good cheap digital camera

Dungeon Snake · 03-13-2017, 02:48 AM

just needs to take good-ish pictures and upload them to a laptop through USB. I want pictures that are good enough to put in articles, essays etc but don't necessarily want to spend a lot of money

Dungeon Snake · 03-13-2017, 02:51 AM

pictures like this but better. this was taken with an iphone. i want a real camera that can focus and shit

Evil Ash · 03-13-2017, 02:59 AM

You can get a decent DSLR for like $500. Whats your price range?

Dungeon Snake · 03-13-2017, 03:05 AM

ehh i'd rather spend less than that, i just want a decent camera for a beginner.

like maybe 200-300? do good cameras exist in that range?

Evil Ash · 03-13-2017, 04:23 AM

You're probably looking at a fixed lens option in that case, or not a DSLR.

But the "focus" you're speaking of is really what you find in a decent DSLR camera. Maybe shop the used markets? You could probably get a second hand D5300 Nikon for like $300.

Or shop the lower end fixed lens DSLRs like the Canon Powershots or Nikon Coolpix or Panasonic Lumix.

But that photo for example, the one you posted - you'll want a lens you can control so you can get the background out of focus and etc which I assume is what you're looking for.

Quilt · 03-13-2017, 05:35 AM

i got a refurbished nikon d3300 bundle for $350 on ebay a year ago

if you buy used/refurb you can check how many times the shutter has gone off in the exif data of a pic https://camerashuttercount.com

Evil Ash · 03-13-2017, 06:46 AM

Yeah I use the D5300 and it's awesome. I was going to get the D3300 but waited until I could afford the 53000.

I think getting a used DSLR is your best bet. Agreed.

Dungeon Snake · 03-13-2017, 03:36 PM

yeah i was thinking probably ill scour ebay. it'll honestly be a few months before i can afford to plunk down 300$ on a camera but ill keep yall posted. thanks for the advice

OmniromX · 03-14-2017, 05:19 AM

Canon is best IMO. Go with an old CanonSD1000. That's what I've had for 7 years, takes great photos. Probably like $50 on ebay.

Dungeon Snake · 03-14-2017, 05:58 AM

haha thanks omnirom i would get one of those but i think it's actually slightly worse than the one on my ipod? idk, my dad got me an ipod for christmas which is what ive been using to take pictures

i probably need a DSLR like evil ash said because i want to do stuff with foreground and background and focusing and things

Bravoie · 03-15-2017, 06:07 AM

I got a Canon t3i a few years ago as my first entry level dslr. I still use it today mostly for video production but also some still photo gigs. If you want to experiment with manual aperture and focusing then pair it with a prime lens. You can't go wrong with a 50mm 1.8 (~$75 on ebay).

One of the most important features of a dslr for me though is a swivel screen. The swivel on the t3i has allowed me to get so many great shots during no-retake situations like wildlife, weddings, proposals, etc, when every second counts. Many higher end models like the 5D oddly don't have this!

So yeah, canon t3i + 50mm 1.8 lens is a great combo for a beginner.

03-13-2017, 02:48 AM	#1
Dungeon Snake Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 17,519	good cheap digital camera just needs to take good-ish pictures and upload them to a laptop through USB. I want pictures that are good enough to put in articles, essays etc but don't necessarily want to spend a lot of money

03-13-2017, 02:59 AM	#3
Evil Ash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,534	You can get a decent DSLR for like $500. Whats your price range?
Evil Ash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,534

03-13-2017, 04:23 AM	#5
Evil Ash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,534	You're probably looking at a fixed lens option in that case, or not a DSLR. But the "focus" you're speaking of is really what you find in a decent DSLR camera. Maybe shop the used markets? You could probably get a second hand D5300 Nikon for like $300. Or shop the lower end fixed lens DSLRs like the Canon Powershots or Nikon Coolpix or Panasonic Lumix. But that photo for example, the one you posted - you'll want a lens you can control so you can get the background out of focus and etc which I assume is what you're looking for.
Evil Ash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,534

03-13-2017, 05:35 AM	#6
Quilt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,371	took like 10 pictures so far,good investment i got a refurbished nikon d3300 bundle for $350 on ebay a year ago if you buy used/refurb you can check how many times the shutter has gone off in the exif data of a pic https://camerashuttercount.com
Quilt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,371

03-13-2017, 06:46 AM	#7
Evil Ash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,534	Yeah I use the D5300 and it's awesome. I was going to get the D3300 but waited until I could afford the 53000. I think getting a used DSLR is your best bet. Agreed.
Evil Ash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,534

03-13-2017, 02:51 AM	#2
Dungeon Snake Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 17,519	pictures like this but better. this was taken with an iphone. i want a real camera that can focus and shit

03-13-2017, 03:05 AM	#4
Dungeon Snake Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 17,519	ehh i'd rather spend less than that, i just want a decent camera for a beginner. like maybe 200-300? do good cameras exist in that range?

03-13-2017, 03:36 PM	#8
Dungeon Snake Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 17,519	yeah i was thinking probably ill scour ebay. it'll honestly be a few months before i can afford to plunk down 300$ on a camera but ill keep yall posted. thanks for the advice

03-14-2017, 05:19 AM	#9
OmniromX Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 824	Canon is best IMO. Go with an old CanonSD1000. That's what I've had for 7 years, takes great photos. Probably like $50 on ebay.
OmniromX Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 824

03-14-2017, 05:58 AM	#10
Dungeon Snake Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 17,519	haha thanks omnirom i would get one of those but i think it's actually slightly worse than the one on my ipod? idk, my dad got me an ipod for christmas which is what ive been using to take pictures i probably need a DSLR like evil ash said because i want to do stuff with foreground and background and focusing and things

03-15-2017, 06:07 AM	#11
Bravoie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 4,713	I got a Canon t3i a few years ago as my first entry level dslr. I still use it today mostly for video production but also some still photo gigs. If you want to experiment with manual aperture and focusing then pair it with a prime lens. You can't go wrong with a 50mm 1.8 (~$75 on ebay). One of the most important features of a dslr for me though is a swivel screen. The swivel on the t3i has allowed me to get so many great shots during no-retake situations like wildlife, weddings, proposals, etc, when every second counts. Many higher end models like the 5D oddly don't have this! So yeah, canon t3i + 50mm 1.8 lens is a great combo for a beginner.
Bravoie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 4,713