Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Whatever brand (all are good), go full frame. If you buy less than full frame, you will in time , regret not spending the money for a full frame camera.

cthahn

You are confused because you probably do not know the basics of photography and what all the features on cameras are used for and how to use them. Purchasing a new expensive camera will not help you.

buddah17 Loc: The Bahamas

Personally I feel that you should take no mind to this comment. Even IF you don't know the basics, (and not sure THAT is correct as well,) who says that one has to learn to drive in a Model T and not a Cadillac...
I know quite a lot about film photography, and am JUST (at the age of 58,) getting into digital... There are LOTS of online lessons, and local seminars, (not to mention books) that can "get you up to speed" real soon....
Check out the site CreativeLive...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Have fun. I can't afford to shoot film. I spent too much money on all my digital equipment.

buddah17 Loc: The Bahamas

Wait until you have to purchase all of the additional hardware for storage. (Taken from a class conversation..)
THEN new computers (and hardware, software, etc.. for "matching colors from reality to output" etc...)

patcam Loc: chelmsford essex uk

Lots of suggestions, some good, some bad, still waiting for some idiot suggesting a Canon SX 50 !

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

^^^ You made me laff! Very funny, so true! :lol:

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

BUT not for sports, which the OP says he wants to shoot! We just went thru this in a number of different threads. This is not a good choice for anyone wanting to shoot fast action photos. he OP stated:

"On the Canon side the 6D probably isn't best for sports- low FPS, and I need to see the focusing in action."

He has done his research and is right. Not only the low fps a problem but the 11 point focusing system is not a good choice for action shooting on this camera. Yes, you can get good SS because it handles high ISO well but trying to track sports with the center point focus is tough!

If I were him I would be looking at a 7D and some better glass such as the 70-200mm series of lenses.

Jim D

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

get the 70d and go back to sleep.

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

I beg to differ here. The 6D can work well for sports and similar activities. High frames per second is nice and multiple focus points have their place, they can make live easier for the sports photographer. If a person is familiar with the sport they are photographing and use the proper technique, the 6D will work fine.

oldtool2 Loc: South Jersey

I hate to tell you this but you are in the minority on this. You miss the slide into second because it is between frames? You miss the fastball pitch because your tracking is a little off, or the slide into home, or the 3 point shot from center court? Yes, I know the sport but the camera is just not designed for it.

I mainly shoot nature and have missed a lot of BIF because of the AF system on this camera. My keeper rate really drops off when I use this camera.

Do you own and use this camera for sports?

Jim D

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I have been through a similar investigative process as you for the past few months. I shoot family stuff as well as drag racing and college volleyball.
I am working on getting into more creative images rather than documenting type images too. I don't care about shooting video with my camera, I would likely just get a video camera to do that if that became important. Plus my daughter has a Canon T3i that shoots video.

So, after doing weeks of study and reading reviews I decided to go with a Canon 1D Mark III body. It is only 13 megapixel shooting raw but has a great autofocus system and can snap off multiple frames like a machine gun, up to 10 frames per second. I paid a bit more than average but got a body in like new condition with about 15,000 shutter activations which is nothing on a body rated for 300,000. I found the controls pretty familiar coming from a Digital Rebel which I used for over 12 years.

Lens wise, it takes only EF lenses. My daughter has a 40mm pancake which comes out to a 52mm on this 1.3 crop frame body. I like that the body crop factor is in between the FF and the more common 1.6 body crops. I looked hard at the 50mm 1.4 lens but felt it was too close to the 40mm and ended up going with the 85mm 1.8 for about $20 more than the 50mm. It works out to about 110mm and will be good for portraits and indoor volleyball and usable at the drag races. I might add a teleconvertor later too. I have an EF 75-300 Cheapo zoom that I can use in the short term too.

Longer term I plan to add the 16-35 L and some variant of the 70-200 L as well as possibly the $1300 400mm. That should make for a pretty powerful kit.

So, you might want to look at the 1D Mark III as they can be had in very good condition for the cost of the cameras you are considering. These were over $6000 bodies when new and are built like tanks. But the body weighs almost 3 lbs too so that factor needs to be considered. Me, I'm a big ole boy and I'll take the workout for the great shots this body can produce.

Best of luck with your decision.

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

Great choice. I used to own a 1DSII, which is full frame, but I am thinking about getting a used one, saw one here in LA Craigslist for about $850, or a 1DII body, which has less megapixels, faster frame rate and the 1.3 crop factor. These bodies are built like tanks.

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

Yes I do. I have the 6D, 5D MK III, and the 7D.

I shoot sports, BIF, and a very active grandson. In ideal lighting conditions, I use the 7D for the extra 'reach'. When lighting conditions are less than ideal, the 6D and 5D MK III come into play. The 6D is smaller and lighter which helps out greatly for those long shooting outings. Learning good panning techniques, being familiar with the timing of the sport, and being familiar with how the camera reacts- helps to get the desired shot.

I may be in the minority but I have over 45 years of photography experience. I can remember using ASA 400 film in a manual camera (I was never blessed with an auto-winder on my camera) with a 400mm manual focus lens and being able to get very good action shots at evening outdoor high school football games.

I still believe that proper technique is 90% of getting the desired shot.

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

My thought exactly! :thumbup: