FighterControl

Hi there folks. Im new to taking photos of aircraft and don't want to spend big bucks. It will primarily be for landing and taking off jets but want some versatility if i do go to airshows. Ideally i want the lense to be included in the price. At this price point i'm obviously going to be looking for second hand, so if anyone is selling let me know.

https://www.mpb.com will be your best bet.

Body wise in that price range, a few good ones to look for from Canon and Nikon*:

Canon: 7D, 70D, 77D
Nikon: D7100, D5300

Lenses, look for a 70-300 type lens for airborne stuff. If you can afford one then also look for an 18-55/18-135 or similar for general use (museum and airshow static, at least).

As for the different brands it's difficult to recommend - I'd suggest going to somewhere in person that has cameras and have a feel of at the very least a Canon and Nikon DSLR to see which you prefer in your hands. Ergonomics are very important.

*Other brands are available, but the camera range and lens selection is not comparable.

The second hand market is a good place to look especially through MPB or WEX who offer limited warranties. Just a quick look and based on what I've used previously you can get a used Nikon D7100, Nikon 55-300mm lens and a Nikon 18-55 for £567. Obviously slightly over budget but perhaps you could compromise on the quality rating if a little dirt/ grim and dinks don't bother you.

Nikon D7100
https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipmen ... u-1372968/

Nikon 55-300mm (make sure you get the VR (image stabilisation) version
https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipmen ... u-1442645/

Nikon 18-55mm
https://www.mpb.com/en-uk/used-equipmen ... u-1422964/

Like EGDR says, the feel is very important in my opinion and I've stuck with Nikon as to me the ergonomics just work and they let me shoot without thinking to much about the position of the controls. Other people prefer Canon or Sony etc

Happy shopping.

Thank you for your replies. I will have a browse of that website and might just end up using Yunglees recommendation

I wanted a camera solely for aircraft photography and did not want to spend much. I bought a mint Nikon D3300 including an AF-S Nikkor 55-200 and an AF-P Nikkor 18-55 lens. Total cost was just on £300. I do have a 300mm lens but honestly use the 200 most. I know it is a crop sensor camera but the results to my mind are superb. If it were easier to post pictures I would put some for you to see. I have had cracking results both with jets and prop aircraft in flight. In short, it does all I want at a fair price…..maybe worth a thought.

Bobcode wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 13, 2022 2:22 pm

I wanted a camera solely for aircraft photography and did not want to spend much. I bought a mint Nikon D3300 including an AF-S Nikkor 55-200 and an AF-P Nikkor 18-55 lens. Total cost was just on £300. I do have a 300mm lens but honestly use the 200 most. I know it is a crop sensor camera but the results to my mind are superb. If it were easier to post pictures I would put some for you to see. I have had cracking results both with jets and prop aircraft in flight. In short, it does all I want at a fair price…..maybe worth a thought.

If you have an social medias i can have a look on them?

I have facebook, not sure it would do them justice though….

As previous comments, MPB, I've dealt with them for many years, cannot fault the service and prices..good luck.

Thank you all for your replies. I had a brief look on eBay and found this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334269963576 ... ition=3000
- D7100 Body + 1 Battery
- Nikon 18mm-55mm lens
- Tamron 70mm-300mm Telephoto Lens
- USB Battery Charger
for £450
How important is "shutter count"

Euangray12 wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 14, 2022 4:31 pm

Thank you all for your replies. I had a brief look on eBay and found this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334269963576 ... ition=3000
- D7100 Body + 1 Battery
- Nikon 18mm-55mm lens
- Tamron 70mm-300mm Telephoto Lens
- USB Battery Charger
for £450
How important is "shutter count"

Shutter count is like the mileage on a car. I believe the shutter on a Nikon D7100 (an excellent camera) is rated at 150,000 actuations, which is the amount of times the shutter can be fired reliably in its lifetime. In practice this count could be much higher. Depends on your luck!

On this particular example I find it hard to believe the seller doesn't know what the missing button on the selector dial does! It's a lock button, which you push in before turning the dial to select your shooting mode. Don't know how easy it would be to operate the dial without it.

The D7100 is a good camera, with the advantage of two SD card slots, but I would perhaps think twice about this particular one!

Bit late to this, but I have a Canon 70d and a Canon 70-200 F/4L lens that I am thinking of selling - would be looking for £550 for the pair.

Shutter count on the body is approx 50-60k - I can check later for a definitive number if interested.

Dan

If your lucky you might pick a camera/outfit up at a local auction I got 2 cracking pairs of binoculars at auctions at really cheap prices .Obviously depends on where you stay whether its an option.