Camera Advice

Macland

Macland

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EDIT: Now that I've bought my camera I'd like this thread to be a catch all for advice questions you may have about camera equipment. No need to start a thread for each person needing advice.

A big thank you for everyone that offered me advice and continue to offer advice in this thread.




Ok so I'm in the market for a nice DSLR camera. I'm mulling over my options and am still trying to learn what's best in a camera.

I like this Sony NEX 5-N It's gonna run over $800 after a lens so I'm only interested in this one for the advanced technology and slim design. Well and the specs.

NEX5NKB.png


and I found that newegg.com is doing a deal on this Canon Rebel
This one is showing $449 as a special for either black Friday or cyber Monday.

30-120-506-Z02
 
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NismoFire

NismoFire

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Canon makes a great point and shoot, but all of our DSLRs are Nikon.


I'm not sure the Sony pictured above is a DSLR, though...



What's your budget? That will determine what I tell you next.
 
Macland

Macland

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From what I've read up on that Sony it's got dslr features but not a true one. I'm looking to take amazing baby, wife, family, Xterra, and nature shots and would like to stick to $600 or so. It's an investment, so I'm definitely doing my research.

I'm a camera noob, currently using a point and shoot so I've been researching aperture, ISO, frame rates and all that jazz trying to get a handle on what features produce which results.
 
NismoFire

NismoFire

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Okay...doing all that research will do nothing but make your brain combust. Well, at least when it comes to ISO and aperture.


Canon makes a great camera, but you have to buy lenses specifically for that particular body. Nikon cameras are 90% interchangeable. Meaning that I can take the old 50mm lens off my mom's old Nikon film camera from 1980 and put it on my 2010 model Nikon DSLR. You wouldn't be able to do that with a Canon.


Based off of what you want to do, I'd stay away from that Sony unless they have a fairly wide ranged lens. My most commonly used lens is 18mm-135mm, followed closely by the 50mm. They both have different aperture ranges as well and produce completely different images.


I wanted a Canon until I found out about the lens thing. I have a photography business and have to change lenses frequently during shoots, and if I don't have one, my partner does. Canon produces a GREAT image, just like Nikon, but the convenience factor of the lenses was enough to send me to Nikon.
 
Macland

Macland

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NismoFire said:
Okay...doing all that research will do nothing but make your brain combust. Well, at least when it comes to ISO and aperture.


Canon makes a great camera, but you have to buy lenses specifically for that particular body. Nikon cameras are 90% interchangeable. Meaning that I can take the old 50mm lens off my mom's old Nikon film camera from 1980 and put it on my 2010 model Nikon DSLR. You wouldn't be able to do that with a Canon.


Based off of what you want to do, I'd stay away from that Sony unless they have a fairly wide ranged lens. My most commonly used lens is 18mm-135mm, followed closely by the 50mm. They both have different aperture ranges as well and produce completely different images.


I wanted a Canon until I found out about the lens thing. I have a photography business and have to change lenses frequently during shoots, and if I don't have one, my partner does. Canon produces a GREAT image, just like Nikon, but the convenience factor of the lenses was enough to send me to Nikon.
Click to expand...

Good to know. I'll have to see if I can find a decent deal on a Nikon. This would probably make it easier to find an aftermarket lens if I decide I need another one.
 
D

drbandkgb

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I'm a Nikon guy ;) I love my d80 even thought some one I know has a cool d90 hahaa. Canon is a great camera as well.. But to me. Nikon is the Lamborghini of them all


Sent from my iPhone that doesn't crash like the android did...
 
NismoFire

NismoFire

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drbandkgb said:
I'm a Nikon guy ;) I love my d80 even thought some one I know has a cool d90 hahaa. Canon is a great camera as well.. But to me. Nikon is the Lamborghini of them all


Sent from my iPhone that doesn't crash like the android did...
Click to expand...


...don't forget the D7000. ;)
 
NismoFire

NismoFire

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Well they're both pretty equal, but the 5100 is a slightly larger body (but not the full body like my D90 and D7000). The 3100 also has HD video...might want to go to Best Buy or something like that and put one in your hands before you decide 100%. I was looking at the smaller bodies until I put my hand around a D90. My hands aren't that small, so I liked the 90 better.
 
Macland

Macland

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NismoFire said:
Well they're both pretty equal, but the 5100 is a slightly larger body (but not the full body like my D90 and D7000). The 3100 also has HD video...might want to go to Best Buy or something like that and put one in your hands before you decide 100%. I was looking at the smaller bodies until I put my hand around a D90. My hands aren't that small, so I liked the 90 better.
Click to expand...

Well it'd be difficult for me to put my hands around one anytime soon. I live about 1 1/2 hours away from the nearest Best Buy so I don't think I could do that. I'm gonna do some more comparisons between those two models. Surely it's not just the size that's different.
 
NismoFire

NismoFire

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Wow....that's a pretty decent price for the T2i. Yeah, I'd pounce on it if it really does include the 2 lenses.
 
Macland

Macland

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So on SHDC cards. What's the advice ;) Gonna need to be able to record 1080p data quickly and all that. Found a 16GB class 10 for $19 here on newegg and another with the same specs here on amazon for $20.

I'm wondering if it's the brand or what that makes the difference. I'd actually prefer to go with the Amazon one since that's where I plan on buying the camera and I could lump it all together. Hope this thread helps more than just me in the future too.
 
Macland

Macland

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So I pulled the trigger. I was able to get my parents to jump for part of it as my wife and my Christmas present so that's making our part of the purchase much easier to swallow. Let's just say that two sittings with a "pro" *local* photographer would pay for our portion.

I went ahead and got this:
Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm IS II Lens + Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens
417tUlPp2%2BL._AA300_.jpg

and
SanDisk Extreme HD Video 16 GB SDHC Class 10 Memory Card (SDSDRX3-016G-A21)
51XFd5pMm%2BL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
 
NismoFire

NismoFire

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Sorry, buddy, I had to go get groceries so I wasn't at the computer..sounds like you got a good deal! Definitely format the card specifically to that camera, and use it SOLELY for that camera. Don't put it in your computer and save other documents on it- use it ONLY for the images produced in THAT camera. Trust me on this one.



Oh, and read the owner's manual. It will answer ANY question you have. I took mine to the bathroom with me every time for a month.
 
Macland

Macland

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NismoFire said:
Sorry, buddy, I had to go get groceries so I wasn't at the computer..sounds like you got a good deal! Definitely format the card specifically to that camera, and use it SOLELY for that camera. Don't put it in your computer and save other documents on it- use it ONLY for the images produced in THAT camera. Trust me on this one.



Oh, and read the owner's manual. It will answer ANY question you have. I took mine to the bathroom with me every time for a month.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice! I'd give you rep but I've gotta spread it around ;)

I've got a 4GB for my point and shoot that stays in it and only transfers files from it to the computer. I'd never even thought about using it as a dedicated SD card though. I'll remember to leave the small one in that camera and use this new one only for the Rebel. And I'll learn to format it while "reading" in the lou :distracted:

LOL! @ your advice for the owners manual though.
 
Macland

Macland

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SW OK & formerly Eastern NM
I'd been checking out Pinterest for ideas with photography and after reading this chica's blog I decided I needed the better camera. She's very educated. Pt. 1 Pt. 2 and the slideshow that made my decision easier.

These kinds of pics look like they'd be fun to shoot.
99219998010116199_hmNm5LX3_c.jpg

99219998010126883_elnTo1Uj_c.jpg
 
NismoFire

NismoFire

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Macland said:
Thanks for the advice! I'd give you rep but I've gotta spread it around ;)

I've got a 4GB for my point and shoot that stays in it and only transfers files from it to the computer. I'd never even thought about using it as a dedicated SD card though. I'll remember to leave the small one in that camera and use this new one only for the Rebel. And I'll learn to format it while "reading" in the lou :distracted:

LOL! @ your advice for the owners manual though.
Click to expand...



Hahaha, no problem. :D
 
RATTFINK

RATTFINK

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I love my Nikon D60. No video though.

Look into getting a Lowepro camera bag, instead of a Canon or Nikon bag.

Sent from my HTC Thunderbolt thru Time and Space, using Tapatalk.
 
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NismoFire

NismoFire

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Yeah, definitely don't get a back that SCREAMS "Hey, there's a $1000 worth of photography equipment in here!"


Karen and I both have Tamrac backpacks for our cameras.
 
NismoFire

NismoFire

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TP for the library in the bathroom. ;)


Just read the manual....and check out KEN ROCKWELL's website for all things Nikon. Seriously. He takes the manual and translates it to common English.
 
NismoFire

NismoFire

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Yep yep. I want a bigger one to fit both bodies and all our lenses in, but they're freakin expensive. $200+ for the one I want.
 
AZhiAZiAM

AZhiAZiAM

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Fresno,CA
Macland

Macland

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AZhiAZiAM said:
so like many of us, im looking to get into photography with my job and some traveling/ driving i do it be cool to capture some stuff. looking around and could anyone tell me if this is a decent deal. remember im a COMPLETE camera noob i only do point and 1hand shoot currently with some pos digital camera now.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Nikon+D...?id=pcmprd177900050011&skuId=9999178500050011

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Nikon+D...?id=pcmprd181600050010&skuId=9999182100050010
Click to expand...

Looks good to me, but I'm definitely still a noob too.
 
ChiXterra

ChiXterra

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If there is anything I have learned about platforms, is that Nikon and Canon rule to the roost. And, there is a reason for that. Olympus would be a distant third. All others are just kind of "there". My first DSLR was a D3100, and I quickly upgraded to D7000, which is what I am still shooting.
 
D

drbandkgb

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Im Nikon thru and thru...

My survey EDM
599019_10150855991231596_978325289_n.jpg





And I love my D80.. I must say I do miss [h=1]Minolta[/h]
 
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