Canon question: Camera for 16 year old "serious" photography student
Sep 1, 2017 08:29:15 #
My nephew, a high school sophomore, is a passionate photographer. He is taking courses at his high school and is ready and needs to upgrade his camera. Right now he is shooting with an old Canon Rebel (likely first generation) DSLR with two kit lenses. His camera choice is Canon (although he knows I am a Nikon person), and his teacher suggested the Canon EOS Rebel T6 as his next camera. I am okay with that choice, since the price is right (about $500.00) and he wants the two kits lenses that come with it.
I am his "go to" for these things and am happy to help him by purchasing the camera. My concern is that this camera might not be much of an upgrade from what he has currently using and it is still an entry level DSLR. He is especially good at perspective shots, product photos, and action/motion photos. He likes to shoot pictures after he "thinks outside the box."
Is there a bit more advanced Canon I should have him research? He is not interested in full frame and I want to keep this purchase under $800-900.
Any help from Canon users is appreciated.
I am his "go to" for these things and am happy to help him by purchasing the camera. My concern is that this camera might not be much of an upgrade from what he has currently using and it is still an entry level DSLR. He is especially good at perspective shots, product photos, and action/motion photos. He likes to shoot pictures after he "thinks outside the box."
Is there a bit more advanced Canon I should have him research? He is not interested in full frame and I want to keep this purchase under $800-900.
Any help from Canon users is appreciated.
Sep 1, 2017 08:45:36 #
A Canon T5i or T6i would be great for him and within your price range with kit lenses included.
Sep 1, 2017 08:48:17 #
67skylark27
Loc: Fort Atkinson, WI
Depending on the kit lenses that come with it, I would suggest a nifty fifty over a long range zoom.
A 50 mm 1.4 lens will let him shoot just about anywhere-especially night street photography. I always recommend buying a body
only and purchasing lenses of better quality that are used.
A 50 mm 1.4 lens will let him shoot just about anywhere-especially night street photography. I always recommend buying a body
only and purchasing lenses of better quality that are used.
Sep 1, 2017 09:04:34 #
gvarner
Loc: Central Oregon Coast
What's the output? Just viewing? Big prints? That should be part of the calculation.
Sep 1, 2017 09:05:48 #
If he gets a new camera, his focus will, necessarily, shift from photography to technology. He will learn that if you want to be a better photographer, buy more stuff (BMS).
As long as he stays with his current camera, he will have to work - harder and harder still, to squeeze better images from his photos. Put that Rebel in Manual and minimize the soft settings and shoot for quality.
Force him to publish his work, sell his prints, save his money and use his own money for that new camera. Now, that doesn't mean that his favorite aunt cannot buy some prints a slightly inflated prices....
I suspect that if he saves enough to BMS, he may realize that the money may be better spent on education than BMS.
As long as he stays with his current camera, he will have to work - harder and harder still, to squeeze better images from his photos. Put that Rebel in Manual and minimize the soft settings and shoot for quality.
Force him to publish his work, sell his prints, save his money and use his own money for that new camera. Now, that doesn't mean that his favorite aunt cannot buy some prints a slightly inflated prices....
I suspect that if he saves enough to BMS, he may realize that the money may be better spent on education than BMS.
Sep 1, 2017 09:05:56 #
lyndacast wrote:
My nephew, a high school sophomore, is a passionat... (show quote)
Any model in the price range with DPAF would be a great choice. The T6 series and below avoid. Also 7D and older models lack the DPAF of the current better models. If he is passionate he will greatly appreciate a current camera with DPAF.
Here is my list in order : 77D, 7i, SL2 and the 70D which is older but in the price range. All have DPAF which is incredible for live view and video. Any other older model and you will be cheating him out of a great feature no other manufacturer has yet at any price.
Sep 1, 2017 09:06:07 #
RRS
Loc: Not sure
lyndacast wrote:
My nephew, a high school sophomore, is a passionat... (show quote)
For the money you can do a lot better with a used body, a 7D is what my 12 year old grandson uses. I also gave him an 18-135 zoom lens. With me and my wife both shooting Canons there are plenty of other lenses available for him. You could buy the body, he could keep his two kit lenses and you could use the extra money to buy him another lens, also used. It's a lot of fun watching young shooters grow and advance their skills!
Sep 1, 2017 09:21:40 #
A $800-$900 budget opens your choices (buying used) to a 5DII. Now, a full frame (older) professional camera might invalidate his existing lenses, but this would be the major step up and would still last years. Given your Nikon experience, Canon has "EF-S" lenses that correspond to Nikon's DX line, they're intended for crop sensor cameras. In the Canon line, the EF-S lenses (DX) cannot even be physically mounted to a full frame body.
Taking a full frame off the table, the advanced bodies to consider are the 70D (used only) or an 80D.
I went to KEH and used their filters for Canon, Digital, price range $600 - $799 to generate options. You might visit Calmeta too and checked their used and refurbished pricing.
The T6 is a good suggestion. What you're getting with a new body is more resolution and better performance in higher ISOs. But, you didn't mention the lenses. It's very possible simply upgrading lenses will have a larger impact, particularly on "artistic" results.
Taking a full frame off the table, the advanced bodies to consider are the 70D (used only) or an 80D.
I went to KEH and used their filters for Canon, Digital, price range $600 - $799 to generate options. You might visit Calmeta too and checked their used and refurbished pricing.
The T6 is a good suggestion. What you're getting with a new body is more resolution and better performance in higher ISOs. But, you didn't mention the lenses. It's very possible simply upgrading lenses will have a larger impact, particularly on "artistic" results.
Sep 1, 2017 09:30:46 #
lyndacast wrote:
My nephew, a high school sophomore, is a passionat... (show quote)
EOS Rebel T6s EF-S 18-135mm IS STM Lens Kit & EF-S 55-250mm IS STM Refurbished $809.99
http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/eos-rebel-t6s-ef-s-18-135mm-is-stm-lens-kit-with-ef-s-55-250mm-f-4-56-is-stm-lens-refurbished
Or with out the 55-250 for $749.20 (but $60 for the 55-250 is nice.)
http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/eos-rebel-t6s-ef-s-18-135mm-f-35-56-is-stm-kit-refurbished
Or, if he has enough decent glass, go 80D with EOS 80D EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Kit Refurbished $799
http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/eos-80d-ef-s-18-55mm-f-3-5-5-6-is-stm-kit-refurbished
Sep 1, 2017 10:05:27 #
lyndacast wrote:
My nephew, a high school sophomore, is a passionat... (show quote)
WOW!
Really?!?
Just what can your nephew NOT do with his current camera & lenses that he thinks that he wants to do which a different camera & lenses will allow him to do?
AFTER he figures that out, then he can add the appropriate accessory/-ies ...
FWIW. My opinion is that ANY-and-ALL future lenses should probably be Nikon/-compatible since future compatibility (with-or-without an adapter if he switches to Nikon OR sticks with Canon OR changes to a different camera body brand) is assured vs. buying a Canon-compatible lens.
BTW. It sounds as though BOTH your nephew & his instructor have G.A.S.
Sep 1, 2017 10:44:08 #
...give him your Nikon and save him from the dark side...you can upgrade for yourself and he can share/inherit your gear...
Sep 1, 2017 11:48:55 #
I'd consider a used 7D. A bit limited by noise at high ISOs over 1600, but built like a tank and is a level up from the T6. They are selling locally in the $600 range and are substantially sturdier and better weather sealed than the T6 series. Much better AF (19 pts vs 9) better viewfinder (pentaprism vs pentamirror), much higher frame rate (8 fps vs 3) - just in a different class - prosumer vs consumer. One caveat: the 7D uses CF cards. Be sure the one you purchase has no bent pins, and instruct him not to insert the card carelessly. I loved the results from mine before trading up to FF.
http://cameradecision.com/compare/Canon-EOS-7D-vs-Canon-EOS-Rebel-T6
http://cameradecision.com/compare/Canon-EOS-7D-vs-Canon-EOS-Rebel-T6
Sep 1, 2017 12:07:17 #
lyndacast wrote:
My nephew, a high school sophomore, is a passionat... (show quote)
I suggest a 5Dll but he'll need some lenses unless he has non-efs lenses now.
SS
Sep 1, 2017 12:21:41 #
SS319 wrote:
If he gets a new camera, his focus will, necessari... (show quote)
Actually, let's hope he is nerdy and ugly, because if he discovers girls, his focus may shift, necessarily, from photography to girls and he'll lose interest in photography completely!!!
No, actually 319, that's pretty sound advice. Let him determine what and when he needs with his own money.
Don't buy him an opera house just so he can pretend he can sing!!! LoL
SS
Sep 1, 2017 12:42:24 #
I forgot to mention when giving the link to the Labor Day sale at Canon for the T6s. The T6s has some features the T6i lacks that a 16 year old might like. The top control screen and the back controls mirror the more expensive cameras in Canon's line. The first Rebel to do so.
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