Posted on 05/15/2013 6:26:58 PM PDT by usconservative
Not sure but this may be my first "vanity" thread since joining in 1998. In any case, I know there's folks on here who are deeply involved in photography and know lots about camera's and digital camera's -- something of which I know about zero.
I'm taking the better half on her dream vacation this summer to Alaska for her birthday. We have a small 12mp digital pocket camera, but are thinking we'd really need something better (better zoom, image stabilization for example) for some nice nature pic's.
I've been reading up on different camera's from SLR to DSLR and am frankly lost at this point. I don't know what I *should* buy as a good "starter" camera for taking nice pictures.
Our camera experience is limited to PHD (Push Here Dummy) camera's, although I've recently had some experience with a Nikon DSLR (?) Camera taking pictures at a charity event a few weeks ago. Received alot of compliments on the pictures. Don't remember the model of the camera I used, but it was pretty easy. Had a big zoom lens and auto-focus. Not much of a 'step up' from the PHD camera's we're used to.
I'm thinking most of the pictures we'll be taking will be of the Alaska scenery from ground and air (we have a plane tour and a helicopter ride to a glacier for lunch scheduled) and some whale watching as well.
Budget for a camera is $500-$750. Ease of use is key, zoom capability I'm guessing 30x - 40x.
I have a Costco membership and they're 15 minutes down the road from me. I'll check their inventory online tomorrow and see if they have it. If so, I'll swing by on my way home from work and check it out --- thanks!
The D3200 starts at about $600 in most stores although the list price is $100 more. The D5200 a couple hundred more.
Both cameras have 24.5 megapixil sensors and both perform well, remarkably well in low light situations with ISO’s to 12800. The kit lens is usually an 18mm to 55mm zoom but other kits include a very nice 18mm to 105mm that will fill 90% of you needs. It won't provide the 200 to 300 zoom you were talking about but you can more than make up for it in cropping ability with the large sensor. For landscapes you really need the smaller number or wider angle anyway. The basic kit lens has vibration control built into it along with very fast automatic focus.
Both cameras are ready to click the shutter as soon as you turn them on. There is simply no lag. It clicks the instant you push the shutter release and both cameras have incredible video ability including full HD and even a slow motion mode that clocks in at 60 frames per second.
If you are a Photo Shop user they both have a Raw output along with 3 levels of JPEG. They take industry standard SD memory cards. They both have remote infrared sensors for remote shutter control and both can use an inexpensive add on device to allow you to control many of the camera features remotely via an Ipad or Android tablet or phone.
There are better cameras for more money but at your price these two will be VERY hard to beat. I've used them and they are simply fantastic.
I am the son of pro photog and grew up with cameras and developing film. Moved to digital a decade ago and I love my Canon G9 Powershot, great little camera with a lot of SLR type settings in addition to "dummy" point and shoot.
The D3200 replaced the D3100. It has gone way up on the pixel count (I have to keep reminding myself that I shouldn’t make a choice based on pixel count but the POP Photo tests, the D-3200 produced an incredible amount of resolution all the way up to ISO 6400 and decent quality a way higher than that.
Basically just the latest updates etc. with the 3200.
I always stick to my Canons as well. Both film and digital units have usually done me well.
I’ve had the 20D, 50D, T3i, and 60D over the years and am looking at probably a 7D after some other expenses are done with.
I do more video than phots since I used to be a television person. Most of my video is stock submissions and some youtube stuff once in a while. A good body is half but the glass is the other half. I have (all Canon) 70- 300, 70-200, 28-135, and 100 mm fixed macro.
Every now and then I pick up a paying photo gig (usually a 5K or mudrun race) to justify owning the gear in addition to whatever I make in stock which varies from a little to a few hundred bucks.
A fair amount of my stuff from all the Canons can be found on this page to links to various galleries.
http://tysonneil.com/page10.php
Here is what is going to blow you budget:
You will need a decent telephoto zoom lens. Otherwise you will get a lot of sharp photos with very small subject matter. I would also say to but a polarizing filter (it will reduce the glare and bring out what little color there may be a frozen environment, You need to rotate the polarizer to its most effective angle for the direction you are shooting, so if you get a lens where the barrel rotates when auto-focusing, it will be a real problem for quick shots.
Personal recommendation Canon EOS Rebel T3i (might be a T4i now).
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thefrugalfilmmaker/
You can ask point-blank, and they’ll tell you.
The top pro’s there are probably “Nitsan” from London, and then there’s Sean Scarfo from Florida (more an audio guy, but a genius), and then there is another pro genius from Berlin, uh....Lucas.
And whatever you buy keep your eyes peeled for the (tiny but mind-blowing) “Black Magic Pocket Cinema” camera, which is $995 but you can get on the waiting list at B&H Photo, online.
It can be shoved in a pants pocket but has resolution 400% greater than 1080p, m’kay?
Not out yet, but cheap as hell, and it will be out in about 4 months, I think...
You could shoot and project in CINEMA QUALITY on a huge screen a full movie.
“If I want to zoom in from the ship to the shore (we’re taking an Alaskan Cruise from Vancouver up to near Anchorage with 2 days in Denali National Park) what type of lens do I need? Or are ship to shore pic’s out of the question due to distance or the lens being too expensive?”
The 55-200mm of the Nikon kit combined with the 1.5x crop factor of its sensor yields a real-world zoom range of 82.5-300. Now, when you combine that with the 24 megapixel sensor (easily capable of 16”x20” prints without enlarging the picture), you can take an image at full zoom (even if it’s just a tiny area in the frame) and crop to a decent (4”x6” or 5”x7” print) without much, if any, any quality loss. That’s where the megapixels matter: the higher the resolution, the less you lose when you crop. Here’s an example of what I’m talking about...
http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/d3200/features01.htm
Canon fan also, primarily because I've built up a substantial investment in lenses. Otherwise, Canon or Nikon would be my favorites. Both have great cameras, lenses, and accessories.
You'd be nitpicking to pick one over the other in general. Each brand has their strengths, but I wouldn't expect any significant weaknesses.
Currently, in the Canon realm, low-cost bodies include the T3i, T4i, and I think the T5i is out now. There's also a new, tiny SL1 body. Any of those coupled with an 18-55 zoom and a 55-250 or 70-300 zoom would make a great travel/starting kit.
If you've already made a glass investment in one brand or another, you might consider going with that brand (if compatible) for you camera body so that you can use your other lenses with it.
A couple more good sites...
http://www.fredmiranda.com (decent forum)
http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/ (also a good forum, biased towards Canon users)
I’ve had a Canon Eos Rebel T2i for a couple of years that I use primarily mounted on a tripod for product photography, but it works very well in the wild, too. Been quite happy with it. Likely still haven’t explored all the capabilities of it.
I’ve been admiring the Nikon D5100, though. Pretty close to the really high dollar units as far as specs but less than $1,000 with a package including lense. Seems to be hitting that “pro-sumer” hotspot better than anyone else at present.
BTW, I shoot professionally with the Canon 5D MkIII, but that’s just a tad outside your stated budget. ;)
I am another pro, but I’m 64 years-old. The odds are that you have seen my work. OK, enough of that.
I have a lot of high end gear, but wanted something for kicking around. Just last month I purchased an incredible camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200.
The Lens is incredible: 25-600mm zoom!! F 2.8 for the entire length!!!!
image stabilized! NO other camera will give you better low-light photos.
Pictures are good, Video is incredible. Dummy (automatic) buttons and an exposure system that amazed me.
Get an extra battery.
Do any of these modern DSLRs take old Mamiya Sekor lenses?
I am not that active on FB anymore but I found that group and joined. Thank you. Tomorrow if all goes well I am planning to do some of my first actual greenscreen stuff with an actress for some stock submissions.
There is a guy in another county who rents out makeshift studio space very reasonably where I plan on going. My main handicap is having no real space to do studio work. What times I have rigged a green screen outside anywhere, the wind always causes problems no matter how much I tape and tie down. I have a very large screen and stand from Amazon that was really discounted and have been wanting to use it.
Sorry, but those three things don't go together. A DSLR and lens with such capability is going to be expensive, heavy and not easy to use. My suggestion is to get a good consumer superzoom camera. Professional photographers often carry such cameras when they are on vacation. Don't ruin your big trip by having to lug around heavy photography equipment. Invest your money in flash cards and maybe some way to back them up so you don't lose your precious pictures. Here's a start for browsing cameras.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Point-Shoot-Cameras/ci/8612/N/4288586279
Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... what? Computers, Cars, Electronics, Amateur Radio I know. Camera's you have to talk to me like a third grader about. ;-)
I bookmarked the Lumix FZ200. I will keep it mind for a travel camera. Thanks!
The Pentax will but you will need an adapter. Fortunately they have been making screw mount to K-mount adapters for probably 35 years. I assume they are still making them.
I really don’t think adapters are all that good an idea unless you have a lens which is unusually sharp. They all or nearly all require manual everything.
I do have a couple of interesting high quality adapters which adapt an old Minolta MD or MC lens to Maxxum mount. They are also teleconverters. One is a 1.4X and the other is a 2X. These are high quality with 7 elements. They will also retain some auto functions. The bad news is nearly every Maxxum or Sony Camera has a different way to set the camera for using these lenses. Minolta was supposedly working on one of those adapters which would even turn those old Minolta MD or MC lenses to AF with the 2X adapter.
Good Lord. Some people here think the Apple vs. PC debates were bad, and you’re going to start on Nikon vs. Canon?
:)
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