ISO: Digital Camera
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- rainman
Getting back into photography... wanted to get opinions on digital cameras. Price is flexible... though probably nothing over $2-3k. Looking for something that takes good action shots, shoots video well, and does well in low light.
Size doesn't matter... though its gotta feel good in my hands. ;)
Or... direct me to some good threads... I couldn't find anything very current.
- adumbratesly0
Canon 5D Mk.II, hands down best investment I've made in camera hardware - has paid for itself many times.
- <adumbratesly
- I'm just a hobbyist and I love this camera quite a bit.CyBrainX
- I HATE the autofocusepigraph
- nikdaum0
low light would suggest full frame, and if you're going that direction there aren't many options out there in that price range other than the excellent 5DmkII
- aldebaran0
Is this your first DLSR? How long have you been shooting?
If this is your first camera don't bother spending money on full frame, as you simple don't need it yet.
- jaylarson0
if you have bigger hands look at nikon. if you have smaller hands, try canon.
- sherm0
low light in my opinion means manual focusing and thats really any camera with a lens and a wide aperture 1.2-1.8 etc.
if you want a good sturdy body, I'd say the 5D2 also because I have seen mine take a fall very recently (my heart stopped) and needless to say i'm not at the store replacing it right now.
- SteveJobs0
is ISO a pun? either way, i like it
- Iogout0
i need a new digital camera. i've never had a dslr before, but ideally i want one that is overkill for my needs and costs a lot of money. most crucially, i want people that have also bought cameras that are way beyond their needs to endorse it and recommend it to me.
i also want the same for a lens. i have heard that the lens should be "tack sharp." i want my lens to be "tack sharp" so i can post on flickr. can anyone help me?
(@rainman: this isn't directed at you :D you should listen to aldebaran - spend your money on a canon t3i, and save the rest of your money until you're certain of what else you want)
- registe0
you could buy a canon mk I used and invest more in lenses, it's 50 to 16000 iso i think, no where near the megapixels but depending on your end use needs, the price difference may be the price of an L lens. though in reality the difference between video or not is a no brainer.
- adumbratesly0
don't pussy foot around - spend the money - you buy a t3i or equivalent you'll be happy for bit... buy a 5D Mk.II and you'll be happy a long time... whatever you decide to do be prepared to commit to one body type and stay there - once you are in it is very expensive to get out...
- yea I started with an XTi and now its like a paperweight. so I agree.sherm
- HAHAHAHAHA adum.Iogout
- @logout " that are way beyond their needs" nope - fit right in with what I do...adumbratesly
- maybe so adum, but consider the original request here.Iogout
- sure, looks like he has a substantial initial budget - 5D Mk.II is a good fit based on what he was looking for...adumbratesly
- aldebaran0
You can get last years model of any of the digital rebels for dirt cheap. Like $600 cheap. That will last you long enough to get a feel for it, and then make a more informed decision as to if you need to spend the extra cash on full frame.
*my 2cents after YEARS of seeing people buy full frame cameras and never use them to their fullest potential.
- ok_not_ok0
If you don't want to be mistaken for a paparazzo get yourself a Leica.
- vaxorcist0
try before you buy.... and practice a LOT....
For some jobs in the last few years, I've shot Canon 5D mark 1, 5D mark 2, both were great for most things except NOT for low-light follow focus AF, just google "5D mark II autofocus problem".. your low-light ISO is great, but AF is often off, especially with the 70-200 F2.8 IS, the lens most likely to be used in this circumstance.....
I did love the video on the 5D mark II, but found it's shallow depth of field requiring very, very careful production, especially as the monitor-output is not 1080P, so even on a large monitor it's harder to judge focus than I'd like when shooting 70-200 F2.8 fairly close at F2.8, in low light... which is the main reason I used this thing for video...
I currently shoot Nikon, D7000 and a D3, love both, owning the D7000, borrowing / renting the D3.... the D7000 has similar low-light ISO to the 5D mark 1, but is crop-frame....
I just shot a music video with the D7000, it was much easier than the 5D mark II for me at least, as the monitor output was 1080P, and I can easily trust the focus without having to go back and check after each take.. note that delays like this may cause the talent to relax too much... you have to wake them up again for the next take....
RE: action shots....
NOTE that crop-frame is your friend for sports, as an 80-200 F2.8 becomes a 120-300 F2.8 which is GREAT, as 300mm F2.8 on a full-frame is a pricey, huge lens.... I'd rent it....
the D7000 has extremely good AF, almost as good as the D3, I've come to trust nikon's AF more and more the more I get used to it...
NOTE that the 75-300 F4-F5.6 lenses are USUALLY CRAP for sports, too slow, too slow to focus,etc.... but I haven't tried the newest ones....
For action work in good light, I've used a Nikon D300, amazingly good AF,covering most of the frame, and the follow-focus is very predictable.... but the D300 is not as great in higher ISO work as a D7000....
And of course....stop worring and try something, you can always return it....
For low-light work, a 50mm F1.8 is worth every penny of the small amount it costs you....
Budget a GOOD lens or two, especially some good prime, even a 50 1.8 or 85 1.8 can save your gig in low light....
I own nikon, but for some gigs I still borrow/rent Canon, whatever is right for the gig... in a controlled, setup environment, I LOVE the 5D mark II....in a less structured shoot, I love the Nikons....
- gold -> "and practice a LOT"adumbratesly
- which is why i said manual focus. autofocusing is too iffy in low light.sherm
- inteliboy0
Nikon D7000 seems like a perfect match for your budget. It's the best dslr in it's class and nikkor glass is excellent.
5dmkii is a classic, and full frame - I use this 90% time for work, but I dunno... feels more like a work and is a beast to lug around if you like to take travel/street photography.
Personally though- for personal/art/hobby photography I much rather a smaller camera, like the old days of 35mm. But then sensors sizes are always tiny with digital (m43 range)... a trade off is the Fuji x100 or some of the sony alphas and pentax k's are apparently small. Or an m9, but gotta pay rent!
- ^ shit just read vaxorcist post - what he said.inteliboy
- jaylarson0
really happy with mine, but it doesn't do video
get the 5d mkii if you really want video as full frame makes a huge difference.