Ok Nikon or Canon mid level dslr?

[fotomumma09]

Seriously need unbiased (as possible) information. I have an entry level Sony. But my long range plans is to become a semi pro photographer. My interests are mostly portrait and family photos.

So can some of you give me your opinion and why?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Destin]

You ask for opinions, yet want unbiased answers. Haha.

What's your definition of mid level? When I think mid level, I think Nikon D700 vs Canon 5dmkII, both are around $2,000. Then you need professional glass to go on them, so budget in another $3,000 for that in the near future.

That's what I think of when I think mid level. But it may not be the same as you are thinking, so what is your budget?

 

[Nikon_Josh]

You want unbiased advice? Here goes, the Pentax K5 is a great camera to all intents and purposes. It is extremely cheap for what you get in return! That is 100 per cent unbiased advice. If you don't need to go full frame, the K5 will do the trick for you I'm sure.

 

[fotomumma09]

You ask for opinions, yet want unbiased answers. Haha.

What's your definition of mid level? When I think mid level, I think Nikon D700 vs Canon 5dmkII, both are around $2,000. Then you need professional glass to go on them, so budget in another $3,000 for that in the near future.

That's what I think of when I think mid level. But it may not be the same as you are thinking, so what is your budget?

I guess advise rather than opinion so maybe my price is tad unrealistic. Looking to spend around $1000 to start and then I plan to add lenses down the road. I need to invest slowly.

 

[Nikon_Josh]

As much as I don't like Sony, why are you moving to Nikon/Canon?? You are saying that you are thinking of moving brand due to the fact you want to be a semi pro??

This is because you see PROS on TV shooting with Canon/Nikon? Or is there an actual reason behind wishing to move? Sorry to seem blunt, but there needs to be a real reason to want to switch brands. You get PROS using Sony for a start.

 

[Overread]

I don't know the sony range as well as the others - but I would suggest that if you've only $1000 you won't be able to really net much of a difference switching brands, since once you add in the cost of lenses, flash, remotes etc... you'll be ending up with entry level Nikon or Canon bodies (though you could probably get a good second hand midrange body such as a Canon 40D without too much trouble).

I'd suggest saving and investing that money into pro series Sony lenses; from what I'm aware of their lens range its limited with regard to diversity of pricings, but that they do have a fairly good professional series of lenses.

 

[Destin]

I'd grab a used Nikon D90 for around $500, and then with the other $500, get a nice piece of fast glass to start you out. Maybe a Tamron 17-50 2.8, or something along those lines.

 

[Dao]

Seriously need unbiased (as possible) information. I have an entry level Sony. But my long range plans is to become a semi pro photographer. My interests are mostly portrait and family photos.

So can some of you give me your opinion and why?

Thanks in advance.

When you ask a question like this, most likely you may not know too much about camera gears. (I could be wrong) The camera you are using is perfectly fine for Portrait or Family type photos. In fact, most of the DSLR including the entry level ones are capable of taking photos or great photos. My suggestion is learn more about photography (assuming you do did not know too much based on my observation. But then again, I could be wrong) as well as camera equipments. (Not just camera itself)

Once you know more, you will know what camera or photography equipments you like to get next.

 

[SCraig]

My Nikon body can use ANY Nikon F-mount lens made since the 1960's. Certainly I would lose a lot of features, I may have to focus or set the aperture manually, but the lens will mount and it will work. Canon may be the same way, I'm not sure. This was important to me when I decided to go digital. I didn't want any more obsolete lenses hanging around here.

Nikon bodies range from about $500 to about $6,000. A couple of new models are due to come out in January that may well raise the high-end price. Destin's opinion of mid-range is just about right. The D700 is right about the middle of the price (and feature) range, and the body alone is around $2,300 new.

Nikon's bodies are also divided into two broad categories of "Pro" and "Consumer" level models. The low end of the Pro models is the D7000 and the high end the D3x (I think, could be the D3s, but the D4 is probably going to come out in January). That price range runs from about $1,200 to about $6,000. The consumer range starts with the D3000 and goes to the D5100. That price range is around $500 to $900.

If I were going to buy a new Nikon body today it would be the D7000. I love my D90 and don't plan on replacing it but the D7000 is a fine camera and would be my choice. I would not go any lower than the D90 or D5100.

 

[fotomumma09]

As much as I don't like Sony, why are you moving to Nikon/Canon?? You are saying that you are thinking of moving brand due to the fact you want to be a semi pro??

This is because you see PROS on TV shooting with Canon/Nikon? Or is there an actual reason behind wishing to move? Sorry to seem blunt, but there needs to be a real reason to want to switch brands. You get PROS using Sony for a start.

I have not decided yet whether or not I will move brands. That's why I need feedback re: other brands. I am still considering Sony's a580...the a77 from what I've been reading has a pretty big noise issue at a high ISO. I Have a pretty good understanding of the basics of photography so it's not that I'm looking for a camera to make me better as a photographer.

If I am going to start in investing into higher end lenses, flashes and accessories then I need to be sure of the brand I'm going with. I am pretty confused the more I read...Nikon sounds like a solid brand which seems higher in price, canon sounds like a great brand as well but a tad trendy...and not many seems to like Sony and I hear a lot of criticism about the noise issue plus not great for indoor use..ie portraits.

 

[Nikon_Josh]

As much as I don't like Sony, why are you moving to Nikon/Canon?? You are saying that you are thinking of moving brand due to the fact you want to be a semi pro??

This is because you see PROS on TV shooting with Canon/Nikon? Or is there an actual reason behind wishing to move? Sorry to seem blunt, but there needs to be a real reason to want to switch brands. You get PROS using Sony for a start.

I have not decided yet whether or not I will move brands. That's why I need feedback re: other brands. I am still considering Sony's a580...the a77 from what I've been reading has a pretty big noise issue at a high ISO. I Have a pretty good understanding of the basics of photography so it's not that I'm looking for a camera to make me better as a photographer.

If I am going to start in investing into higher end lenses, flashes and accessories then I need to be sure of the brand I'm going with. I am pretty confused the more I read...Nikon sounds like a solid brand which seems higher in price, canon sounds like a great brand as well but a tad trendy...and not many seems to like Sony and I hear a lot of criticism about the noise issue plus not great for indoor use..ie portraits.

This makes it much clearer as to the reasons why you want to switch, I agree Sony produces second rate high ISO results and Nikon are a solid brand.

I second the recommendation for a Nikon D90, its clear you have much more of an understanding of photography than your first post hinted at. Canon are a great brand but your right at same time they have become 'trendy', simply through the amount of money they thrown into marketing campaigns. In some respects I feel Nikon offer better value for money, specially in terms of build quality at the consumer end of things.

 

[fotomumma09]

This makes it much clearer as to the reasons why you want to switch, I agree Sony produces second rate high ISO results and Nikon are a solid brand.

I second the recommendation for a Nikon D90, its clear you have much more of an understanding of photography than your first post hinted at. Canon are a great brand but your right at same time they have become 'trendy', simply through the amount of money they thrown into marketing campaigns. In some respects I feel Nikon offer better value for money, specially in terms of build quality at the consumer end of things.

Thanks for your input!

 

[Dao]

I have not decided yet whether or not I will move brands. That's why I need feedback re: other brands. I am still considering Sony's a580...the a77 from what I've been reading has a pretty big noise issue at a high ISO. I Have a pretty good understanding of the basics of photography so it's not that I'm looking for a camera to make me better as a photographer.

If I am going to start in investing into higher end lenses, flashes and accessories then I need to be sure of the brand I'm going with. I am pretty confused the more I read...Nikon sounds like a solid brand which seems higher in price, canon sounds like a great brand as well but a tad trendy...and not many seems to like Sony and I hear a lot of criticism about the noise issue plus not great for indoor use..ie portraits.

DSLR bodies come and go. People switched from Nikon to Canon in the past since Canon DSLR bodies were better. Now some switch from Canon to Nikon because Nikon bodies are better in terms of ISO performance. Who knows what is going to happens.

- Do you have a particular lens or lenses you like to have or use? There are lenses that you can only find in one manufacturer. If you want the Nikon cream machine, you need to go with the Nikon camera. If you want 85mm f/1.2 and shoot at f/1.2, you have to go with Canon ... ... ... ... ...

- Is button control or layout important to you? Is one fit better than the other based on your own preference? Some people like the way Nikon while other like Canon.

- Do you know any other local photographers who you work with or exchange tips and information using Canon or Nikon? Some users here said they were able to share lenses and other camera gears between their friends or at least try them out with your camera.


As for Portrait and Family type shots, I prefer a full frame body. If I have the money, I will look at the D700 from Nikon or 5D MKII from Canon.

 

[ConradM]

As much as I don't like Sony, why are you moving to Nikon/Canon?? You are saying that you are thinking of moving brand due to the fact you want to be a semi pro??

This is because you see PROS on TV shooting with Canon/Nikon? Or is there an actual reason behind wishing to move? Sorry to seem blunt, but there needs to be a real reason to want to switch brands. You get PROS using Sony for a start.

I have not decided yet whether or not I will move brands. That's why I need feedback re: other brands. I am still considering Sony's a580...the a77 from what I've been reading has a pretty big noise issue at a high ISO. I Have a pretty good understanding of the basics of photography so it's not that I'm looking for a camera to make me better as a photographer.

If I am going to start in investing into higher end lenses, flashes and accessories then I need to be sure of the brand I'm going with. I am pretty confused the more I read...Nikon sounds like a solid brand which seems higher in price, canon sounds like a great brand as well but a tad trendy...and not many seems to like Sony and I hear a lot of criticism about the noise issue plus not great for indoor use..ie portraits.

Skieur had this to say about that...

Actually if you look at the Canon 7D image side by side with the A77 image on www.imaging-resource.com you will see a slightly better image from the A77 at 6400, although both the Canon 7D and Sony A77 show noise, the random noise from the Canon that shows up as incorrect coloured pixels in the grain is more pronounced in the 7D.

skieur

The reveiw i read said the opposite and the Sony had noise in the lowest ISO's that had to be remove, tracking focus was inconsistant and stuggled to keep up with fast moving action, and as soon as you fire off a 12frame burst it is imposible to track the subject it also said images shot at ISO6400 or 12800 were unusable, they said images were good if there was good light
There is now way this is good enough for a sports camera

Imaging Resource "Comparometer" ™ Digital Camera Image Comparison Page This is the image comparometer. Choose Canon 7D on the left menu and Sony A77 on the right menu. Double click and then move down to the photo of the girl in green at ISO 6400 in zoom mode. Look at the text on the back of the book that she is reading and the noise at the top of the book. The results are as I indicated above. The lab results for noise at Popular Photography magazine indicated very low noise at low ISOs for Sony A77 and I would trust lab results more than review opinions. I should also note that these tests were not even done with fast frame noise reduction mode on which further reduces noise reduction while maintaining the high resolution and quality.

I would also point out that the Sony A77 is the ONLY camera with even 8 fps or faster at the full resolution of 24 megapixels, so complaints about 12 fps are a bit of a stretch. Moreover the viewfinder lag is apparently no greater than 1/10 of a second which is still faster than 5fps cameras or fast fps cameras at much lower resolution.

Canon 7D vs Sony SLT A77

skieur

 

[Redbaron]

fotomum,

Try going into a camera shop near you (not sure where you are) and having a play with their cameras. The reason I say this is I was set on one brand/model, and was lucky enough to get some good advice from friends, and my local camera shop has amazing staff. When I arrived I told them there was zero chance of me buying anything on that day, I just wanted to have a look/feel of a few different models and ask a few questions. The staff were excellent, and not only let me look at the cameras but told me to take them outside for a while if I wanted to.

What I am getting at, is the way a camera feels while in your hands makes a big difference IMO, some may feel too big/small or you might not like the way the buttons and gadgets are set up etc. That and budget IMO are the considerations which will narrow down the options of what is best for you.

Good luck