Camera advice wanted please

[skyeisthelimit]

I want to get DD a camera for Christmas/birthday, and the budget would be anywhere from £250-£300 or possibly a bit more if a really good deal/bundle. or potentially if I made it Christmas/Birthday present, it could be a bit more again.

We also might be limited to Argos only for a higher spend, as have vouchers for there. I know that limits the choice, so want to look at all options.

I know nothing about cameras, so would really appreciate advice from somebody who does.

DD is in Year 10, doing GCSE Art. She seems to have a good eye for photography, and can concentrate on that area for her projects. She is taking great photos on her iphone 6, but I thought it would be good to get her a decent digital camera.

(We currently have a cheap Nikon Coolpix and the photos are all blurry no matter what settings she uses.)

If anyone can recommend any cameras, or what spec is best (within budget), what is more important etc, what is worth paying more for etc, I would be so very grateful.

If her photos are blurry no matter the settings, then the problem lies with her moving or shaking the camera when she's using it. A camera such as the Coolpix is designed so it's almost impossible to take a bad picture and a new, better camera will not solve this.

However, if you want to upgrade her, then the Nikon B500 (which is available from Argos 😀) wouldn't be a bad choice. It's a bridge camera, which means it's a bridge between a DSLR and the compact that she's already using. It has a fixed lens which zooms rather than interchangeable lenses like a DSLR.

If the budget stretches, then a tripod might also be a good idea 😁(actually, would be a great idea for long exposures).

I think the camera is broken as it won't focus on anything without blurring. It blurs when it zooms in etc. It is the cheapest one in the range and probably been dropped a few times by now .

She takes fantastic photos on her iphone.

I will look at the Nikon B500 thanks.

The tripod would be a good idea as well because I think her project is on plants or wildlife.

Thanks for the advice

Bump

bumping again for any more replies please :)

Honestly the cameras on iPhones these days are way better than what you're going to get with a budget camera.

What about an annual membership to a local art/photography gallery? Or a weekend photography masterclass?

Have you considered a used one - you could get an entry-level DSLR for that budget if you went down the used route? CEX is worth a look, or any local independent photography shops. Look online for reviews of any models you are considering - Googling the model number will bring up a range of reviews.

Just had a quick look and you could get a Canon EOS (various models) from CEX for around the £300 mark. Look for one that comes with a basic kit lens, rather than 'body only' so she can be ready to go, and then you have the option of buying different lenses in the future. Check the megapixels, though, as some older models have lower MP and there's no point getting something that's a significantly lower res than your mobile.

If blurry pictures are an issue, look for image stabilisation (might be built into the camera or into the lens) and a basic tripod might be a good add on, especially if your DD is interested in night photography.

Thanks for the extra replies. I should have been clearer in the OP, the existing camera lens/focus must be broken as it just won't focus properly now and no matter what setting I put it on, everything is blurry.

These are a couple of photos she has taken on her iphone 6 (for her art project), and I think it takes amazing photos, but she wanted a "proper" camera.

I will have a look at CEX and I do think a tripod would be a good idea anyway.