Best camera for low light photography for under $300 USD

[BLCT]

Hey guys! I've always wanted to start the hobby of low light photography. Now that I have a job and a good source of income, now would be a perfect time to get one. What should camera should I get? I wouldn't mind saving a few more paychecks to save up for better quality camera! I will be using it mostly for night time, since my friends and I have a habit of exploring abandoned places around sunset. I also do plan on doing some low light photography "light trails". Now keep this in mind that I do have a very little knowledge on cameras, however I am willing do to my research and learn about them. I would prefer to own a camera with swappable lenses rather than a fixed one. Any recommendations would be appreciated!!

[ALwin]

For exploring places at evening, night hours, you should invest in a speedlight system rather than relying on the ISO and noise handling capability of the camera.  Learn how to use on-camera and off-camera lights with color gels creatively.

[BLCT]

1 hour ago, ALwin said:

For exploring places at evening, night hours, you should invest in a speedlight system rather than relying on the ISO and noise handling capability of the camera.  Learn how to use on-camera and off-camera lights with color gels creatively.

Thanks for the suggestion. Any recommendations for cameras?

[ShadowCaptain]

11 hours ago, BLCT said:

Thanks for the suggestion. Any recommendations for cameras?

You can get a new D3200 for that price

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-D3200-Digital-18-55mm-Lens/dp/B00I3M5U5M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466151558&sr=8-1&keywords=d3200

[BLCT]

5 hours ago, ShadowCaptain said:

You can get a new D3200 for that price

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-D3200-Digital-18-55mm-Lens/dp/B00I3M5U5M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466151558&sr=8-1&keywords=d3200

You you think lenses will do any good for low light photography? 

[ShadowCaptain]

1 minute ago, BLCT said:

You you think lenses will do any good for low light photography? 

Lenses help, but lights help more

 

really unless you get like f1.4/f1.2 or some f0.95 glass you need light  flashes, led lights, natural light etc

bigger sensors, and faster glass DO help 

 

like a full frame camera with f1.4 glass would beat an ASPC camera with an f4 lens for example

 

some cameras like the A7S2 are capable of taking clean photos at high ISO, but most cheap ones are not 

[BLCT]

4 minutes ago, ShadowCaptain said:

Lenses help, but lights help more

 

really unless you get like f1.4/f1.2 or some f0.95 glass you need light  flashes, led lights, natural light etc

bigger sensors, and faster glass DO help 

 

like a full frame camera with f1.4 glass would beat an ASPC camera with an f4 lens for example

 

some cameras like the A7S2 are capable of taking clean photos at high ISO, but most cheap ones are not 

D: I wish i could understand a word you just said I have no idea about lenes. I'll take that back

[ShadowCaptain]

9 minutes ago, BLCT said:

D: I wish i could understand a word you just said I have no idea about lenes. I'll take that back

Get to learning

[BLCT]

2 minutes ago, ShadowCaptain said:

Get to learning

Time to do my research! Or cough cough beg brandon to make a video about it cough cough  

[ShadowCaptain]

1 minute ago, BLCT said:

Time to do my research! Or cough cough beg brandon to make a video about it cough cough  

Nah you can do better than LTT

[BLCT]

1 minute ago, ShadowCaptain said:

Nah you can do better than LTT

 Ouu I sense a burrrn

[ShadowCaptain]

1 minute ago, BLCT said:

 Ouu I sense a burrrn

Their videos are fun, i watch them but I wouldnt call them conclusive or informative

 

and their camera stuff is kinda meh

 

 

[BLCT]

3 minutes ago, ShadowCaptain said:

Their videos are fun, i watch them but I wouldnt call them conclusive or informative

 

and their camera stuff is kinda meh

 

 

Looking at cameras, I seem to have found the Panasonic G7 for about 500 USD. Is it worth saving up for or no??

[ShadowCaptain]

2 minutes ago, BLCT said:

Looking at cameras, I seem to have found the Panasonic G7 for about 500 USD. Is it worth saving up for or no??

The G7 is great, but bear in mind its MFT so not great in low light

 

but its great for 4k video

[BLCT]

4 minutes ago, ShadowCaptain said:

The G7 is great, but bear in mind its MFT so not great in low light

 

but its great for 4k video

What would you recommend for my usage? Since I'm barely going to actually take videos, I'm mostly going to use it for low light photography while exploring. If it helps I'll bump my price budget to $500 USD

[ShadowCaptain]

2 minutes ago, BLCT said:

What would you recommend for my usage? Since I'm barely going to actually take videos, I'm mostly going to use it for low light photography while exploring. If it helps I'll bump my price budget to $500 USD

What are you considering low light photography, tell me more about what you want to do

[BLCT]

1 minute ago, ShadowCaptain said:

What are you considering low light photography, tell me more about what you want to do

Well like I said before, my hobby consists of traveling and exploring lots of abandoned places from sunset - to around early sunrise. I want to take pictures of things that I come across that I find interesting. I do want to learn how to create "light trails" photography. I'm considering on trying out black and white photography.

[ShadowCaptain]

1 minute ago, BLCT said:

Well like I said before, my hobby consists of traveling and exploring lots of abandoned places from sunset - to around early sunrise. I want to take pictures of things that I come across that I find interesting. I do want to learn how to create "light trails" photography. I'm considering on trying out black and white photography.

If you are not doing video, then like a D3300

[BLCT]

2 minutes ago, ShadowCaptain said:

If you are not doing video, then like a D3300

If I do decide on video, what would you recommend by then?

[ShadowCaptain]

1 minute ago, BLCT said:

If I do decide on video, what would you recommend by then?

well the nikon still takes video

[BLCT]

47 minutes ago, ShadowCaptain said:

well the nikon still takes video

Correct me if i'm wrong, ISO is pretty much the sensitivity to light right? So Higher ISO leads to a sharper image quality?  

[ShadowCaptain]

3 minutes ago, BLCT said:

Correct me if i'm wrong, ISO is pretty much the sensitivity to light right? So Higher ISO leads to a sharper image quality?  

No, higher ISO means lower quality image, as the higher the sensitivity the worse the image noise

 

Camera cheat sheet

 

[BLCT]

46 minutes ago, ShadowCaptain said:

No, higher ISO means lower quality image, as the higher the sensitivity the worse the image noise

 

Camera cheat sheet

 

Any recommendations for lenses? I do plan on using the Metabones speedbooster.

[ShadowCaptain]

8 minutes ago, BLCT said:

Any recommendations for lenses? I do plan on using the Metabones speedbooster.

What? why? it will cost more than your camera 

 

depends on your budget for lenses

[BLCT]

1 minute ago, ShadowCaptain said:

What? why? it will cost more than your camera 

 

depends on your budget for lenses

I've been told that it's all about the lenses and rather not the camera