what to get for under 600$

blaser321

My sister wants to get her 17 year old daughter a camera with lens and wants to keep to at 600$
what would you suggest. I like the Sony 390 for that price. but I own Canons not sure
about the Rebel's

angevin1

blaser321 wrote: »

My sister wants to get her 17 year old daughter a camera with lens and wants to keep to at 600$
what would you suggest. I like the Sony 390 for that price. but I own Canons not sure
about the Rebel's

Is this a simple gift, or does the 17 y/o have a photographic agenda?

Does she need Video?

Straight off the cuff, I still tell people to go to KEH, get a D70 and a 50mm f/1.8 and a CF card and you'll spend no more $400.

Grainbelt

If this is to be a learning tool, a 50mm equivalent prime on a decent body is a great way to start, but a 17 year old might not 'get' it, and you'd have to get a used body. Nikon body plus AF-S 35mm 1.8 would be about perfect. Even better, the Panasonic GF1 w/20mm F1.7 prime is $600 new - that would be small enough to be carried in a purse pretty easily.

A somewhat versatile thought would be a Pentax K-x two-lens kit (18-55 and 55-200). Neither of those are fast enough to do anything real creative, but the Kx does high ISO very well and shoots 720p video. Pentax bodies can meter and use any k-mount lens, so there are 30 years of glass on the used market to add more later.

ThatCanonGuy

Pentax is good if you want a bunch of used cheap glass. Mirrorless is good if it's a simple gift. If this is a start of photography though, I'd recommend a Rebel T1i if you want video or a used xxD of you don't need it. The 20D or 10D are great, but try to spend more on lenses than on a body. Definitely a 50 1.8. A basic wide zoom is good, like the Tammy 17-50 2.8 non-VC (~$300) then if you've got any cash left a telephoto zoom, but be careful the cheap ones are just that--cheap. So a
10D ($200)
50 1.8 ($100)
Tammy 17-50 2.8 ($300)
is $600 right there. She can build her system if she likes. Or you can substitute the 17-50 for a middle-grade telephoto zoom like the Canon 100-300 4.5-5.6 USM. I've owned that one and it's a fantastic lens for $150. Just make sure you get the USM one.

ziggy53

If she could stretch the budget to $650USD, I believe that the refurbished Olympus E-600 plus 2 lenses, at Adorama, is the best deal on the planet (right now), and I recommend adding the Olympus FL-36R (The "R" is significant) to give you a wireless (off-camera) flash capability.

http://www.adorama.com/IOME600K1R.html

http://www.adorama.com/IOMFL36R.html

Add a couple of DIY flash modifiers for another $5-$6 (total) and you have a basic system that could even be used professionally.

http://www.fototime.com/inv/908195739C4C0D3

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