First of all - Merry Christmas for 2022 ! Oh - and a Happy New Year !!
These are the key points of what we describe in detail below
1. Cameras are a lot more expensive this year - shop around. Bridge cameras are better value
2. Cameras: Our students usually start with a snappy camera at Primary school.
Older students want and need more control and they go for Dslrs and Bridge cameras.
3. Bridge cameras are now the most versatile option for new photographers.
5. Smartphones are here to stay and the cameras are now amazing. Cool new apps and accessories will enhance the
camera that is always in your child's pocket. (see the new section)
6. If your child already has a decent camera, we have a selection of photography gifts & stocking fillers
Cameras 2021 saw a big price hike in photography and this has become even noticeable in 2021. Canon and Nikon in particular have hiked prices and it's more important than ever to shop around and look for a bargain. Make sure - if you go online that you stick to reputable names, both in camera manufacturer and in retailer. Not only will you get better after sales care, but the advantage of having a UK warranty far outways any savings from the online only - usually Far Eastern - dealers. We often recommend John Lewis for the extra second year of warranty but Wex, Jessops, and High St names like Currys and Argos are also fine places to buy.
Bargains You might still find a bargain in the Pre-Christmas sales. Make sure you know the camera you want to buy before you start looking though, rather than piling headlong into something that looks a really good buy but isn't actually what you wanted.
Make sure it's a good retailer - see above - and make sure you shop around.
What do our students use ? Most of the students who have been with us for a long while use Dslrs, but Bridge cameras are gaining in popularity. Almost all of our Year 6 students use compacts and they get along perfectly well and take amazing pictures. Sometimes an old family compact will do the job perfectly for a new student. If the pictures are sharp and the exposure is dependable that's all you need to get started.
Smartphones Increasingly we find students shooting assignments on their phones and producing remarkable results. The world has turned and it may be that in the future this page doesn't list any cameras but just describes the Iphones and Samsungs that our students are using. Thankfully that day is not quite with us - although we have added a smartphone section with apps and clip on lenses and mini tripods = but for the time being the camera is still an important part of a photographer's equipment, and whatever happens we know that GREAT pictures will always be about the imagination of the person pressing the shutter button.
Compact cameras are still the best option for beginners They will produce excellent images and also have lots of extra fun features. These are perfect for most Year 6 students, but there's no question that our students' pictures improve when they get a better camera and if the interest in photography is really solid already then you might want to think about a Bridge or DSLR.
In recent years we have become fans of Bridge cameras. In lots of practical ways they are better for young photographers ( with great long zooms for the wildlife pictures they all love to take ) and they will certainly save you a few pounds as well. What matters for us as teachers is the ability to change Aperture, Shutter and ISO and to occasionally shoot in Manual mode. Bridge cameras allow all of this.
Digital Cameras fall into 4 main categories
Compact – most of our Year 6 and KS3 students start off with these. Getting more expensive but decent quality with lots of features.
Bridge – looking and handling like Dslrs – try to find one with an electronic viewfinder. Long optical zoom lenses which are very versatile for nature and sports. new and clever but v expensive for the young photographer
DSLRs – with interchangeable lenses and lots of the features of professional cameras. Optical quality is superb and if you buy one of the major systems you will be joining a family with endless lens and camera body possibilities for the future.
Mirrorless new and clever but v expensive for the young photographer
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How much do you need to spend ?
Compact up to £229
Bridge up to £350
Dslr up to £500
Compact Cameras
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Bridge Cameras
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Dslr Cameras Generally speaking we don't recommend Dslr cameras until it's clear the interest is more than just passing. They are expensive and if Photography is not yet a real passion it's better not to invest too much at the start. Having said that the entry level Canon and Nikon cameras are both brilliant quality.
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Our favourite Cameras for 2020
COMPACT
Sony CyberShot DSC-W800 £69.99 Argos (only reputable store to still have these in stock)
A simple easy to use first camera. No frills but decent quality optics
https://tinyurl.com/yxv973v7
CANON IXUS 185 £99 Argos (only reputable store to still have these in stock)
Move quickly as these are hard to find now
Very good image quality and lots of great filters. We use these
https://tinyurl.com/mhbzzkpj
CANON IXUS 285 £199 Clifton Camera
Big brother to the 185 which we already love.
Bigger sensor - more features. V expensive though so look for offers.
https://tinyurl.com/yceedkvr
CANON Powershot SX620 £229.00 John Lewis
A step up if you want to spend a little more but still just about a compact.
Main advantage a great sensorand a really good 25x optical zoom.
Once again though look a round. this was £145 last year !
https://tinyurl.com/5n743he8
BRIDGE
Panasonic FZ-82 £299 John Lewis
Viewfinder, wifi and a great optical zoom. A fantastic camera
https://tinyurl.com/54b664y3
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-HX400 £349.99 London Camera Exchange
Great reviews brilliant long zoom and lots of features. Lack of a viewfinder is the only downside.
https://tinyurl.com/mpnf7a35
DSLR
Canon 4000D 18-55mm Lens £379 Amazon
This has wifi and a remote app you can use to control it from your phone and upload pics to instagram as you shoot them -
but the key is in the picture quality and the simple menu system. It's our favourite entry level Dslr.
https://tinyurl.com/4dkau4w4
Canon 2000D 18-55mm Lens £469 John Lewis
The very expensive but very good 2000D has a 24 mp sensor and superb picture quality.
https://tinyurl.com/htvuvhpp
Nikon D3500 18-55mm Lens £500 John Lewis
Entry level Nikon - suddenly really expensive but also very good. Once you have the settings worked out this is a fantastic camera
tinyurl.com/2p9dpee8
Mirrorless
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX880 £399.99 John Lewis
Flip out touchscreen and excellent quality from Panasonic
https://tinyurl.com/a6uw4vpe
Instant Print Cameras
Shoot it and print it. Beautiful cameras with instant results. One of them is even made by Polaroid !
Fujifilm Instax SQ1 John Lewis £99
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Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 John Lewis £90
https://tinyurl.com/yz4aaadj |
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Amber West South Bank December 2017
Buying
We recommend John Lewis & Wex Photographic – as you get their excellent customer service and at JL an extra year on the Warranty.
If you use Amazon – try to buy from Amazon itself rather than a third party seller. Secondhand on Ebay is ok as well if you really know what you want but you have to be certain that the camera is in the condition it’s described as being – and frankly savings on “Mint” cameras are not worth the loss of warranty. (or the possible disappointment if the great camera arrives on Christmas Day in a battered box)
Use Google to find the best price and then if the same camera is available at an actual shop for not much more – go to the shop.
If you can try the camera then do, but don’t be swayed too much by the sales patter. The key points are megapixels in the sensor and manual zoom range (if a Bridge). All modern cameras have video included – which is very useful and most have wi-fi or bluetooth connectivity which allow them to link to smartphones via dedicated apps.
With Bridge cameras look for Manual, Shutter Priority and Aperture Priority Modes.
Accessories to buy with the camera
UV Filter All Dslr lenses and most Bridge lenses will need a UV filter - it screws into the thread on the lens and improves picture quality as well as protecting the lens. We buy Hoya for £10 or so.
Case A decent case is also necessary. Amazon is the best place for these. No need to buy a Canon case for a Canon camera. Crumpler are very cool and we buy all of our Dslr cases from Lowepro
Lens Cloth Keep it clean
We recommend John Lewis & Wex Photographic – as you get their excellent customer service and at JL an extra year on the Warranty.
If you use Amazon – try to buy from Amazon itself rather than a third party seller. Secondhand on Ebay is ok as well if you really know what you want but you have to be certain that the camera is in the condition it’s described as being – and frankly savings on “Mint” cameras are not worth the loss of warranty. (or the possible disappointment if the great camera arrives on Christmas Day in a battered box)
Use Google to find the best price and then if the same camera is available at an actual shop for not much more – go to the shop.
If you can try the camera then do, but don’t be swayed too much by the sales patter. The key points are megapixels in the sensor and manual zoom range (if a Bridge). All modern cameras have video included – which is very useful and most have wi-fi or bluetooth connectivity which allow them to link to smartphones via dedicated apps.
With Bridge cameras look for Manual, Shutter Priority and Aperture Priority Modes.
Accessories to buy with the camera
UV Filter All Dslr lenses and most Bridge lenses will need a UV filter - it screws into the thread on the lens and improves picture quality as well as protecting the lens. We buy Hoya for £10 or so.
Case A decent case is also necessary. Amazon is the best place for these. No need to buy a Canon case for a Canon camera. Crumpler are very cool and we buy all of our Dslr cases from Lowepro
Lens Cloth Keep it clean
Smartphone apps and lenses
Camera Plus 2 APP for Iphone
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Hipstamatic Old School Camera app
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MPOW £14.69
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Luxsure £30.99
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Under the Tree & Stocking fillers
Books
Old Skool Order some prints for the wall !!
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Lenses,tripods, & accessories
Animation Studio
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Canon SELPHY CP1000 £100 - Amazon
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Take a course with Click in 2021. Friday Night Club, Mums and Dads or one of our Primary or Secondary school clubs .....
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Just to check that something is still happening in the old noodle department, here's a little brain teaser from the Today programme.
Which gift in the 12 days of Christmas song is received the greatest number of times ...
Chloe Buckingham Christmas bauble Selfie 2016