Posted: 11/25/2011 10:13:34 AM EDT
| My wife has been hounding me about upgrading to a DSLR camera, I've been researching some but I still can't decide which way to go. Looking at Canon 60D or Canon 7D, with coupons I can get either at a great deals. So the question is which one, and what lens for them. We've messed around taking photographs for business and leisure and these seem like the next step, plus we had our first child 2 months a ago and this will be an investment for him as well. Need advice and direction...........thanks |
|
Quoted:
I'm a Nikon guy but the 7D is very nice. New Nikons are going to be out pretty soon, already would be but for the factory damage from the Thailand flooding. Lots of rumors about good stuff in the new D400. Then again, the D7000 does a whole lot of good stuff for a consumer type dSLR. I find the Nikon cameras a lot more intuitive on the controls, so easier to use. Canon makes nice cameras though too. There's some neat micro 4/3 stuff out there too. Just depends on what you want to get into, what lenses and such... lot more options with Canon, and tons more options with Nikon for the variety of lenses that are available, if you get a Nikon that can use MF lenses as well as both types of AF. http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d7000.htm Among the many things I love about the D7000, in addition to how much better and faster it handles than any other Nikon DSLR (and I also own a professional Nikon D3), is that the pictures I make with the D7000 simply look better than what I've ever gotten with any other digital camera.
I don't own a D7000 but I hear and read nothing but praise (raves, even) for their performance. Don't forget that a couple of good lenses will easily equal or exceed the cost of the camera, so need to get an idea of what you're wanting to do to really let you know where to do with lenses. Lenses are practically as bad, if not worse, than BRD. |
|
Quoted:
My wife has been hounding me about upgrading to a DSLR camera, I've been researching some but I still can't decide which way to go. Looking at Canon 60D or Canon 7D, with coupons I can get either at a great deals. So the question is which one, and what lens for them. We've messed around taking photographs for business and leisure and these seem like the next step, plus we had our first child 2 months a ago and this will be an investment for him as well. Need advice and direction...........thanks Nikon D7000. The 7D is too much camera for a 1st dslr (not to mention the added cost could go to more lenses). The 60D is a disappointment coming from the 50D. The D7000 is the best overall value on the market today. It isn't so expensive to price itself outside of the key market segment, but it isn't dumbed down to make itself obsolete once your skill develop to a moderate level. Unfortunately you just missed a great promotion from nikon that ended on the 19th (up to $400 discount on various lenses with the purchase of a DSLR.). Even without the discount you will still get a good deal with the D7000 and various nikon lenses. I's suggest the nikon 18-200MM VR II as a great all around lens (if you want to simplify setup from the get go). If you don't mind having multiple lenses then I'd go with the 18-105mm and 70-300mm VR |
|
Quoted:
I's suggest the nikon 18-200MM VR II as a great all around lens (if you want to simplify setup from the get go). If you don't mind having multiple lenses then I'd go with the 18-105mm and 70-300mm VR Both could be good suggestions, just depends what they are shooting. If they want to shoot "action", like kids at sporting events, they are wasting money on VR and instead should look at faster aperture glass and non-VR is less expensive. And plenty of good values in used non-stabilized lenses out there now. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I's suggest the nikon 18-200MM VR II as a great all around lens (if you want to simplify setup from the get go). If you don't mind having multiple lenses then I'd go with the 18-105mm and 70-300mm VR Both could be good suggestions, just depends what they are shooting. If they want to shoot "action", like kids at sporting events, they are wasting money on VR and instead should look at faster aperture glass and non-VR is less expensive. And plenty of good values in used non-stabilized lenses out there now. You are a bit off with your statement. While those 3 lenses may not be considered "fast", the only affordable lens in his budget that is considered "fast" (24-85mm) has a $744 msrp (~$670 street). That doesn't leave much room for a second lens. Obviously the used market give you more options, but you could get screwed over if you don't know what to look for when inspecting a used lens. Remember the skill of the photographer makes the biggest difference, better equipment just makes photography easier. ddillerdave, there are a few books I would suggest for you to read to give you a better idea of how to take better pictures and learn more about photography. http://www.amazon.com/Art-Photography-Approach-Personal-Expression/dp/1933952687/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322263374&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Nature-Outdoor-Photography-Revised/dp/0817439617/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1322263374&sr=8-4 |
|
Yea, I've got the 7D. Freaking hot rod of a DSLR. Don't do it for your first. It's a sports camera. Honestly, buy a good used 5D classic. They can be had for under a grand, and the image quality is far superior to the 7D. And it's full frame to boot. All the basic functions are there without too much confusion.
On the Canon forums you can find like new 5D's with very low shutter count. Now if you want video too, shop some of the lower end Canon's that offer that option. But the 7D is a little much for the beginner. BTW, I also shoot with the 5D mostly. My 7D spends most of it's live in the camera bag. |
|
Check here for refurbs:
http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/subCategory_10051_10051_-1_29252# |
|
Looking at DSLRs myself, I've never used anything but a point and shoot.
Looking at the refurb Canon T3i, will the 18-55 lens that comes With that unit be decent for close in work? I'm often trying to get a shot of some close detail that never comes out very good with a point n shoot. I'd like to have a zoom lens as well, but, might be happy with the zoom capability of the 18-55 lens. What would that translate into power? 2x, 5x, 10x? |
|
Quoted:
I'd like to have a zoom lens as well, but, might be happy with the zoom capability of the 18-55 lens. What would that translate into power? 2x, 5x, 10x? Lenses are not rated by "power", but by the range of their focal lengths. In this case the 18-55mm is a 3x zoom (55 / 18 = 3.0...). A good pairing for this lens would be a 70-300mm of some type. |
|
Quoted:
Looking at DSLRs myself, I've never used anything but a point and shoot. Looking at the refurb Canon T3i, will the 18-55 lens that comes With that unit be decent for close in work? I'm often trying to get a shot of some close detail that never comes out very good with a point n shoot. I'd like to have a zoom lens as well, but, might be happy with the zoom capability of the 18-55 lens. What would that translate into power? 2x, 5x, 10x? BestBuy has T3i packages right now that rival the refurb price. |
|
Quoted:
I'd like to have a zoom lens as well, but, might be happy with the zoom capability of the 18-55 lens. What would that translate into power? 2x, 5x, 10x? Canon T3i has a crop factor of 1.6 compared to "full frame" 35mm film size. A "normal" lens, as generally thought to be equivalent to normal human vision perspective so effectively 1x power, would be 50mm in full frame, or 31mm at the 1.6 crop factor of the T3i. So an 18-55 zoom is a wide angle up to 1.76 power (or thereabouts) on a T3i. 18-55 is a good lens for indoor shooting, events, family gatherings, that sort of thing. Quoted:
I'm often trying to get a shot of some close detail that never comes out very good with a point n shoot. What you want for really close up stuff is a macro lens. Nikon confuses the issue by calling theirs micro lenses instead. Depending on what it is you are shooting, how big it is and how close up you want to get you would likely want something in the range of a 50mm to 200mm macro lens... the better ones are fixed focal length, although there are some zooms that have passable macro capability for less critical work. |
|
Quoted:
Yea, I've got the 7D. Freaking hot rod of a DSLR. Don't do it for your first. It's a sports camera. Honestly, buy a good used 5D classic. They can be had for under a grand, and the image quality is far superior to the 7D. And it's full frame to boot. All the basic functions are there without too much confusion. On the Canon forums you can find like new 5D's with very low shutter count. Now if you want video too, shop some of the lower end Canon's that offer that option. But the 7D is a little much for the beginner. BTW, I also shoot with the 5D mostly. My 7D spends most of it's live in the camera bag. I'd say if the 7D is a bit much, so is the 5D. I'd look at the 60D or 50D if you can find it. ETA: Also, I'd recommend reading through this thread, but that's my opinion  http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_121/1101602_.html
|
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Yea, I've got the 7D. Freaking hot rod of a DSLR. Don't do it for your first. It's a sports camera. Honestly, buy a good used 5D classic. They can be had for under a grand, and the image quality is far superior to the 7D. And it's full frame to boot. All the basic functions are there without too much confusion. On the Canon forums you can find like new 5D's with very low shutter count. Now if you want video too, shop some of the lower end Canon's that offer that option. But the 7D is a little much for the beginner. BTW, I also shoot with the 5D mostly. My 7D spends most of it's live in the camera bag. I'd say if the 7D is a bit much, so is the 5D. I'd look at the 60D or 50D if you can find it. ETA: Also, I'd recommend reading through this thread, but that's my opinion http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_121/1101602_.html5D my be a bit much as far as being a pro camera, but its functions are basic. It is no more complicated than a consumer XTi os T2, etc... Very basic operation with pro results. The one drawback I forgot to mention is no pop up flash. Which is a good thing so one can learn proper flash techniques. |
|
I actually went out and bought myself a 7D today. Had been using a 350D and 18-55IS for almost 4 years and with the need to do some retail therapy, I did just that and treated myself to some shopping.
New setup will be Canon 7D 70-200 F/2.8 II IS 24-70 L IS 100MM Macro L IS 28-135 IS (likely will sell this or drop it on the 350D) I guess Christmas came early this year 
|
|
Quoted:
I actually went out and bought myself a 7D today. Had been using a 350D and 18-55IS for almost 4 years and with the need to do some retail therapy, I did just that and treated myself to some shopping. New setup will be Canon 7D 70-200 F/2.8 II IS 24-70 L IS 100MM Macro L IS 28-135 IS (likely will sell this or drop it on the 350D) I guess Christmas came early this year Now go try out those nice L lenses on a 5D and see what you are missing! I picked up my 7D two years ago now and tried out a 5D the next January. I've used my 7D two or three times since then. The beauty of the L glass is the edge to edge sharpness, less chromatic abberations for full frame bodys. You're only using part of your lens.
|