Fuji is generally pretty good kit. I can't comment on that specific camera.
tamarillo,
Oct 9, 6:49pm
Just a note. It’s not a DSLR rather a compact camera shaped like one, that means you cannot change the lens Though in this case it’s hardly likely to be needed with the range. If she gets serious and wants really crisp images she might find she wants to go proper slr later. It’s only 12 mp so you could find a nice older proper SLR With similar mo and with lenses from likes of Canon for this, indeed I just picked up a nice DSLR Canon body for $150 and there lots of lenses on the market. Facebook market place is good place to hunt. Also with DSLR you can ask for shutter count as they record the number. With this you dont know how much use it’s had and I note they don’t tell you how old it is or show picture of actual camera. Great starter package if it good nick though.
sw20,
Oct 9, 7:16pm
Look for a DSLR. I like Canon and use a 5d. Canon have the largest range of lenses available. Your wife will probably want a lens with some zoom for birds. They do a 75-300mm zoom for cheap, under $100 sh. Then pick up a 50mm f1.8 which can be had for $120ish. This will be great for taking nice blurry background, sharp as a tack family and pet photos. You could even use it for taking photos of the cars.
Note that wont actually get her started as it is body only and she would need to buy a lens with reasonable reach, so you will need to outlay quite a bit more to get started. Have you considered a mirrorless camera? Would be lighter and easier to handle for the type of photography she wants to undertake. However, the budget is a bit low for a decent rig to be honest. IMO.
poppy62,
Oct 9, 7:54pm
Thanks so far guys , much appreciated!
sw20,
Oct 9, 10:03pm
The basic 75-300mm Canon zoom lens can be had for under $100 second hand. That now fits the $300 budget.
If it was me I'd spend a couple of hundred more and get a Canon 5d Mk1 or Classic body though. Full frame sensor (this means the sensor is the same size as a 35mm film negative), bigger sensor = more light = better images. They are just a camera though. No live view. No video. They take amazing images though. Check out Pablo Strong's YouTube videos where he compares a 15 year old Mk1 5D with a new Mk4 5d.
tygertung,
Oct 10, 5:47am
You can get DSLRs easily for under $300 now, and it turns out that even the old ones are good. I bought a Canon 20D which is a semi-professional one for $100 with lens. I was dubious at first as it was from 2004, but it takes really amazing photos. Many of the old ones are still really good.
tamarillo,
Oct 10, 8:52am
Just bought a canon Eos 400D in excellent order plus Wide angle and a zoom lens. The zoom isn’t auto focusing (May be fixable) hence cheap at $180 whole lot. Body was $150 worth. Facebook market place is great hunting ground for them.
sw20,
Oct 10, 9:02am
s_nz I’ll post a photo when I get home from the 75-300mm poorly regarded lens. They aren’t that bad, especially for $100 or less.
tygertung, my first DSLR was a Canon 5d, the original 2005 model. Still blows me away how great the images are. Those generation of Canon pro and semi pro bodies were essentially film camera style with an LCD screen and a sensor instead of film. You looked through the viewfinder and took pictures. No video, no live view, no wifi.
poppy62,
Oct 10, 9:21am
Thanks again guys really appreciate your knowledgeable input. Tam thanks for the heads up on the F/B marketplace lots to choose from. I'll run a few options past you guys for comments as I wade through the choices.
ronaldo8,
Oct 10, 4:15pm
"For bird photography you need a long lens"
What! you mean a tiny darkish spot in a tree that is indistinguishable from its surroundings being shown to you by someone doesn't fill you with awe at the wonder of nature?
cjohnw,
Oct 10, 8:55pm
Well, you hit the nail on the head there if I was going to concentrate on bird and nature photography with my current camera body I would need something like this for even slightly reasonable shots.
I feel there will be some disappointment with a $300 rig to shoot specialist category photography.
ronaldo8,
Oct 10, 10:13pm
indeed. Just wait for the slide evenings! hold me back.
"look there! it's right there! can't you see it? ! "
poppy62,
Oct 10, 10:19pm
With the attention span of a gnat, I'm happy to take a hit at $300.00 to keep her happy. Absolute rank amateur, who up until 6 months ago probably had trouble distinguishing a sparrow from a hawk. Don't know whats triggered the fascination but I've already built her 2 bird feeders, 1 bird house and there's a large 2m tall ornamental re-bar bird cage in the pipeline (i've got to finish). 5kg of wild bird seed 3monthly and toast with jam every morning for the flying mice. have to say the sparrows that visit are some of the plumpest I've seen. This could all end suddenly. The things we do for love. could be a song in that!
poppy62,
Oct 10, 10:22pm
cjohnw (787 787 positive feedback)
I forgot to mention the hundreds of $$$ spent this year on native trees to attract the native birds
poppy62,
Oct 10, 10:24pm
Nah! times have moved on from your box brownie and Slides. Now Digital and 75" screen TV.
sw20,
Oct 10, 10:27pm
It depends on how far away from the object you are.
Heres a picture of my neighbour across the roads letterbox. I was up my driveway probably 50 metres from it. This is taken on a sub $100 Canon 75-300mm lens.
The medium makes no difference, at 8k a vague badly framed distant unresolved smudge is still a vague badly framed distant unresolved smudge just with a high pixel density, GIGO, garbage in = garbage out. To me slide evenings will always be slide evenings just like Sundays will always be for doing the hovering even for those who have been conned into buying a Dyson.
Focus on the most important thing, the glass, aka the lens, then find a body that works for you. Cjohnw offers excellent advice imho, the mirrorless viewfinders have a lot to recommend them, especially if you want to be fast about taking the moment when it presents itself.
matarautrader,
Oct 11, 10:47am
I had a Fuji XS-1. Was a great camera until the on-off switch started playing up. Harvey Norman had a good deal on so traded up to Nikon 3400 and havn't regretted it.
cjohnw,
Oct 11, 11:54am
Hey Poppy, I add this as a suggestion: I know I will get shot down in flames for this, but if I was looking for a good camera for my wife as a starting point with a reasonable reach I would look toward one of Sonys zoom cameras -two links below. Now I know I will get both barrells aimed at me here mainly because it is over your budget, but I am in the camp that says buying a second hand $300 camera to take the sort of pics she would like to take is just a waste of your $300. I recommend this camera for a few reasons: A) form factor. It is a small enough camera she could carry with her at all times. In her handbag, pocket etc. No big heavy camera bags and lenses to lug around. B) Class leading focus and eye tracking system. Even animal eye focus and tracking and super fast frame rate. This camera can still be used in manual mode, but has some very good beginner modes as well and 4k video. C) Adequate zoom in a small camera. Unless buying a $4000 zoom lens anything else is a compromise when photographing birds and wildlife. D) you get a brand new camera with a warranty. As I say there will be those that disagree with this, but I think if you could save up a bit more your wife would really like this little camera. There are more expensive models in this range but this would be a nice start. I have 3 Sony cameras and the small RX100 VII is the one I carry around most, the bigger full frame camera has just got so cumbersome and heavy as I get older to b honest. Good luck mate and I wish your wife happy shooting no matter which way you go.
Appreciate the different point of view cjohnw, however you talk about waste of $300. The difference is if she doesn't like a $200 DSLR and $100 zoom lens, you can turn around and sell it for the same price.
You will be lucky to get $300 s/h for your point and shoot that you paid $600-$700 for if she doesn't like that.
cjohnw,
Oct 11, 12:49pm
Fair enough. To each their own. Personally I wouldn’t buy cheap second hand camera gear. I have in the past, but not anymore. Good luck Poppy. Post some of her shots.
poppy62,
Oct 11, 7:20pm
Yeah thanks mate! I just hope the fauna stays still long enough for her. I've found a Sony cybershot that might be a starter, had good reviews. If she shows some proficiency I'd happily spend more $$$. But she's not noted for her attention span and patience, so this may all be a 7 day wonder.
cjohnw,
Oct 11, 7:44pm
Nice! Good luck with it.
ronaldo8,
Oct 12, 1:23pm
Hilarious, and as accurate as saying there are only two cars to choose from, ford and holden, or maybe burger king and maccas would be more appropriate. Bwahaha!
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