The Answer “look at what Cannon’s got is ALSO an acceptable response at the point.”
Defining Criteria:
-I have a Sony DSC-HX1 for the wife, low light, and HiDef recording. Does some neat panoramic stuff, Video is substandard a specific use case (described below) and does not provide enough manual control.
-I have an iPhone 4s which is the go-to, always have, device. I’m VERY happy with it’s output, considering its the camera you have when you need a camera.
-I have a Nikon D50 with it’s kit lens, and an ED 28-200 short zoom (1:3.5-5.6), I occasionally use a full manual speedlight to complement it’s on-camera flash. It’s taken 5000 exposures in it’s life in my care.
Looking at modern DSLR’s it looks like tech has advanced enough to warrant looking around. The big sticky point with Nikon is their dividing line between motor-in-body and motor-in-lens systems.
I’m most interested in low light Video capture, in addition to all the other geegaws. Once a year, we have a Halloween event where a rented Prime Lens would be AWESOME as all previous attempts at low light video have been…unsatisfying.
The contenders:
Nikon 7000, body only. $1500-ish. Pro: Reuse my existing glass, motor-in-body focusing. CONS: More than I want to spend, New consumer lenses have anti-vibration features.
Nikon 5100 kit from Costco ($1000). Pros: Short and long Zooms, modern glass. Reviews seem generally positive. Cons: Body is not as stout as the D50, I’m stuck with good and marginal glass with the D50 I can’t use (auto-focus not supported) I have no idea how modern prosumer kit glass stands up against older Pro line ED glass.
Nikon 1? Unknown. The whole different size, lenses, etc are unnerving. I wouldn’t say I’m annoyed with the lack of control the Sony gives me…more that I’m accepting of things I cannot change. The next camera needs to have good manual controls.
Cannon - Now would be the time to jump ship for the ‘other’ major brand. I’m still looking at the Kilobuck range.