Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

I'll go with a Mamiya 645DF+ with a Phase One Q280 digital back. No preference on the lens, as after buying the body and back I wouldn't be able to afford one for the next ten years anyway! 8-)

Tina

Canon 7D with the 100-400 mm lens

JW Smith Loc: Luckenbach Tx.

Hi artelizabeth,
I own a Nikon F Film camera, D-5000 and a Nikon D-7000 I am looking to buy a Nikon Df recently released
JW Smith
WWW.CloseToTheFlame,com

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

No one will ever accuse you of being a cheap date! :wink: :lol: :thumbup:

bvargas Loc: Palm Harbor, Florida

Sony Cyber-Shot RX10, w/fixed lens, Tack-Sharp Image Stabilizer 24-200mm f/2.8 (constant) Zeiss Vario Sonar T* and new Exmor R 1.0 inch, back-illuminated 20.2MP Sensor.
The Specs are incredible. Check it out especially the gallery images, very little noise. Focus as close as 11 inch at all focal lengths. Also has WI-FI and NFC
Price $1299. No more lenses to buy. Everything you need.
Sony is really leading the pack especially with their Super Sharp Zeiss Lenses.

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

Canon 1DX with Canon 28-300mm F3.5-5.6 IS. Reason: The camera is the best DSLR available to day. It is a great low light machine, as well as being the best for fast action. The lens is the most versatile available, with a zoom range from near wide angle to decent spec telephoto. It is a relatively fast lens, but with the 1DX it performs better than F2.8 lenses do on a cropped lens camera. The camera/lens combination is callable of handling nearly every kind of photo challenge very well.

Drawbacks

1. A full frame DSLR is heavy, and this one is the heaviest. The lens is a giant, too, therefore those who lug one around for many hours must be ready for some physical strain, even a backache for a few hours after the ordeal is over. Eventually, mirror less cameras will match the capability of the 1DX at a much smaller size, but right now it is not matched by any DSLR for digital stills.

2. Canon has recently released a lesser still DSLR, which nevertheless has video capabilities never seen in an SLR before, the 70D. It makes the video function of the 1DX obsolete, as the 1DX cannot track fast action as well. Nevertheless, for stills, regardless what great innovations may appear in the future, the 1DX and the lens I mentioned should provide terrific pictures for a lifetime.

Brian in Whitby Loc: Whitby, Ontario, Canada

Hubble!

kwbybee Loc: Oklahoma City

It sounds like your not necessarily looking for a specific answer, rather opinion for a fun topic. If that is the case I would choose the Sony a99 with the 24-70 f/2.8 Zeis lens.

PVR8 Loc: Raleigh, NC

Good question. I'm currently dealing with a similar question. My Nikon D200 was my first dslr. I bought a d70 as a back up sonn after i got the D200. Last year my D200 and the D70 both got damaged by a bad compact flash card. I had the D200 repaired by Nikon. The D70 wasn't worth fixing (by Nikon). I bought a Nikon D7000 and thought I would keep the D200 as a back up. I really like the D200 and I'm thinking about selling the D7000. The D200 just feels better and I don't see any difference in picture quality. I actually like the color I get from the D200 more than the color from the D7000. One of the local camera shops has my D70 now and he said he may be able to fix it, so I'm thinking of going back to my original gear, D200 and D70 back up while getting back some of the money I invested in the D7000. I don't shoot movies with my dslr as I have a dedicated video camera for the rare times that I want to shoot movies. I know the D7000 is touted as a very good camera so I'm undecided about letting it go. I'd like to hear any opinions. BTW, I'm only an intermediate hobbyist.

amehta Loc: Boston

If the D200 works best for you, both when shooting and the results, then that's the camera you should use. If the D70 can't be fixed, you can get a used one for under $100, or a used D200 for about $200.

pappy0352 Loc: Oregon

My 60D, it fits my needs in every way.

Pappy

AlisonT Loc: Louisa, Virginia

I love my two D7000s. I have also had both a D70 and a D200 and I liked the D70 better for the light weight. I do a lot of shooting with a 80-400mm zoom and putting that on the D200 gets really heavy. But the D70 doesn't have the megapixels I need. I like the D7000 much better than the D200 for the weight factor. I do nature shots so the weight of the camera is a big factor for me. If I were doing studio shots I might feel differently.

For a while I worked with the D200 and one D7000 and that is a pain because the buttons are in different places. I was always turning on the menu when I meant to turn on the preview and vice versa.

amehta Loc: Boston

Clearly you two need to do a swap, D7000 for D200+cash. :-)

PVR8 Loc: Raleigh, NC

Good advice. Thanks. Last night I went on youtube and watched some D7000 tutorials and and read some owner and professional reviews. They all seem to agree that it's a really great camera. I think I'm going to hold on to the D7000 and get more familiar with setting it up and using it. It seems that the D7000 has more capabilities that I might find useful as I become more advanced in photography (high ISO, action shooting, low light)I will keep shooting with the D200 while i'm learning. Those youtube videos made me feel like I would be getting rid of a very good thing if I let the D7000 go. If the D70 gets fixed it will probably go to a nephew or niece.Thanks again. This is the best photography blog ever!

amehta Loc: Boston

The D7000 is excellent, and if you find ways to use its capabilities, I think you will be happy with the results. Giving the D70 to a nephew or niece is a great idea. I basically did the same with my D200 when I went to a full frame camera. She still uses it, four years later.