bergerop

First blog I have ever been a member of. Wife and I love nature and taking pictures. We have traveled a lot, but settled down in Arizona after retiring from the military. I've had too many different cameras and now looking at a Canon Rebel EOS T6i. I want something that will allow me to take continuous pictures of wildlife or nature as it happens. My son has a T3i and it just zips off pictures so quickly. I am looking for help / advice / recommendations / suggestions on the time of camera I should be looking at for nature / outdoor pictures and for taking pictures of my six grandkids. How many lenses should I look at getting and sizes. I am a novice but want (NEED) to get better. Thanks for any and all help.

truckster Loc: Tampa Bay Area

Well guy, you came to the right place. Although I can't help you (Nikon guy here, know nothing about Canon cameras) there are plenty that can. Read for a while as we usually get questions like this at a pace of about one a week. Use the search button to find old posts ... there is a lot of info here for you to access. So, welcome and have fun learning and posting.

67skylark27 Loc: Fort Atkinson, WI

Marry you lenses, date your bodies :-)

bergerop

Thanks. I am not sold on Canon, so if you have advice for a Nikon that does what I am looking for, please let me know which one(s).

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Welcome to UHH. Have fun. Lots of great people here.
--Bob

CO

You mentioned continuous pictures of wildlife. Did you want to capture birds in flight? There are two cameras that you may want to consider - the Nikon D500 and Canon 7D Mk.II. They both can shoot at 10 frames per second and have excellent autofocus systems. I have a D500. Its autofocus system along the the Nikon D5 is probably the best autofocus system in a DSLR camera right now. I've been very impressed with mine.

bergerop

Thank you and I will more than likely take you up on the offer. Can my wife join in on the meet and greet?

bergerop

Yes I would love to be able to take action shots like that. Thanks for the info. More for me to look at and read about.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Both the D500 and 7DII are probably "more camera" than you need and more expensive for a novice. If you end up going that route, shop for used copies and save yourself some of your retirement savings. In the Nikon line, look at the D7200 or for Canon the 80D as they are advanced bodies but not as heavy, large or expensive (new) as the professional cropped sensor models mentioned earlier.

Your lens choice is more important. Here the top lenses from both Canon and Nikon are equally great and equally expensive. Nikon has more choices in their DX line, but they tend to feature more plastic and depending on usage, can be less durable. But in terms of primes and zoom lenses appropriate for wildlife and sports, Canon is the leader.

You didn't state a budget. Do a quick google of the models suggested so far and you'll see people on this site love to spend other people's money, the more, the better. If you feel a bit of sticker shock, try the same models at KEH and look at prices for EX or EX+ rated items.

Read review sites too, such as Ken Rockwell for Nikon and Canon and The Digital Picture for Canon.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

OK, Canon shooter here.
I would recommend you look at the 80D instead of the T6i or the 77D if the 80 is too much $ or the T6s a few bucks lower yet, but it has the control layout of the mid range cameras while the T6i is entry level and the T6 is the stripped down model.
As to lenses, get the kit with the 18-135 for a start. Then you add a 70-200 or 100-400 (Canon$$$, Sigma $**) and two lenses will have you covered for 18-200 or 400 mm. These are good lenses and later you can go for very good or great lenses if you get into things more and desire higher Image Quality/dim light ability etc. If you start to do a lot of landscapes you might then add an ultra wide. If you get into wildlife/birds you add a longer lens or an extender. If the very small grabs your attention you go for a macro. The macros in the 90 to 180 mm range also made good portrait lenses.

I* have the 24-105L and 100-400L, add my 1.4 extender and maybe my 14 mm ultra wide and I am set for most things in daylight with one medium size bag to carry things. Add a decent flash and I am ready for dim light. A mono or tripod then adds even more to the range of things I can do. After that of course you may get into many things that require different lenses or accessories and develop GAS (gear acquisition syndrome).

*I have two bodies: 6D full frame and 7DII crop frame. I also own a total of 8 lenses for my Canon bodies (my daughter had 6 more that I have access to, she has access to my 8).

**The Canon 100-400L is a great lens but expensive ($1799 on sale now compared to the Sigma 100-400 ($799) which is very good.

You can also look at the Refurbished gear on the Canon online store, same warranty as new, I have purchased several things from them. http://shop.usa.canon.com/shop/en/catalog/refurbished-products-information

truckster Loc: Tampa Bay Area

Quick hint ... when replying to a post hit "quote reply" ... that way everyone knows who you are replying to.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Nikon D7200 user, here. Fast enough for most occasions and very good autofocus. Focus motor in the body which allows for a wider selection of lenses since not all lenses have focus motors. Also, Nikon has used the same lens mount for decades. This allows for the use of older lenses which can be bought at lower prices. Whatever you choose, have fun and post some pics for us to see.

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Welcome aboard. If you live in Phoenix, hopefully there is at least one decent camera shop where you can go and get your hands on the cameras that might interest you.

You should have noticed by now that each brand has it's advantages. Which advantages mean more to you. Which one fits your hands. Which one's features click with your brain. We can't answer those questions.

Look for a group or club and join in. Possibly the other members will let you handle there cameras and point out different features.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Welcome to our forum!

CRoy

I have been shooting with Nikon since the 70's. I now have the D5300. Although Nikon produces better DSLR's in full frame format, I really like my DX camera and didn't want to pay for more camera than I would need. I had my old film camera, the F2, for over 20 years! The problem today is that technology changes so fast....it is unlikely I will have any digital camera for more than 5-7 years at this time. Good luck!