What is the best camera for an amateur who can’t spend too much money?
January 1, 2009 by Cam
Lindsey H asked:
I ordred a proffesional camera from E-Bay, and when it came in, it did not even work! I guess that's E-Bay for you. We are in the process of returning it. In the meantime my husband was able to get me a camera at a low cost from where he works, but it is only a small digital camera. The pictures I have taken with it are still not as good as I would have hoped, regardless of how the subject is posed and the angle I am shooting at. I understand about trying to photograph in the early morning and late evening to acheive the best lighting. But the colors are still not very bright and the picture not very sharp. Do I really just need to get a more professional camera to acheive this, or is it possible to get good quality photos from a cheap camera with the right experience? What type of camera would you recommend for an amateur photographer, when we really can't afford the thousand dollar ones?
I ordred a proffesional camera from E-Bay, and when it came in, it did not even work! I guess that's E-Bay for you. We are in the process of returning it. In the meantime my husband was able to get me a camera at a low cost from where he works, but it is only a small digital camera. The pictures I have taken with it are still not as good as I would have hoped, regardless of how the subject is posed and the angle I am shooting at. I understand about trying to photograph in the early morning and late evening to acheive the best lighting. But the colors are still not very bright and the picture not very sharp. Do I really just need to get a more professional camera to acheive this, or is it possible to get good quality photos from a cheap camera with the right experience? What type of camera would you recommend for an amateur photographer, when we really can't afford the thousand dollar ones?
go with something small to start off. a simple starters professional digital camer i guess you could say.
try a Canon powershot to start and then advance slowly or when you think you’ve got it to cameras such as the Canon EOS or Digital Rebel xTi SLR. When you get up to the SLR level, you will be able to interchange lenses to fit the shot you want to take.
Try looking at them at the sites below.
You should choose a Nikon or Canon camera, (what some people advised me). Plus if you want good pictures, invest your money in a good camera, not necessarily the most expensive, but one that suits your budget.
I also found on :
Minolta makes the best bodies, Nikon makes the best lenses, Canon makes the best compromise.
I chose this line as a summary, but go ahead and read the whole article for more details.
Good luck
EOS Canon like the 350D or 400D should be fine for amateurs. It should be less than a thousand dollars.
I can suggest three options for you:
1. Check the Canon S3 iS for $350 at Beachcamera.com (it has a 12X zoom lens, and many features of a DSLR but not exchangeable lens capacity, which you would not need with that monster lens).
2. Go to and check the Nikon D70S with the kit lens. It has recently been superceded by the D50 and the D80 but it is STILL a great camera and has all the features you will need for a long time to come. You should be able to pick up a reasonably good one for about $400-$450. It is still a very popular model worldwide.
3. Check the Nikon D50 for about $500-$550 at and you’ll have a decent camera for learning and fun times.
These suggested cameras will give you all the control you will need (plus automation, if you do not feel comfortable using the camera on your own) to get great images. But do remember that a camea is only a lightproof box, and the lens is sometimes more important since it is the part that sends the “images” (or reflected light) to the film or sensor to record… and how good it reaches the film or sensor is what determines how good your images will be (how good they are printed will be determined by the printer used and the paper and inks used). Good luck and best wishes.
Thanks for that information about ebay.
I suggest u to buy a second hand SLR camera from any store near by where u live.They have old cameras with them.
Then u may enhance ur image works with using any good software(download one free here )
The camera can b manual or digital no matter.Basically its the photographer who chooses the subject ,which is important and the camera is counted afterwards.I saw on TV a thunderchaser giving good results shooting with old SLR manual camera.goodluck