Camera for a beginner

[RLL39]

Looking to buy a canon camera bundle for a beginner on a budget of $600. Interest in landscape/wildlife photography but since I'm just beginning that might change. So what's a good all around camera for a newbie?

[Tronhard]

One thing I would suggest.  Get her to go on-line to her local library and do a search on the catalogue for Lynda.com.  This is an excellent site full of training videos on a wide range of subjects, including photography.  It has a range of video courses from intro to photography up to specialist courses on macro, wildlife and even real estate photography.  If the library has it in the catalogue, then she has free access - it's an excellent training resource.

Don't let anyone push her into the condition of Gear Aquisition Syndrome (GAS), which is based on the principle that better gear will make one a better photography - it's just not so.  What makes one a better photographer is to get good training and mentoring, take lots of photos and get them positively critiqued.  A good thing for her to do will be to join a local camera society and learn from the experienced members.

[Waddizzle]

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@Signsofautumn wrote:
Hi, thank you very much! You have helped me a great deal. I never heard of a bridge camera until you answered my question. I have a lot of learning to do myself if I want to make purchases for my daughter. I'd hate to give her another camera as an upgrade and have her be disappointed with the quality. I want her to continue moving forward and keep this positive since she loves wildlife photography. She likes to take pictures of squirrels, turkey vultures, hawks and all the birds down at Forsythe bird refuge in New Jersey shore. We have only had a few opportunities to photograph deer, fox and large wildlife, but maybe someday I'll take her to the wooded wildlife refuge and make sure she has the right lens. She also wants to start entering wildlife photo contests this spring. Hopefully she'll enjoy the competition and learning experience. Thanks again!

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Instead of surprising her, why not invite her into to participate in the selection process?  Understanding photography is more important than the quality of the gear.  Gear is good.  Knowledge and experience is better.

[RobertTheFat]

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@Waddizzle wrote:

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@Signsofautumn wrote:
Hi, thank you very much! You have helped me a great deal. I never heard of a bridge camera until you answered my question. I have a lot of learning to do myself if I want to make purchases for my daughter. I'd hate to give her another camera as an upgrade and have her be disappointed with the quality. I want her to continue moving forward and keep this positive since she loves wildlife photography. She likes to take pictures of squirrels, turkey vultures, hawks and all the birds down at Forsythe bird refuge in New Jersey shore. We have only had a few opportunities to photograph deer, fox and large wildlife, but maybe someday I'll take her to the wooded wildlife refuge and make sure she has the right lens. She also wants to start entering wildlife photo contests this spring. Hopefully she'll enjoy the competition and learning experience. Thanks again!

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Instead of surprising her, why not invite her into to participate in the selection process?  Understanding photography is more important than the quality of the gear.  Gear is good.  Knowledge and experience is better.

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The way I like to put it is that better equipment will make any photographer better, but how much better depends on how good you already are. The better you already are, the more difference better equipment makes. IOW, you need better equipment only if you're better than your current equipment.

[Signsofautumn]

Thank you for all the great information. She already started to worry about the gear. Someone made a comment in Divianart about her camera, but I assured her she's doing very well and taking great pictures with what she has. In my opinion the Canon rebel sx530 has been a wonderful learning camera and takes really nice pictures for the price. I actually bought her an $800 (retail) canon camera which I can't remember the type on ebay and she was over whelmed with all the settings and I resold it and bought the rebel Sx530. She's confident right now, but she wants more power for closer shots from at least a a block away in tree tops for the hawks. Thanks again

[Signsofautumn]

Thank you for your help.

[Tronhard]

You are most welcome!   Never be reluctant to ask!

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@Signsofautumn wrote:
Thank you for your help.

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[Waddizzle]

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@Tronhard wrote:

You are most welcome!   Never be reluctant to ask!

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@Signsofautumn wrote:
Thank you for your help.

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Dumb Question: (definition): A question that you are afraid to ask because you fear it will make you look dumb.

”We all have to learn, some how, some way, at some time.  Ask away!”

[Signsofautumn]

Hi, shes been looking at different reviews, but there's so many opinions she gets confused. What I did do was ask her why she's frustrated with the rebel sx530 and she said she wants more power with the lens and she wants to be able to change the lens for different situations. I think she's too worried about picking the wrong camera. So that's where I come in and sort through everything and try to do my best with what I know and research. Although I do think I should take her to a camera shop and let her look over some options and think about it. I also think I need to get her involved some how with other photographers so she can learn from experience, but she's so young idk where to take her or get her involved. There is a young birders group with the Audubon society and I think that's a start. Some of the kids are in to photography in the group.

She started off with an iPad takingrealy good photos of wildlife and that inspired me to get her a camera. Now that she has had the rebel sx530 for a year she has enough knowledge to take a small step up. I'd like her to stay with a similar functioning camera as the rebel sx530 so she can gain more experience with the actual photography and then slowly learn how to use other settings in different situations. Like close ups, low light, etc. and it would be nice for her to be able to switch lenses when the need arises. And she also has no experience with a tripod which I think she'll need to start using. Once she gets comfortable with those small steps. Then she can start looking at better cameras. Thank you

[Signsofautumn]

Hi, I was just reading about bridge cameras. That's actually what I bought my daughter last year. I had no idea it was called that. I love learning all this new information. The more I know. The more I can guide my daughter. She has the Canon rebel sx530 power shot and from what I read. It's considered a bridge camera. So I think I'll stick with buying a refurbished canon a step up from the sx530. I'll stay simple to avoid confusion and frustration. I guess the T6 will work with an additional lens or two. I think that's enough to get her started along with a tripod. She really needs to get over not wanting to use a tripod. She's worried she'll miss a shot of something near by if she has her camera on the tripod. I guess she's worried about literal seconds. She's young and has time to learn to let go of small fears.

[Tronhard]

Not all bridge cameras are the same, just as not all DSLRs are the same. You indicated that your daughter wanted to quite different things: to be able to fill the screen with images of animals such as birds, and to be able to do close-up images.  The SX60HS should be able to perform both tasks well. - It is much more powerful than your current bridge camera, and in particular the range of lens focal lengths is among the longest available anywhere on the market.  It has a good sensor and processor.   With the other unit you are considering you would probably need several lenses to be able to get this range, and finally the controls of the SX60 will be very similar to what she has.

Here are some more samples taken with this unit:

The Moon - that's pretty distant!

Reflections on the Canadian Flag

To give you an idea of the zoom range of this camera:  This first picture was taken at its widest focal length.  Note the buidling in the distance with the statue on top of the dome...

The photo below is taken at the maximum focal length equivalent to 1365mm - this is the statue on top of the dome.

After over 35 years of taking photographs, I am still happy to use this camera.  It should be more than adequate for  you daughter to learn her craft on, augmented by learning from as many sources as possible.