Maybe I DONT need a full frame??

[JustJazzie]

Sorry for posting so many camera threads. I feel overwhelmed with options. I can NOT afford the 5dmkiii that I would like to have, but I'm concerned with the focusing on the 6d for shooting my kids as they grow into sports. Nikon is out for me. I'm just not impressed with their cameras right now. So I will be shooting with studio strobes, focusing on boudoir and glamor as a hobby. But also might do outdoor portraits- although I'm currently happy with the image quality of my NEX for outdoors. I'd like to shoot my boys as they grow into sports. My nex 7 will continue to be my hiking and snapshot camera. I'm trying to decide if I *need* full frame, or if I just *really want* full frame. Thoughts??


Edit to say: I guess I will consider nikon crop sensors, just not their FF lineup.

 

[SnappingShark]

my thought is you WANT it

You certainly don't need it. Just check out the flickr Camera explorer to get some samples from whatever cameras you are tossing up.

You can have the best equipment in the world, but without the knowledge on how to use it, you're as good as a handbrake in a canoe.

 

[ronlane]

I agree with BrightByNature, you want the 5Diii. So continue to focus on those as your hobby for now and keep saving the money (including any you get from photography) and when you get it put together get the 5Diii.

 

[JustJazzie]

my thought is you WANT it You certainly don't need it. Just check out the flickr Camera explorer to get some samples from whatever cameras you are tossing up. You can have the best equipment in the world, but without the knowledge on how to use it, you're as good as a handbrake in a canoe.

I agree with BrightByNature, you want the 5Diii. So continue to focus on those as your hobby for now and keep saving the money (including any you get from photography) and when you get it put together get the 5Diii.

I'm getting there, I'm just trying to decide what will serve me better in the long run. The 6d or top of the line crop sensor? Any help there? Any camera suggestions for my needs?

 

[goodguy]

Nikon doesn't impress you ?
In what way ?
I want to say Nikon cameras in most cases have better low light performance and better dynamic range (except with the 6D that has phenomenal low light performance) but I will not say it so I will not start a Canon vs Nikon war.

Why not get a full frame because you want it ?
Does everything we do needs to have functional sense ?
Why buy a BMW when a Toyota will do ?
Why buy a big house when a small flat will do ?

Get what your heart desire and don't look back, I am sure you work hard for your money so why not spoil yourself from time to time ?

And if you are still not sure then just get the 70D and be done with it.

 

[robbins.photo]

Sorry for posting so many camera threads. I feel overwhelmed with options. I can NOT afford the 5dmkiii that I would like to have, but I'm concerned with the focusing on the 6d for shooting my kids as they grow into sports. Nikon is out for me. I'm just not impressed with their cameras right now. So I will be shooting with studio strobes, focusing on boudoir and glamor as a hobby. But also might do outdoor portraits- although I'm currently happy with the image quality of my NEX for outdoors. I'd like to shoot my boys as they grow into sports. My nex 7 will continue to be my hiking and snapshot camera. I'm trying to decide if I *need* full frame, or if I just *really want* full frame. Thoughts??


Edit to say: I guess I will consider nikon crop sensors, just not their FF lineup.

Well I it really depends on what you think you need for lowlight capabilities. If you don't really need the lowlight of a full frame a good crop sensor body like the 70d with some good fast glass would probably be a good investment. If it were me I'd probably look at the Nikon D7100 - it's got very good lowlight (only way you'll beat it is with a full frame - it has very low noise even at high ISO), an excellent autofocus system (51 focus points with 19 cross focus points is pretty tough to beat), the viewfinder gives you 100% coverage so you don't have to guess what's in the shot or not, and outstanding image quality with a 24 mp sensor and an extremely impressive dynamic range.

Combine that with a good 70-200 mm F2.8 and you'd have a great camera for sports shooting even inside a badly lit gym, throw a couple of primes in there and your portrait work would be a breeze.

 

[JustJazzie]

Well I it really depends on what you think you need for lowlight capabilities. If you don't really need the lowlight of a full frame a good crop sensor body like the 70d with some good fast glass would probably be a good investment. If it were me I'd probably look at the Nikon D7100 - it's got very good lowlight (only way you'll beat it is with a full frame - it has very low noise even at high ISO), an excellent autofocus system (51 focus points with 19 cross focus points is pretty tough to beat), the viewfinder gives you 100% coverage so you don't have to guess what's in the shot or not, and outstanding image quality with a 24 mp sensor and an extremely impressive dynamic range. Combine that with a good 70-200 mm F2.8 and you'd have a great camera for sports shooting even inside a badly lit gym, throw a couple of primes in there and your portrait work would be a breeze.

This is what I am trying to decide. I am really having trouble gauging my need for low light photos. Honestly, I *think* I am okay with snapshots around the house of the kids at night. I probably won't be Dragging my big dslr camping, and I'm not (currently) Into astro photography. If I ever was, it would have to be when the kids are older and I can stay up past 9oclock HEHEHEHE.

Then again, I'm probably okay with sports snap shots too. So are the 11 AF points enough for portriat work and I will just drag the nex if and when the kids are doing sports?

 

[JacaRanda]

Here you go. I believe this guy mentions he owns both (if you believe him).

 

[runnah]

The body and the lenses are going to require a major financial investment. Can you justify spending upwards of $5k for a hobby?

A crop sensor is more than good enough! You could get a high end body and plenty of lenses for a fraction if the cost. Not to mention that most recent crop sensors are hugely improved over the sony.

 

[Derrel]

I buy my stuff here most of the time. Pro Photo Supply - Used Photography Equipment, Used Cameras, Used Video and Used Lenses in Portland OR

There are a number of cameras you might be overlooking.

 

[KmH]

So are the 11 AF points enough for portriat work . . .

One AF point is sufficient for both portraiture and sports.

No. You don't need a full frame.

Right now Nikon image sensors pretty much across the board make Canon image sensors look less than up-to-date.

Independent testing lab results. Only image quality is tested and compared. No other camera functions or features are involved:
Nikon D610 versus Canon EOS 6D - Side by side camera comparison - DxOMark
Canon EOS 5D Mark III versus Nikon D800 - Side by side camera comparison - DxOMark

 

[robbins.photo]

Well I it really depends on what you think you need for lowlight capabilities. If you don't really need the lowlight of a full frame a good crop sensor body like the 70d with some good fast glass would probably be a good investment. If it were me I'd probably look at the Nikon D7100 - it's got very good lowlight (only way you'll beat it is with a full frame - it has very low noise even at high ISO), an excellent autofocus system (51 focus points with 19 cross focus points is pretty tough to beat), the viewfinder gives you 100% coverage so you don't have to guess what's in the shot or not, and outstanding image quality with a 24 mp sensor and an extremely impressive dynamic range. Combine that with a good 70-200 mm F2.8 and you'd have a great camera for sports shooting even inside a badly lit gym, throw a couple of primes in there and your portrait work would be a breeze.

This is what I am trying to decide. I am really having trouble gauging my need for low light photos. Honestly, I *think* I am okay with snapshots around the house of the kids at night. I probably won't be Dragging my big dslr camping, and I'm not (currently) Into astro photography. If I ever was, it would have to be when the kids are older and I can stay up past 9oclock HEHEHEHE.

Then again, I'm probably okay with sports snap shots too. So are the 11 AF points enough for portriat work and I will just drag the nex if and when the kids are doing sports?

Well really for around the house if you have a couple of fast primes you probably wouldn't need a flash, same with the sports stuff - my D5100 does a pretty respectable job with the 70-200mm F2.8 I have in some pretty bad lighting conditions, and it doesn't have the lowlight capabilities of a d7100. Worst case scenario for indoor shots if the lighting is really terrible I've found it pretty easy to just toss the external flash on the camera and I'm all set - most of the time even if I had a camera that had better low light characteristics for shots like that I'd still want the external flash if nothing else for fill - so for me at least I've never really needed full frame.

I would think 11 points would probably be enough for portrait work, My D5100 only has 11 and I've gotten by just fine with that myself, though I pretty much select the focus point myself and focus and recompose if necessary, the AF system just really isn't that great at guessing what I want it to focus on from my experience. One of the reasons I'm looking at upgrading to the D7100 myself at some point because I'd really like to have the better autofocus system, but for now I get buy on 11 point well enough I suppose.

 

[Josh66]

So are the 11 AF points enough for portriat work . . .

One AF point is sufficient for both portraiture and sports.

I agree.

Some older cameras I have only have 3 or 5 AF points, and I have never found that to be limiting in any way. And, of course, rangefinders only have one - dead center.

As far as whether you "need" full frame - ask yourself this: Do you prefer wide lenses or telephoto? If you like to stay on the wide side of normal, you may be better off with full frame.


Full frame IS still nice to have though - bigger, brighter viewfinder... Some people really like the extra 'reach' a crop sensor gives you though.

 

[runnah]

I agree. Some older cameras I have only have 3 or 5 AF points, and I have never found that to be limiting in any way. And, of course, rangefinders only have one - dead center. As far as whether you "need" full frame - ask yourself this: Do you prefer wide lenses or telephoto? If you like to stay on the wide side of normal, you may be better off with full frame. Full frame IS still nice to have though - bigger, brighter viewfinder... Some people really like the extra 'reach' a crop sensor gives you though.

AF points is the new ISO battle, which came after the MP battle.

 

[EIngerson]

Sorry for posting so many camera threads. I feel overwhelmed with options. I can NOT afford the 5dmkiii that I would like to have, but I'm concerned with the focusing on the 6d for shooting my kids as they grow into sports. Nikon is out for me. I'm just not impressed with their cameras right now. So I will be shooting with studio strobes, focusing on boudoir and glamor as a hobby. But also might do outdoor portraits- although I'm currently happy with the image quality of my NEX for outdoors. I'd like to shoot my boys as they grow into sports. My nex 7 will continue to be my hiking and snapshot camera. I'm trying to decide if I *need* full frame, or if I just *really want* full frame. Thoughts??


Edit to say: I guess I will consider nikon crop sensors, just not their FF lineup.

If your mainstay is studio work. You should have no problem with the 6D and its focusing system. It has the same system as the 7D and I had no problems with it. It will also keep up with your kids sports. I shot predominantly motocross with the 7D and had no issues focusing there either. It will cause you some concern in dimly lit gyms or indoor sports venues though.

Any of them will perform well in a studio environment. It comes down to what you want and what you can afford. A 5D MK III will make some of your work easier, but any of them CAN get the job done. I moved up from the 7D to the 5D MK III and I am amazed at the difference in the cameras abilities. Color recognition, dynamic range and high ISO performance are just a few that stand out. When I shot with the 7D I had no complaints about its performance at all. I didn't know what I didn't know. lol. It took me a LONG time to out grow the 7D. Had it been full frame like the 6D I might still be using it.

I'm sure I didn't make your decision easier, but those are the facts my experience has to offer. Good luck.