What camera? And guide on my lens choices

lukewalnuts

lukewalnuts

Active member
Hey M&A... Since I can't ski at all this year I want some advice on what camera to get so I can stay somewhat sain. I will be shooting 90% Photo 10% video. I want to stay at $1000 for the body, the lens budget is already taken care of... So basically I need to know what body to get. I'll copy and paste this into here...

1) What is your budget? How much money can you spend right away, and do you think you can get more money to invest in the future?

$1000 for body. I have enough for lenses too, I will talk about those later. Yes I will continue to reinvest.

2) What experience do you already have with cameras? Have you ever even used one before? Have you helped your friend out with his camera? Have you owned your own?

I have used DSLR's on multiple occasions. I have never owned one, but I have done tons of research and feel I am ready.

2) What gear, if any, do you currently have? (tripod, old camera lenses, mics, etc)

None

4) What are you planning to shoot and how do you want to use your camera? Are you going to use this with the sole purpose of shooting skiing? or do you think you might try other stuff as well (movies, documentaries, short films, etc)

90% Photo 10% Video. Will shoot majority of skiing, but still will shoot other things

5) Do you want a camera that you can hand to your friends, that could or could not have film experience, and let them shoot you? or will you be doing all the filming?

I won't let anyone use this.

6) When filming skiing, how do you tend to shoot? (follow cams, leave it on record on a tripod and hike, film from a tripod, etc)

I know how to use a tripod and stuff but I'm not skiing this year so it doesn't really matter how I'm skiing while filming...

7) What computer do you currently have/use to edit (if not currently editing, what would you most likely use)? If you can provide specifics, such as hard drive space, RAM, processor size, that would be great.

Macbook Pro 13 inch standard whatever comes in it

7) What program do you currently edit on? How familiar are you with it (1- just learning; 10- I can make tutorials and know the keyboard layout)

Photoshop 6/ Lightroom 4.5

---------------------------Optional Section, for those seeking a more intensive upgrade/purchase------------------------

1) Do you think you might consider using a DSLR?

yes

2) Do you have any knowledge about the HDSLRS?

some

3) Do you know the limitations to using HDSLRS?

um, yes..

4) Are you willing to take the time to learn about a DSLR, and how to shoot with manual lenses?

yes

5) Again, do you want a camera that you can hand to your friends, that could or could not have film experience, and let them shoot you? or will you be doing all the filming?

I don't want anyone else to touch it...

Now to the Lenses

I was going to buy tamron 17-50 right when I bought the body

then possibly a 50 mm

after that I might buy a sigma 10-20

last I would invest in a 70-200, some sort of telephoto

any thoughts on those?

thanks for any help!

 
Canon EOS 60D (body only) is a little under $1000 body only. im not sure how it compares to their other models (t4i, t3i) in terms of photographs, but i think it has the same sensor for video.if you were 100% photos, im sure a lot of people would recommend the 40d.

 
man up and go 100% photos with either a 1dIIN or 5d classic. both are sick cameras, the 1dIIn will murder sports, and the 5dc is full frame
 
If you're looking to spend $1k on a body, you're best bet might be alport's 7d.

Now time for professor jaime to talk about sensor sizes.

 
You would absolutely NEVER EVER EVER buy any of those camera's to shoot photos. Maybe a 60d, but trust me, I owned one and it was nothing stellar in the photo department. The problem with adding video to a dslr is you either sacrifice a lot of photo performance, or end up spending a lot. I bought a 60d last fall thinking I was going to do about the same ratio as you, I maybe used video once, and then I was hooked on photography. For that 10% it's not really worth it.

As Jamie said, the 5dc (I currently own) and 1d2n (many on here have owned) are both amazing cameras that can be had for well under 1k, I got my lightly used 5d for $650 with a grip. Now, the 5d's burst is pathetic and the AF is slow as can be, but from the sounds of it you aren't shooting sports (no skiing) so definitely consider it. The 1d2n is fast as can be, 8fps, good files for an 8mp camera; Dan Carr was printing billboard size with his, so don't even worry that 8mp won't be enough, he kept it and skipped the 1d3 (known to have af issues).

Another great option is the xxD line, particularly the 40d. Of the entire line I and a lot of other photographers feel that it is by far the best bang for your buck photo dslr period. $350-$500 will get you a good-great copy and not much more for a grip. It's fast, durable, files are great, and it'll give you way more to spend on lenses. You can't go wrong with a 30d, 50d, or even a 10/20d, they are all amazing, I just feel that the 40d is the best of the bunch.

One thing to note is that each of those three cameras I mentioned all have different sensor sizes in ratio to 35mm film. The 5d is what is known as full frame, so it has the same size sensor as 35mm film. The 1d2n has a slightly smaller aps-h, or 1.3x crop sensor, so the effective focal length is multiplied by 1.3. The 40d has an aps-c, or 1.6x crop sensor. Know what that really effects is your lens choice.

sensorsizes_355x238.gif


If your shooting on a full frame body, lenses made for crop cameras will vignette when used. Generally cheaper lenses are made for use with aps-c cameras. I would first pick which body you want, and then from there look at lenses. If you go for a 40d, you'll need an ultra wide angle like a 11-16mm or 10-20mm because 17mm which is incredibly wide on a 5d, will be around 28mm on a crop body. All the lenses you mentioned above are great glass, it's just most of them will only work with crop bodies. Just read the specs on a lens and see if it says for crop or for full frame and crop dslrs. I know canon refers to their crop lenses as EF-S lenses, and full frame lenses are just EF.

Anyways hope all that helps, message me if you have any more questions. Good luck man, can't wait to see your photos!

Zack.
 
Oh, I'd also look into Micro 4/3's camera, they are incredibly compact, and despite having a 'tiny', half of full frame sensor, the image quality is fantastic. The difference between that and a Canon/Nikon DSLR is that they don't have a mirror, so instead of an optical viewfinder you are using an electronic one. I personally much prefer the first, but I know that the quality on EVF's these days keeps getting better and doesn't seem to be a big issue at all like it used to be. Great lens selections as well. Olympus and Panasonic seem to be making the best products, I know a lot of Panasonic lenses are made by LEICA!!!!!!!
 
Prices are going down on this one in anticipation of the D7100. I think it's a great choice: excellent dynamic range (matches full frame cameras), large viewfinder, plays well with older lenses. It is a camera geared towards photo, with the option to shoot video.

Given your budget, I'd skip the Rebel and D3200/D5000 range completely.

I'd be careful with the Canon 60D and 7D because that sensor is really old and for photography the results are not nearly as good as competing systems. If you want to go with Canon, I'd wait for them to update these cameras and see how the new sensor fares.

The Olympus OM-D is a very attractive system if size is an issue for you. If size is not an issue, you will get more for your money with a DSLR.

If you'd go with Nikon, I'd recommend having a look at a second hand Nikon 17-55 f/2.8 over the Tamron. This Nikon lens is absolutely incredible. It is pretty large, built as a pro lens, but it's such a step up from other zoom lenses.

Consider that a 50mm lens is not a 50mm on a crop sensor. It will behave like a 80mm on a Canon 7D, and like a 75mm on a Nikon D7000. There are some 50mm equivalent options like the Sigma 30mm and the Nikon 35mm.

I'd also choose a Tokina 11-16 over a Sigma 10-20.
 
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