a Sony WX350 on ebay at the mo at £90... 20x optical zoom. PM me if it's of interest, it's a great point and shoot camera, only selling as we never remember to take it out with us these days so treated myself to a phone with optical zoom instead!
If you are after a small camera then a Sony Rx100. I got a minty MK1 for £100. I think we're on MK6 now
Bit chunkier and more robust a Canon G series - G15 should just about be in budget.
RX100, avoid tiny sensors and massive zooms.
Panasonic Lumix TZ-80
I accidentally came across one of my old Nikon D70 files from about 2005 and I was amazed at how clean (free from digital noise) the images were. I’d happily use an old DSLR if I only had £100 to spend. Million times better than a phone or a compact camera.
I've a nice compact Canon S95 sitting in a drawer here (charger and possibly spare battery too)... would go for way under your budget
I would add to the big sensor argument. I had a Panasonic TZ70 with a big zoom but the picture quality was worse than digitally zooming in on my Sony RX100
Nikon 1 based system like this is always cheap and the J2 is better than the J1 but less well known on Ebay.
Big sensor
Fast autofocus
Not too big
Point and shoot with some extra control
You will need another £100 if you want to add a big zoom though
@lovewookie - where are you?
I'm reckon a lot of us have got unloved digital cameras in the sideboard that have been replaced by something shinier and newer. I've got a fully functioning Canon A720iS sat there doing nowt as I replaced it with a Canon G16 (6 years ago).
I'm sure that someone local to you could pass one on to you for a small donation to charity
Thanks all.
she's looking for something for taking photos of the birds and deer in our garden and while we're out and about like seal watching. Currently using an ipad, and happy enough with the quality, just wants to be able to zoom in a bit more as the digi zoom makes things a tad pixelated. Whle you can see something with your bare eyes, get behind a lens and it looks very far away.
@ElShalimo, maybe...in Glasgow.
@Fubar that sounds good. read some reviews and it sounds like a nice little camera. the connectivity may limit it, but I don't know. If we can get images off the camera and onto apple/android device easily that would help.
@nre had a look at the reviews for that too. looks like it may do the trick. I'll PM .
I think while getting a used DSLR may be better, I think that it's a bit bulky. we may end up with one eventually, but something fairly lightweight and easy to use, as we're both very amateur.
The RX100 gets great reviews, but may be just a smidge out of budget if I'm looking for something with a bit of connectivity.
You can WiFi SD cards now - that gives an old camera more connectivity
You can WiFi SD cards now – that gives an old camera more connectivity
well, the wonders of modern tech. didn't know that.
I think it is only the full size SD cards, not the micro cards (that was true last Jan/Feb when I last looked at them)
A bit spendier than you want but you can get Sony NEX (APS-C sensor) with 18-55mm lens for £120.00 upwards on ebay. A massively upgradeable camera that will take a long lens if you fancy. (55-210 from about £100.00 used).
For birds and deer get something with a bigger zoom. I have an ancient Sony Cybershot H10 and it takes fab photos of birds in my garden. Newer models I'm sure are better.
Cheap bridge camera is the best for getting much closer (ie wildlife closer) on a budget.
ie Nikon Coolpix P510 and onwards
Even the 510 will get you a 42x optical zoom.
https://www.dpreview.com/products/nikon/compacts/nikon_cpp510
Maybe you could get a P610 for around the same used price? Discussion/review and discussion here:
https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/57035386
i agree with p7eaven, you want a big zoom, 500mm plus
lumix fz200 is good
1inch sensor is better but a lot more expensive
If you get a silly long zoom, buy a cheap tripod or all your zoomed photos will be blurry
Cheers all.
Sorted now
@fubar - what do you want for that S95? At "way under budget" it might make for a Christmas stocking-filler for my missus.
I bought the S95. also bought the D40 linked above too. seemed like too good a deal to not and gives us different options too. 🙂
Damn!