Help choosing a camera

[Ilovepictures]

Hello fellow photo lovers!

I have decided to get back into the great hobby of photography, but I need some help with choosing the right camera for me. I know what I want out of a camera, but I don't know how to find a camera with all of these specs.

I would like a digital camera with a great HD movie mode, and an audio line in so that I can use an external microphone while recording video. I would also like the camera to be able to have as slow of a shutter speed as I want. A lot of cameras have a maximum of a 30s shutter speed, but I want to be able to leave it open for as long as I want (10 mins +).

Does anyone know of a camera with these features?

 

[o hey tyler]

Hello fellow photo lovers!

I have decided to get back into the great hobby of photography, but I need some help with choosing the right camera for me. I know what I want out of a camera, but I don't know how to find a camera with all of these specs.

I would like a digital camera with a great HD movie mode, and an audio line in so that I can use an external microphone while recording video. I would also like the camera to be able to have as slow of a shutter speed as I want. A lot of cameras have a maximum of a 30s shutter speed, but I want to be able to leave it open for as long as I want (10 mins +).

Does anyone know of a camera with these features?

You can do long exposures with most digital cameras, you just need a remote shutter release. You just need to calculate the exposure for night shots and such. If you do a 10 minute exposure during the day, you're just going to have a white photograph. Unless you have a lens with a very very very small minimum aperture.

The Canon 60D, 7D, and 5D Mark II are cameras you should look at if you want great HD movie and external mic usage. Just bear in mind that a lot of gear is required to make great HD movies.

 

[analog.universe]

Exactly what Tyler said.

The 5D Mark III should also be added to that list (as soon as Canon fixes the light leak issue), And even though I'm a Canon fan, it's only fair to add the Nikon D800 as well.

You didn't actually mention what your budget is however... stuff gets expensive quick, especially in the video world. Even though all these bodies meet the qualifications you listed, they have other gigantic differences between them in terms of autofocus, low light performance, high speed shooting, mechanical construction, ergonomics, etc....

 

[jamesbjenkins]

Buy whatever DSLR suits your needs and budget. The only way to shoot a 10 min exposure in daylight is with a neutral density filter. They work in increments of stops of light, so if you don't understand how light works in terms of exposure, you should study on it anyway. Even most of the cameras with a 30 second max shutter have a "bulb" mode that works with a remote shutter release that you can set for whatever you need.

However, your camera choice won't matter if you don't understand the fundamentals of photography. If you want to be happy with the results, you should spend as much, if not more, time studying as you do shooting.

Good luck.