School Camera

[Novalee]

So we could do with purchasing a couple of very good school cameras. We currently have a random selection of old cameras around, but would like to be able to get decent shots for our news articles etc.

 

Also, as staff aren't allowed to use their own devices, these will be getting a lot of use.

 

What does everyone else use? Also, where can I buy them? My usual techy suppliers don't seem to do much in the way of cameras. Thanks.

[MatthewL]

Have a look down the local camera shop. Some of the compacts are great and produce good results as do bridge cameras. If you want to go all out then have a look at SLR, I'm a big Nikon user but I think a point and shoot would do what you need.

[dhicks]

What does everyone else use?

 

Depending on the people who'll be using the device, you might want to go for a decent "bridge" camera - like a DSLR, but without a removeable lens. A good DSLR will give you a choice of lenses that you can swap around and a large sensor size, allowing for a good depth-of-field when taking photos, but those considerations might be a bit irrelevant for most staff who just want to point a camera at something and take a photo. A bridge / superzoom camera generally gives you a good zoom length, plus there's one less removeable / loosable part for people to fiddle with.

 

We currently have a Nikon D5100 DSLR for general use. One feature we've found particularly useful is a wireless link to upload pictures taken straight to the network. We use a separate Eye-Fi SD card for that, but I think you can now get the feature built-in to most new cameras. Get a camera bag and a spare battery and charger to go with the camera, and expect to loose a few SD cards as people always seem to be able to misplace them.

[AJWhite1970]

We use Canon EOS 1200D's, a good compromise between price, build and image quality. All have survived over a year intact, even the one in the PE department!!! Edited April 15, 2016 by AJWhite1970

[mowgli82]

Nikon d3300 would probably suffice or even the 3200 if you can get hold of them.

[MatthewL]

Nikon D3300 is a brilliant camera, I use it at home and its a brilliant piece of kit.

[Duranis]

I have recent bought a bunch of cannon ixus 160's for the teachers here. They take a pretty good photo, they are relatively cheap (£50ish a pop), fairly sturdy, easy to carry and super easy to use. I looked at getting a DSLR or two but honestly (IMO) unless the person taking the photos knows how it works a high spec camera probably wont be much better than a semi decent point and shoot compact.

 

Might pick up a lower end DSLR in the future just for taking photos for promotional purposes (probably cannon as that's what I use personally and could bring my lenses in). Would probably only end up being me that would use it though and we could probably end up using my home gear in a pinch if I get some memory cards specifically for it to use in school and leave them here.

[MatthewL]

That is the issue with having a SLR, could easily end up with a set of blury pictures!

[steveking]

We have a few SLRs and also a really small, and incredibly thin, Sony. We use the SLRs for the pupil portraits and general life around school photos (prospectus, visitors, etc.) and often lend out the Sony for trips. We don't get blurry pics with the SLRs, but then the two of us who do most of the photography are 'togs so we know what we're doing. I've taken a school SLR on school expeditions around the world, and it's still working fine - but then I do try and look after it. When we lend non-photographer staff the SLR I just stick everything on auto and tell them not to change any settings. We go for the Canon xxx d range for school kit, it's good enough for what we need (my own is a 5d3 so compared to that the xxx d are a heap of plastic junk!). If you're getting an SLR we get second hand ones from MPB.

 

However, for some reason our school replaced the brick of a Nokia (battery life measured in years, ui a blind idiot can use) with some stupid windows phone (battery life measured in milliseconds, and a user interface so bad that not even a teenager can cope) as the school trip phone, as apparently staff wanted to take photos using it... whoever's idea that was needs a jolly good meeting with a LART!

[jezi55]

We used to use the Sony nex-5 until it got stolen. Was perfect for teachers to use on trips as it was a bridge between a SLR and a compact.

[paulellam]

We use Canon EOS 1200D's, a good compromise between price, build and image quality. All have survived over a year intact, even the one in the PE department!!!

 

+1 we are pleased with ours too!!

[sonofsanta]

We just have a Nikon Coolpix L330 to loan out, on the grounds of "Keep It Simple, Stupid". Anything DSLR shaped is both too complicated for most people and too expensive to replace when it's inevitable dropped/left behind. Any Canon/Nikon/Sony point & shoot compact between £50-£100 would do the job.

 

We have a Nikon D90 for ourselves to use in taking proper quality photos, but that's because we know what we're doing (at least, that's the impression we try to give).

[Joanne]

Just reopening this because I'm going to buy a DLSR for website photos and stuff. I'm going to learn how to use it!! Actually geniunely excited. Might even see if I can get myself on a photography course

 

So people are saying the Nikkon... my friend uses a Sony Cybershot for shooting the golf vlogs and that seems a decent camera too with image stabilization, but don't know if you can stick lenses on it...

[adamholt1]

Just reopening this because I'm going to buy a DLSR for website photos and stuff. I'm going to learn how to use it!! Actually geniunely excited. Might even see if I can get myself on a photography course

 

So people are saying the Nikkon... my friend uses a Sony Cybershot for shooting the golf vlogs and that seems a decent camera too with image stabilization, but don't know if you can stick lenses on it...

 

 

Get a Nikon. Fantastic cameras. Again the D3300 is great or if you want to step up in features the D5500. Make sure you get VR lens for image stabilization if your taking long shots.

[MrMat]

Just reopening this because I'm going to buy a DLSR for website photos and stuff. I'm going to learn how to use it!! Actually geniunely excited. Might even see if I can get myself on a photography course

 

So people are saying the Nikkon... my friend uses a Sony Cybershot for shooting the golf vlogs and that seems a decent camera too with image stabilization, but don't know if you can stick lenses on it...

 

Don't just go with a Nikon. The best advice I can give is go to a local camera shop and have a play with all the brands.

 

After having a go with a few, you should feel a preference to one or the other. Might be the size, might be the shape, the menu system, the button layout etc. I never got on with Nikon, didn't like the menu system or the layout etc so i went with a Canon. Eventually got frustrated with having a large SLR so moved to a Sony Mirrorless.

 

Honestly there's really very little difference between cameras these days in terms of image quality, resolution etc.

 

[GuyJD]

I have recent bought a bunch of cannon ixus 160's for the teachers here. They take a pretty good photo, they are relatively cheap (£50ish a pop), fairly sturdy, easy to carry and super easy to use. I looked at getting a DSLR or two but honestly (IMO) unless the person taking the photos knows how it works a high spec camera probably wont be much better than a semi decent point and shoot compact.

I've got Canon Ixus' here too, they are great little point and shoot cameras and cheap enough that you don't have to worry about the kids using them as well.

 

I've got my own DSLR that I bring in for special occasions but to be honest the Canon's are not far off it's image quality.