Beginner Gear Question/Dilemma

[kata2012]

Hi All,

New to photography here. I've always been interested in it, but now I find I actually have the time to start taking the hobby more seriously. Anyway, I have a basic question about cameras and a slight dilemma that I hope someone here can help with.

I have heard that the best camera is the one you have with you. I have also heard that you date the body and marry the glass. With those things in mind, I'm coming up to a crossroad with my setup. I also have an extremely limited budget for $200-$300 that I can spend on equipment right now. So with that in mind, here is my dilemma.

I really like the idea of portability and something like an older Sony-Nex 5n would be in my budget and it seems like there is an abundance of e mount lenses out there that I could purchase over time and then upgrade the body as well when I needed to. I also feel the portability aspect would lead me to carry it more, resulting in more practice and more photos.

However, I have another option. My wife has a Canon t5i dslr camera that she no longer uses. We even have some lenses for it, such as the 18-55 kit lens, Cannon 10-18mm, a 18-270 tameron lens, and an older Canon 100-400. The problem for me is that it just seems so bulky and cumbersome to carry around. I know that I could purchase the Canon 50mm f1.8 lens , and/or the Cannon 24mm f2.8 lens to minimize the bulk. But I have also read that the Canon Ef-S mount and the bodies for it are discontinued, so is there a point to invest in an older system that will remain outdated.

So that leaves me wondering, would it be better to buy into a different system now, such as the sony e-mount system for it's portability and collect lenses over time and upgrade the body as needed in the future, or go with what I have, knowing that at some point I will need to switch over to a different system and deal with the bulk of lugging it around.

I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on this.

 

[ACHILLEAS]

So you need a compact camera. Something like an olympus pen series or panasonic gx series. Rangerfinder not dslr.

 

[cgw]

Shoot the Canon kit till it breaks. Get the affordable 50mm if you wish. Less bulk and weight means you'll shoot it more often in more places. That's arguably the quickest way to get experience.

 

[Jeff15]

Once you have decided which camera system you want to buy, get the best you can afford. Good luck ...

 

[smoke665]

I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on this.

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” — Benjamin Franklin
Until you actually get some experience under your bellt, you don't have a clue as to "your" needs. Stop asking about new stuff, go out and shoot what you have, learn the basics of photography, find out where your interests lie......then you can make a rational decision on where to go from there.

 

[PhotoHobbyist]

You have everything you need with the Canon T5i with addition of a couple of lenses. The Cannon 10-18mm lens is a keeper. The medium zoom Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 OS HSM lens is highly rated and about $200 used. You can use the 18-55 kit lens until you upgrade. It is a must to get the highly rated Canon 55-250mm STM lens at only $80-$100 used. It is useful to have a pocket sized camera too. I wouldn't go with just a pocket sized camera unless it was on par with a DSLR, and those are pricey. Experiment with what you have now as its a good camera.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Agree with the shoot the Canon stuff. Find what you like and dislike. Take many photos to find preferences. After a year or two buy what suits your needs. Again take lots of photos. Don't attempt creating works of art (although it can happen) just shoot different subjects in different light and see what occurs. Don't be disappointed when some turn out not to your liking. After that you will spend wisely. Have fun.