First DSLR Advice

[Derrel]

Wait a second...lens selection for full frame cameras vastly outnumbers the lenses offered for crop-body cameras. In both Canon and Nikon families. Both Canon and Nikon have many more lenses that are full-frame capable than they have with reduced size image circles.

The main difference between Canon and Nikon is that Canon's EF-S lenses will not even MOUNT on full-frame bodies, whereas the Nikon DX lenses will all fit right on, and shoot pictures, either in AUTO-DX cropped down mode, OR in FF mode with limited corner coverage in part of the field, or with some DX lenses, full coverage of the FX field of view, except at the very widest-angle settings.

As I recall, Nikon has offered something like 17 DX lenses over the last decade, and over 65 FX-capable lenses...

As far as equal-generation DX sensor versus equal generation FX sensor...in Nikon, most of the experts seem to think that FX cameras have a stop to 1.5 stops better noise handling.

 

[grafxman]

Well Derrel, perhaps you could recommend a lens for my 6D that is comparable to my much beloved lightweight Sigma 18-250mm macro I used on my 7D? The Tamron 28-300mm macro is the only one I could find and it doesn't like low light situations. The only other lens is the Canon 28-300mm nearly 4 lb non macro lens with its weird (to me at least) trombone action. While the quantity of lenses for full frame cameras may exceed the quantity available for APSC cameras I found the selection extremely limited when I started hunting lenses for my new Canon 6D.

BTW, FWIW, I have no problem mounting my ancient '60s Nikon lenses on my Canons with an adapter of course. :mrgreen:

 

[Bulb]

For a variety of technical reasons that I don't claim to understand but I'm sure many folks here are very knowledgeable about, top quality photos are difficult to obtain on digital cameras with lenses meant for film cameras. So if you are thinking about using your old film camera lenses with a new digital camera you may be disappointed. Lenses designed for digital cameras are much preferred. Regarding freezing action, I often shoot handheld 1000mm lenses at wildlife (Sigma 50-500mm and Sigma 150-500mm with a Sigma doubler). Typically a shutter speed of 2000 is adequate however the lens has an excellent stabilizer. Shutter speed of 1000 is used for 500mm shots.

It's the other way around. I want my film camera to use any new lenses I buy. The only film lens that I'll use on the digital camera will be an occasional shot with my Takumar.

I'm glad to hear that 1/2000 is sharp enough at 1000mm. At the moment I'm a bit limited by my lens selection. After my switch to digital the next thing I'll be looking for is a decent telephoto. If I get a 500mm lens then the 1/4000 maximum shutter speed will be more than enough. 1/8000 is overkill in my mind.

Wait a second...lens selection for full frame cameras vastly outnumbers the lenses offered for crop-body cameras. In both Canon and Nikon families. Both Canon and Nikon have many more lenses that are full-frame capable than they have with reduced size image circles.

The main difference between Canon and Nikon is that Canon's EF-S lenses will not even MOUNT on full-frame bodies, whereas the Nikon DX lenses will all fit right on, and shoot pictures, either in AUTO-DX cropped down mode, OR in FF mode with limited corner coverage in part of the field, or with some DX lenses, full coverage of the FX field of view, except at the very widest-angle settings.

As I recall, Nikon has offered something like 17 DX lenses over the last decade, and over 65 FX-capable lenses...

As far as equal-generation DX sensor versus equal generation FX sensor...in Nikon, most of the experts seem to think that FX cameras have a stop to 1.5 stops better noise handling.

I suppose that technically cropped Canons do have a wider selection if only because they can also use a few lenses that the full-frames can't.

I personally don't see the point in investing in EF-S lenses if only for the compatibility issue. Any EF-S lenses that I would buy would not only not work on my EOS 650, but they wouldn't work on any full-frame camera that I would upgrade to in the future. With full-frame lenses, even if I eventually decided that I do want a cropped camera as well, all of my lenses would still work with it.

 

[Dao]

In what case you need a faster shutter speed?

On a sunny day, you like to take a photo of a friend with f/2.0 (to achieve the DoF you like) without using ND filter.
EV 15 = 1/8000, f/2.0 on ISO 100


Otherwise, you need a 1 stop ND filter and shoot at 1/4000.

 

[Bulb]

In what case you need a faster shutter speed?

On a sunny day, you like to take a photo of a friend with f/2.0 (to achieve the DoF you like) without using ND filter.
EV 15 = 1/8000, f/2.0 on ISO 100


Otherwise, you need a 1 stop ND filter and shoot at 1/4000.

I see your point.

It definitely is a disadvantage of the 6D. Judging from what I've read, the 1/4000 shutter speed is probably imposed by the camera's firmware.

It's sort of a trade-off. The 6D is amazing in low light because of its noise handling, but it has problems in very bright light because of its shutter.

If I decide to get the 6D then I will just carry a 2 or 3-stop ND filter with me. A 3-stop ND would mean a shutter speed of 1/1000 in the above situation. Worst case scenario I want to shoot the above with an f/1.0 lens (hey, plan for the worst, right?) which would mean 1/32000, f/1.0 on ISO 100 or 1/4000, f/1.0 on ISO 100 with the filter.