Camera advice: Sony a77 or Canon 5D mk2

H

hugopeckham

Member
I've been looking at getting a DSLR for a while (yes I'm aware the a77 is a DSLT but for now I'll just call it a DSLR) and was given some good advice at a local camera shop about what to go for. The guy in the shop said that for filming skiing and taking burst photos the a77 excels because of its weather-proofing and burst speed. All in all it is a great camera, but those two factors make it particularly tempting for me. On the other hand, a friend is looking to sell his Canon 5D mk2. Not sure of the price yet but it will obviously be cheaper. Other advantages of the Canon is that I don't have to buy company specific extra lenses further down the line. I'm no expert on filming, I really enjoy editing and skiing, so I really want to learn more but any advice you have would be awesome. I'll comment the price of the 5D when my friend messages me back. Thanks!
 
And apparently he will let it go (body only) for around £500. He also has a 28-135 IS USM lens for sale too. The price for body only on the a77 from the shop is £779.99, ranging up to £1249 depending on lens
 
Oh yeah, forgot about that one. Sorry for wasting your time! On the same subject though, still wondering if it would be best to get a 5d mk2 or an a77?
 
I don't know shit about the Sony and I don't shoot video, but wouldn't it be a good idea to(at least to start) to just look at the specs of the bodies and compare them? Although I don't shoot on my mk2, I know the quality it can put out with. Can the Sony? Just some food for thought.
 
If youre on a budget and really want a dslr, check out the 60d or t2i very cheap and the same video function as a 5dm2 but they also have 720p60
 
Yeah, don't know why you're buying full frame if you're going to be more filming based. Good call EH. I'd say go for the 60D.
 
True, but that same idea applies to a 60d, the video is the same as a t2/3/4i. I guess the better build quality/photo capabilities would be worth it though.
 
Given that I'll be saving some money on the body I'll have some spare to set aside for lenses. Any recommendations? I've heard that getting a tele lens and a fisheye would be good. I think I'd probably go for a tele first as I can use my Hero2 on a pole mount for getting up close to the action (also means I'm less likely to get my shiny new camera smashed by a flying ski) but I don't really know what sort of range I should be looking in.
 
Looking to spend about $2000 maximum. Obviously the more I can get for that the better, so probably including a tripod and maybe a polarising filter in that too, and if you think getting a glidecam would be worth the money instead of an extra couple of hundred dollars on a lens then it would be worth considering. The 60D will cost me about $930 for just the body, or $1020 including an 18-55mm IS II lens. Have another $1500 in savings I could chip into if absolutely necessary (as in making the difference between average or "holy shit" filming).
 
If you're only doing video just get a t2i (t3i if you like the flip out screen) or a gh2, the 60d doesn't give you any better features for video.
 
Well if I'm going to be spending a load of money on a camera and going around beautiful places I want to be able to take decent photos with it too. It may not be worth spending all the money on a full frame unless I'm going to be taking professional photos, but I still want a nice DSLR out of it.
 
Maybe some back-story would help you guys inform my decision. I'm coming into my final year at university and will hopefully be media sec for our snowsports club next year (two free ski trips yay!). I've been getting into making videos since I bought a gopro on my gap year. I know there's way too many boring POV only gopro edits out there for anyone to notice or care what I do with it, so I started looking into ways of mixing the shots up last year (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_lhhK5g470). Please don't judge my skiing too harsh. I'm English. We don't really get that many opportunities to practice. Anyway, I recently got final cut pro x and have been trying to improve the quality of my videos both in editing and in filming too. The whole way through university I haven't done much studying for my course but spend my whole time on NS instead. I really want to get into ski media when I'm done and my parents have said they'll get me a DSLR for my 21st this summer. I went to a good local camera shop and was advised to look at the Sony alpha77, but have been gradually convinced in this thread to look at a cheaper body and more lenses etc. I'm also into scuba diving, wakeboarding, longboarding, sailing and getting more into surfing and skating. I'll be looking into lifestyle photography, a few action shots skiing, maybe some underwater stuff too. Given it's for a big present, plus I have some savings, and it's what I want to get into, I'm not going to shy away from investing money in decent kit but equally I don't want to waste money on something I won't be using to it's full potential before it's out-dated.
 
I would buy a long tele lens for surfing and sailing(sigma 100-300, canon 100-400, canon 200 2.8 with tc). Some sort of 35 or 50mm lens for lowlight and lifestyle. A wideangle lens for landscape(even though you dont use it for skiing).

I would recommend using your gopro or buy a waterproof compact, instead of buying underwater housing for the dslr as it is mad expensive. Check out tijmens thread on vintage lenses aswell.

Invest in good glass. Bodys get outdated, not lenses.
 
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