Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I have a Full frame (a 14MP Kodak DSC Pro with the Nikon mount), three DX cameras (the Nikon D200, the D3100 and the D7000) a Nikon 1 J1 CX camera (1" sensor) and the Coolpix B700 super zoom. To be honest they all have their advantages and disadvantages. The larger the sensor, the better IQ and low light capability, and the wider field of view (eg., good for landscapes). As the sensor gets smaller you get less IQ, but the field of view narrows, giving a larger equivalent focal length (better for birds or the moon). They all have their uses.

The problem with the FF is if you want a good telephoto (eg. 500mm or 600mm) you are talking about a heavy and expensive lens. My best birding camera for a long time has been the Nikon 1 J1 with the 1" CX sensor and a 300mm lens which gives me an 810mm equiv. focal length in a light weight package that is mirroless and can fire multiple shots rapidly.

Now with the Coolpix B700, I have a multipurpose light weight camera, but lose out on IQ and the ability to rapidly fire multiple burst shots. Also the shots viewed at 100% resolution are often not as sharp as those taken with the J1 with the one inch sensor, so I resize them down to the number of pixels the J1 creates, to make them look sharper. But the B700 gives me 4K video which I like.

What I have done is buy all of my cameras and lenses used on ebay, from top rated sellers, models that are several years old. So for the cost of one new camera and a couple of lenses, I have a whole toolbox to pick from. All of my lenses and bodies have been in the $150 to $400 range.

If I was starting over I'd probaly just stick with an older used full frame Nikon that also could mount film lenses in manual mode for landscapes, macros and wide angle shots, and the Nikon 1 J1 with the FT-1 autofocus mount and the 55-300 AFS VR lens that gives an 810 mm equivalent focal length for telephoto, and the Coolpix B700 just for the 4K video.

User ID

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Here's a plan .... NOT saying THE plan :-)

Get a budget friendly interchangeable lens
m43 with EVF. Battery life ? Just get over it.
We used to rewind AND reload after every
36 frames and it was just "the-way-it-was",
not to mention the expense of it. A typical
m43 battery is equal to 8 or more rolls of
36 exposure film, and there's no expense
and no rewinding.

Now here's the WHY of the plan: You will
go a looooong ways with your m43 plus a
pair of lenses, for relatively little expense
and might ... just might ... never feel any
need to "upgrade". The BiG BonuS is that
if you find you need a bigger format often
enuf to really buy into it, you will definitely
skip over APSC [too close to m43] and go
for a FF. The BiG BonuS is that almost any
FF user will want ... and usually acquire ...
a lighter kit, realizing that toting a FF kit
every time you head out the door is just
too much load, and sometimes too much
risk of expensive gear.

So, thaz the plan ... You're gonna need a
compact kit sooner or later, so why not do
it sooner ... allowing you to wait and see
whether you ever really do need anything
larger than that.

And BTW, you mention learning to shoot
sports ? Compare the size [and cost !] of
serious tele lenses for m43 to FF versions.
Then consider that m43 offers up to twice
the burst speeds in any given price range
as compared to FF.



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zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

If battery life is the only reason why you will not consider mirrorless, you need to look at the performance of the current generation of mirrorless cameras. Earlier versions indeed had problems with battery life, but Sony addressed that issue. I shoot with a Sony A7 III, and I travel with only one spare battery. The Sony A7 III weighs about as much as a D7500, so you can have a full-frame camera that does not weigh you down. This is a major reason why I decided to go with Sony, and I have no regrets. If you are serious about photography, and if you do not own any Canon or Nikon lenses, there is no reason why you should invest in a DSLR at this time.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

You have a point. Last year my daughter was married. In addition to the photographer and her assistants, my wife bought 45 disposable cameras. She put three on each table and there was a place to dispose of them when they were finished with them.
The professional pictures were spot on. However, the pictures from the disposable cameras were "the best"They captured the spontaneity and relaxed moments of the wedding. They also produced some very good pictures. By the by the only DSLR's were the ones used by the photographers. Everyone had and were using their cell phones which also produced some excellent pictures.
I have a book by Bryon Peterson; Understanding Exposure. On the front cover, there is a caption;" How to Shoot Great Photographs with any Camera" Now this guy is at a level greater than anyone here. I will take him at his word.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Make it easy for yourself: buy a D750.

(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://www.cameradecision.com/
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

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

I will add my voice to those recommending that you wait a bit. As you get to the point that you have a lot of photos that you really, really like, share them in the forums here to get some feedback. Develop your abilities and your style. Then you will be ready to determine how your equipment is limiting your growth and be able to look for equipment that will address your needs.

eskimoky

Hi linda from maine!please tell me how do you post 75000 posts since 2012?im not being mean ,im just amazed and curious!kenny in alaska

BJW

[quote=gretchenk]Hello,
I came from point and shoot and love taking pictures. I enrolled in a photography class in Feb and have been using a borrowed Nikon D3200 with kit lenses on photo taking field trips. But for recent travel I bought a Lumix FZ1000 ...

REPLY

Now that you’re on the verge of taking the deep dive into the wonderfully addictive pursuit of photography, just as I did about 5 years ago, you may conclude that there is no single most excellent camera body for all the genres of photography you want to do. I’ve owned Canon, Nikon, Lumix and Leica; full frame, crop sensor and MFT. They’re all great but for different genres. You don’t need the most excellent camera; it doesn’t exist, IMO.
What I believe is a more important inquiry is the quality of the lens you choose. And that just might be an even more bewildering search. My own favorite is Leica lenses but that’s because of my purely subjective preferences.

The most important investment, I believe, is a basic photography skills course taught by professionals. I started with a very worthwhile online basic digital photography course with NY Institute of Photography NYIP.edu I found that to be the place to start and was money well spent, for knowledge that won’t become obsolete. It helped me cope with the confusion caused by all the hype out there.
Enjoy your voyage into “Photoland”.
Ben

eskimoky

Ps,ive been to maine,my sister lives in windham! I love the birds there,the cardinals and cedar waxwings and doves as well as the high flying turkey buzzards,i may go back soon to take more pics of the coast and the birds.

hawleyrw Loc: Dayton, OH

Like Linda stated, if you wait for the right time, just as they release a new model, the old models go on sale for quite a great price. Personally I bought a new camera Under the same conditions, and got quite a deal for a new full frame camera, best of luck to you.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Try before you buy! Many places will apply rental fees to the price of the camera. Hopefully you are near a good camera store. Mine, Hunt's, does demo days for the major brands where you can borrow cameras and lenses for little or no money.

hawleyrw Loc: Dayton, OH

I did that too, rented prior to buying. Great way to go.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Forgetaboutit!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get the new Nikon mirrorless Z6 with the 24-70 f4 lens for about $2500.00. Order it now and enjoy it later.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Keep learning. If your p&s has a way to set the camera to manual I am sure your tutor in photography will advise you to use that IF you are not already using it with the D3200. As you progress you will surely know what camera you should buy.
A cropped body camera to me is a great choice. It is much better for wildlife, new models are greatly improved to control noise and they can do exactly the same as a full frame camera. The assortment of lenses for both cameras leave nothing to be desired.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

I switched from Nikon to mirrorless because of the weight of the camera. My shoulder and back thank me every day.
Don’t dismiss mirrorless look at Sony, Olympus and Fuji ( I have the X-Pro 2).