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Camera Recommendations

Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:09 pm

I'm in the process of looking for a new camera. Right now I have a Panasonic DMC-FZ7 and I like it. It has a pretty good zoom and I can take decent pictures with it. It's a step below an SLR camera. And I am looking for an SLR camera now. I like the control that you get (Plus I used to have a 35mm camera in the and loved it).

I've been looking at the Nikons and there seems to be a disparity of ranges. There is the F40~F80's, then the D200, D300 and D700 and there seems to be an upper end model. I'm pretty sure I don't want the upper end model (can't see myself paying that much for a camera). However the mid range ones intrigue me. Is there anyone here that has one of those and do you like them?

Does anyone have the Canon equivalents and how you do like them?

Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:23 am

I'm going to assume that you shoot ground-to-air stuff at airshows and stuff. That imposes the key constraints on the gear you buy.

You'll notice a huge difference in pic quality between what you have and even a low-end a DSLR. I sometimes use the Sony equivalent of your Panasonic, and the compactness, zoom length, and versatility are great -- especially with image stablization -- but the picture quality approximates that of old 110 or disc film. Fine for web posting and screensavers -- in fact, if all you want is to view pics on screen, almost as good as the top DSLRs -- but useless for any prints above 5x7.

The low-end DSLRs from both Nikon and Canon are pretty good. If your old film SLR was a good one, you'll recognize any DSLR for what it is -- not really a camera, but a cheaply built computer peripheral, engineered for a short life cycle -- but they capture decent images. Most airplane photogs choose Canon because Canon has specialized in long lenses since way back into the film days, and they offer the most to choose from, especially at the high end. If you buy a low- to medium-end Nikon or a Canon such as the latest Rebel XSi or 40D, you'll need a long lens that goes to at least 300mm to equal the reach of the zoom on your Panasonic. Cheap zoom lenses of, say, 75-300mm are available for these cameras but they are not great and most importantly they lack the image stablization that your Panasonic has, so your pics may have more motion blur. To get all of the versatility of your Panasonic with DSLR image quality, you'd have to move up into higher-end telephoto lenses with image stabilization, and you'll find Canon has more and better options. If you climb up into the higher level DSLRs with what are called "full frame" sensors (the size of a 35mm film image), you'll need an even longer lens, say 450mm or 500mm, and the cost really goes up.

Getting a good lens is probably smart, because it has a big impact on the quality of your image and you can use it through several generations of camera. Back in the film days the rule was to invest all your money in the glass and use cheap bodies, because any camera, under all the bells and whistles, was just a black box between the lens and the film. Nowadays, bodies incorporate sensors of varying quality so you have to pay more attention to the camera than before. Lenses still have a much longer lifespan than cameras, however, and should probably drive your choice of what system to get into.

Indeed, as described in this NY Times article last week, some digital photographers are discovering that lenses made decades ago for film cameras are better and much cheaper that the latest ones, and there is a cottage industry of adapters to fit them on DSLRs. This route is not for everyone because you have to give up image stablization, autofocus, and other significant features of your camera, but it does to the point that a good lens, unlike most modern cameras, essentially can serve you forever.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/11/techn ... asics.html

August

Fri Sep 19, 2008 8:27 am

August,

Have you had any experience in adapting a Canon FD-300mm 1:2.8 L lens, to a DSLR?

I have a Canon 30D and a 40D, and I have this FD-300, that I would like to use. I read the article that you pointed to above, and I have done a little research on adaptors, but I have yet to find a definitive answer to the question of finding the correct adaptor.

Any help will be appreciated.


Saludos,


Tulio

Sat Sep 20, 2008 10:16 am

Canon is coming out with the 50D in Oct. It sounds like it might be worth the wait. But that will and has made the 40D more within the reach of some of us.

Canon seems to have a great range of lenses to choose from. That is why I went with canon.

I have a XT and 100-400mm lense and love the lense, the camera has treated me well but it is a low end camera. When you buy your SLR go upper mid range 40D 0r 50D for canon (I don't follow Nikon so I can't say much there). The shutters last longer, they have a better feel and more bells that you just might find yourself using.

Tim

Sat Sep 20, 2008 1:41 pm

And, for those who may not have the whole $$ amount for a new camera (like . . . me), B&H camera has a deal called "Bill me Later" where, any amount over $250.00 IIRC, can be paid interest-free, in six months.

BUT, if you do not pay it off within the 6 months, interest accrues from day one, at something like 20%....

I was able to buy my 40D this way a couple of months ago, and now she is all mine! : )

Looks like a good way to buy expensive glass, too.

Saludos,


Tulio

Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:37 pm

My suggestion is to try and buy high end lenses and medium/low end camera bodies. Lenses last a long time. Camera bodies are out of date in 3 years.

So, if your budget is, say $2k, you can get a Canon 100-400L series plus an XTi body, which makes a good combination. And, when the Xti is completely outdated in 3 years, you can replace it with another $750 camera and still have a great lens.

By the way, I'm a Canon guy because I believe Canon has better lenses. That said, Nikon vs Canon is very arguable and you won't go wrong with either.

Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:14 pm

Thanks for your advice everyone.

Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:28 am

I was in Ritz camera the other day, and they had the new Nikon D90. The body and lens option comes in at like $1299. The body only option is out in mid October at $999.
The D90 is the mid-price range of the D300. The D90 has live view, and even shoots HD video with sound. The auto focus works in the live view, so unlike the D300, the D90 does not have to turn off live view to refocus.
I suspect that with the D90 out, the D80 will come down in price significantly. The D80 has been a good camera for the past 2-3 years, and if you are not looking for all of the new bells and whistles, it will make a good first DSLR.
I currently use a D40X (my first DSLR) and have really enjoyed the results. There are some lenses in the 70-300 range that are in the $500 range that take good . I have even used lenses in the 55-200 range that cost $250 for air show photos with decent results as long as the aircraft are not too far from the crowd line.

rental lens

Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:40 am

Another option that some folks haven't heard about (I hadn't until a year ago) is renting high end lenses. That gives you a chance to see how they work for what you're interested in doing at a relatively low cost relative to the purchase price. If you're like me, you really don't need the big glass all the time, so just renting when there is a big show or an event is an option.

I have rented in the past from www.borrowlenses.com with good results, but there are many more out there.

Regards,

Andy

Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:50 am

Thanks for the advice on the Camera everyone. I did end up getting the Canon 40D and I am liking it so far. I was out in California a week ago, so I had the opportunity to break it in. Never been to the Planes of Fame museum before....so...

http://www.wentworth-ltd.org/cali2/cali2.html

Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:17 am

Nice pics.

I don't recall seeing that Pup replica before.

I like the RAF repaint of their Kittyhawk. Is that permanent, or was it just applied for a special event or film work?

August

Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:51 am

Not sure. I didn't ask but I also like that paint scheme.

Nice museum though.
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