Help in choosing the dSLR body (system)

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Archive 2009 · Help in choosing the dSLR body (system)

qbazdz
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p.1 #1 · Help in choosing the dSLR body (system)

Hi All!

I decided to register and post my thoughts here, as well as asking for some help with making my decision into my dSLR.

Let's start with my needs.
I am not a pro, yet I would like to make money by taking pictures in a future.

I love taking landscapes and combined with a normal 'fammily' type of photos I would like to choose the right body (system) for me.
I can find suitable lenses in both Canon and Nikon.

What pictures I would take: (in order of priority)
1. Landscapes
2. Portraits (my family etc, street photos, concerts)
3. Sports (mainly ice-hockey)

I know that I need a wide angle lens and some primes. I love natural low light conditions and don't want to use the flash when possible.

I can afford the d700 or 5D Mark II but I can't stop thinking about D300 and 5D...
If I buy the expensive body (d700/5d2) I will only be able to afford one lens for the start (d700 with either 50 1.4G or 35 1.4G DX and 50 1.4 or 35 f2 with Canon) while getting d300 means buying probably 2 lenses or one, but more expensive. Old 5D gives me ability to buy 17-40 L or 16-35 L which I want for my landscapes.

There is plenty of options and I just cant pick one...
Auto ISO on Nikon is great, AF on Nikon is great but Canon has great L primes...
5D seems fine for my needs but I can't buy it with warranty

d300 is great but IQ doesn't satisfy me entirely as well as I would have to buy some DX lenses for it..

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Nov 20, 2009 at 01:20 PM

JohnBrose
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p.1 #2 · Help in choosing the dSLR body (system)

Well, the d300 is a smaller sensor format so I wouldn't compare that to the 5d's. You should be debating that one verses the 7d or 50d. The differences between Nikon and Canon are very small and I think it comes down to ergonomics and lens offerings. Nikon lenses are a bit higher also, but Canon keeps raising prices so it's getting closer. I personally like Canon cameras better and would suggest the 7d if you want a cropped sensor or 5dmk2 if you want full frame. If money is tight on the 5d, I would get the body and the 24-70 lens first. If you go cropped sensor, get the 7d with the 10-22 and the 24-70 and if you have $ left over maybe get a prime or one of the 70-200 lenses for sports. I would guess the 7d as a bit more of an all-around camera.

Nov 20, 2009 at 01:41 PM

Xavier Rival
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p.1 #3 · Help in choosing the dSLR body (system)

A 5D with 24-105L and 17-40L should work very well for your needs. Of course, you should better get a low mileage one purchased from a serious seller, if you are worried about the lack of warranty.

Nov 20, 2009 at 01:49 PM

Awasos23
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p.1 #4 · Help in choosing the dSLR body (system)

I agree; if you want a lower priced entry into the Full frame world, the 5d is your ticket. I do think however that it might fall short in shooting sports. Note however I'm just going off of what others have said, not off of personal experience.

Nov 20, 2009 at 02:40 PM

qbazdz
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p.1 #5 · Help in choosing the dSLR body (system)

Hmm. How bad is it AF performance for sports than?
I just did a quick price comparison and it looks like this:
- d700 + 50 1.4G ~1950gbp
- 5D Mk2 + 50 1.4USM ~2000gbp

- 7D + 50 1.4USM + 85 1.4 USM + Tokina 11-16 - ~1650gbp !!!

Money is not an issue really, but I would rather spend less at the beginning so 2k is a max.

Nov 20, 2009 at 02:49 PM

sunpole
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p.1 #6 · Help in choosing the dSLR body (system)

get used 5D + 35L to start

Nov 20, 2009 at 03:47 PM

plubbry
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p.1 #7 · Help in choosing the dSLR body (system)

Unless your budget will permit you to get additional lenses in the near future, I would be inclined to get a less expensive body and get good quality glass. I would personally much prefer getting a Canon 7D or Nikon D300/D300s and getting a number of lenses than getting a 5D II or D700 and a single lens.

To clarify, Nikon's DX lenses are designed for their DX (cropped sensor) bodies and while you can mount them and use them on their FX bodies (D700, D3, etc) they usually will not adequately cover the entire sensor.

Nov 20, 2009 at 05:07 PM

SAng
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p.1 #8 · Help in choosing the dSLR body (system)

If you haven't already, go to a store and handle the bodies in person for a while. There are differences in the approach to ergonomics that each company has taken and while most people can adapt easily enough to either, some folks end up finding it's a bigger deal for them. Also check out the LCD display and menu system.

Nov 20, 2009 at 05:22 PM

andrewd01
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p.1 #9 · Help in choosing the dSLR body (system)

I would seriously consider getting a low mileage used camera. A number of models have changed recently and it seems that there's a flood of bargains on the market. This opens up the option of getting a pro body, which you would certainly appreciate for sports shooting. Canon 1DmkIIn is an absolute steal at current market prices.

Nov 20, 2009 at 05:36 PM

qbazdz
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p.1 #10 · Help in choosing the dSLR body (system)

I don't think that I should have any troubles buying more lenses, but it wouldn't be for another year or year and a half. I was planning to get the wide angle next (after 50mm prime for FF).

I checked the cost of d300s and the price just keeps going down. Almost 1100gbp now.

35 1.4G DX work brilliant on FF up to f4 which is not a problem for me. At the end of the day its a low light prime so I would shoot pretty much wide open.

I don't mind Nikon nor Canon designs. I want something of the size of d300 at least as it feels solid in my fairly big hands and any entry level just feels like plastic c**p.
Even my good old Fuji s6500fd feels better than some of the low cost bodies.

Nov 20, 2009 at 07:07 PM

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