We are buying 2 cameras and would like some advice
Jun 3, 2014 16:44:33 #
FIRST
THIS IS MY FIRST DAY HERE AND I DID POST AN INTRODUCTION IN THAT SECTION.
SECOND
I'M TYPING IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE THE RIGHT SHIFT KEY IS DEAD ON MY 6 MONTH OLD IMAC KEYBOARD. I AM GOING TO GET IT REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.
THIRD
I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER NOR PLAN TO BE.
BUT
BOTH MY PARTNER AND I WANT CAMERAS WE CAN GROW INTO AND WE INTEND TO BECOME COMPETENT AT CREATING GREAT SHOTS FOR OUR PURPOSES
OUR PURPOSES
I AM A SPORTS FAN AND AM BEGINNING A SPORTS BLOG. I PLAN TO UPLOAD VISUAL CONTENT ON A REGULAR BASIS. SINCE I AM NOT A JOURNALIST...YET, I WOULD BE SHOOTING FROM THE STANDS RATHER THAN AT FIELD LEVEL. HOWEVER, I DON'T KNOW IF I QUALIFY AS A SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER BECAUSE I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED ACTION SHOTS TO GET PLENTY OF GOOD CONTENT. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I WOULDN'T PREFER TO GET A CAMERA CAPABLE OF GOOD ACTION. IT JUST MEANS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO STRETCH MY BUDGET TO DO SO.
MY PARTNER IS A PAINTER AND WANTS TO TAKE SHOTS, PRIMARILY LANDSCAPES AND DOES NOT REALLY NEED ACTION CAPABILITY.
WE BOTH NEED CAMERAS THAT DO MORE THAN OUR CURRENT PURPOSES. FOR EXAMPLE, I MAY GET INTO SOME DOCUMENTARY AND/OR JOURNALISM WORK AFTER I RETIRE AND I WOULD LIKE A CAMERA THAT DOES DECENT VIDEO. MY PARTNER SPENDS TIME WITH HER GRANDKIDS AND WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GET A PHOTO HISTORY LIKE THE OLD PHOTO ALBUMS DID.
WE BOTH NEED CAMERAS CAPABLE OF GOOD SUNSET AND LOW LIGHT SHOTS AND WE WOULD LIKE AT LEAST ONE THAT IS HIGHLY PORTABLE FOR TRAVEL.
NEITHER ONE OF US ARE GEEKS BY ANY STRETCH AND WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND TONS OF TIME IN THIS AREA OF OUR LIVES. SO MOST EXPENSIVE STUFF OVER $1500 IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE WASTED ON US.
HOWEVER, I HAVE DONE ENOUGH RESEARCH TO KNOW ABOUT RAW FILES AND SUCH AND I AM PREPARED TO LEARN MORE IN ORDER TO "PROCESS" MY IMAGES ON MY COMPUTER.
WE ARE BOTH MORE INCLINED TO USE OUR CAMERAS IF THEY ARE EASY TO TRANSPORT AND USE. FOR THAT REASON WE ARE LEANING TOWARDS A LOWER CLASS OF CAMERA THAN THE TRUE SLRs. BUT WE ARE OPEN TO BEGINNER SLR CAMERAS IF THE MIRRORLESS AND SLR-like CAMERAS ARE NOT GOING TO WORK FOR US.
ALSO, I INHERITED SOME FILM CAMERA GEAR AFTER MY FATHER PASSED. THIS INCLUDES 2 CAMERAS, BOTH OLYMPUS.
THEY ARE
1) AN OLYMPUS 35 SPN WITH A ZUIKO LENS THAT IS 1:1.7 WITH F=42MM
2) AN OLYMPUS OM PC WITH A GREAT CARRYING CASE THAT HOLDS THE CAMERA AND SEVERAL LENSES WITH A FULL HEAVY DUTY STRAP. THE LENSES ARE ...
1. ZUIKO AUTO-W 1:2.8 28MM AND...
2. TOKINA 1:4-5.6 70-210 MM
THERE IS A LIGHT METER, STRAPS FOR EACH CAMERA ALREADY ATTACHED AND SEVERAL LENS COVERS PLUS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A GLARE SHIELD. ALSO INCLUDED IS A FLASH (MILOTA AUTO25).
MY HUNCH IS THAT THE FIRST CAMERA IS WORTH VIRTUALLY NOTHING AND I SHOULD KEEP IT IN CASE OUR ELECTRONIC GRID IS COMPROMISED AND WE CAN ONLY USE FILM. ;-)
BUT ALL THE REST OF THE EQUIPMENT SHOULD BUY ME SOME OPTIONS. I WOULD HOPE I COULD GET AT LEAST $500.00 IN TRADE IN FOR THE LENSES, OR AT LEAST CLOSE TO IT.
OUR BUDGET:
NOT INCLUDING THE TRADE IN STUFF, WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURES AT AROUND $1000 OR LESS. WE AREN'T GOING TO HAGGLE OVER A HUNDRED DOLLARS HERE OR THERE BUT WE WANT TO BE SMART CONSUMERS AND ARE WILLING TO SHOP AROUND OR SIMPLY WAIT UNTIL WE CAN GET A DEAL. ALSO, WE MAY OPT FOR 3 CAMERAS BY GETTING A POINT AND SHOOT, A SUPER ZOOM COMPACT AND A MIRRORLESS. SO FINDING DEALS IS DEFINITELY PART OF THE PLAN AND WE REALLY DON'T NEED A CAMERA RIGHT AWAY. IN FACT, WE COULD PROBABLY WAIT A FULL YEAR BEFORE GETTING ANYTHING.
INCIDENTLY, I DID READ SOME OTHER THREADS BEFORE POSTING AND NOTICED THAT SOME OLDER EQUIPMENT IS SOMETIMES JUST AS GOOD AND I NOTED THE LINKS TO REPUTABLE DEALERS WHO PROVIDE REFURBISHED EQUIPMENT AT A LOWER COST.
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ AND POST ON MY BEHALF.
THIS IS MY FIRST DAY HERE AND I DID POST AN INTRODUCTION IN THAT SECTION.
SECOND
I'M TYPING IN ALL CAPS BECAUSE THE RIGHT SHIFT KEY IS DEAD ON MY 6 MONTH OLD IMAC KEYBOARD. I AM GOING TO GET IT REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.
THIRD
I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER NOR PLAN TO BE.
BUT
BOTH MY PARTNER AND I WANT CAMERAS WE CAN GROW INTO AND WE INTEND TO BECOME COMPETENT AT CREATING GREAT SHOTS FOR OUR PURPOSES
OUR PURPOSES
I AM A SPORTS FAN AND AM BEGINNING A SPORTS BLOG. I PLAN TO UPLOAD VISUAL CONTENT ON A REGULAR BASIS. SINCE I AM NOT A JOURNALIST...YET, I WOULD BE SHOOTING FROM THE STANDS RATHER THAN AT FIELD LEVEL. HOWEVER, I DON'T KNOW IF I QUALIFY AS A SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER BECAUSE I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED ACTION SHOTS TO GET PLENTY OF GOOD CONTENT. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I WOULDN'T PREFER TO GET A CAMERA CAPABLE OF GOOD ACTION. IT JUST MEANS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO STRETCH MY BUDGET TO DO SO.
MY PARTNER IS A PAINTER AND WANTS TO TAKE SHOTS, PRIMARILY LANDSCAPES AND DOES NOT REALLY NEED ACTION CAPABILITY.
WE BOTH NEED CAMERAS THAT DO MORE THAN OUR CURRENT PURPOSES. FOR EXAMPLE, I MAY GET INTO SOME DOCUMENTARY AND/OR JOURNALISM WORK AFTER I RETIRE AND I WOULD LIKE A CAMERA THAT DOES DECENT VIDEO. MY PARTNER SPENDS TIME WITH HER GRANDKIDS AND WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GET A PHOTO HISTORY LIKE THE OLD PHOTO ALBUMS DID.
WE BOTH NEED CAMERAS CAPABLE OF GOOD SUNSET AND LOW LIGHT SHOTS AND WE WOULD LIKE AT LEAST ONE THAT IS HIGHLY PORTABLE FOR TRAVEL.
NEITHER ONE OF US ARE GEEKS BY ANY STRETCH AND WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND TONS OF TIME IN THIS AREA OF OUR LIVES. SO MOST EXPENSIVE STUFF OVER $1500 IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE WASTED ON US.
HOWEVER, I HAVE DONE ENOUGH RESEARCH TO KNOW ABOUT RAW FILES AND SUCH AND I AM PREPARED TO LEARN MORE IN ORDER TO "PROCESS" MY IMAGES ON MY COMPUTER.
WE ARE BOTH MORE INCLINED TO USE OUR CAMERAS IF THEY ARE EASY TO TRANSPORT AND USE. FOR THAT REASON WE ARE LEANING TOWARDS A LOWER CLASS OF CAMERA THAN THE TRUE SLRs. BUT WE ARE OPEN TO BEGINNER SLR CAMERAS IF THE MIRRORLESS AND SLR-like CAMERAS ARE NOT GOING TO WORK FOR US.
ALSO, I INHERITED SOME FILM CAMERA GEAR AFTER MY FATHER PASSED. THIS INCLUDES 2 CAMERAS, BOTH OLYMPUS.
THEY ARE
1) AN OLYMPUS 35 SPN WITH A ZUIKO LENS THAT IS 1:1.7 WITH F=42MM
2) AN OLYMPUS OM PC WITH A GREAT CARRYING CASE THAT HOLDS THE CAMERA AND SEVERAL LENSES WITH A FULL HEAVY DUTY STRAP. THE LENSES ARE ...
1. ZUIKO AUTO-W 1:2.8 28MM AND...
2. TOKINA 1:4-5.6 70-210 MM
THERE IS A LIGHT METER, STRAPS FOR EACH CAMERA ALREADY ATTACHED AND SEVERAL LENS COVERS PLUS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A GLARE SHIELD. ALSO INCLUDED IS A FLASH (MILOTA AUTO25).
MY HUNCH IS THAT THE FIRST CAMERA IS WORTH VIRTUALLY NOTHING AND I SHOULD KEEP IT IN CASE OUR ELECTRONIC GRID IS COMPROMISED AND WE CAN ONLY USE FILM. ;-)
BUT ALL THE REST OF THE EQUIPMENT SHOULD BUY ME SOME OPTIONS. I WOULD HOPE I COULD GET AT LEAST $500.00 IN TRADE IN FOR THE LENSES, OR AT LEAST CLOSE TO IT.
OUR BUDGET:
NOT INCLUDING THE TRADE IN STUFF, WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURES AT AROUND $1000 OR LESS. WE AREN'T GOING TO HAGGLE OVER A HUNDRED DOLLARS HERE OR THERE BUT WE WANT TO BE SMART CONSUMERS AND ARE WILLING TO SHOP AROUND OR SIMPLY WAIT UNTIL WE CAN GET A DEAL. ALSO, WE MAY OPT FOR 3 CAMERAS BY GETTING A POINT AND SHOOT, A SUPER ZOOM COMPACT AND A MIRRORLESS. SO FINDING DEALS IS DEFINITELY PART OF THE PLAN AND WE REALLY DON'T NEED A CAMERA RIGHT AWAY. IN FACT, WE COULD PROBABLY WAIT A FULL YEAR BEFORE GETTING ANYTHING.
INCIDENTLY, I DID READ SOME OTHER THREADS BEFORE POSTING AND NOTICED THAT SOME OLDER EQUIPMENT IS SOMETIMES JUST AS GOOD AND I NOTED THE LINKS TO REPUTABLE DEALERS WHO PROVIDE REFURBISHED EQUIPMENT AT A LOWER COST.
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ AND POST ON MY BEHALF.
Jun 3, 2014 16:55:18 #
Bats, welcome to the Hog.
I would recomend a used(not new or refurb) Canon 7d.
The 7 is a dedicated sports camera and can be found used for less than $700. Use the rest to get a 70-200 f4 w/o IS at about $650.
With the rest get the 50mm 1.8 @ $100. That will get you by sports and general-wise till you can get a longer lens.
Again, welcome to you and your partner. Good luck. ;-)
SS
I would recomend a used(not new or refurb) Canon 7d.
The 7 is a dedicated sports camera and can be found used for less than $700. Use the rest to get a 70-200 f4 w/o IS at about $650.
With the rest get the 50mm 1.8 @ $100. That will get you by sports and general-wise till you can get a longer lens.
Again, welcome to you and your partner. Good luck. ;-)
SS
Jun 3, 2014 17:52:08 #
Per Forum Rules at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-1-1.html#7982
"Do not make posts in all capital letters. This includes topic titles. (You might consider using your browser's zoom feature to increase the size of the font in case you are experiencing difficulties reading/writing.)"
"Do not make posts in all capital letters. This includes topic titles. (You might consider using your browser's zoom feature to increase the size of the font in case you are experiencing difficulties reading/writing.)"
Jun 3, 2014 18:29:34 #
Nikonian72 wrote:
Per Forum Rules at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-1-1.html#7982
"Do not make posts in all capital letters. This includes topic titles. (You might consider using your browser's zoom feature to increase the size of the font in case you are experiencing difficulties reading/writing.)"
"Do not make posts in all capital letters. This includes topic titles. (You might consider using your browser's zoom feature to increase the size of the font in case you are experiencing difficulties reading/writing.)"
His keypad is broken, can only write capital letters.
Jun 3, 2014 18:36:34 #
specs-4-bats wrote:
FIRST br THIS IS MY FIRST DAY HERE AND I DID POST ... (show quote)
Your criteria is hard to match. You can both get the cameras you are after, but hardly within the budget without compromise. I would think a Nikon 1 V3 or J3 or J4 would fit perfectly for the sports/compact camera except it is not scoring good in low light.
For your wife almost any camera can do the job, except the cheapest ones are not scoring good in low light. So maybe the big question here is - how low is low light in your case? The general rule is that the best cameras for low light are the pro cameras like Nikon D4S and Canon 1DX which also cost many times your budget. Then it is the full frame cameras, then the APS-C cameras, then micro 4/3, then Nikon CX format cameras and then bridge cameras and point and shoot cameras which usually have the smallest sensors. A few exception are from this. But this seems to be the factor you have to look more into.
Jun 3, 2014 18:46:46 #
Jun 3, 2014 19:23:57 #
JPL wrote:
His keypad is broken, can only write capital letters.
My apologies. I can type regular case. It is just hard to do upper case unless I have the caps lock on. So, because one of the shift keys is not working, it is easier to type in all caps or all lower case.
I will type in all lower case per forum rules. Sorry and thanks for the correction.
Jun 3, 2014 19:28:34 #
JPL wrote:
Your criteria is hard to match. You can both get ... (show quote)
Low light is not essential. we are mainly after good sunset/sunrise shots and indoor shots. the real goal is to be able to take good shots where there is extreme contrast in lighting so that things aren't too washed out or too blacked out. I'm sure some of this can be handled in the processing and by using the proper shutter speed and fstop settings.
Jun 3, 2014 19:33:54 #
SharpShooter wrote:
Was that 2 cameras and lenses for $1500, or a total of $3000? ;-)
SS
SS
i am hoping to get 2 cameras for this price + some accessories like a good memory card and back up batteries.
remember folks, i am not trying to be a pro and i have some trade in value to work with on top of the $1500. with that i hope to get a good lens.
i have seen slr type cameras with decent ratings priced around $700 and you can get 2 compacts for about the same.
I am a little nervous about buying used rather than refurbished. any advice on how to buy used cameras. are there specific sites like maybe this one? what kinds of protection do you have buying used?
Jun 3, 2014 19:40:58 #
Specs-4-bats, welcome.
$1000 for two cameras means one or possibly both cameras will be point and shoot, which MAY be ok for landscapes, but definitely NOT suitable for your sports shots... ESPECIALLY in low light.
You MAY need to consider a little more in the budget if you intend to post good quality photographs... and be prepared to spend about $1300-$1700 for a camera and lens combo to do EXACTLY what you need and do it well.
As for which model? I suggest any of the enthusiast models from Sony, Olympus, Pentax, Nikon or Canon... NOT the beginner models with inexpensive kit lenses.
That way you will get a machine that can handle low/limited light photography AND avoid the need to upgrade that most people who buy entry level cameras invariably run into within a couple of years of purchase.
GOOD LUCK!!!
$1000 for two cameras means one or possibly both cameras will be point and shoot, which MAY be ok for landscapes, but definitely NOT suitable for your sports shots... ESPECIALLY in low light.
You MAY need to consider a little more in the budget if you intend to post good quality photographs... and be prepared to spend about $1300-$1700 for a camera and lens combo to do EXACTLY what you need and do it well.
As for which model? I suggest any of the enthusiast models from Sony, Olympus, Pentax, Nikon or Canon... NOT the beginner models with inexpensive kit lenses.
That way you will get a machine that can handle low/limited light photography AND avoid the need to upgrade that most people who buy entry level cameras invariably run into within a couple of years of purchase.
GOOD LUCK!!!
Jun 3, 2014 19:46:37 #
specs-4-bats wrote:
FIRST
MY HUNCH IS THAT THE FIRST CAMERA IS WORTH VIRTUALLY NOTHING AND I SHOULD KEEP IT IN CASE OUR ELECTRONIC GRID IS COMPROMISED AND WE CAN ONLY USE FILM. ;-)
BUT ALL THE REST OF THE EQUIPMENT SHOULD BUY ME SOME OPTIONS. I WOULD HOPE I COULD GET AT LEAST $500.00 IN TRADE IN FOR THE LENSES, OR AT LEAST CLOSE TO IT.
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ AND POST ON MY BEHALF.
MY HUNCH IS THAT THE FIRST CAMERA IS WORTH VIRTUALLY NOTHING AND I SHOULD KEEP IT IN CASE OUR ELECTRONIC GRID IS COMPROMISED AND WE CAN ONLY USE FILM. ;-)
BUT ALL THE REST OF THE EQUIPMENT SHOULD BUY ME SOME OPTIONS. I WOULD HOPE I COULD GET AT LEAST $500.00 IN TRADE IN FOR THE LENSES, OR AT LEAST CLOSE TO IT.
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ AND POST ON MY BEHALF.
Sucks about your keypad. Makes it hard to type at times, I know. From what I've been able to garner from a number of different sources, any old film camera gear, including lenses, doesn't seem to be worth much. And that really sucks as I have a ton of old Nikon lenses, bodies, etc. So, don't be too disappointed should you not get even close to $500.
Regardless, I'm very new to digital photography, so all the others here, who have vastly more experience than I, can probably advise you better.
That being said, I will say that my first digital camera, a very modest Nikon D3100, took fantastic low light, night time photos. I shot some last December of the Christmas light displays in Sunnyvale, Ca and they came out very nice.
It also worked very well for photographing my granddaughter's rugby games.
So, it seems to me that most of the new digital cameras are going to be a good product. (Name brand digitals, that is) I shoot Nikon because that's what I've shot since 1970. Canon is very good. I have heard the Sony digital camera is good, but I know nothing about it.
I'm sorry I can't be more help, but listen to all the experienced people on this site and I'm sure you'll be fine.
Jun 3, 2014 19:54:35 #
Hummmmmmmmmmm
Don't we all what your asking for at that price point, it does not exist.
The issue here is a camera with fast focus (sports). Your just not going to get that at the price your thinking that can handle expansion to a 300 - 600mm lens which you will want to obtain at some point.
I agree with sharp Shooter, grab a used 7D and as long of a lens you can snag within your current budget, that means you get one camera for now.
Don't we all what your asking for at that price point, it does not exist.
The issue here is a camera with fast focus (sports). Your just not going to get that at the price your thinking that can handle expansion to a 300 - 600mm lens which you will want to obtain at some point.
I agree with sharp Shooter, grab a used 7D and as long of a lens you can snag within your current budget, that means you get one camera for now.
Jun 3, 2014 20:00:10 #
A NEW Sony A77 can be had for less than a used Canon 7D and it will out-perform the Canon in every respect for sports shooting, including 12 frame per second burst rate. ;)
Jun 3, 2014 20:11:09 #
CHOLLY wrote:
A NEW Sony A77 can be had for less than a used Canon 7D and it will out-perform the Canon in every respect for sports shooting, including 12 frame per second burst rate. ;)
Hummmmmm
There is a $300 off rebate because Sony release the model II ........ a good buy at $798 new, body only
Jun 3, 2014 20:22:35 #
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