Best used camera under $500 for Portraits
Oct 31, 2019 11:26:42 #
Lost my DSLR in a recent burglary and want to wait for advances in the mirrorless field before deciding on a new replacement. In the meantime, any suggestions for an under $500 used DSLR for mainly portrait shooting?
Thanks,
Bruce H.
Thanks,
Bruce H.
Oct 31, 2019 11:31:50 #
delaw3 wrote:
Lost my DSLR in a recent burglary and want to wait for advances in the mirrorless field before deciding on a new replacement. In the meantime, any suggestions for an under $500 used DSLR for mainly portrait shooting?
Thanks,
Bruce H.
Thanks,
Bruce H.
What did you have before and why would you not want to replace it?
Dennis
Oct 31, 2019 11:33:08 #
Do you have any lenses left after the burglary? Do you have any preferences to manufacturer? Do you have to buy lenses for a new camera. Providing more information will aid in discerning help.
Oct 31, 2019 11:33:10 #
Any interchangeable-lens camera requires lenses. Your request of ideas is missing some relevant details ....
Oct 31, 2019 11:34:39 #
Oct 31, 2019 12:13:04 #
Do you have ANY gear?
A Fuji S5pro and a Nikon 85mm 1.8D should be close to $500.
Stunning skin tones right out of the camera.
My favorite combo is the S5pro and a Sigma 50-150 2.8. (the Sigma is out of your budget.)
A Fuji S5pro and a Nikon 85mm 1.8D should be close to $500.
Stunning skin tones right out of the camera.
My favorite combo is the S5pro and a Sigma 50-150 2.8. (the Sigma is out of your budget.)
Oct 31, 2019 15:25:35 #
delaw3 wrote:
Lost my DSLR in a recent burglary and want to wait for advances in the mirrorless field before deciding on a new replacement. In the meantime, any suggestions for an under $500 used DSLR for mainly portrait shooting?
Thanks,
Bruce H.
Thanks,
Bruce H.
I have a Nikon D3300 with a 35mm 1.8g lens, a 50mm 1.8g lens, a 18-140mm 3.5-5.6 lens Buy used on eBay or B&H, Adorama, KEH, Amazon, etc
Creates great images for me, Do your research. Should be able to get a D3300 + a 50mm 1.8g lens (Portrait) for $500 or less.
I bought my camera and Lens on eBay about 3 years ago, working Great.
Nov 1, 2019 06:41:43 #
Nov 1, 2019 07:14:41 #
mikegreenwald
Loc: Illinois
Any inexpensive camera. The lens is much more critical, and should be in the 85-105 range and no slower than f1.8
Nov 1, 2019 08:13:32 #
Of course, it depends on many factors but from my personal experience, Canon 5D mk 1 is a great camera for portraits (of course the "right" lenses are needed but - hey - get a used "nifty fifty" and you could make some descent work). This is an old, Canon full frame camera, allowing plenty of light in.
Nov 1, 2019 08:30:31 #
In my experience, the Sony a6000 is (roughly) the best camera under $500 for portraits. It has a pretty fast autofocus, and you can set the back-button for eye-autofocus. The Sony 50mm F1.8 OSS lens is great for portraits, and fairly inexpensive, but the two of them together will run over $500.
If you buy the a6000 with the kit lens, it will be under $500, but the kit lens is at F5.6 when it is at 50mm, and it does not have the same level of sharpness or color as the portrait lens.
If you want the total price under $500, then you might want to look at used cameras. All of them are good, these days, but you might want to start with the Panasonic LX100 or LX100m2. The 4/3 sensor is surprisingly good, the 24-75 lens (built in) ranges from F2.8 at the long end to F1.7 at the wide end, and has better character than almost any kit lens. The only weakness of the camera, in my opinion, is backlit situations, (and even then, if you have the time to fiddle with the focus, color, and starburst, you can produce some excellent portraits).
If you buy the a6000 with the kit lens, it will be under $500, but the kit lens is at F5.6 when it is at 50mm, and it does not have the same level of sharpness or color as the portrait lens.
If you want the total price under $500, then you might want to look at used cameras. All of them are good, these days, but you might want to start with the Panasonic LX100 or LX100m2. The 4/3 sensor is surprisingly good, the 24-75 lens (built in) ranges from F2.8 at the long end to F1.7 at the wide end, and has better character than almost any kit lens. The only weakness of the camera, in my opinion, is backlit situations, (and even then, if you have the time to fiddle with the focus, color, and starburst, you can produce some excellent portraits).
Nov 1, 2019 08:41:45 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
delaw3 wrote:
Lost my DSLR in a recent burglary and want to wait for advances in the mirrorless field before deciding on a new replacement. In the meantime, any suggestions for an under $500 used DSLR for mainly portrait shooting?
Thanks,
Bruce H.
Thanks,
Bruce H.
Found a very good, sharp, Nikon 85mm 1.8 D lens for $250.00.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-AF-Nikkor-85mm-F-1-8-D-Lens-With-Box-24278/163925048856?hash=item262ab1be18:g:Ni4AAOSwavRdulOW
Found a D7000 body for $219.00
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-D7000-16-2MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Black-Body-Only/293306514312?epid=100112575&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item444a6e3b88:g:gx0AAOSwOxJdu3ls&enc=AQAEAAACQBPxNw%2BVj6nta7CKEs3N0qXB7yMMaIhoU8odyWlORL30smkwa5e8cSUbOrRpxerinLkBLXe16NiHPFfCWFaw9LVBa5q4ggcxacn1a23CmMrKvLmuvnl6O7UA%2Fmo6Vjuzs4EeF74ZaPHT7v3WpEinWkR5HjvZ5syq9qKiAiD7PlJ5L4G3qBzg1OHmd9xLXMNhC7p5jLJdjDWKmOaw8TQVFxOJ0X0fyHCmf0q8vTYJ9CVVxtLgjomTULchPb90acAi913AfIaZMPjVJ04OJfCyIfrz8ltyd96wE3NNQ36bPWpmtFLWxFrDvnlxmwZkrXMN1BfYGSVyA%2BL1ugSLefeIl9oGa9Q%2BM6LqxBepc3a6W1ypnmsIcdXF3RQzda9V13O31FGt7oOIQNEvpPGHu2lfDpm%2BpUb%2BL4vLQ08Kg2q4cGt22yZWx0TcfBt66ALsg0QBmFk4gF97Ah3gqotQEE8FaVY%2B6%2BrhiUENKI%2F%2FhUrYJo%2BwGq2s1K%2FA5JUQLdcCxAyP7wsS3LzoKxZfgVHYXUd5sQvu6HLDR8FHOXEvDGoRP6nPunG02vDuSNkqQeJ%2FwJjeOMFp9caw4FwUvRjjfDg%2FJqOk%2FxbZmF8uuOl%2FUBW72aLjCsAyRXr%2FFmaKzLWjA8vgHtEYOZvHGVt3%2BdOOmssp%2BcwYacDeXa0A227ydTaFkbKD2eru0oH16X2yIysdsJlyide869iOtptJsm%2BZuSvQQDyr%2BFSmljpLj54Q5g4xvsTv0%2FULFOSSk3Is8Yh%2BJOlSdg%3D%3D&checksum=2933065143126301c14d2a7f42679a5fe91d27935e15&enc=AQAEAAACQBPxNw%2BVj6nta7CKEs3N0qXB7yMMaIhoU8odyWlORL30smkwa5e8cSUbOrRpxerinLkBLXe16NiHPFfCWFaw9LVBa5q4ggcxacn1a23CmMrKvLmuvnl6O7UA%2Fmo6Vjuzs4EeF74ZaPHT7v3WpEinWkR5HjvZ5syq9qKiAiD7PlJ5L4G3qBzg1OHmd9xLXMNhC7p5jLJdjDWKmOaw8TQVFxOJ0X0fyHCmf0q8vTYJ9CVVxtLgjomTULchPb90acAi913AfIaZMPjVJ04OJfCyIfrz8ltyd96wE3NNQ36bPWpmtFLWxFrDvnlxmwZkrXMN1BfYGSVyA%2BL1ugSLefeIl9oGa9Q%2BM6LqxBepc3a6W1ypnmsIcdXF3RQzda9V13O31FGt7oOIQNEvpPGHu2lfDpm%2BpUb%2BL4vLQ08Kg2q4cGt22yZWx0TcfBt66ALsg0QBmFk4gF97Ah3gqotQEE8FaVY%2B6%2BrhiUENKI%2F%2FhUrYJo%2BwGq2s1K%2FA5JUQLdcCxAyP7wsS3LzoKxZfgVHYXUd5sQvu6HLDR8FHOXEvDGoRP6nPunG02vDuSNkqQeJ%2FwJjeOMFp9caw4FwUvRjjfDg%2FJqOk%2FxbZmF8uuOl%2FUBW72aLjCsAyRXr%2FFmaKzLWjA8vgHtEYOZvHGVt3%2BdOOmssp%2BcwYacDeXa0A227ydTaFkbKD2eru0oH16X2yIysdsJlyide869iOtptJsm%2BZuSvQQDyr%2BFSmljpLj54Q5g4xvsTv0%2FULFOSSk3Is8Yh%2BJOlSdg%3D%3D&checksum=2933065143126301c14d2a7f42679a5fe91d27935e15
So, that 85 mm would give you an angle of view of 127 mm on the D7000. $469 total investment.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end
Nov 1, 2019 09:18:05 #
Resqu2 wrote:
If your a Canon guy then look at a used 6D with an 85 f/1.8.
Yes, this would be a great combo, probably more in the $800 to $900 range though.
Nov 1, 2019 10:09:31 #
delaw3 wrote:
Lost my DSLR in a recent burglary and want to wait for advances in the mirrorless field before deciding on a new replacement. In the meantime, any suggestions for an under $500 used DSLR for mainly portrait shooting?
Thanks,
Bruce H.
Thanks,
Bruce H.
Too much missing info. What camera body did you have? What lenses do you have? Are you doing studio portraiture, natural light, location with off camera lighting.....? Are you doing this professionally or for friends and family?
Nov 1, 2019 11:53:45 #
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