I’m finally looking to bite the bullet and move up in camera. I have 2 children under 4, and trying to take their pictures with a point and shoot is getting to be almost impossible. They will both be starting sports pretty soon, and I’m beginning to take more and more wildlife (bird) photos, so I think it’s time to pull the trigger on a Digital SLR.
Now, I can probably go as high as $1500, which means I top out at the newest “enthusiast” offerings: Canon EOS 60D, or Nikon D7000. That being said, am I, as a relative beginner, going to be wasting my money on something in that price point? Would I be better knocking it down a notch, and looking at something like the Nikon D3100 or D90? Maybe the Canon equivalent (T2i, maybe)?
I’d like to have something I can grow into, though. Also, I plan on spending some money learning to properly use whatever I buy, if that makes a difference.
If you spend less on the camera body, then you have more to spend on lenses, and a lens or two costing $200 to $500 will give you more bang for your money than spending an equivalent on improving the body, e.g., the difference between the Canon 60D and the Canon T2i. I have the Canon T1i, and I’m very happy with it – and I have one lens which is worth about as much as the body (the EF-S 10-22mm lens).
That’s a very good point. The main reason I mentioned price was to convey that I’m (obviously) not ready to take the next step up in camera to the professional models. I could probably go as high as $2,500 (total), if need be.
You might want to consider a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. I don’t really have any experience with them, but this article in the times caught my eye. I hadn’t even heard of them before.
Unless size is a major issue I don’t think the EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder, Interchangeable Lenses) cameras are worth it. And, you can get a good used DSLR body cheaper, giving you more money to spend on lenses, which is what you want to do.
Yes, those EVIL cameras look like fitting in an interesting niche, but personally I’m not too worried about the weight of a DSLR, and the EVIL camera bodies don’t seem any cheaper than a DSLR body. What would make an interesting product would be Nikon or Canon making an EVIL camera body that you could use with existing DSLR lenses, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Canon and Nikon wouldn’t benefit much from producing those cameras, as they will simply cut into the DSLR sales where they maintain a big advantage. The camera makers who’ve made the EVILs are Panasonic and Samsung, who don’t have a significant DSLR product, and Sony who seems to produce at least one of everything that comes along.
I’ve just gone through a lot of this myself and the Dope was very helpful. You’re looking to do something very different than I am (sports vs. theatre photography) so some of it won’t apply, but this site was very helpful to me in selecting a camera and a couple lenses.
Based on my reading over the last couple weeks, since what you’re doing will often be in sunlight or well-lit gymnasiums, you may as well buy a used camera; the main advantage to newer bodies is the somewhat better performance at low light levels. Lots of good used cameras available on Amazon and Adorama.com.
Thanks, appleciders. I read that thread yesterday and it prompted me to start this one.
While a lot of folks are helping with “bang for the buck”, I’m a bit more concerned with ease if use and the learning curve associated with a slightly higher-level camera.
My wife bought the 60D just last week and she loves it. She also bought the 18-200mm lens which is fairly versatile but quite bulky.
She is a novice as well, and whilst she claims she’ll take some classes, etc, I tend to doubt it until I actually see it.
That being said, one of the reasons she bought the 60D as opposed to anything higher up the camera food chain is that it has a lot of automatic features that supposedly make is easier to point and shoot. She also likes the little pop out lcd screen. Overall she seems very happy with it and when she gets the framing right the pictures look amazing. They really pop with tons of detail and great colours.
I’ve taken over a million frames and have owned 30-40 bodies, four of whom cost more that $4,000 each. I have never been more impressed than the Canon 50d. Admittedly, I’m not much of a gear geek though.
In your budget area, I’d recommend something like a Canon T2i and a 24-105mm f4 “L” lens - this is the same lens I have as an everyday “walkaround” and it’s a very nice piece of glass. You can find it for a bit under $1100. It’s a pro quality lens so there’s lots of “grow into” capacity. My camera is an XSi. I’ve had this combo for a year and a half now and have been very happy.
Good glass is eternal - the electronics and “gee-whiz” features on the camera bodies will change every year with each new model line.
We looked at the 7D as well, but the very minor differences didn’t cut it (mainly the faster shutter speed). Also the 60D is lighter and has more automation. Plus the nifty pull out screen.
If you’re going to be shooting sports at night or indoors, or birds at dawn/dusk, you’re going to want fast glass (f 2.8 or lower). A really fast zoom lens is pricey! I’d go for the more basic camera body so you’ll have money left over for at least one really good fast telephoto zoom lens. You’ll get better pictures using s $500 camera body and a $1000 lens than you’ll get with a $1000 body and a $500 lens.
As to the brand to choose: get the one that feels best in your hands, and has a menu system/button layout that you find easy to understand. All DSLRs these days are fine, capable cameras; you rally can’t go wrong with any of them. Let ergonomics be the deciding factor in your choice.
