Photography on a very tight budget

[SilverW0lf]

At the moment I'm just using a Canon IXUS 60 to take photo's with with it's obvious limitations. I'm hoping to get something a little better.

I was casually looking at Fuji FinePix S9600 Digital Camera (£200) or Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd Digital Camera (£140) when a friend in work offered me his:-

Canon 350D with 18-55mm lens kit
with a spare battery, charger, 2 gig CompactFlash and a spare 256mb

all for £200

I wasn't looking at DSLR because of the initial cost and also because of the subsequent cost of lenses (bearing in mind I can only afford £100-200 payouts at birthday/christmas times and certainly no more than that!)

Under such tight constraints what am I better off going for?

Bearing in mind at the moment my main photo's are macro ones of insects & hopefully trying for some easier shots of birds in the future.

[mh68]

If youre on a really tight budget i`d forget the DSLR for the moment. Fuji`s in general make good cameras so either of those would be ok.
If macro is going to be your main area of use, the Fuji s7000 has a very good reputation as a macro camera,and the Nikon Coolpix 5700 has an excellent macro facility too - both go quite cheap secondhand.Another model to think about, if youre happy buying secondhand would be the panasonic fz30, usually a few going on Ebay for less than £200,and theyre among the best of the bridge type compact cameras available.Quite a few use either the fz30, or fz50, on here so you`d never be short of people to offer advice if you purchased one, which is a bonus too

Mark H

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by SilverW0lf

At the moment I'm just using a Canon IXUS 60 to take photo's with with it's obvious limitations. I'm hoping to get something a little better.

I was casually looking at Fuji FinePix S9600 Digital Camera (£200) or Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd Digital Camera (£140) when a friend in work offered me his:-

Canon 350D with 18-55mm lens kit
with a spare battery, charger, 2 gig CompactFlash and a spare 256mb

all for £200

I wasn't looking at DSLR because of the initial cost and also because of the subsequent cost of lenses (bearing in mind I can only afford £100-200 payouts at birthday/christmas times and certainly no more than that!)

Under such tight constraints what am I better off going for?

Bearing in mind at the moment my main photo's are macro ones of insects & hopefully trying for some easier shots of birds in the future.

Thats VERY good advice from MH68.
I'll PM you my thoughts SilverWOlf.
TBR

[Ollie]

I'm inclined to agree with Mark. Whilst the 350D and the accessories are reasonably priced the 17-55mm kit lens isn't really up to macro images and a decent macro lens is going to cost a few hundred pounds.

Roger

[Geoff F]

A macro lens for the Canon, or a zoom with macro abilities will cost £200-£400, you could easily spend £1000. But, if you want really top notch results that is the way to go; and you can add extra equipment as you are able to afford it.

Having said that, the best of the modern 'point & shoot' cameras can produce good work. I started digital photography with a half priced secondhand Canon Powershot G2, back in the days when they cost around £700 new. And, yes, I was surprised at the results and ease of use compared with my film cameras.

But, I soon found that I was requiring much more from a photo than that sort of camera could produce. So, I bought a secondhand 'real' camera (Canon 10D) and don't regret it. Although, I am still, and always will be, upgrading as soon as I can feel anything in my pockets. (So far this year, new 40D and tripod).

All I can really advise is to think carefully about where you want to go with photography in the long run and what other demands will be made on your finances.

[Fourwings]

Get on e-bay and bag yourself a Fuji finepix S7000, I have owned one for the last four years and it can hold its own against any DSLR and macro lens, I say this through experience as I also own and use two Canon EOS DSLR's and a Sigma 150mm f2.8 EX DG macro lens.
The S7000 will give you all the macro capability you need and more, its easy to use and will consistantly produce stunning results, these are just a couple of examples of what can be done with the S7000.

[Dae]

I have to agree about forgetting the DSLR and going for the Fuji. I adore my Fuji Finepix s7000 (sadly they don't make 'em anymore) but I hear good things about the newer versions of this camera. It takes superb macro photos for what it is, and I continue to use it even though I have 2 canon DSLR's (30D & 400D) as I don't have macro lenses for either. You'll love the fuji, and I say either find the S7000 used or go for the new one you mentioned, the S9600. Good luck with whatever you choose.

[mh68]

I think the s7000 is said to have the best macro facility among the Fuji compacts,and another model too which i cant recall. I`m led to believe that models since that one arent as good for closeup work.Always a few on Ebay, and usually at a decent price (£100-ish).

Mark H

[The Black Rabbit]

I think we all agree then huh?
A "very tight budget" (quote SilverWOlf) means no DSLR.
But theres no need to think of a fuji or a panasonic lumix as a poor substitute.
Not in the slightest.
TBR

[Dae]

Oh I agree with you black Rabbit. I love my fuji s7000 and would never think of it as a poor substitute for general or macro photography. If I go out specifically for macros I almost always take the fuji instead of my DSLR's.

[jhewitt15]

I am going through the same thing. my camera is amazing quality on macro. its worth £250 but I got it for £70. its 10x optical zoom and its not good enough for bird photography compared to these rich people with hubble telescopes of lenses.

and even if I did get a DSLR camera - I would have to fork out another thousand for a decent lens.

[ellen h]

Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit

I think we all agree then huh?
A "very tight budget" (quote SilverWOlf) means no DSLR.
But theres no need to think of a fuji or a panasonic lumix as a poor substitute.
Not in the slightest.
TBR

No indeed,I have managed to get a few good shots like this below with a Panasonic fz18!




If you look at My Gallery photos-see my profile you will see most of the photos are taken with it.I am in the process of choosing a dslr(as I cannot afford too big a budget I am now thinking of getting the Olympus e520,any opinions on that one gratefully recieved).But I will not get rid of the fz18,takes good pictures and is very light,can carry on long walks round neck with no problem
ellen

[Kayleigh]

I have a fuji finepix S9600 I echo what's been said before.
I'm a beginner so the results could be a lot better.
I am pleased with it, its easy to use and I have had some pleasing results with it.
like everything else its always down to personal choice.

[kevmarshall]

This is my first post. Hope you don't mind me joining in?

Macro on a budget is certainly possible. I can recommend the Panasonic FZ8 (about £156 @ Amazon) and Raynox Snap-On Macro lenses (about £30 @ Amazon)

These were all taken with the FZ8 and Raynox DCR250 (there is also a DCR150). Learning to focus needs practice but with patience, good light and a steady hand it can be very rewarding.

[nightshade]

Originally Posted by SilverW0lf

At the moment I'm just using a Canon IXUS 60 to take photo's with with it's obvious limitations. I'm hoping to get something a little better.

I was casually looking at Fuji FinePix S9600 Digital Camera (£200) or Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd Digital Camera (£140) when a friend in work offered me his:-

Canon 350D with 18-55mm lens kit
with a spare battery, charger, 2 gig CompactFlash and a spare 256mb

all for £200

I wasn't looking at DSLR because of the initial cost and also because of the subsequent cost of lenses (bearing in mind I can only afford £100-200 payouts at birthday/christmas times and certainly no more than that!)

Under such tight constraints what am I better off going for?

Bearing in mind at the moment my main photo's are macro ones of insects & hopefully trying for some easier shots of birds in the future.

I agree with what everyone has said to a point (here comes the Devils Advocate) but the temptation to own a DSLR ..........Hmmmm, I bought a Sigma 70-300 with Macro as my first lense and was very pleased with it
still in use now around £130 (shop around)

[SilverW0lf]

Right I've taken the plunge and bought the Fujifilm s8000fd

I didn't feel brave enough to buy a second hand camera, especially from ebay... I just kept thinking what if it breaks down 3 weeks later!

I did fancy the s9600 but the price at nearly half as much again and the higher zoom on the S800fd swung it that way.

Typically as soon as I get it we have thunderstorms / heavy rain / hailstones so I've not even had the chance to take a couple of shots in the garden! still hopefully more luck tonight!

Thanks everyone for you input / encouragement (esp The Black Rabbit)

[paulthomas]

Originally Posted by ellen h

I am now thinking of getting the Olympus e520,any opinions on that one gratefully recieved)

An excellent camera. Team it up with the 70-300mm zoom lens and you'll have a lightweight (in DSLR terms) system with reasonable close focusing ability for photographing insects and flowers and just about enough reach for bird photography.