Camera Kit for £500

Here is my choice of camera kit for the photographer whose budget is £500

I do not recommend that you buy a so-called ‘bridge’ camera. Far better, I believe, to spend your money on a top-of-the-range compact such at the Canon G12.

You will be getting the advantage of its small size – it can carried on your belt or in a large pocket, it has most of the functions of a DSLR and is perfectly capable of producing spectacular images of very high quality. BUY NOW

PLUS – and this is very important – if and when you decide to buy a more expensive DSLR, your little Canon G12 will be a great adjunct to your DSLR kit. When you grow out of a ‘bridge’ camera, it’s more likely to get ignored.

CANON SOFT LEATHER CASE BUY NOW I always recommend a soft bag for a compact – this is made to fit the Canon G12

8Gb MEMORY CARD BUY NOW Big enough for hundreds of images – and fast for videos

GORILLAPOD SLR BUY NOW This lightweight tripod is an excellent piece of kit and will extend the capabilities of your camera tenfold

My only criticism for this Canon range of cameras is the poor optical viewfinder. It’s just about adequate – just! But the G12 is blessed with a superb adjustable viewing screen.

I do recommend you get yourself a tripod, and the Gorillapod SLR is ideal for a small camera like the G12 – it is strong enough to be used on a lightweight DSLR as well.

Remember – good photography has NOTHING to do with how much money you spend on your camera gear. It has everything to do with the way you operate that camera gear. Learn how by coming on one of my Photography Holidays or Photography Courses. I will show you how to get the most from your camera.