mineart

Hello All!

I am new to the sight and I don't think I could have this community at a better time!

I have a 7 month old son (our first) and I am looking for a camera that I can keep about me so as not to miss any of those magic moments.

I also provide service to my University shooting the plays (think concert lighting) in the theatre department where I teach.

I was hoping to end up with one system to meet both needs but I am not sure if this is practical. I have a Cannon T1i that is about to give up the ghost. Until my son arrived it was also my travel camera, but now it is just too big to lug around with the glass.

I have been trying o find a mirrorless system that can do it all for me. I tried the Sony a6000 but really am disappointed with the noise that arrives in anything low light. I am currently test driving a Sony a6300 and a Fuji X-t10. Right now, I love the Fuji for it's IQ and 'feel', but I know empirically the Sony has a better auto-focus and tracking system (though the images are less pleasing to me).

Sony lenses are also expensive, and while the Fuji lenses aren't cheap, I can get what Iu need there for considerably less.

I am now wondering if a micro 4/3 system is the way to go, perhaps an Olympus OM- D5 Mark II? The glass on 4/3s is really affordable, but will I be sacrificing too much image quality to go with a sensor that small?

The other wonder I have is would I be better served with a midrange Point and Shoot for baby snaps and a separate rig to use for show shots and travel?

Advice?

my deepest thanks in advance!

- Mark
www.MarkMineart.com

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

there is really no one camera or digital imaging device which will do everything perfectly as to what you want.
for stage, and your ability to position yourself past the first electrics, the leica film and digital rangefinder cameras are the way to go. small, quiet, unobtrusive and the best glass currently on the planet. i recomment the standby focal lengths of 35mm, 50mm and 90mm lenses.

for baby photos, i recommend the pentax k-1, with its wonderful multi position rear screen. visit a camera store which has these and make your selection, and purchase from them. i doubt you will ever purchase anything else, in either case.

mineart

Thanks, I will take a look at those! I appreciate the help.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

my pleasure. i photographed and produced ballet companies and choreographers for more years than i care to remember. a great dance photographer is Misha Langer. his preferred choice, back in the old days, was his leica, with his own custom development formula, which i still have and use. a careful, considerate man, and it shows in his work.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Fuji Xt2 for the theatre.

I photographed babies professionally. Some suggestions: get them when they are rested, fed, and pooped. Engage them first; play with them. Some bright toys can assist with getting them looking in a more ideal direction. I used a three light setup but even on- camera flash can work bounced off a neutral surface. When going for the direct eye contact, a stuffed toy works well. Maintain eye contact. This means using a tripod and containing the baby to a set location.

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

Mark, check out the following link, Kirk is a working photog out of Austin, Tx he shoots plays amongst other things. Main thing check out the equipment he is using..

https://visualsciencelab.blogspot.com/

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

There's no perfect camera, but processing can help.

Read comparisons and specs, and decide what features are important to you.
(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://cameras.reviewed.com/
http://camerasize.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://snapsort.com/compare
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu

mineart

Danke!

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

I love my Fuji. For pics of children, nothing beats the skintones of the Fuji. They are magical, you can "feel" the flesh tones. The same portraits with the Nikon, are harsh and unnatural looking by comparison.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

Are you shooting RAW or jpeg? How do you post process your images? If you use an X-Rite Color Checker and Lightroom you should be able to match skin tones from camera to camera if shooting RAW. If shooting jpeg you have to try each color setting, as they differ in values from maker to maker.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

The jpgs from my Fuji don't need processing, so why shoot RAW? It does not have a low pass filter so the jpgs are excellent and very sharp, and the skintones are luscious. Comparable files from the Nikon would need processing to look as good, but why bother, when I have the Fuji?