Dragonophile

I have excellent Fujifilm camera equipment, but I want to additionally get the new Tamron 18-400mm lens. Unfortunately, it only works with a Canon or Nikon camera. I need a recommedation to pair an APS-C camera with this lens based on 2 major factors: weight and price. I want a fairly recent camera with at least a 18 megapixel sensor. It should produce nice pictures but I am not concerned about bells and whistles as my targets are fairly stationary and I most frequently shoot on auto mode then tweek post-processing. I only shoot jpeg. The variable I play wuth most is exposure compensation. I am thinking Canon EOS 850D but is there a better low price/weight Canon or Nikon that might pair up well with this Tamron lens?

Please don't give me advice on buying other lenses or shooting RAW. That is not what I am asking.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The EOS 850D (also known as Rebel T8i) is the most advanced and final EOS 'advanced' entry DSLR. With a 24MP sensor and the ability to AF at f/8, it's as advanced as the slightly older and slightly higher-tier EOS 80D.

The Nikon models don't map exactly feature to feature for this model, but you might just shop on price for a similar 24MP Nikon D3500 or D5600.

User ID

I use this. Available for Fuji and Nikon.

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Just Shoot Me Loc: Ithaca, NY

If you're looking for Nikon in a crop sensor the D5600 is something you should consider.
Others will tell you to go mirrorless but if you're looking for this then it will give you 24mp. light weight and it comes with a lot of bells and whistles even if you only shoot Jpeg.
I have enjoyed mine for a long time and still do on occasion.

Ron

kcooke Loc: Alabama

My wife uses a Nikon D3500. She really likes it a lot. It produces good photos is light weight small and low cost even new.
If you want a low cost mirrorless option you could get a used canon M5 with the EF to EF m mount adapter which would let you use that lens you desire. I have an M5 strictly for lightweight travel and the adapter works well with all my canon lenses.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Right answer.

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Thank you.

@OP:
I did neglect to mention price, $250. If you can buy a whole camera body for $250 it wont be half as nice as your Fuji.

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Dragonophile

The Fringer adapter is an option to consider and the Tamron lens is on the campatibility list. But I must admit an aversion to changing lenses on my cameras. Thanks for the suggestion.

User ID

Do you still have the Olympus ?

If you intend to carry two cameras with a lens married to each one then that would open up a variety interesting possibilities.

Dragonophile

No, I sold my Olympus gear. I now have an X-T4 with a 100-400mm and an X-T3 with an 18-135mm. My hobby is taking pictures of ships & boats - often over long distances - and posting them on marinetraffic.com. Sometimes I have to walk a ways to take a picture, and I may have to take both cameras as some vessels are close and require the 18-135mm while others are distant and require the 100-400.

niteman3d Loc: South Central Pennsylvania, USA

First off, you say "new" 18-400? It came out five years ago and in that time, something changed, I'm assuming. I have one of each of the Nikon D7xxx series, a D5500, and a Z50. Both the 16-300 and the 18-400 copies of the Tamron lenses that I have work fine with all of the D7xxx series and the D5500, so I'll assume it works with the D5600 as well. The reason I say something must have changed with the 18-400 is that it is totally manual with the Z series unless it has a more recent serial number, then a firmware update will supposedly fix it. Mine is one of the ones below the threshold and can't be updated, so it's a mirrorless brick because I'm too lazy and slow for manual. I too shoot mostly slow-moving insects and flowers in JPG using mostly shutter priority. The 18-400 on the D7500 atop a monopod is my favorite setup ever. You should find a good used D5500 or D5600 in the $500 range and the D7000 can be had for $300 or so with the others in that series working up to the refurbished D7500 for $800 on the nikonusa site. My Z50 in great condition was under $600 delivered including the 16-80 lens. I'm assuming you want to stay with crop sensor since you want the 18-400. My suggestion would be a D7100 with the lens for around $900 in excellent condition. Good luck!

photoman43

Check out these "starter cameras" and camera kits from four different companies.


https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/cameras-and-lens-kits-for-beginners/ci/40829

Then check out reviews here: You can sort by price too:

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/buying-guide-best-dslrs

Dragonophile

Thanks for all the advice from everyone who responded!

User ID

OK. So you have two "matching" camera bodies. What prevents you just mounting appropriate lenses on each one and toting the pair, so as to avoid swapping lenses ? I guess Im missing something ? Why are you so interested in adding an unmatched SLR body to your Fuji EVF kit ?

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

I purchased a Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 for Nikon f-mount when it first came out. I use it on both a D500 and D7200. It's a bit quirky, but very flexible. I've taken some great family vacation shots and some very good nature / wildlife shots with it. The IQ is good, but when I'm looking for a bit more, I use a Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 or 600mm f/4 G. About quirkyness; the focus ring (thin ring at the front of the lens) spins when the camera is auto focusing, so keep you hands away and you can't override AF, you need to flip the switch from auto to manual focus. VR works great and the zoom ring is fairly smooth, but you are moving a lot of lens tube when zooming.

As far as cameras go, if you are looking for the best IQ in an aps-c sensor size, you can't beat the Nikon D7200 (around $500 used). If you are looking for something for action / sports / nature and wildlife, the D500 (under $1k used) is a solid choice. There are other Nikon options including the D7500, D5600, and D3500 as well as other older models.