First DLSR, first time photographer.

heavyhitter · May 8, 2017

Hi, first post and looking to get a decent camera. I don't want to break the bank but I want to make sure I get a good bang for the buck. I need something better than my iPhone 7 which is my only camera now.

I'm looking at the Nikon D5600 w/ the 18-140 kit lens or the Canon T7i 18-55 kit lens, to a lessor extent the Nikon 3400 w/ the 18-55 kit lens. I'm doing my due diligence and reading and researching as much as I can. I plan to take a photography class at the local community collage. While I am new at photography I am very knowledgeable about the mechanic and science of optics, being an amateur astronomer for 17 years.

I plan to use this as a walk around camera, and probably 1/4 to 1/2 of the use will be recording video. I also would like to use the camera for details pictures of my aquarium fish which is another hobby of mine. To a lesser extent I would also like to have the option to use this for astro-photography I have a 4" Takahashi refractor and focal reducer.

I will say that my iPhone 7 takes more than adequate photos for me most the time except for zoom, and low light conditions. I will use the DLSR for lower light conditions and was looking at the Nikon 35 and 50mm 1.8 prime lenses for those applications.

I realize that there are probably more expensive cameras out there that will excel one area of another but I just want a decent all arounder and would like to keep my initial investment under $1500.

In summary would these three cameras suffice in 1. low light photography 2. Decent and regular video recording 3. Walk about, travel camera 4. Astrophotgraphy?

Would the 3400 do what I want and save me some coin? Any and all advice appreciated.

djdelarosa25 · May 8, 2017

If video isn't that much of a priority, and you're okay with a fixed LCD, get the D3400. But if you want that touchscreen and articulating LCD, get a D5500.

Dave Colangelo · May 9, 2017

You are for sure on the right track. Im a Nikon guy so I say go Nikon, either of your choices will work just fine. They have the same sensor so the pictures will pretty much end up the same. The Nikon 35mm 1.8 is a great low light lens (I use one on my D3300 pretty much all the time). My only issue with the new D3400 is that they ditched the mic input which is a big deal for video in my opinion. I shot a lot of video on my D3300 and the mic port is key for connecting my shotgun or my lav setup. For that reason, for your case the D5600 may be the way to go. As you know with astro-photography a good star tracker mount will do a lot more for you than any camera will.

One of the great Nikon advantages (over canon) is that they still use the same mount they have been using since the 50's so any Nikkor lens dating back to the beginning of the F-mount will fit on your camera (and work in manual mode) with some limited exceptions. This opens up nearly a half century of great and I mean truly great vintage glass you can use and buy on eBay for next to nothing. This is what sold me on Nikon originally and in my opinion wins out over canon every time. Other than that the picture quality is about equal.

My D3300 has been around the world with me, so I would say its more than good for travel.

Regards
Dave

heavyhitter · May 11, 2017

After much thought I really and considering the Canon T7i or Nikon D5600/5500. The 3400 just wont cut it for me if my telescope is at Zenith with a fixed screen plus it has no mic out put. Video is a priority, mostly likely 50% of what the camera is used for. I will need an articulating screen. I looks like Nikon are better performers at high ISO bit the Canon will be the better performer with video. Its rather frustrating that with all of the technological advances there are still so many compromises in the camera world. My heart says go Nikon but my brain is telling me Canon (mostly for video recording).