What are some good cameras I could consider buying for trainspotting?

[AstroHarry]

My budget is around about £100-£300, preferably good quality frame rate zoom etc.

 

[Basher]

If you want quality at that price with a camera you can easily carry around , get a bridge camera such as a Canon G1X.
You can pick up a secondhand one on ebay. If you are looking for a SLR, look at a Canon 7D mk1 secondhand. Additional lenses come at a cost. I have a G1X mk1, which I carry around in the car, It gives quality reproductions especially in the RAW format, and does movies. I have a Canon 7D Mk2 with good quality lenses, and you get fantastic results, but a full range of lenses comes at a cost.

 

[Rail Quest]

My budget is around about £100-£300, preferably good quality frame rate zoom etc.

Are you planning on using for videos or stills? If the latter, I've just been using my phone for all videos and photos as of late. I used to use a Samsung A52s and this was decent enough, though I now use a Google Pixel. Would it be an option for you to use the money to get a phone upgrade and use that for everything?

 

[Markdvdman]

You could also look at a 2nd hand Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra - as it has 10x Optical Zoom on it. I used to have that phone amazing really! Now have the S23 Ultra but that is way out of that price range!

 

[AstroHarry]

Are you planning on using for videos or stills? If the latter, I've just been using my phone for all videos and photos as of late. I used to use a Samsung A52s and this was decent enough, though I now use a Google Pixel. Would it be an option for you to use the money to get a phone upgrade and use that for everything?

I’m probably just gonna do video most of the time but I also already have an iPhone 14, I do think it’s camera is great, but in its zoom it does lack, I probably wouldn’t buy another phone but thanks for the suggestion!

 

[AstroHarry]

You could also look at a 2nd hand Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra - as it has 10x Optical Zoom on it. I used to have that phone amazing really! Now have the S23 Ultra but that is way out of that price range!

Same with this suggestion too XD! (Thanks though I appreciate it)

 

[AstroHarry]

If you want quality at that price with a camera you can easily carry around , get a bridge camera such as a Canon G1X.
You can pick up a secondhand one on ebay. If you are looking for a SLR, look at a Canon 7D mk1 secondhand. Additional lenses come at a cost. I have a G1X mk1, which I carry around in the car, It gives quality reproductions especially in the RAW format, and does movies. I have a Canon 7D Mk2 with good quality lenses, and you get fantastic results, but a full range of lenses comes at a cost.

I’ll look into it now!

 

[Rail Quest]

I’m probably just gonna do video most of the time but I also already have an iPhone 14

Wow haha, thats pretty much the top dog phone for videos in my experience! That'll honestly come out with better quality then any camera sub 500 unless, as you say, you're looking for zoom capabilities...

I'd definitely recommend looking into camcorders specifically, rather than just a camera as most compact camcorders are soooo much nicer to hold for long amounts of time thanks to the wrist straps (I miss the days of using them honestly). I used to use a Sony HSR-CX405 and, whilst I wonder recommend that specific camcorder anymore as its a really old design, I'd definitely suggest looking for alternatives with that size/form factor

 

[AstroHarry]

Roger that!

 

[ac6000cw]

Wow haha, thats pretty much the top dog phone for videos in my experience! That'll honestly come out with better quality then any camera sub 500 unless, as you say, you're looking for zoom capabilities...

I'd definitely recommend looking into camcorders specifically, rather than just a camera as most compact camcorders are soooo much nicer to hold for long amounts of time thanks to the wrist straps (I miss the days of using them honestly). I used to use a Sony HSR-CX405 and, whilst I wonder recommend that specific camcorder anymore as its a really old design, I'd definitely suggest looking for alternatives with that size/form factor

I'd agree with that.

Current Sony camcorder range 'street prices' - https://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/Sony/Sony-Camcorders
Current Panasonic camcorder range 'street prices' - https://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/Panasonic/Panasonic-Camcorders

Lower end camcorders use quite small image sensors, so are not brilliant in low light. If you want something better in low light, then maybe look at something like a secondhand 'superzoom' stills/video camera with a 1" sensor e.g. the Panasonic FZ1000 - https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/panasonic-lumix-dmc-fz1000 (but note that this is more bulky than lower end camcorders, and is a 10 year old design - but it does do 4k video).

As for secondhand, even larger sensor, interchangeable lens cameras that are good for video in that price range - it's difficult. A Panasonic G7 paired with a 14-42mm 'kit' lens (3:1 zoom range) would be around £350 e.g. https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/panasonic-lumix-dmc-g7?sort[productPrice]=ASC plus https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/panasonic-lumix-g-vario-14-42mm-f-3-5-5-6-ii-asph-mega-o-i-s . or for a longer (5:1) zoom range (at a higher cost) the Panasonic 12-60mm lens - https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/panasonic-lumix-g-vario-12-60mm-f-3-5-5-6-asph-power-o-i-s . If you want better image stabilisation the the Panasonic G80 is the successor to the G7, and is not much more expensive secondhand - https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/product/panasonic-lumix-dmc-g80?sort[productPrice]=ASC