Thread: New camera - where to start?

Originally Posted by bacicat

So, I've been a wannabe photographer for many years, and I used to have (well I still do) an old SLR that takes those cute little rolls of film.

Since the digital age took over, I've had a couple of point and shoots that I don't even know where they are now, and now I have nothing but my iPhone.

So, in the new year some time I'm going to buy myself a new camera, but I have no idea where to start...

Now, I don't have unlimited funds, far from it, but happy to spend what I need to so I don't regret my decision later on. I only need something fairly basic, but would like to have something that I can buy new lenses for later on.

So, over to the experts - what should I be looking for, and how much should I be budgeting for here?

What brand is your old slr camera and do you have any good lenses for it? Also what is your budget?
I ask as I have a lot of good lenses for my old Nikon film camera so my plan early next year is to get a Nikon d750 which is a full frame sensor slr ie you can use old 35mm lenses and get the same zoom range. I thought about the d810, but it is a grand more and I dont believe it is a grand better. By using my old lenses I can afford a really good slr like the d750 which I have seen around the 1,800 dollar mark for body only. If I had to buy lenses too I would have to shop a lot further down the food chain.
Chris

Originally Posted by Pickles2

still have my old Pentax Spotmatics & a HUGE range of lenses, all in immaculate condition....Don't know what I'm going to do with 'em.

Use the things.
I still love getting out the old Bronica every now and then.

Recently read an interesting article which wrote about how mobile phones are killing the low-middle end camera business. My last interstate trip (this week) doing the family thing, I procrastinated about taking the SLR camera (Canon 6D) but opted to just use my phone (Samsung 6). Phone shots did the job admirably and the video is quite amazing. I also use it to catch bands in quite low light situations.

So I use my Canon 6D typically taking 2 lens (24-105mm and 100-400mm) for trips that I need full control over, recent examples being the Temora Warbirds airshow and 15 days by Steam train around the South Island of NZ, which I also took a Sony Pro video camera having given up on using DSLR for video (setup and zoom is too finicky and I needed fast setup (tripod) point and shoot).

The number 1 rule, explained to me by a great photographer I worked with was, don't skimp on the lens as you will buy better bodies over time. I have 6 Canon L lens now and have worked my way up thru 4 bodies. If you want low light then the latest model cameras from the majors will most likely have the higher ISO's for low light. This also negates to an extent the high cost of getting low F stop lens, I no longer worry about getting a F2 fixed or F2.8 zoom lens, F4 at the low end of a zoom lens is fine. I am happy poking about at 10000 and can survive at 16000 (Bluesfest is an example, night concerts of artists on stage using a zoom which is pushing it !!!).

So my recommendation, is decide which majors lens series you will go with over time (I went Canon as slightly cheaper than Nikon when I started) and then see what body you can afford (even 2nd hand), that has a decent ISO for low light.

As an low light example, a shot at 160mm at F7.1 (100-400mm zoom) from 2015 Bluesfest, a bit grainy at 12800 but to me quite fine for my own viewing.

Originally Posted by Pickles2

UNBELIEVEABLE!!...I used to do EXACTLY the same,....still have my old Pentax Spotmatics & a HUGE range of lenses, all in immaculate condition....Don't know what I'm going to do with 'em.

Regards, Martin.

Get a pentax dSLR body - most of your old lenses will work (I'm assuming K series bayonet mounts). Even M42 Pentax screw mounts can be made to work on a dSLR body with an adaptor.


Martyn

Gav,

I think Kodakman is right, before starting to settle on specific models, have a good think about how you intend to use it (who else will be using it.) and the wide variety of questions around your actual requirements.

I recently convinced a colleague at work that while he though he needed a DLR.. he didn't.
He came to me wanting advice on DLSR's and after a bit of conversation it turned out he thought he needed a DSLR to print A3 size. He actually hadn't thought about size and weight (He was shocked at the weight of my D750 and lens), he really didn't want to mess around changing lenses and the camera would primarily be for photos of his family. He ended up buying a Sony RX100 iv for less money than the DSLR's he was looking at and couldn't be happier.

The questions I would be asking myself (some of which you have already answered) are:

• What is your budget?
• Who will be using the camera?
• Does size and weight matter to you?
• What sorts of images are you hoping to use it for?
• What will you do with your images? - Display them on line, Print them?
• Will you use it for movies as well as stills?
• Will you be doing much low light work?
• Do you want to have the ability to change lenses?
• How rugged does it need to be?- will it be exposed to weather and dust at times?
• What sorts of focal lengths are you likely to want? How wide?.. How long?
• What sorts or accessories might you need? - tripod/flash/filters etc. Are they available for the camera I choose - at what cost?

I'm obviously going to lean towards Nikon - but I originally went that way because my dad had a cupboard full of Nikon glass. Today there are lots of great options, many Nikon cameras use Sony Sensors - Sony are making some amazing cameras right now, Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Olympus,Fuji, Sony etc etc.. they all make some great gear.

The question you ask about how much you should be budgeting, can really only be answered by you. You can get a start in this space for as little as a few hundred dollars, if you are willing to go with second hand equipment you can keep that budget down significantly.
However if you find yourself getting seriously interested and you end up buying high quality fast glass lenses and higher end bodies, its easy to get into tens of thousands.

Keep in mind if you are going with a DSLR and want to get serious, long term, it's better to invest in good glass than the latest body.

Good luck with it Gav, looking forward to seeing the outcome.

I went through this some months back, and having come from film 35mm and lenses from years ago ended up going with a bridge/crossover style camera ... Nikon P900 f2.8 24-2000mm. It's a fixed lens camera, but with its zoom capability who needs to lug around a multitude of lenses with the associated extra weight ?

It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it fits my bill nicely, allowing me to get up on subjects that you just couldn't get close enough to to take a decent shot.

Was around $700 online. Takes great photos, I've only scratched the surface of its capabilities, but it is a bit weighty and large .... But so is a 2000mm telephoto lens !

Has all the features you'd find on a dedicated DSLR except the lens is not removable. Best of both worlds IMHO.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

Use the things.
I still love getting out the old Bronica every now and then.

Ditto.

Love my old Spotmatic, it was my first SLR, given to me on my sixteenth b/day a very long time ago and after the phone camera it's still my go to camera if I do a trip. (which means it doesn't get used very often )

After visiting mum for a week in the Territory and using her newish Pentax DSLR (because she already had a heap of Pentax lenses) I'm seriously thinking of taking up the DSLR thing too now

Originally Posted by rick130

Ditto.

Love my old Spotmatic, it was my first SLR, given to me on my sixteenth b/day a very long time ago and after the phone camera it's still my go to camera if I do a trip. (which means it doesn't get used very often )

After visiting mum for a week in the Territory and using her newish Pentax DSLR (because she already had a heap of Pentax lenses) I'm seriously thinking of taking up the DSLR thing too now

DSLR is so much easier,..no calculations to be made in normal circumstances,...No exposure, speed, focussing, depth of field etc etc, the camera will do it all.
Bushie....My lenses are all M42,...yes they can be made to "work" but to nowhere the extent on auto settings etc that a digital lens will. To be honest, even the simplest of digital stuff, including our phone, gives very good images (can't believe how good the phone is), AND, I still have all of my images PRINTED to put in my album (s!)
Pickles.