Hi all,
Decided to bite the bullet and get myself a decent camera for fishing as im now managing to get out (and actually catch) way more often than expected.
Im a total novice when it comes to camera usage but my iphone 16 pro just isn't cutting the mustard with picture quality, particularly at night.
So what would you all recommend, would need to be suitable for self-takes and relatively easy to use. Budget 500-600
Many thanks in advance
Decided to bite the bullet and get myself a decent camera for fishing as im now managing to get out (and actually catch) way more often than expected.
Im a total novice when it comes to camera usage but my iphone 16 pro just isn't cutting the mustard with picture quality, particularly at night.
So what would you all recommend, would need to be suitable for self-takes and relatively easy to use. Budget 500-600
Many thanks in advance
In reply to Post #1
I've got a canon g1x setup in the classifieds for under half your budget
I've got a canon g1x setup in the classifieds for under half your budget
In reply to Post #2
That G1X MK2 is the nuts as a fishing camera. I had one for a while. Great bit of kit.
That G1X MK2 is the nuts as a fishing camera. I had one for a while. Great bit of kit.
In reply to Post #1
Use your phone on video setting and screen shot what you want. I used to have a good cannon camera. But after doing this sold it and all I use.
Use your phone on video setting and screen shot what you want. I used to have a good cannon camera. But after doing this sold it and all I use.
In reply to Post #1
Use your iPhone and buy some cheap led work lights, put them on back sticks
It's far better than flash, easier to set up than a camera and you already have the iPhone.
You can record a custom sequence so you can just say a word, I use “snap” which will take 1 pic at a time or “ snap it” and it takes 3 or 4 pics
Use your iPhone and buy some cheap led work lights, put them on back sticks
It's far better than flash, easier to set up than a camera and you already have the iPhone.
You can record a custom sequence so you can just say a word, I use “snap” which will take 1 pic at a time or “ snap it” and it takes 3 or 4 pics
In reply to Post #4
This +1
This +1
In reply to Post #1
Canon 250d i use with 24mm lense
Canon 250d i use with 24mm lense
In reply to Post #1
'I'm a total novice when it comes to camera usage, but my iPhone 16 Pro just isn't cutting the mustard with picture quality, particularly at night.'
Your iPhone will have enough resolution to rival most pocket cameras. Most small sensors are also streets ahead in software and interpolation. Especially iPhones, I have seen plenty of superb images taken with these phones.
What you need are just a couple of LED panels that you can pick up from Temu for under £20, and they are completely controllable in terms of warm/cool light. You already have a great camera, just pair it with these panels and job done. You can thank me later. I use my phone and I have shot 1000's of weddings professionally with my Sony A1. You really dont need the bulk, LED panels are small and pack a real punch at night.
'I'm a total novice when it comes to camera usage, but my iPhone 16 Pro just isn't cutting the mustard with picture quality, particularly at night.'
Your iPhone will have enough resolution to rival most pocket cameras. Most small sensors are also streets ahead in software and interpolation. Especially iPhones, I have seen plenty of superb images taken with these phones.
What you need are just a couple of LED panels that you can pick up from Temu for under £20, and they are completely controllable in terms of warm/cool light. You already have a great camera, just pair it with these panels and job done. You can thank me later. I use my phone and I have shot 1000's of weddings professionally with my Sony A1. You really dont need the bulk, LED panels are small and pack a real punch at night.
In reply to Post #4
I went the wrong way and bought a canon eos r6.. Non of my old lenses work in a mirrorless camera so I need new lenses now.
The pictures are great though, but so expensive!
It's good I can set the speed and aperture to whatever I want and let the flash fill in. I take 15 pictures at 5 second intervals,set on the camera.
I went the wrong way and bought a canon eos r6.. Non of my old lenses work in a mirrorless camera so I need new lenses now.
The pictures are great though, but so expensive!
It's good I can set the speed and aperture to whatever I want and let the flash fill in. I take 15 pictures at 5 second intervals,set on the camera.
In reply to Post #4
That will work but you get far better quality taking pictures rather than video and screen shot.
That will work but you get far better quality taking pictures rather than video and screen shot.
In reply to Post #9
Your lenses work with an adapter. And you should get full AF.
Your lenses work with an adapter. And you should get full AF.
In reply to Post #11
Yes I have the adapter..
But it's clunky and stresses me out.
The image stabilisation doesn't work with the old lenses either.
It's great being able to turn the screen towards me when taking pictures though 🙂
Yes I have the adapter..
But it's clunky and stresses me out.
The image stabilisation doesn't work with the old lenses either.
It's great being able to turn the screen towards me when taking pictures though 🙂
In reply to Post #11
If they are EF lenses, yes.
If they are EF-S like some of mine the image will be cropped, so No.
Just ordered an R6 Mk II but decided to get a 'proper' RF lens rather than use any of my older EF / EF-S lens.
Wasn't really in the market for a camera but one of my Canon DSLRs had a swim in the river and in April my Lumix fell out of my hoody pocket when I was up a tree. Luckily didn't hit a single branch....on it's journey into the margins of the lake 😭
Got it back out as I could see where it was from the bubble trail 😱
If they are EF lenses, yes.
If they are EF-S like some of mine the image will be cropped, so No.
Just ordered an R6 Mk II but decided to get a 'proper' RF lens rather than use any of my older EF / EF-S lens.
Wasn't really in the market for a camera but one of my Canon DSLRs had a swim in the river and in April my Lumix fell out of my hoody pocket when I was up a tree. Luckily didn't hit a single branch....on it's journey into the margins of the lake 😭
Got it back out as I could see where it was from the bubble trail 😱
In reply to Post #1
Have a look on MPB or WEX for used Nikon or Canon DSLRs. £200-£300 will get you an old but more than capable body for self takes (Nikon D5200/D5300, Canon 600/650/700/750D) and a prime to go with them. The canon 50mm nifty 50 or the Nikon 35mm are good and cheap. You should have some change for intervalometer and tripod too.
Have a look on MPB or WEX for used Nikon or Canon DSLRs. £200-£300 will get you an old but more than capable body for self takes (Nikon D5200/D5300, Canon 600/650/700/750D) and a prime to go with them. The canon 50mm nifty 50 or the Nikon 35mm are good and cheap. You should have some change for intervalometer and tripod too.
In reply to Post #13
I have the r6 mark 2
Only have the 24/70 2.8 so far but it is amazing!
Also with the flash at night it takes great fish pictures, no other lights needed.
I have the r6 mark 2
Only have the 24/70 2.8 so far but it is amazing!
Also with the flash at night it takes great fish pictures, no other lights needed.
In reply to Post #15
Wow! £1600 for a lens and £1200 for a camera. Is it only used for fishing or other activities? Just curious 🧐
Wow! £1600 for a lens and £1200 for a camera. Is it only used for fishing or other activities? Just curious 🧐
For what it's worth, I've recently upgraded from iPhone-on-a-bucket pictures and bought a camera so that I could A) improve my self takes and B) video diary my sessions.
I have zero experience, knowledge or even much interest in learning about photography beyond the very basics and so I wanted something simple and easy-to-use which would improve upon what my iPhone 17 Pro is capable of without introducing extra faff and complexity.
I settled on the Canon PowerShot V1 and bought the 'Vlogger Kit' which has a bundled tripod, memory card and microphone fluffy thingy. The only real con is that it's not waterproof, but Wex told me that's easily solved with a cover. It turns on instantly and just works. You can modify 100s of settings of course if you know what you're doing.
I've been blown away by what I've been able to achieve with it just by leaving it in auto mode and pointing it at things. I've even taken to taking RAW images and adjusting the colours myself on my computer, all extremely easy to do. It's so much better than what I was getting from my phone. Pictures just look so much more realistic. Side-by-side it's not even close - the phone looks so artificial. That's with just using it in noddy mode... I'm sure somebody who knows what they're doing could get much more out of it (that's true of my phone too I know...)
Anyway, hope this helps.
I have zero experience, knowledge or even much interest in learning about photography beyond the very basics and so I wanted something simple and easy-to-use which would improve upon what my iPhone 17 Pro is capable of without introducing extra faff and complexity.
I settled on the Canon PowerShot V1 and bought the 'Vlogger Kit' which has a bundled tripod, memory card and microphone fluffy thingy. The only real con is that it's not waterproof, but Wex told me that's easily solved with a cover. It turns on instantly and just works. You can modify 100s of settings of course if you know what you're doing.
I've been blown away by what I've been able to achieve with it just by leaving it in auto mode and pointing it at things. I've even taken to taking RAW images and adjusting the colours myself on my computer, all extremely easy to do. It's so much better than what I was getting from my phone. Pictures just look so much more realistic. Side-by-side it's not even close - the phone looks so artificial. That's with just using it in noddy mode... I'm sure somebody who knows what they're doing could get much more out of it (that's true of my phone too I know...)
Anyway, hope this helps.
Just as extra to these suggestions when using dslr's etc
If using a detachable flash use its bounce card if it has one , if not you can buy add on ones tat fix too your existing flash
point the flash upwards not at the fish and turn the power up
even a tissue or white cloth over any flash will diffuse the harshness and usually create a softer light
you can even have some white material (sheet etc) behind you point the flash into that and it will bounce some fill light onto the subject
If using a detachable flash use its bounce card if it has one , if not you can buy add on ones tat fix too your existing flash
point the flash upwards not at the fish and turn the power up
even a tissue or white cloth over any flash will diffuse the harshness and usually create a softer light
you can even have some white material (sheet etc) behind you point the flash into that and it will bounce some fill light onto the subject
Mirrorless dslrs are a good alternative, especially the lower graded versions. I've been using a Canon Eos M3 for a few years and with practice can take pretty good photos now. It doesn't have a decent viewfinder though, but does have a flip screen so you can take self portraits easily enough. Think they've been superseded now but still available for around £250ish. Probably pick up decent versions second hand and have plenty of money in your budget for a pancake lens, and/or decent light such as a Rhino light and self take set up.
Another option is a really good compact such as the Pentax MX1...not a very 'carpy' camera but one that takes brilliant self portraits. They are small and very hard wearing as the camera body is made of brass.
In fact, I wish I'd kept mine as I dropped my M3 last year and dented a bottom corner, disabling the function button 😱...the Pentax would have shrugged the same thing off...
Something to consider anyway
Another option is a really good compact such as the Pentax MX1...not a very 'carpy' camera but one that takes brilliant self portraits. They are small and very hard wearing as the camera body is made of brass.
In fact, I wish I'd kept mine as I dropped my M3 last year and dented a bottom corner, disabling the function button 😱...the Pentax would have shrugged the same thing off...
Something to consider anyway
An update on the post I made on 14th August in case it's useful for anyone browsing this and considering a camera.
In the end I returned the PowerShot V1 and bought a Sony A6700 with a Sigma 18-50mm lens. Why? For two reasons. Firstly, I very much enjoyed taking pictures (unexpected!) and wanted something that was focused on that with a much higher ceiling in terms of its capabilities and my learning of the craft. Secondly, it has an interval shooting feature which the Canon did not meaning for self takes I can set it to continually take pictures every X seconds for Y seconds, e.g., every second for 120 seconds. I'm sure that's available on any good photography-focused camera so you surely do not need to spend A6700 money.
Very pleased with the results with only a basic amount of knowledge and research.
In the end I returned the PowerShot V1 and bought a Sony A6700 with a Sigma 18-50mm lens. Why? For two reasons. Firstly, I very much enjoyed taking pictures (unexpected!) and wanted something that was focused on that with a much higher ceiling in terms of its capabilities and my learning of the craft. Secondly, it has an interval shooting feature which the Canon did not meaning for self takes I can set it to continually take pictures every X seconds for Y seconds, e.g., every second for 120 seconds. I'm sure that's available on any good photography-focused camera so you surely do not need to spend A6700 money.
Very pleased with the results with only a basic amount of knowledge and research.
In reply to Post #1
Your iPhone is good enough. Don’t over complicate matters - you just need appropriate lighting. The voice control feature on your phone (under Accessibility) will operate the camera flawlessly.
Your iPhone is good enough. Don’t over complicate matters - you just need appropriate lighting. The voice control feature on your phone (under Accessibility) will operate the camera flawlessly.
In reply to Post #21
Does anyone have tips on what settings to have your iphone on inorder to get the best images?
Unless I am in portrait mode I find them a bit meh, I have iphone14 pro.
Does anyone have tips on what settings to have your iphone on inorder to get the best images?
Unless I am in portrait mode I find them a bit meh, I have iphone14 pro.
In reply to Post #22
What do you find meh about them? Like, what is the problem you have?
What do you find meh about them? Like, what is the problem you have?
Iphone/ decent android - get the right self take and boom.
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