Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

OMG ! My side!

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

Rod, I, too, found this forum while researching DSLRs a couple years ago. I, too, had been using p&s cameras since giving up on film. I, too, wanted to stick with the same brand as my trusty film camera (though in my case that was Olympus). What I did was start a spreadsheet to keep track of all the different makes, models, and features. I recommend you do the same, and put the features most important to you near the top. For example, weather sealing was a must-have for me so that was at the top of my sheet. Www.snapsort.com, www.dpreview.com, and www.dxomark.com are good resources for features comparison, and www.dyxum.com is a great resource to consider lenses if you lean Sony (but I get ahead of myself).

I started out thinking I would get an Oly, but quickly realized that wouldn't work for me. I then thought I'd end up with Canon (millions of lemmings can't all be wrong, right?) Nikon started to edge out Canon, then I was surprised when Sony started to come out on top. I ended up with the a77 and have no regrets (I've just upgraded to the a77ii, which I'll get my hands on Tuesday.)

I started with conventional, not wanting the expense of mirrorless right now. If you also decide on conventional, I recommend putting the a77ii at the top of your list, then challenging it with other models. For how you describe you'll use it, it might be perfect. Great action camera with its new focusing and tracking systems, while still excellent for landscapes (look at the specs for dynamic range and color depth, better than most full frames.) Then consider that you can pick up an arsenal of quality used Minolta AF glass for a song and this is a choice hard to beat. Good luck, and let us know what you decide!

azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.

What's the compelling reason for going mirrorless besides size? They seem to take fabulous pictures but so do DSLR's for less money. I really like the looks of the A7 but its out of my budget. I would like to stay APS-C or bigger so I haven't explored the M 4/3 cameras. I heavily researched the A6000 but don't like their lens selection.


OK, so you have a lot of conflicts. I own a NEX-7, the precursor to the A6000. I was not able to get the best out of this camera until I purchased the 18-105 "G" glass power zoom lens. It woke the camera up!!. The 16-50 is very useful for street photography, as the camera is small and unobtrusive. On the other hand, I can also attach my 70-400 "G" lens and use a tripod. There will always be advances in digital equipment, so betting on what Mfg. A will do in the future is a waste of time. Find the system that excites you today. Again, I have found Sony to be a leader, totally committed to growing the category, in quality and value.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

First thing I would do is to skip Best Buy. Second thing - call B&H, Adorama, and talk to a rep there before even narrowing choices.
From personal experience - Pentax has one of the best values of any DSLR. Not sure they have the best AF system after having issues with an older entry level model. Still hear negative reviews on some newer models, but also great reviews. Very good reviews on sensors, great in low light according to reviews.
If you read any review that fails to mention a specific function of a a given model, suspect there is an issue with the missing part. I have found that to me more true than not in researching various brands and models.
If you are looking for a lot of action pics with kids, suggest mirrorless may not be for you. Not poor AF. Many are actually stellar in this department, but they have a general rep for being slow to focus compared to non-mirrorless cameras. That said, it is mostly the lens that determines fast or slow focus.
As a Canon shooter, for an entry level camera, I would be looking at a Nikon D3300. Great reviews, good sensor, sold as a kit or body only.
Feel your pain with the choices. So many choices, so little time. lol

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Reading through your long post, I think you've already answered your own question. You decided on a Canon 70D with an 18-135 mm lens. That's all you need. It shoots beautiful stills and great video. I can't think of a good reason why you would go mirrorless. At this point, the 70D will serve you well. I have one and can attest to the fact that it's a wonderful camera. I use mine almost exclusively for portraits and I get consistently good ones. You might add a 50 mm prime and I'd recommend the Sigma if you can afford it. Otherwise, I hear that the cheap Canon 50 mm does a good job and it costs little more than $100.

Fred A Loc: Clark, New Jersey

Hey SS: I don't have to be worried about that. She left for a guy in prison and she ended up there also. I could write a book. :roll: :lol: Belong to a lot of groups on line now. Fred A

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Here's a simple solution for everything you have stated you want to do. No extra lenses are required and it has Leica quality glass. It does 4K video which is multiple times better than today's 1080p maximum broadcast quality. The best thing to do is read a review of it at the best review site on the net so it can sell itself to you.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-fz1000

Retail is $899 and you never have to buy anything to add to it - such as adding expensive lenses.

lsimpkins Loc: SE Pennsylvania

Others have mentioned it, but the ability of Pentax DSLRs to use every Pentax lens ever made can't be beat. If your ZX-7 used F or FA series lenses, you will have full auto focus and auto exposure with any current Pentax K body. They also offer an 18-135mm zoom and the K-3 seems to be very accurate on AF.

As far as handling prior to purchase is concerned, I know that B&H has a very liberal return policy. If you buy a K-5II or K-3 and for some reason don't like it, you ship it back - although at your expense. And if you liked the ZX-7 the ergonomics of Pentax bodies will probably be second nature.

I hope you end up with a camera that make you happy, whatever brand.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

Stop all this paining about which camera body. After reading most of the posts on this thread it obvious you are more than interested in the Canon EOS 70D, so buy one from one of the New York vendors, with a 18-135 IS STM lens, and your problems are over. Now, go out and take some pictures. Don't forget to post some, and check the store original box. You'll get all the help you need to make the photos better on this forum.

B

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

FYI - the Sony A77 is a mirrorless camera in it's strictist terms !

Sony (mirrorless) is the FUTURE.

Sony has in camera proprietary functions like face recognition focusing, sweep panorama, HDR, 1.1-2X interpolated clear image zoom, wysiwyg electronic viewfinders, - these and others make Sony a game changer !
Currently, lens selection - especially 200mm and longer and the high cost and availability of some lenses is a real concern. Lens adapters can mitigate some lens concerns and sticking with lenses 200mm and shorter also helps - for the current moment.

redrocktom Loc: Sedona

So if Canon is it, I have a friend who bought a 70D 6 mos. ago and loves it. She shoots a lot of video, which this camera seems to excel at. This maybe the beat choice for video in the APS-c DSLR group period. Also shoots excellent stills. That would be my choice if video were my priority. If low light action or just action stills was my priority, then the 7D Mk2 would be my choice or the 7D if I needed to trim costs.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

:shock:
I was just browsing along, minding my own business when I comes across somebody who shoots Sonny.
Now I grant you, there seems to be somebody always wanting to shoot Sonny, but not many still alive.
A guy I worked at the same place in Wyoming (dead now) told me that sometimes guys will put a bullet in the ground nearby another hunter. Just to scare them...
I told him if anybody did that to me, they better not miss, because I don't.

Now if you meant Sony... well, I've even owned a few Sony's.
Ohhhh... a Sony of my Ownie!
Sony has long made good equipment. When everybody was cheapening out their electronics, Sony was using industrial grade components in their electronics manufacturing.
Good Stuff Maynard!

Features to Shop for:
Cameras with changeable lenses have a versatility that I like.
High megapixel sensors are a big plus.
Controls that your hands can easily work are important.
Changeable memory (SD Cards) are probably an important feature. And the higher the camera can use, the better in the long run.
Remote release capable for those Family Group shots. Wi-Fi a plus.
Tripod mountable. Because you just never know.

And what's hot today, will be cold tomorrow. I like the major brands for longevity.
Whatever you get, you will learn to use. So don't be afraid to aim high.
And if you get the lenses you think you will want soon, you'll grow with that as well.
Have fun and good luck. ;-)

Desert Gecko Loc: desert southwest, USA

Rod, I still think a Sony a77ii would best suit your stated needs, and you should compare any other camera you're considering against it. The $898 price (body) and availability of inexpensive & quality Minolta glass makes it even more attractive.

Below are a few recent pics I took with my a77, just to show you what it and old Minolta lenses can do. Keep in mind the a77ii is even better, with superb focusing/tracking, improved ISO, and even better color/dynamic range.

The lens on 1, 2, 4, and 5 was a 75-300 "new" (the best of the four 75-300 AF that Minolta made), and considerably less expensive than... ANYTHING at $69 shipped.

Pics 1 and 2 are from a whole bunch of shots I'm trying to improve my beginner Lightroom skills with, but they don't look bad for ISO 800 and 100% crop, shot from a great distance at 300mm (these should give you an idea of the a77 and an old Minolta lens' ability to capture action, not my pp skills.)

Number 3 is a landscape I took to test another inexpensive Minolta lens, the 35-105. This shows the color and range as this was taken just before sunset when details are lost in the shadows with many cameras - but not here. Again, straight from the camera.

Pics 4 and 5 are the first & last of a 13-shot series I took of my son who suddenly charged at me from the river (back to the 75-300). It was all I could do to keep the camera pointed at him as I tried to zoom in on his face. Note his shadow on the first shot - in front of him, as he was backlit, yet look at the detail the a77 picked up with its outstanding dynamic range. No silhouette here. The second shot is good enough to frame (fuzzy teeth are because of his plastic retainer, and blue hair because he is a teenager, not because of the camera) These two shots of him are jpegs straight from the camera with no post processing, just to show you what the a77 and an inexpensive, but certainly not cheap Minolta lens are capable of.

The last two I took with a Tokina 11-16, but they show that the a77 actually collects quite a bit of light without too much noise. These were shot at ISO 1600.

Don't judge my technique or composition, as I'm not posting these for critique; rather, to show you that the a77 is a very capable camera, and the a77ii even more so, perhaps the best crop-sensor camera out there (we'll have to see a shoot out with the 7Dii before we'll know.)

1. 100% crop with Minolta 75-300

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2. 100% crop with Minolta 75-300

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3. With Minolta 35-105

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4. Son charging, Minolta 75-300

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5. Son charging, three seconds later

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6. Milky Way, car on distant dirt road, and other son taking it in

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7. Classic Milky Way shot (clouds blurring lower left corner)

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SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

E
Gecko, I'm not sure how to break this to you, but your shots don't look any better or any worse than the ones that I take in good light. And mine are taken with the worst camera to ever hit the market, a dead last scorer on DXO.
Yes at $69 for a lens is cheap, but my first AF lens cost me $50. A cheap 35-80 and I can't tell the difference to my L lenses.
Gecko, I'm not knocking your shots, but if a Canon can do as well, that means any camera will do that. :lol: :lol:
SS

optician773

Well, the great dilemma!, I loved the panasonic micro two thirds with its wide variety of glass, but I sold it and moved to the Fuji ex series. Wow what colors and it has a larger sensor and great glass available. No matter what you choose you will always have second douts.