Need help buying a camera for landscape/macro photography

So I've had a fujifilm fixed lens camera since I did GSCE photography ( ~4 years ago) and it has been absolutely fantastic. However, I'm now looking to get back into photography more seriously and am wanting a camera that's best for landscape photography and macro/close up photography [note: this is not for a course or uni, but just for myself as a hobby]. I 100% want one where I can change the lens, but having not had one like that before, I have no idea what I'm looking for...

My budget is probably £500 max for the whole thing, although I would prefer to keep the price as low as possible.

Any tips on what to get/what not to get/ what to look out for etc. would be extremely helpful :smile:

EDIT: I'm interested in this one at the moment, yes or no? http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/cameras-and-camcorders/digital-cameras/dslr-and-compact-system-cameras/nikon-d3400-dslr-camera-with-18-55-mm-f-3-5-5-6-lens-black-10152821-pdt.html

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 1

RF_PineMarten

18

There's all sorts of DSLRs out there, including lots of beginner options that would be within that price range. If you want to, you could potentially buy used from a reputable dealer to save on the price, but that's up to you.

For landscape photography you'll need wide angle lenses. I have two lenses at the moment - an ultra wide (10-18mm) and the kit lens that came with the camera (18-55mm), which together both cover landscape stuff. Not sure if that kit lens is any good for macro, so I would probably need to buy an additional lens for that - so 3 lenses altogether. A camera body, kit lens and ultra wide would probably use up that budget.

Are you planning to buy all the lenses you need straight away or later on? I'm not sure how easy it will be to have a camera + several lenses right from the start with that budget. Would you be willing to spend more later down the line? Also remember you'll need to factor in extra accessories like tripods, maybe filters, etc.

Reply 2

darklipsdarksoul

OP

4

Original post by RF_PineMarten

There's all sorts of DSLRs out there, including lots of beginner options that would be within that price range. If you want to, you could potentially buy used from a reputable dealer to save on the price, but that's up to you.

For landscape photography you'll need wide angle lenses. I have two lenses at the moment - an ultra wide (10-18mm) and the kit lens that came with the camera (18-55mm), which together both cover landscape stuff. Not sure if that kit lens is any good for macro, so I would probably need to buy an additional lens for that - so 3 lenses altogether. A camera body, kit lens and ultra wide would probably use up that budget.

Are you planning to buy all the lenses you need straight away or later on? I'm not sure how easy it will be to have a camera + several lenses right from the start with that budget. Would you be willing to spend more later down the line? Also remember you'll need to factor in extra accessories like tripods, maybe filters, etc.

Thanks for the reply!! I will be able to buy more as I go on, so at the moment it would be one, maybe two, lenses just to start me off. I'm also stuck on which brand to go for... are any better than the others, or is is just down to personal preference?

Reply 3

RF_PineMarten

18

Original post by darklipsdarksoul

Thanks for the reply!! I will be able to buy more as I go on, so at the moment it would be one, maybe two, lenses just to start me off. I'm also stuck on which brand to go for... are any better than the others, or is is just down to personal preference?

Ok then, a camera body and two lenses should be doable. I have the Canon 100d with the 18-55mm kit lens and a 10-18mm wide angle lens. You could probably find that camera (or a similar one) and kit lens for around £300 if you look, and the wide angle one is around £200. Not sure what the Nikon equivalents are or how much they cost.

If you decide to buy used, you'll probably be buying body only and will need to buy the "kit lens" separately, but kit lenses are cheap. Also, if you buy used, research the camera model and check what lens mount it uses.

Canon and Nikon both make great cameras, the differences tend to be when you compare individual cameras from each brand. I wouldn't say any is inherently better than the other. Research what cameras both of them offer in the beginners range and compare them. Other than that, some people just prefer the "feel" of a certain brand and find one easier to use.

Pentax tend to put things like weather sealing and other features on their low and mid tier cameras that with canon and nikon would only appear on the high end stuff. I haven't used pentax but I hear their cameras are good feature wise. But I'm not sure what their lens selection (or camera selection for that matter) is like, and some third party lenses might not be available in pentax mounts. Do look at them though, don't ignore them because it's not canon or nikon.

I've tagged Gofre, he might be the better guy to ask.

Reply 4

username612415

21

Original post by darklipsdarksoul

x

Landscape and macro are very different types of photography with very different lens requirements. Wide angle lenses are typically preferred for landscape photography, although not absolutely essential, while "true" macro photography requires more specialised lens choices on DSLRs. A £500 budget is too tight to get a DSLR kit, dedicated macro lens and landscape-oriented wide angle lens without buying used, so your options are either look into buying used equipment, or buy a DSLR and a lens suited to the subject you'd rather concentrate on (then buy other lenses at a later date). I can't check for used prices and setups right now because of internet limitations, but buying new, I would expect either of these systems to come in around your budget:

*Landscape focussed: Canon 100D with STM kit lens, and Canon 10-18mm IS STM ultra-wide angle lens.

*Macro focussed: Nikon D3300 with VR kit lens, and 40mm f2.8 macro lens.

Canon has the cheapest ultra-wide lens for any system and it's great, while Nikon are the only brand with a dedicated macro lens for under £250. If you were to go between the two I'd go Nikon, the 18-55mm kit lens will be fine for landscapes (and the Nikon's sensor is better than the Canon's, meaning all things being equal the Nikon's shots will turn out slightly better) while it will be difficult to achieve macro shots on the Canon without the dedicated lens. That said, Canon have a new macro lens on the horizon to add to their cheap-but-excellent STM line, meaning if you were to think about buying another lens further down the line it's likely to be more affordable buying into Canon overall. This is one of the big reasons I recommend Canon to newcomers, their lineup of affordable lenses is awesome and it lets you try all sorts of different types of photography without breaking the bank.

Reply 5

mesbahuddin

9

I think Canon 100D is the best match with your requirements and budget. I am using Canon 600D and one of my friends is using 100D. 100D is better in capturing Landscape.
Although its 18MP APS-C sensor is thinner and smaller than typical DSLRs, it has the same resolution as other Canon EOS models and the quality of images is not reduced. It features аn advanced phase-detect auto-focus technology, a range of frame rates (24, 25, and 30fps), built-in 3.5mm mic port, as well as ISO range of 100-12,800 which can be extended up to 25,600.
You can get detail review with customer feedback from here:https://gurucamera.com/canon-eos-100d/

Need help buying a camera for landscape/macro photography

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