Which is the best camera and lenses for me?

Funderflash · Jul 28, 2014

Hi. I've had a Olympus 520 for 5 years and mostly shot in auto mode. I'm now ready to learn more about the manual features. I understand IOS, shutter speed and aperture but in truth I've been lazy about using them.

I'm now ready to upgrade to a cannon or Nikon. I've been saving and was planning to spend £1500-£2000 for a camera and lenses. I take great pictures but the sharpness is not there. I take mostly family pictures and some landscape. I need something that will give me sharpness when shooting with moving children. I want detail such as lashes when shooting faces. I also want to take landscape photos as I live in a beautiful area and need a camera with a very slow shutter speed. I already own a tripod. I'm always having trouble in low lighting so it would be go to get a camera that deals better with that.

I would like to go pro in a couple of years and I intend to do some courses to learn more. Then I will buy a full frame camera but I'm not ready for that yet. As I relies I have a long way to go.

I would appreciate any advice you can offer on which camera and lenses I should go for.

jaomul · Jul 28, 2014

At the moment you should maybe keep your Olympus and buy some good secondhand lenses for this. There is no reason your own camera can't do everything you want. There are some very nice olly lenses

Funderflash · Jul 28, 2014

Ok so you think it could be the lenses that are coursing me problems? That's interesting and a far cheaper solution. Can you recommend lenses jaomul? As in which lenses for each situation. Also where do I start looking for secondhand lenses? Thanks for your thoughts by the way.

jaomul · Jul 28, 2014

I only know a few lenses. If you list the lenses you already use you will get some good recommendations here. Lenses are usually more important than cameras.

Funderflash · Jul 28, 2014

I only have one lens. It's a 40-150. 1:4-5,6. It came with it when I bought it.

I'd love a list of lenses to buy if anyone can help. It's sharpness I'm after most of all but I want more aperture capability also. That's for portrait shots. I live near the sea and there are hundreds of rock face and horizon opportunities. Any suggestions?

jaomul · Jul 28, 2014

They do a well reviewed 14-54 II f2.8-3.5, also a 12-60 swd. Both are well reviewed and fill your wide end gap. However others here will recommend more hopefully, but these only make sense secondhand and cheap. The 4/3rds system is now obsolete. The new Olympus em1 can use the older 4/3rds Lenses but not as quickly to focus. Even a quick check on internet and some olly lenses look good value but some are still expensive.

I'd be tempted to say retire your camera and buy into a current system- A Nikon d7000 with 18-105 kit lens plus a 50mm f1.8 g and say a tamron 70-300mm could be got for way under your budget, that would be a massive upgrade to what you have. Just a thought

Funderflash · Jul 28, 2014

I think deep down I want a new camera. I feel I need a fresh start to get me inspired again so that could be the way to go for me. I'm going to look into that camera and those lenses. I really appreciate your detailed response so thanks for your time jaomul

Anyone else with opinions are welcome to add. I'm open to ideas at the moment.

jaomul · Jul 28, 2014

Just for info, the d7000 is last year's camera. The newer model d7100 is newer and more expensive. Amazon has good deals on the d7000 and the kit lens 18-105 is great. The 50mm is a nice portrait fast lens for this camera and the tamron is a good telephoto. The 50 and tamron will also work on fullframe should you go that direction in the future.

Canon's 60d is also worth a look, again last year's model so bargains to be had. Good luck

Funderflash · Jul 28, 2014

Thank you jaomul.

gsgary · Jul 28, 2014

There is no point buying a new camera when you don't know how to use the one you have got, learn how to use it without auto settings before spending loads of money

mmaria · Jul 28, 2014

Olympus e520 was my first DSLR and I used it for about 5 years.

My advice: BUY A NEW CAMERA! lenses won't save you! trust me, I've tried!

I still have 12-60 swd... a great lens! but it's a waste on that body

gsgary · Jul 28, 2014

mmaria said:
Olympus e520 was my first DSLR and I used it for about 5 years.

My advice: BUY A NEW CAMERA! lenses won't save you! trust me, I've tried!

I still have 12-60 swd... a great lens! but it's a waste on that body

And then he will have a new camera he doesn't know how to use great advice

jaomul · Jul 28, 2014

To be fair Gary op says they know how but have been lazy in using manual controls

mmaria · Jul 28, 2014

gsgary said:
And then he will have a better camera which will inspire him

FIFY and thanks for making me lol

This is the first time ever I recommended anyone to buy a new camera and I'll continue to recommend that to anyone who mention e520 and spending 5 years with it

gsgary · Jul 28, 2014

mmaria said:
FIFY and thanks for making me lol

This is the first time ever I recommended anyone to buy a new camera and I'll continue to recommend that to anyone who mention e520 and spending 5 years with it

I'm going to spend the rest of my life with my Leica m4's