Hawkins Loc: Minnesota

I am a yearbook advisor. Our very best lens has has just stopped working. We currently have a Canon Rebel kit, which we were gifted when we joined a specific yearbook company. I also purchased a 100-200 Canon lens, and that is the one which no longer works. (We have had the camera and lens for close to ten years.)

In talking with the school, we have decided to upgrade the yearbook camera. I have worked with Nikon and Canon before, but I have liked Canon a little bit better. So, that is my preference. We have a budget of about $3,000.

The camera's main use is sports photography, and I am the one who usually uses it. On occasion a student will take photos as well, and because of that, I am looking for something that could be simple for a novice to use.

I am not as knowledgeable as I should be about camera and was told that mirrorless is the future-- that the camera are lighter as well. Is this a good direction to head into?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

ncribble Loc: Albuquerque, NM

You can't beat the combination of Canon's just released R7 with a RF 18 159mm lens (effective 29mm 240mm) at $1899.00 and couple this with Canons RF 100 400 f5.6 (effective 160mm - 640mm) at $549.00. The body has IBIS and both lenses have IS. The whole rig is light enough to be hand held.

This leaves you room for a few accessories and who know B&H probably have a School Discount.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1708099-REG/canon_eos_r7_mirrorless_camera.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1663581-REG/canon_rf_100_400mm_f_5_6_8_is.html

fetzler Loc: North West PA

1. Mirrorless is, indeed, the future. DSLRs are being discontinued but discontinued cameras are cheaper.

2. In full frame equivalent focal lengths you need a portrait lens (85 -105mm) with a decently wide aperture.

3. You likely need a telephoto Zoom lens with a wide aperture (f2.8) for indoor sports. Check your lighting levels.
focal length ranges might be 70-200 or 70-300mm. Were you satisfied with what you had?

4. It would be nice to have a small zoom 28-80mm for general photography and photos of groups. A 35mm or 50 mm prime lens might also fit this function. Think about the types of photos that are in the year book.

Canisdirus

You can see they are on tight budgets.
Canon is the last place they want to be right now...not in mirrorless. They have closed off cheaper options down the road.

Look to Sony or Nikon...perhaps Fuji or Pan.

All are easy to use right out of the box...and can get serious if you want to.
They all have great third party lens choices...help you stay in budget.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

What you buy has to do with two things. Your finances and ability (or devotion to photography).
In the cost range I would consider (This is with Canon as you have it now) the R5 or R6. I am assuming the R2 is an over kill.
The R6 is a great camera but I found the R5 is my go to camera. I have the converter to use my old lenses.
I am traveling now and carrying only the R5 and the R lens 25-240 and it's fine.
But we are all different (that is what makes photography what it is) and advice will be coming.

Have fun!

Peteso Loc: Blacks Hills

I am an old guy now, but I was a high school yearbook photographer, and then my college yearbook photographer which was a professional paid position. It’s hard to beat Olympus’ ProCapture shutter feature for sports photography.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Don't blow all your budget on the camera. You should be investing for the long-term. The EOS R7 is a great camera. But, at $1500, this is a pretty big-ticket item that blows over half your budget. This is the camera the wealthy retirees that populate the UHH community would buy when spending your money.

A used EOS 80D around $600 buys another likely 10+ years of useful life for a camera plenty capable of HS sports and general photography, portraits, etc. Then, you have budget for higher quality lenses, two items to consider:

1, Used Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II around $1300 used. This older pro-grade lens will last longer than the camera, will be great for on-field action, and will be a great portrait lens, if desired.

2, Used Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, around $300 used. There are multiple EF-S versions of the 18-135mm, any will do, This "IS USM" designation is the newest / final version of the three options.

This approach leaves budget space for actual (total) costs, as well as budget for miscellaneous, like cards, speedlight flash, wired remote control and / or other similar ideas, even another lens.

Canisdirus

Meh...he needs one body and one lens.

Just buy a nice new or used mirrorless...in a system that won't gouge you.

rcorne001 Loc: Cary, NC

Excellent advice. Many, of which I am admittedly one, don't think of upgrading via a high quality used camera. Not every upgrade needs to be to the latest and greatest, especially for those trying to get the most bang for their budget. Kudos for bringing some sanity to the discussion.

bnsf

The only way you can save the school money is to purchase a complete camera package. By changing brands, you can even get a better deal. First you want to purchase two new lenses from 75 - 300 and you are going to pay around $1400.00. Have you ever thought about switching cameras and purchasing a Sony RX10M4 which has a 28 - 600 lens and would be cheaper and a newer version of a camera with everything in one.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

In the sport section, this post shows the corresponding Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 VC II in action. That lens new is about the same price as my suggested Canon used. That might be another idea to consider. https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-751988-1.html

Online used resellers like KEH and MPB provide lots of used equipment choices with a limited return option and a modest warranty to give some piece of mind when shopping used.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

If the camera will be used for night football (and what camera won't be, in a high school setting?), look for the fastest maximum aperture lens you can afford.

Although I was a yearbook photographer in the 1960s and '70s, and worked for yearbook and portrait companies my entire career, I'm going to defer to others on this one. CHG_CANON (Paul Sager) is one. His advice on Canon gear is always spot-on. His response here is quite wise! The 80D is a nice body. Plenty of Canon and third party (Tamron, Sigma, etc.) lenses also work on it. The 70-200mm f/2.8 Paul mentions is a classic favorite of Canon pros. If you can find a used 24-70mm f/2.8 to go with those other lenses, you have a GREAT starter kit for photojournalism. I'd want a fast prime to go with it, eventually, perhaps a 35mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 or so. Yearbook work tends to be all available light, or "available darkness" in many instances.

YES, mirrorless gear is the future, but with a $3000 budget and a goal of great sports photography and general yearbook photography, I'd look at used dSLR gear for maximum bang for the buck. The lenses are adaptable to Canon mirrorless with Canon's adapter, so you aren't throwing your money away.

These are the perennial favorite used equipment dealers used by folks on this forum:

KEH — https://www.keh.com (my personal favorite for used gear)
MPB — https://www.mpb.com/en-us
B&H — https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/Used-Equipment/ci/2870/N/4294247188
Adorama — https://www.adorama.com/Used
Roberts Camera's Used Photo Pro — https://usedphotopro.com

Although no dealer is perfect, these five get the highest marks on UHH most frequently, for honesty, integrity, and customer service. Used gear warranties vary from none to six months, depending upon the dealer and the equipment condition, so read the fine print.

If you're hesitant about purchasing used gear, look up the Bathtub Curve and read the science behind the low risk of used purchases.

https://www.upkeep.com/learning/bathtub-curve

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I've bought used from all five on Bill's list above. The differences are minimal, although I've found KEH and MPB being a bit cheaper, possibly based on their volume of business / wider selection they provide?

Peteso Loc: Blacks Hills

High school yearbook photography is primarily sports and campus candids, in that order of priority. The challenge for this kind of shooting is capturing the critical moment. Absent a shutter feature such as the Olympus ProCapture mode, by the time the photographer sees the critical moment and presses the shutter release, the critical moment has often passed. For a $3000 budget, you can probably buy an EM5 MIII and a couple of Pro lenses, used and in good condition. Of course, the other option is non-Pro lenses, which will get the job done, as well.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I'll second that recommendation. My former employer, a professional school portrait company, was also a Tamron dealer. We sold hundreds of Tamron zooms, and used hundreds more in our retail school portrait territories. I tried the earlier version of the Tamron 70-200 and found it quite nice. Version G2 has faster and more accurate autofocus and it is slightly sharper.