Low budget? No problem

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The great thing about budget kit is that you can carry it round with you all the time and not worry too much about it. MPB sings the praises of bargain buys

While it’s great to have the perfect set-up for your needs, it’s unlikely you’ll have your full kit with you all the time. Having the right tools for the job is important but the old cliché, ‘the best camera is the one you have with you’‚ is one for a reason – because it’s true. Many shops and manufacturers will try to convince you to buy the latest cameras, along with all the bells and whistles. Unless you really need these features, their cost is often disproportionate to the resulting images. For many people, they’d be better off spending the money on

34 other things. Different set-ups for different purposes. But one specific type of set-up is one that’s always at the bottom of your rucksack or bag. You often forget it’s there. It has one role. It’s the ‘I wish I had my camera with me’ camera.

Last year, MPB’s Marc Read (@115quidcamera) decided to put this theory to the test. He spent just £115 on a well-used Canon EOS 50D and EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens, and now takes it with him everywhere. He explains, ‘These days, some manufacturers will announce new cameras that promise to improve your photography and enable you to get better photos. Then, they’ll replace that

camera within 12 months with an even better camera that will help you get even better shots. Most of the time, this is partly true – the extra autofocus points or megapixels might indeed get you a shot that its predecessor might not have. But is this what photography is all about?

Budget challenge ‘In January 2019 I decided to set myself a challenge to see what I could achieve on a small budget. I wanted a DSLR and a single small lens. After looking at the options, I purchased a well-used Canon EOS 50D. While it had obviously seen a lot of use over the years, it was

Low-budget kit that’s always on you means you can grab shots like this urban fox still in full working order. In the lens department, to keep the cost down, I was limited to a small number that would fit the budget. In the end, I opted for the classic “nifty fifty”, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II.’

Now that he had decided on his kit, Marc tells us how he got on. ‘I’ve been into photography on and off for around 15 years and I’ve mainly concentrated my efforts on my major photographic passion – wildlife. But this set-up has made me branch out into lots of different genres that I’d never thought of trying. I’ve owned this set-up for a year and it’s probably been one of my favourite years for photography.’

As he explains, ‘The main benefit is not one I really expected. I’m now constantly on the look-out for things to photograph. I get excited if I see something a bit out of the ordinary, like a pair of shoes hanging from a power line, for example. I’ve ditched the nice

It’s pretty simple – if you haven’t got your kit with you, photo opportunities like this gorgeous sunset, are lost

padded camera bag I’d normally not bother to pick up in the morning. Instead, I quite happily chuck the Canon EOS 50D loose in the bottom of my backpack.

‘This means there are days when it gets covered in my lunch,’ he laughs, ‘but thankfully it has never stopped working. Having the camera on me at all times means I can capture some shots that I undoubtedly wouldn't have had the opportunity to shoot had I had a more expensive set-up. Whenever I’m out, the Canon EOS 50D is always there and ready.’

Even though the 50D wasn’t the latest gear, Marc was very happy. ‘Having a cheap old camera means I’ve achieved shots that a newer, better camera would not have got. The Canon EOS 50D’s 15-million-pixel sensor isn’t renowned for its image quality or its high-ISO capabilities. However, if I owned a more expensive set-up with three or four lenses, it’s likely I wouldn’t have had it on me when I saw a fox blocking my path, when I stumbled across a Lamborghini or when I saw this awesome sunset.’

So what were Marc’s fi nal thoughts about the whole experience? He told us, ‘Ultimately, it’s good to have innovation and new technology in the camera industry. But in this day and age, it’s very easy to get caught up with megapixel, dynamic range and frames-per-second tunnel vision.’ MPB makes top-tier gear more accessible. Buy, sell or trade in now at www.mpb.com You can see more of Marc’s work on Instagram @115quidcamera. PRICES CORRECT ON WWW.MPB.COM AT TIME OF GOING TO PRINT. LIMITED STOCK SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY

Buy your own bargain set-up

An ultra-low-budget set-up like this one used by Marc, could revitalise your photography

Canon EOS 50D Taking your photography to new heights, the Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR Camera offers outstanding quality in a durable magnesium body. Condition Well Used Used price £94

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II The lightweight and cost effective Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II is perfect for improving photographers. Condition Good Used price £59